Kids are always in search of a little excitement, so purchasing a zip line kit is a great choice.
Ziplines can be very good when looking for alternatives to digital screens to keep your kiddos occupied.
The type of play promotes a sense of adventure, fresh air and exercise,
It is such a great way to make your backyard more interesting to kids but also gives kids more control in their zipline situation!
You do not need a slope for a zipline in the backyard, all you will need to do is make one end taller than the other, and the length of the zipline will determine the height difference.
The zipline itself should be a 3% gradient. If this looks too much like slope, just do what you can based on the length of zipline you have, or would like to create.
Of course, because this is a risky sport, it is helpful to pick the right ziplines.
Factors to Consider When Purchasing the Best Garden Zip Lines for Children and Backyard
Length
Measure the distance between your trees you’re using for anchor points and multiply by the diameters of your trees
Then buy a longer zipline.
Double check the specifications, as some zip lines measure the useable length while others measure the entire length.
Most backyard ziplines range between 35 – 90 feet and can be traversed from tree to tree without additional height.
The cable sag will allow for a nice slide down to the low point and either stop or come to a hault right before the end.
Price
The price of zip line kits typically ranges from $100 to $1,000 on average.
For a $100 zip line kit, you will be a have the most basic zip line kits for small children. A $100 dollar zip line is 100 feet long, it has a plastic disc trolley, and a steel cable.
This is good for children from five to seven years.
However, on the other hand, the teens will yin probably enjoy a $600 dollar zip line but will be much better for the harness, it is rated for adult use.
This kit includes a stop block, a nylon lanyard, bungee brake kit, two carabiners, three clamps, one thimble, two turnbuckles, and two slings.
Children will outgrow a $100 dollar zip line in a matter of years, but they will not outgrow a backyard or $600 dollar zipline for many years.
As a recap, while it costs six times as much, you will get a lot more life out of it! You can use the Backyard Zipline yourself if you want.
Quality
As mentioned before, ziplines can be quite dangerous; therefore, you’ll want to choose the best quality.
If your zip line has a stainless steel cable, I think you should reconsider.
Stainless steel is great for other uses, but it has lower tensile strength than galvanized.
You’re going to have to spend money to replace the steel line on a regular basis.
What Are the Accessories of a Zip Line?
Trolley
Because the trolley acts as a seated area, it must be designed with high-quality materials, like a stainless-steel housings.
The simplest version may have just grips that the rider can hold on to and hold onto when ziplining.
The designed is dangerous to ride because the rider must have enough strength Kupp to hold onto the grips for the entire experience.
For swing or DISC units, the chairs provide a platform for the rider to sit comfortably on during the adventure.
The chairs support the entire weight, so there is no dangling.
Heavy-duty bearings which are dual-layered, sealed or both can be run for an extended time..
For the riders, the ball bearings can provide for a smoother and faster ride, especially to children.
Brake System
The manufacturer determines which type of braking mechanism is included in a zipline piece of equipment.
Your children will have to stop the zipline somehow, hence the brake mechanism will come into play.
Active braking systems such as gloves and pads, which require the rider to physically stop, are not quite useful for children.
Again, the most common alternative is a bungee brake system comprising a 30-foot cable that only allows your children to go so far before the cord stops them.
Since it is a bungee, the cable has the capacity to stretch, so the stop is neither sudden nor harsh.
Harnesses
Harnesses connect each rider to the zip line cable; this means you should expect to find them in the box with your zip line equipment.
The kid-size harness is designed specifically for smaller body sizes for safety.
If your zipline has one trolley, it will most likely have one harness, but the manufacturer may have added another.
Child harnesses come in a variety of designs from full-body and kid-size waist harnesses.
In Many Cases: An adult harness is too big to properly support a young rider. Most harnesses come with carabiners and foot lanyards to keep you children safe.
Handlebar
The handlebar is what the zip line rider holds onto for the duration of the ride.
Of course, the handlebar should be made out of a durable material, such as plastic.
A good handlebar should have a powder-coated steel finish and be made specifically for zip lining.
It should feature an ergonomic design with a strong grip, and by this, I mean the operator positions their fingers to work in concert and maximize hand capacity.
It may have padding for grip, but since most zip line rides are only a couple of seconds long and people wear gloves all the time to protect your hands, the handles may not ever be padded.
Cable
The cable is the single most important component of the zip line.
