JustBeginning
Beginner's guide

So you're getting into aerial silks

Aerial silks is one of the most physically spectacular hobbies you can start at home. There's real risk, real strength required, and real gear decisions — especially around rigging. Most beginners get the fabric right and the hardware wrong. Here's what you actually need, in the right order.

By Colin B. · Published May 29, 2026 · Last reviewed May 29, 2026
A woman in a black and red dress

Photo by Igor Savelev on Unsplash

The 60-second version

If you only buy 3 things to start:

  1. Aerial Silks Starter Set — 9 Yards — A 9-yard nylon aerial silk starter set — the right beginner fabric, includes hardware.
  2. Rock Exotica Stainless Steel Aerial Swivel — A rated aerial swivel: the single piece of hardware your safety depends on.
  3. We Sell Mats 4-Inch Gymnastics Crash Mat — A 4-inch gymnastics crash mat — non-negotiable for home aerial practice.
Budget total
$350
Typical total
$650
Rigging sets the floor, not the fabric. Budget $100-250 for silks, $100-200 for hardware, and $80-150 for a crash mat. A free-standing rig adds $300-500 but lets you practice without drilling into a ceiling beam.
At a glance

Our top pick in each category

The fastest path through this guide — each best-starter pick by category. Scroll for the budget and upgrade alternatives.

CategoryTop pickPriceWhere to buy
Aerial FabricGenericAerial Silks Starter Set — 9 Yards$$ See on Amazon →
Rigging HardwareRock ExoticaRock Exotica Stainless Steel Aerial Swivel$$$ See on Amazon →
Crash MatWe Sell MatsWe Sell Mats 4-Inch Gymnastics Crash Mat$$ See on Amazon →
ConditioningFit SimplifyFit Simplify Resistance Loop Exercise Bands$ See on Amazon →
Hand CareFrictionLabsFrictionLabs Gorilla Grip Chunk Chalk$ See on Amazon →
Before you buy anything

A few things worth knowing first

Take a beginner class before you buy anything. Two sessions at a local aerial studio will tell you whether you love it, what your instructor recommends, and whether your body is ready. Most studios rent silks for your first class — you don't need to own anything yet.

Your ceiling matters as much as your silk. Aerial practice requires a structural anchor rated for dynamic human load — a ceiling joist, a steel beam, or a properly installed eye bolt. Drywall anchors and doorframes will fail. If you don't have a structural mounting point, budget for a free-standing rig ($300-500).

Build grip strength before your first class. If you can't dead hang for 30 seconds or do 5 chin-ups, start conditioning now. Arriving stronger makes your first class safer and more useful — your instructor will thank you.

The gear

What you actually need

Aerial Fabric

Aerial fabric comes in two materials with very different behaviors. Nylon-lycra (stretchy) is the standard for beginners: it cushions slips and descents, teaches technique at a forgiving pace, and is gentler on skin while calluses develop. Polyester (low-stretch) is what professional studios use — it holds positions crisply and lasts longer, but slips are sharper. Start with nylon-lycra. Length: 8 meters is the standard for home ceilings and studio work alike.

Best starter
Generic

Aerial Silks Starter Set — 9 Yards

$$

Nylon tricot is the right beginner fabric because the stretch cushions slips. When you miss a footlock, the fabric slows your descent before catching — more forgiving than low-stretch polyester. This 9-yard length (about 8.2 meters) suits ceilings from 3m through studio height, comes in multiple colors, and is what most aerial instructors recommend for year-one home practice.

What we like

  • Nylon-lycra stretch cushions slips and descents — essential for beginners
  • Softer hand feel than polyester — skin-friendly in your first month
  • 8m works for home ceilings through studio height

What to know

  • Stretchy fabric creates more material underfoot to manage
  • Degrades faster than polyester if washed with heat or left in UV
See on Amazon →
Upgrade pick
PRIOR FITNESS

PRIOR FITNESS Professional Aerial Silk Set

$$$

Once you can reliably execute footlocks, hip keys, and basic climbs, low-stretch fabric teaches cleaner technique and is what every serious studio uses. The tighter weave holds positions precisely, gives honest feedback on weight placement, and lasts significantly longer than tricot under regular use. PRIOR FITNESS is a dedicated aerial apparatus brand with options in multiple lengths.

What we like

  • Holds positions precisely — builds technique that transfers to any studio
  • Professional polyester lasts 3x longer than nylon-lycra under heavy use
  • The fabric used in most US professional aerial programs

What to know

  • No stretch safety margin — slips drop harder than on lycra blends
  • Wrong choice for raw beginners; demands real conditioning to control
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Aum Active

Aum Active Aerial Silks Starter Kit

$

A complete starter kit for under $60 — includes fabric, rigging hardware, and a guide. The nylon tricot fabric uses the same base material as premium silks. The finishing is less refined, but the complete kit means one purchase covers your first practice session. Sensible if you want to verify you love aerial before spending more.

