The Best Aerial Silks for Home Practice
Want to train aerial silks at home? Here are the silks we recommend, what length you need, and how to set them up safely, with shops in the UK, USA and Europe.
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The quick verdict
Prodigy low-stretch for beginners
Stable and easier to climb. Already confident on silks? Firetoys medium-stretch silks give a little more bounce for drops.
Why train at home
- Practise between classes
- Work on wraps and climbs
- Builds grip and upper body strength
- Train when it suits you
Watch out for
- You need a tall, rated rigging point
- Only practise moves you have learnt
- Always use a crash mat
- Check silks for damage every time
Which stretch do you need?
Pick by your level and what you want to train.
Low stretch
Stable and easy to climb.
- Very little bounce
- Great for wraps
- Often wider fabric
Medium stretch
A little more give.
- Some bounce
- Cushions drops
- Grippy polyester
Narrow silks
Easier to grip.
- 125cm wide
- Medium stretch
- Also for kids
Can you do aerial silks at home?
Yes, if you have a safe place to hang them. Silks need a rated rigging point that is high enough to climb, with plenty of clear space around it. At home that usually means a tall freestanding aerial rig, a rated beam or ceiling point fitted by a professional, or a strong outdoor frame. A low aerial yoga stand is fine for practising wraps and basic poses close to the floor, but not for climbs and drops.
Learn the basics in class first. Silks moves like drops and wraps can go wrong quickly, so only practise at home what your teacher has already taught you, and always use a crash mat.
What to look for in aerial silks
- Stretch: low-stretch silks feel more stable and are easier to climb, so they suit beginners and wraps. Medium-stretch silks have more bounce, which helps cushion drops as you progress.
- Fabric: most silks are nylon or polyester. Nylon low-stretch silks can be glossy and slippy at first. Polyester tends to feel grippier.
- Width: wider fabric is great for cocoons and hammock-style poses, but narrower fabric is easier to grip if you have small hands.
- Working load limit: buy silks that state a tested working load limit (WLL) and safety factor. For example, Firetoys rates its medium-stretch silks at 128kg and Prodigy’s low-stretch silks at 170kg, both at 7:1.
- Length: this depends on how high your rigging point is. See the table below.
The best aerial silks for home
Choose your country below and each button takes you to the right Firetoys shop. Firetoys makes its silks in the UK and ships to the US and Europe too.
Prodigy low-stretch silks
Wide, glossy nylon silks with very little stretch, so climbs feel more stable. Rated to 170kg working load. From £124 in the UK.
Firetoys medium-stretch silks
Grippy polyester with a little bounce, which helps cushion drops as you progress. Rated to 128kg working load. From £89.95 / $108.
Firetoys youth silks
A narrower 125cm fabric that is easier to grip if you have small hands, as well as for kids. From £74.95 in the UK.
Silks rigging hardware
A figure 8 or silks hook and a rated swivel to hang your silks. Buy rated aerial hardware from a specialist, not climbing shop seconds.
What length aerial silks do I need?
| Height of your rigging point | Silk length to buy |
|---|---|
| 2m | 6m |
| 3m | 8m |
| 4m | 10m |
| 5m | 12m |
| 6m | 14m |
Based on Firetoys’ sizing guide. Silks are rigged from the middle, so the length you buy is roughly double your rigging height, plus a little extra to pool on the floor.
How to set up aerial silks safely
- Use a rated rigging point. If it’s in your ceiling, get it fitted and checked by a qualified rigger.
- Hang your silks from a rated figure 8 or silks hook, with a rated swivel if you want them to spin. See our guide to rigging equipment.
- Leave clear space all around, and put a thick crash mat underneath.
- Check your silks and hardware before every session for holes, snags, wear or damage.
- Never train alone when trying something new.
Top tip: keep your silks away from sharp jewellery and long nails, and store them in a bag away from sunlight. Some colours fade in UV light.
Aerial silks FAQs
Can you do aerial silks at home?
Yes, if you have a rated rigging point that is high enough, such as a tall freestanding aerial rig or a professionally fitted ceiling point, plus clear space and a crash mat. Only practise moves you have learnt in class.
Which aerial silks are best for beginners?
Low-stretch silks are usually easier for beginners because they feel more stable to climb. Prodigy’s low-stretch silks are a popular choice.
What length aerial silks do I need?
Roughly double the height of your rigging point, plus a little extra. For example, a 3m rig needs about 8m of fabric, and a 5m rigging point needs about 12m.
How much weight can aerial silks hold?
Check the working load limit. Firetoys medium-stretch silks are rated to 128kg and Prodigy low-stretch silks to 170kg, both with a 7:1 safety factor.
Hooked since a works night out in Nottingham. She’s taken classes from Hartlepool to Malta and San Diego, tried trapeze, lyra, silks and hammock, and taught pole and hammock.
A Greater Manchester mum who’s trained pole and aerial for over a decade, mostly at home, and started Loops World to share the kit that works.
Sophie Green has been pole dancing and aerial arts at home and in studios around the world for over 13 years. She’s taken a number of instructor courses in pole and aerial. Plus attended a course on rigging. She takes part in lots of exercise.