Age and weight limits exist because the gear and the cord are sized for a range of bodies. They are not a personality test.
Bungee jumping age limits and weight limits vary by product and country. A lower bridge product may accept younger teens with guardian consent; a high canyon jump may start older and heavier. Operators publish specific min/max kilograms for a reason: harness fit, cord stretch, and clearance all change with mass.[1][2]
Why weight is non-negotiable
Your weight picks the cord (or cord setting) and affects how far you drop and how hard you rebound. Too light and stretch and recovery can sit outside design. Too heavy and clearance and peak loads can sit outside design. Serious sites weigh you and match gear; they do not take your word for a number that "usually works at the gym."[1][2]
Example ranges from AJ Hackett Bungy NZ (always re-check their current FAQs — products change):
- Kawarau Bridge Bungy: about 35–150 kg solo; tandem max combined higher
- Nevis Bungy / Nevis Catapult: about 45–127 kg
- Taupō Bungy: about 35–140 kg solo
Other activities on the same company have different floors and ceilings. That is the point: limits are product-specific.[1]
In some regulated amusement settings, the jump master selects cord by jumper weight per the manual, and registration staff weigh and mark weight on certified scales.[3]
Why age floors exist
Age rules cover consent, maturity under stress, and insurance — plus body size that often tracks with weight floors. Examples:
- UK Bungee: no under-14s on standard bungee experiences; 14–16 need parent/guardian permission. No hard upper age, but over-50s must seek medical advice and sign a non-standard waiver.[4]
- Illinois code for permitted operations under that section: minimum jump age 18 with proof of age.[3]
- New Zealand commercial products commonly use teen floors with guardian consent rules that differ by bridge vs high jump — read the product page, not a global myth that "everyone is 18."[1]
Upper age is often "fit enough," not a birthday ban — but fitness is not the same as ignoring heart disease or osteoporosis rules. See medical conditions.
What you should do
- Open the operator's page for the exact jump you booked. Note min/max weight and age, tandem rules, and river/height adjustments if they list them.
- Weigh yourself honestly before travel if you sit near a limit.
- Bring ID if you are near a consent age band.
- Do not bribe, joke, or argue staff past a hard limit. That is the safety system working.
Bottom line: limits are engineering and consent, not snobbery. Match the published range for that product or pick a different activity.
Sources
- AJ Hackett Bungy NZ: FAQs (activity weight ranges)
- AJ Hackett Bungy NZ: Is bungy jumping safe?
- Illinois Admin. Code § 6000.340: Weight marking, cord selection, age 18
- UK Bungee: Age and health restrictions
Image credits
- Photo: Freddie Ablazed / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) — hero
- Photo: Fouad Ashtari / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) — inline