What we like

  • Under $60 — right price for testing the hobby before committing
  • Same nylon-lycra blend as premium silks for core moves

What to know

  • Less refined finishing — inspect the loop before every use
  • Limited color and length options compared to specialty suppliers
See on Amazon →

Rigging Hardware

The most consequential category — and where most home beginners make dangerous mistakes. Aerial hardware must withstand dynamic human load, not just body weight: a controlled drop multiplies force significantly. Never rig to drywall, shower curtain rods, or a wooden doorframe. You need a structural attachment point, a rated aerial swivel (prevents fabric twist), and a locking carabiner rated to at least 22 kN. Total hardware runs $80-200 before structural anchoring.

Rigging Hardware — what's the difference?

A few common shapes, each making a different trade.

Ceiling Mount

Eye bolt into a structural joist, swivel, and carabiner. Lowest total cost.

Hardware cost
$80-200
Ceiling
Structural joist or beam required
Installation
DIY with assessment, or pro

Best for Homeowners with accessible ceiling joists or exposed structural beams

Tradeoff Permanent installation — requires structural assessment before drilling

Free-Standing Rig

Portable steel A-frame — no ceiling modification needed.

Total cost
$350-700
Ceiling
Not required
Typical height
~5m

Best for Renters, apartments, outdoor practice, anyone avoiding permanent installation

Tradeoff Higher upfront cost; occupies significant floor space when assembled

Best starter
Rock Exotica

Rock Exotica Stainless Steel Aerial Swivel

$$$

A swivel prevents the fabric from twisting around itself mid-air, and it's the piece of rigging hardware that fails silently under repeated dynamic load if undersized. Rock Exotica builds for rescue and rope access — a significantly higher standard than 'rated for humans.' This swivel handles aerial loads with a wide safety margin and inspects easily.

What we like

  • Built for rope access — significantly overrated for standard aerial use
  • Ball-bearing design turns smoothly under full body weight
  • Inspection-friendly: moving parts are visible and testable

What to know

  • Higher cost than off-brand swivels — you're paying for safety margin
  • Heavier than economy swivels; noticeable only if you travel with gear
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Petzl

Petzl Oval Locking Carabiner

$$

A quality locking carabiner connects your swivel to the anchor point, and Petzl builds for industrial climbing and rescue work. The oval shape distributes load evenly and doesn't gate-load the way D-carabiners can. Rated to 25 kN. Every aerial rigger we've spoken to has Petzl hardware somewhere in their kit.

What we like

  • Oval shape distributes load evenly — more stable than D-carabiners
  • 25 kN rating from a brand that serves rescue and industrial markets
  • Screw-lock gate is simple and reliable without extra training

What to know

  • Screwgate can vibrate loose under repeated dynamic movement — always check
  • Heavier than keylock carabiners if weight-conscious
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Hyamass

Stainless Steel Rigging O-Ring Set

$$

The rigging ring is what your silk loops through at the attachment point — and size matters. Too small and fabric can't flow freely; too large and it can snag. These stainless steel O-rings are seamless (no weld seam to catch fabric), rated for hammock and rigging loads, and smooth enough to protect your fabric. Buy two: one for practice, one to leave rigged.

What we like

  • Sized for aerial fabric loops — smooth flow, no binding or snagging
  • Steel construction rated for aerial dynamic load cycles
  • Buy two and leave one rigged permanently at your practice point

What to know

  • Must inspect for sharp edges before use — burrs shred fabric over time
  • Specialty supplier item; slower delivery than Amazon-native hardware
See on Amazon →

Crash Mat

Not optional, not something to buy once you get serious. At 3-4 meters in the air, a slip or uncontrolled descent without a mat means a hard floor impact. A 4-inch gymnastics crash mat absorbs a fall from standing to moderate aerial height. An 8-inch mat is the upgrade once you attempt intentional drops. Folding mats store flat against a wall and position easily under your rigging point.

Best starter
We Sell Mats

We Sell Mats 4-Inch Gymnastics Crash Mat

$$

Four inches of high-density foam is the minimum for aerial practice at home, and We Sell Mats' folding version makes it practical: it bi-folds for storage against a wall and unfolds in seconds under your rigging point. It handles falls from standard home ceiling heights without bottoming out. Vinyl cover cleans up easily.

