Leggings may be the go-to plane travel outfit for millions, but one aviation safety expert argues they could be a terrible choice in the event of an emergency.
Leggings On A Plane? Think Twice, Says Aviation Safety Expert
Many travelers swear by leggings for their comfort and stretch, particularly on long-haul flights. But what few realize is that these garments, while comfortable, may be among the most dangerous items to wear on an airplane…at leas according to one doctor.
Tight clothing, particularly garments made of synthetic materials, can pose serious health and safety risks. One concern is circulation. Leggings, especially when worn for extended periods without movement, can contribute to poor blood flow and increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis.
But a more serious risk, says aviation journalist and safety expert Christine Negroni, has to do with the material itself.
“The issue with leggings is the nature of the material. You have a tight garment that is usually made from synthetic fibers, made from petroleum products, which is not something you want to wear on an airplane because the largest risk in a survivable air accident is fire.”
In other words, if you survive an impact, you may not survive the fire that follows if your clothing melts to your skin.
Synthetic Materials Are Not Your Friend
Clothing made from synthetic materials, such as nylon or polyester, has a tendency to melt when exposed to heat. That melted fabric can adhere to skin and cause far more severe injuries than natural fibers like cotton or wool, which burn but do not melt.
Negorni continued:
“It is going to get very hot, it will either melt on your skin or cause serious burns, and that becomes something that will impact your ability to escape the aircraft.In other words, if you’re not damaged beyond an ability to exit, to get out of the airplane, then you might be affected by the fire.”
Many modern travel outfits are form-fitting and made from these synthetic blends. Leggings, in particular, are usually composed almost entirely of petroleum-based fibers. This makes them especially problematic in the event of a post-crash fire or cabin fire.
Smarter Wardrobe Choices
If comfort is the goal, there are better alternatives. Natural fiber fabrics are generally safer in the event of an accident. Loose-fitting cotton pants, long-sleeved shirts, and closed-toed shoes are widely regarded by safety professionals as better options for flying. Compression socks, though not fashionable, are also helpful for preventing blood clots on long flights.
In a critical moment, your wardobe choice might actually matter far more than you think.
CONCLUSION
While leggings are beloved for their comfort, they could put you at greater risk during an in-flight emergency. Synthetic, form-fitting clothing is not recommended by aviation safety experts due to the risk of fire and melting materials. It may seem like overkill, but if you’re looking to increase your odds of walking away from a survivable crash, a few wardrobe adjustments may be in order. That said, if you’re merely playing the odds, I would not blame you for choosing comfort over safety.
This is actually very good advice that any frequent flier should consider when deciding what to wear.
It doesn’t make a difference.
I’d think they help avoid DVT with the compression factor.
Except that most casual wear leggings, even those from nominally performance focused brands, don’t provide sufficient compression to make a difference. Actual compression leggings, like those worn by athletes, aren’t particularly comfortable. I know because I wear compression leggings and socks for skiing and although I love the effects from a blood flow and anti-fatigue standpoint, I’m damned glad to take them off at the end of the day. I can’t imagine wearing them for a long haul plane ride.
Free Chivas!
Slow day Matthew?
Perhaps you’d like more exciting news, I see.
I agree.
No leggings. No shorts. No high heels. No sandals or flip flops.
Wear long sleeves. Wear masks.
There is currently a Covid surge but it is expected to taper by the end of the month. The worse was around Memorial Day.
Funny you mention “no high heels”. I have been shocked to see FAs wearing boots with high heels during the winter. These are those long boots that get close to your knees. How about that for a safe and quick evacuation in case of emergency?
You are a broken record with your Covid nonsense over and over.
Covid is NOT a risk to anyone without a foot in the grave already and never was.
Shocked you ever leave the house, assuming you actually do.
I usually wear a mask if someone is coughing not just for Covid (which I’ve had a few times) but for all the other respiratory viruses going around, the Flu, even Measles and TB which is highly contagious in the air!
Tell that to Jonathan Toews, an NHL player (professional athlete) that has barely been able to play for the last 5 years because of long Covid
BS. I’m going to give you fact even though I expect you to ignore them. In 2020 there were about 500k more deaths than expected followed by the same in 2021 followed by 300k excessive deaths in 2022.
To be clear since the “Covid only took those with one foot in the grave” crowd aren’t good about reading for comprehension that’s deaths from all causes, not just from Covid. And that hasn’t happened since the “spanish” flu. It didn’t happen during Vietnam, during WWII, during the great recession, or during the great depression.
If Covid only killed people with one foot in the grave there wouldn’t have been any uptick in deaths because the people who Covid killed would have died that year anyway. Let’s say that that’s an exageration, and Covid took people who would have died within the next 2 years, then there would have been an uptick in the first year, but none in the second year since the people who Covid killed in 2021 would have been balanced by those who would have died in 2021 but were already killed by Covid in 2020. The fact that the excess deaths continued through 2022 shows that the idea that Covid only killed those with one foot in the grave is dangerous BS
Good luck finding clothes that have no synthetic fibers today. Unless you buy on special stores tailored to “save the planet” almost everything you wear is made of synthetic fibers and obviously are made cheaply in an Asian country. I personally try to wear clothes with more cotton on it but almost impossible to find 100% cotton anything anymore. Also, synthetic fibers are way easier to handle in trips where you need to quick wash them and let them dry to use again. Natural fibers are way more difficult to dry if you need on a trip.
Merino wool to the rescue…if you can pony up the $$$.
Well, not when you are flying to Europe in the summer where temperatures are above 40C. Wearing merino wool will cook you.
Tropical weight wool is the best. Super light and does not wrinkle because of the weave and wears like iron. Difficult to find and expensive but worth it.
The clothes I have on right now are 100% cotton (OK, the jeans are 99%). Guess I used up my luck…
There’s no shortage of slow fashion stuff made in Europe. The vast majority of the clothes I wear regularly are made in Spain or Portugal (with the odd piece made in Italy or Romania), lots of my underwear is Czech etc. They’re not particularly expensive either- we’re not talking ‘designer’ stuff here, just casual/smart casual clothing without eccentric designs or big logos etc.
Most of them are either 100% cotton, cotton/linen blends or cotton with a little bit of elastane. Which brings me to the question of whether wearing something with 3-4-5% elastane is still dangerous in case of an aircraft fire.
Listen Doc, then why do they recommend compression socks to reduce the incidence of (deep vein thromosis), DVTs? I usually take 1 or 2 aspirins of 81 mg each before my flight. This will reduce the incidence of blood clots while you are sitting for a long period of time. And also, I take baby aspirin 3 x a week for a 65-year-old person like me to reduce the incidence of a heart attack.
Wearing leggings to anything but a yoga or pilates class screams “cheap slag” as loudly as a tornado alarm, and the majority of women who wear them look less like a gym kween and more like twelve pounds of ground beef stuffed into a condom.
Or as we ladies politely call it muffin top!
Surprised by your comment. Cheap slag is not a comment men should judge women with muffin top or not. Women should wear what is comfortable amd not be judged for it. My daughter is 14 and i don’t care for society judging her.
Women can wear whatever they want, as can men, and others are free to judge them. In Australia a lot of men fly in shorts and flip-flops, which is just as trashy as leggings.
Leggings are a poor fashion choice and more importantly look very uncomfortable. My wife wears loose fitting dresses and pants when traveling. Not only does she look beautiful but she is comfortable. I don’t get the American and Canadian fascination with traveling while wearing what looks like tight fitting under garments.
Im glad you’re wife is comfortable and it’s awesome that you love her look. But you shouldn’t care about how other women dress and how they want to feel good about themselves.