Since cables endure a tremendous amount of wear and tear, it must be strong and solid.
Galvanized aircraft cable is typically better than stainless steel, as it is stronger, more versatile, durable, and does not cost an arm and a leg.
An aircraft cable is a wire rope made of a spiral of wire strands that are twisted around a center wire.
For zip lines that are under 100 feet, a cable should be between 3/16 inch and 1/4 inch in diameter.
As the length of the zip line increases so should the diameter of the cable. A cable that is 5/16 inch in diameter, is acceptable for lengths up to 500 feet and riders weighing less than 250 pounds.
Good to know: A coated cable adds friction and heat. A plastic coating will slice and peel off, and would cause the trolley to have an erratic operation.
Turnbuckles
Turnbuckles allow an operator to adjust the tension on the zip line wire to looser or tighter.
Most turnbuckles are 5/8” x 12”. Usually, you get two in the box, one at each end of the cable.
5/8” turnbuckles hold up to 3,500 lbs. and it recommends the 1/4” or 5/16” cable.
The 3/4” x 18” turnbuckle holds up to 5,200 lbs., and is recommended for 3/8” or larger cable.
Turnbuckle bolts can be either nut and bolt or cotter pin and bolt, or both.
Other items you will might receive in the box:
- Thimble and various cable clips to easily cut and shorten the zip line cable.
- You will also receive cable slings to attach things to trees or poles.
4 Best Garden Zipline for Children and Backyards
1. Jugader 160 Foot Zipline Kit
Key Features
- The weight capacity is 250 pounds
- Dimensions of the zipline Package 14.65 x 14.65 x 8.65 inches
- The weight of the zipline is 24.4 pounds
- Recommended age is eight years and up
Arguably, this is one of the best ziplines on the market.
Everything you need to install the Jugader’s zip line comes included.
A tensioning wrench and cable tensioning kit are supplied. Soft tubing is also included to attach to cable anchor points to protect the trees.
What I like most about this zipline is that you can control when the kids are able to use it.
You can simply detach the steel trolley from the rope without removing the entire zipline.
This allows easy removal of the trolley to prevent the zipline from being used without your knowledge.
There are trolleys that can be removed and inserted at any point along the cable and others that can only be installed and removed at the beginning.
The main cable is 160 feet long, and the sling cable is 6.5 feet long, so it wraps around your higher anchor tree.
Both cables have stainless steel for durability and weather-resistance; each has soft pipes at the end to protect the trees.
Pros
- It comes with a safety harness
- It has a trolley that can be removed
- There is a tree-protection function
Cons
- It might be longer than you require
The harness that is adjustable provides now enables you to secure the rider into the trolley – so if they let go of the handles or slide out of the seat, the trolley will not fall to the ground.
The zipline length of 160 Foot enables greater height of the zipline with a faster ride. Also, the new seat provided has a plastic collar that will decrease friction and protect the riders legs as they ride.
This package comes complete with a spring brake system for the zipline.
2. American Ninja Warrior 50 Foot Zipline
Key Features
- 50-foot ride length
- Weight Capacity of 200 Pounds
- Has no brake system
The American Ninja Warrior Zipline Kit is perfect for kids and teenagers weighing less than 200-lbs.
The adjustable 50-foot rope length is perfect for small backyards and allows for a shorter ride for a less experienced rider.
It gives the rider the feeling of soaring through the air.
The kit incorporates an exciting riding experience, imaginative play while enhancing motor skills and agility, and encourages kids of all ages to stay active in your backyard fun experiences.
The American Ninja Warrior Zipline Kits are built for long-lasting years of dependable, safe, enjoyable activity.
The zipline takes about 30-minutes to set up with the help of 2-adults, but you will need to go through all the instructions before you start.
The 50 feet measurement could be misleading. It is 45-feet of cable with a 5-foot sling cable that goes around a tree.
Pros
- Outperforms U.S. safety regulations
- It is simple to set up
Cons
- To ensure a smooth set-up procedure, you must first read all the instructions
- The rideable line is 45 feet long rather than the 50 feet indicated
A little something to remember when you are calculating your length.
Perfect introductory distance for young or inexperienced zipliners.
Nonetheless, if you have a kid who watches American Ninja Warrior and is already getting into this sort of thing and have the space to set it up; go with the longer zipline.