What we like

  • 4 inches of high-density foam — adequate for home height falls
  • Folds in half for wall storage; unfolds in under a minute
  • Vinyl cover wipes clean and resists moisture from barefoot practice

What to know

  • Bottoms out on drops from above 4m — upgrade if attempting silk drops
  • Heavy for a mat; not easy to move room-to-room daily
See on Amazon →
Upgrade pick
Tumbl Trak

Tumbl Trak 4x8 Folding Practice Mat — 8-Inch

$$$

Eight inches of layered foam is the standard for aerial drop practice — the extra depth is the difference between absorbing a drop and bottoming out on the floor underneath. Tumbl Trak is the brand gymnastics coaches actually buy; their mats show up in serious training facilities. If you're attempting drops, inverts, or controlled descents from above 4 meters, this is the mat.

What we like

  • 8 inches of layered foam — handles drops from above 4m without bottoming
  • Tumbl Trak is the brand gymnastics coaches actually purchase
  • Folds and has carry handles despite the substantial size

What to know

  • Significantly heavier than a 4-inch mat — plan where it lives
  • Overkill until you're attempting intentional drops or inverts
See on Amazon →

Conditioning

Aerial silks demands serious upper-body pulling strength before your first class. You need to dead hang for at least 30 seconds and begin to pull your own weight. Instructors who say 'come as you are' are being kind — arriving without base conditioning means spending your first sessions just building grip. These tools build the specific pulling and stability patterns aerial uses, faster than conventional gym machines.

Best starter
Fit Simplify

Fit Simplify Resistance Loop Exercise Bands

$

Scapular pulls, hollow body holds, and band pull-aparts are the three exercises that build your aerial base fastest. This set of five progressive bands handles all of them for under $15. One band stays in your bag; the rest live at home. Resistance bands build the rotator cuff stability aerial silks demands and conventional gym work often misses.

What we like

  • Five progressive resistances cover every aerial prep exercise
  • Scapular pull-aparts and band rows are direct aerial conditioning
  • Under $15 — no excuse to skip this one

What to know

  • Latex bands wear through at the fold point if stored kinked
  • No aerial-specific programming included — you'll need to research reps
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Nayoya

Nayoya Gymnastic Rings

$

Gymnastics rings build exactly the pulling strength and shoulder stability aerial silks demands — the movement patterns are nearly identical. An hour a week on rings will improve your aerial faster than any ground-based conditioning. They hang from the same structural point as your silks, cost under $40, and pack flat.

What we like

  • Builds pulling strength and shoulder stability directly used in aerial
  • Hang from the same anchor as silks — doubles the value of your rig
  • Under $40 and packs flat for travel

What to know

  • Requires a rated anchor — same safety standards as aerial rigging
  • Unassisted ring work is humbling; plan 4-6 weeks to feel capable
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Garren Fitness

Garren Fitness Maximiza Pull-Up Bar

$

A pull-up bar is the minimum conditioning tool for aerial prep — if you can't dead hang and do 5 chin-ups, you need more pull practice before your first class. This doorway-mounted version is stable, handles serious reps, and won't ruin a frame or come down mid-set.

What we like

  • Builds the dead hang and chin-up base needed before first class
  • No wall damage — installs and removes with no tools

What to know

  • Doorframe width limits apply — check specs before ordering
  • One grip position; rings or a fixed bar gives more exercise variety
See on Amazon →

Hand Care

Silk burns. The friction that creates aerial holds is what shreds hands, the insides of thighs, and the tops of feet in your first month. Gymnastics chalk improves grip on sweaty hands and reduces uncontrolled slipping — the kind that causes burns and dropped holds. Athletic tape or leather hand grips protect developing calluses. Neither is expensive. Both should be on your mat before session one.

Best starter
FrictionLabs

FrictionLabs Gorilla Grip Chunk Chalk

$

Chalk is the simplest, most effective grip aid in aerial — a light coat on palms and fingers means your hands grip the fabric instead of slipping along it. FrictionLabs block chalk is what competitive gymnasts and climbers use; it dissolves evenly and has more contact surface than ball chalk. A 2-pound block lasts a year of regular practice.

What we like

  • Prevents slipping that causes silk burns and dropped holds
  • Block format dissolves evenly — less dust than pre-ground chalk
  • A 2-lb block lasts a year of regular practice for under $20

What to know

  • Excess chalk clogs silk fibers — use sparingly and brush off excess
  • Messy in carpeted rooms; practice over bare floor or put down a tarp
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Bear KompleX

Bear KompleX Carbon Hand Grips

$$

Carbon hand grips protect developing calluses from tearing during long fabric sessions. Bear KompleX grips are used by gymnasts and CrossFit athletes for exactly this reason — the carbon fiber wicks moisture and doesn't compress like leather over time. Sized by ring size; order one size smaller than you think you need.

