Wobbly knees at lunch, bragging rights by sundown.
Your mission
The Bandana Walk
Tie a bandana on the line twenty feet from where you step on. Then walk from your starting point to that bandana without touching the ground, the overhead line or your spotter, while your friend counts every step out loud.
Bonus challenge: Once you reach the bandana, turn around slowly and walk back to where you started.
Grab a friend, find two sturdy trees and spend an afternoon learning to walk a slackline together. You'll take turns wobbling, spotting and cheering. By the end, that springy two-inch strap will settle under your feet for twenty whole feet.
Picture a flat strap stretched low between two trees in the park. The first time you step on, it shakes like it has its own opinions. Then something shifts, your shoulders loosen, and you take a real step. You and a friend will rig the line, practice standing, then walk with a helping hand until you can walk on your own. Everybody shakes at first, and the line sits low enough that stepping off is easy. Your goal is twenty feet.
Your body figures things out faster than you expect. One minute your leg is shaking like a leaf, and a few tries later it goes still and you're walking. Having a friend shout "you've got it" right when it clicks makes it even better. You'll go home feeling a little taller, and you'll want to come back tomorrow.
Top gear to make this quest great.
Pull it off
The overhead line gives you something to hold while you learn, which makes your first steps much easier.
Get on Amazon · $64.95 — ZenMonkey Slackline Kit with Overhead Training Line, Arm Trainer and Tree Protectors
Extra padding keeps the bark safe and helps your strap stay in place on the trunk.
A simpler kit you can pick instead if you want to learn with a spotter rather than an overhead line.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Prices may change.
You'll shake at first, and that's how everyone starts. Essential: a beginner slackline kit with an overhead training line, which comes with the strap, ratchet and tree protectors. Choose two healthy trees at least a foot thick and about 30 feet apart, on soft grass. Handy extras: a bandana to mark twenty feet, a second set of tree protection so the bark stays safe, and a friend to spot you. Check your park's rules first, because some parks don't allow slacklines or ask you to use tree protection.
A good quest stays a good story. These are general notes; your gear's manual, the venue's rules and local law come first.
First, build your playground. Pick two sturdy trees about 25 to 30 feet apart. Most kits let you make the line short or long, and a shorter line bounces less, so it's much easier to learn on. Wrap a tree protector around each trunk at knee height. Loop the strap around both trees and tighten it with the ratchet, following the kit's instructions. Stop when the line feels firm but still has some bounce. Then hang the overhead training line above it, about head height. Stand in the middle. If the line touches the ground, tighten it a little more.
Time to meet the shake! Start near one tree, where the line is steadiest. Beginner kits like the Barefoot set use a wide, grippy strap, so there's plenty of room for your whole foot. Hold the overhead line, put one foot on the strap and stand up on it. Your leg will tremble, and that's normal. Bend your knee, keep your chest upright and look at the far tree. Count to five, step off, and let your friend have a turn.
Now let's move! Hold the overhead line lightly and take small steps along the strap, heel to toe, with your knees soft. If you're on a ZenMonkey line, the woven strap is extra soft underfoot, so try it barefoot and feel it gently stretch with each step. Your partner walks beside you and cheers. Switch roles every few minutes so you both rest your legs. When you stop squeezing the overhead line and just brush it with your fingertips, you're ready for the next step.
Here's the twist: no more overhead line. Your spotter holds up one hand at shoulder height, and you rest a single finger on it as you walk. Each time you go, use it a little less. Can you take three steps with your hands in the air? Five? Tie the bandana on the line twenty feet from where you start.
This is the big moment. Stand up near the tree, find your spot at the far end, and start walking toward the bandana. No overhead line, no finger. Your friend counts every step out loud and cheers louder the closer you get. Fell off? Shake out your legs and try again. Your legs learn a little more with every try.
You did it, so give yourself a cheer! Release the ratchet slowly, the way your kit's instructions say, and keep your hands clear while the strap loosens. Unwrap the tree protectors, and coil everything back into the bag. Take one last look at the trees. You walked between them today, and next time your crew will want to try for the whole line.
You walked twenty feet on a strap that tried to buck you off all afternoon. Now set up the line again and challenge your friend to walk all the way to the far tree.
You bring the curiosity. We've found the tools.
Pull it off
The overhead line gives you something to hold while you learn, which makes your first steps much easier.
Get on Amazon · $64.95 — ZenMonkey Slackline Kit with Overhead Training Line, Arm Trainer and Tree Protectorswhat to look for & our pick →
Extra padding keeps the bark safe and helps your strap stay in place on the trunk.
Thick tree wraps with four sewn strips that hold the slackline in place.
Get on Amazon · $29.00 — Slack-INOV Slackline Tree Protectionwhat to look for & our pick →
A simpler kit you can pick instead if you want to learn with a spotter rather than an overhead line.
A 60-foot slackline kit with tree guards, a carrying bag and instructions.
Get on Amazon · $56.95 — ZenMonkey Slackline Kit with Tree Guards and Carrying Bag, 60 Feetwhat to look for & our pick →
A lower-cost kit you can pick instead that still includes a helping line for beginners.
A complete 60-foot set with a ratchet, training line and bark protection.
Get on Amazon · $44.95 — Barefoot Slackline Kit 60ft with Training Line and Bark Protectionwhat to look for & our pick →
A kit you can pick instead that works for families learning together, with an adult rigging the line.
A 57-foot slackline kit with a training line and tree protectors.
Get on Amazon · $49.95 — flybold Slackline Kit for Kids and Adults, 57 ft with Training Linewhat to look for & our pick →RELATED GEAR GUIDE
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Prices and availability are subject to change. The price shown at checkout on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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