What Is Slacklining? – The Complete Guide for Beginners & Pros
What Is Slacklining? – The Complete Guide
Walk through a park in summer and you will see them more and more often: people balancing on a flexible strap between two trees, attempting jumps or walking high above rocks. That is slacklining – and it has long been more than a trend.
In 2025, slacklining is a fully fledged sport with its own world championships, an active global community and disciplines ranging from relaxed park sessions to highline adventures in the Alps.
What does slackline mean?
The term means exactly what it says: "slack" means loose – unlike a tightly tensioned steel wire, the line is springy and moves with you. That is exactly what makes slacklining so unique: the webbing swings, bounces and reacts to every step you take.
Depending on the discipline, slacklines are made of polyester or nylon – both materials have different properties for different uses.
The disciplines – something for everyone
🌿 Lowline / park line – the perfect start
The classic entry-level discipline. The webbing is tensioned low between two trees – usually at knee height, 15–20 m long at most. Ideal for beginners, families and anyone who simply wants to have fun.
Equipment: A good slackline set with ratchet, tree protection and webbing is all you need.
🏙️ Tricklining – acrobatics on the line
Short, tightly tensioned lines for jumping, flipping and tricks. Pros show backflips, frontflips and spectacular combinations. The webbing is usually 50 mm wide and has plenty of bounce.
📏 Longline – endurance and concentration
Anything over 35 m counts as a longline. The aim is to cover long distances on the line – real endurance and concentration training. The longest longline ever walked was over 600 m.
Longlines require specialised high-tech webbing with low stretch and high breaking strength.
🏔️ Highline – the ultimate discipline
Highlining means the webbing is rigged at great height – between mountain peaks, over gorges or between buildings. A safety system (leash) is mandatory. This discipline requires years of experience, special gear and absolute concentration.
Our Sigma ReBL and Sigma Impact webbings are designed specifically for highline use.
💧 Waterline – slacklining over water
A slackline rigged over water – if you fall, you land in the water instead of on the ground. That makes waterlines a relaxed and fun variant for warm summer days.
Why slackline? The benefits
Slacklining trains almost your entire body without you noticing:
- Balance & coordination – every swing demands an immediate reaction
- Core & deep muscles – your body constantly works against the wobble
- Concentration & mindfulness – no room for distracting thoughts
- Rehabilitation – slacklining is used successfully in physiotherapy
- Community – the slackline community is open-minded, helpful and growing steadily
Tree protection – a must, not an accessory
Slacklining in nature comes with responsibility. Many cities have already restricted or banned slacklining on public trees – often because of missing tree protection.
Our Tree Protection "Plus" reliably protects the bark and is included in all our sets. By the way, we were one of the first slackline companies to include tree protection as standard – since 2005.
First steps on the slackline
Anyone can learn to slackline – really anyone. Here's how:
The right tension: Not too tight, not too loose. The webbing should not touch the ground in the middle when you stand on it – but it should not vibrate like a garden fence either.
Ideal length for beginners: 8–12 m, tensioned at knee height.
Getting up:
- Stand sideways next to the line, close to an anchor point
- Place one foot in the middle of the webbing
- Push yourself up and bring your second foot straight behind it
- Knees slightly bent, hands at shoulder height, eyes forward on the second anchor point
The first steps:
- Always look ahead – never look down
- Small steps, feet in single file
- Relaxed hips, centre of gravity over the front foot
- Practise with a partner and support each other
After a few hours you will be surprised how quickly it clicks. 💪
Ready to get started?
👉 Shop slackline sets – we are happy to advise you on which set suits you.