What we like

  • Protects calluses from tearing during long fabric practice sessions
  • Carbon fiber wicks moisture better than leather grips
  • Used by competitive gymnasts — sizing is well-documented online

What to know

  • 3-4 session break-in before they feel comfortable
  • Not ideal for footwork moves — remove them during foot sequences
See on Amazon →
Going deeper

Your first 30 hours of aerial silks

Aerial silks has a steep learning curve and real physical demands — but the first month is surprisingly structured. Here's what actually happens, hour by hour, from the ground up.

Read the guide →
Save your money

What you don't need yet

Beginners get pressured to buy a lot of stuff that doesn't help them play better. Here's what we'd skip on day one.

  • An aerial lyra (hoop) — A genuinely different apparatus requiring different moves and rigging. Don't dual-purchase until you know you love aerial specifically.
  • A 12-meter performance silk — Longer silks are for specific drop techniques at studio heights. Standard 8m is correct for home practice — the extra length just creates problems underfoot.
  • Aerial performance costume — Tight athletic leggings and a fitted tank top work fine. Costumes are for performance and stage, not home conditioning.
  • A full gymnastics landing system — Landing systems with separate fall zones are for professional training centers. A single 4-inch crash mat is the right tool for home practice.
  • A paid online aerial program — YouTube has enough free beginner content from qualified instructors to fill your first year. Save the subscription fee until you've identified specific technique gaps.
First week

Your first seven days

A short, real plan to get from gear-on-doorstep to actually playing.

  1. Find a local aerial studio and book one beginner class — most rent silks and teach safely from the ground up. · Action
  2. Test your dead hang: grip a pull-up bar and hang as long as you can. If you can't last 20 seconds, start building grip before your first session. · Action
  3. Assess your mounting situation: is there a structural ceiling joist you can reach? If not, budget for a free-standing rig. · Action
  4. Order a crash mat first — it goes in before anything goes airborne. · Buy
  5. Order resistance bands and start conditioning: scapular pulls, hollow body holds, and dead hangs every other day. · Buy
  6. Order your aerial silk starter set once you have confirmed your mounting point. · Buy
  7. Practice footlocks on the ground before hanging: wrap the silk around your foot at floor level to learn the motion before height is a factor. · Action
FAQ

Common questions

How much does it cost to get started with aerial silks?

Plan on $350-650 to start properly: $100-250 for an 8-meter nylon-lycra silk, $80-200 for rigging hardware, and $80-150 for a crash mat. A free-standing rig instead of a ceiling mount adds $300-500. The cost is front-loaded — gear lasts years.

What ceiling do I need for aerial silks at home?

You need a structural anchor — a rated eye bolt installed into a ceiling joist or beam, rated for dynamic human load. Drywall anchors and standard hooks are not acceptable. A professional structural assessment is recommended before drilling. If you don't have suitable ceiling structure, a free-standing aerial rig ($300-500) is the safer path.

How strong do I need to be before starting aerial silks?

You should be able to dead hang for 30 seconds and do 5 chin-ups before your first class. Aerial silks is physically demanding in a way that yoga and pilates don't prepare for. Take a beginner class to gauge the gap — most instructors will tell you honestly where your conditioning needs to be.

What is the difference between nylon-lycra and polyester aerial silk?

Nylon-lycra stretches: it cushions slips, slows uncontrolled descents, and is more forgiving on skin. Polyester is low-stretch: it holds positions precisely, lasts longer, but slips are sharper. Start with nylon-lycra and switch to polyester after your first year of regular practice.

Can I teach myself aerial silks at home without an instructor?

Not safely from the beginning. You need at least a few classes with a qualified instructor — they'll teach footlocks, hip keys, and safe descents. Solo practice at home is fine for conditioning and drilling known moves at low height with a crash mat. Attempting new moves alone at height is high-risk.

Can I practice aerial silks in an apartment?

Only with a free-standing rig. Most apartment ceilings aren't rated for aerial dynamic load, and drilling into an unverified joist is a liability. Free-standing rigs ($300-500) work in living rooms, garages, and outdoor spaces without any permanent modification.

Going further

Where to next

Related hobbies

Browse by category

Authoritative sources

  • r/AerialSilks — Active community for questions on technique, rigging, instructors, and fabric. The rigging safety threads are particularly valuable for home practitioners.
  • Vertical Wise — Aerial arts training blog covering conditioning, technique, and home practice setup. Good starting point for beginners building their base.
  • Aerial Amy (YouTube) — Beginner-friendly aerial silks tutorial channel with clear instruction on foundational moves: footlocks, climbs, and basic wraps.
  • Aerial Physique (YouTube) — Conditioning programs and technique breakdowns for aerial arts. More useful once you have the basics than as a cold starting point.
  • r/Acrobatics — Broader circus arts community with aerial practitioners. Useful for rigging advice, home setup questions, and finding training partners.
A statue of a man hanging from a string

Photo by Frank Ng on Unsplash

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