3. Slackers 70 ft. Hawk Series Zipline
Key Features
- Weight capacity of 200 pounds
- Zipline weights 14.5
- The material used is Alloy steel
- Recommended for kids and teens of 7 years and above
- It has a 70ft ride length
- The Zipspring brake system is powder-coated
When it comes to safety, this is the zipline to choose.
This is because it is engineered with the unique Zipspring Brake system included with the slackers 70-foot Hawk Series Zipline.
The powder-coated steel spring brake system brings a smooth and safe conclusion to every ride and protects the line, the trolley, and the rider.
The plastic seat is comfortable and easy to get on and off, and the seat itself is easy to adjust up and down. The spring in the cable is designed to slow the rider down as they approach the end of the ride.
This all contributes to the fact that you do not have to worry about your child coming to a sudden hard stop.
The slackers’ Hawk Series Zipline is manufactured with only the best materials so that you receive years of safe, dependable, and entertaining physical activity.
Slackers Ziplines meet or exceed all other rigorous U.S. safety standards for an excellent quality and stability of a zipline.
Pros
- The zipline comes with clear instructions for installation
- It’s made of excellent quality materials
- The spring brake is included
Cons
- The cable is not the 80 feet it claims on the box
Installation is simple (it may take around 30 minutes to install if two people help).
You will need some pliers and a wrench.
Note: The box indicates there is an extra foot, but that may not be guaranteed.
4. Joymor Backyard Zipline Kit-200Ft
Key Features
- Length size is 200ft
- It is made from a stainless steel
- Weight capacity of 250 pounds
If your yard or garden is sloped, then this 200-foot Joymor zipline is for you.
When attaching two trees that are level with one another, you can create slope by putting one end higher than the other.
The tree on the higher end must be at least about 3 feet higher than the tree on the lower end; so if the trees are spaced apart, then the height could be higher than that.
When using the 200ft zipline with smaller kids, this may result in a potentially unsafe height to start from.
The set comes with a 200ft main cable and a 6.7ft sling cable that features a looped eye and tree protection tubing that are made from SUS304.
The seat has an adjustable length rope, which you can adjust in two ways to accommodate your child’s height. The maximum rider weight is 250 pounds.
Only one rider on the zip line at a time, and continuous adult supervision is absolutely necessary.
The zipline comes equipped with a safety belt and straps that will keep the rider safe. They must be worn and secured while riding.
Setting everything up is easy and fun if you follow the directions step by step.
Check to ensure that the rope tie under the seat is sufficiently secure. Be sure to inspect and test the line before each use.
Attach the safety belt to the strap and the trolley using carabiners. A U-Clamp is provided as well, and can help to increase cable tightness.
It comes with a Tri-wrench Tool that takes care of tightening the screws and transporting them with the travel pouch provided.
Pros
- The seat height is adjustable
- Included is a wrench tool
- It comes with a safety harness
Cons
- It isn’t easy to install
- A slope is required
The trolley can easily detach from the cable section, parents can easily detach the trolley.
They stay on longer, as the rider transfers less movement and speed onto to the trolley.
Do not leave the trolley on the cable alone, or you may risk falling onto other people.
The Joymor zip line is quite sturdy. The only complaint I have about a zipline this length is that it will usually take a team of people to set up.
A team of two may take four or so hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does the Zip Line Trolley’s Speed Rating Mean?
The rating corresponds to the max speed the bearings can achieve without overheating or being damaged. The speed is influenced by the incline of the ride and not the pulley.
Is it possible to leave the zipline up in bad weather?
Absolutely! Your heavy-duty zip line can be left outside for a couple of days, just make sure to dry it completely before use.
If you don’t use the trolley for a while, take it off. It is best to remove the zip line at the end of the season or winter for Slackers kits and keep it indoors.
Is the zip line safe for children?
One chance in a billion is the risk of a zip line breaking. A properly built, equipped and trained zipline course for kids is one of the safest activities you can do.
Final Thoughts
Your zip line apparatus will require you to have access to an open space approximately fifty feet long between two healthy, sturdy trees at least 18 inches in diameter.
The area must also be at least seven feet away from landscaping on both sides of the line to avoid anything that could harm your child if they fall off the zip line.
You could only imagine how thrilled your child would be to emerge as death-defying as a stuntman after falling into ornamental landscaping rocks.
Turnbuckles allow you to make adjustments to the tension on your zip line cable at any time and should also be used to tighten guy wires.