Holiday Gifts, Aerial Dreams & Why the Source Really Matters

12/11/2025 | Heidi Kirchofer

Category: circus, thrive movement studio, performance, lifestyle, movement, health, fitness, wellness

Hi Thrive families,

With the holidays around the corner, a lot of you have been asking about getting aerial equipment for your kids. I completely understand the excitement—when our kids fall in love with something, we want to support their passions! But I also want to take a moment to talk about the complexities of at-home aerial setups— to help you make the most informed decisions for your family’s safety.

Every home is different - do the research!

Regardless of body weight standing on a scale, dynamic aerial movement can generate forces up to 10 times body weight. That means a student who weighs 100 pounds can exert over 1,000 pounds of force on a ceiling point.

This doesn’t automatically mean your home can’t support an apparatus—it just means only a qualified structural engineer can tell you for sure. Every house is built differently, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.  Though Thrive’s ceiling may look pretty standard, we built it FOR aerial use.

I can’t advise you on whether your home is safe for rigging (legally or ethically), but I strongly encourage families to speak with a professional before installing anything.

Equipment quality (and why Amazon isn’t the place)

I know Amazon is convenient and tempting—full kits, fast shipping, great prices. The issue isn’t that Amazon is “bad”; it’s that the platform can’t verify the origin, standards, or manufacturing consistency of aerial-related gear.

• One batch of carabiners might come from a reputable source, and the next could be from a factory with zero load testing.

• Circus and climbing hardware has to meet very specific strength ratings, certifications, and manufacturing standards.

• Reputable companies disclose testing data, materials, and safety standards. Amazon sellers usually… don’t.

To give an example: years ago, a friend’s U.S.-based company sent her husband to China to explore manufacturing ball bearings to the same standards they used here at home. After five years, even with an experienced team, they still couldn’t replicate the necessary quality. There were many factors, but one major challenge was the consistency of the metal itself. That experience has always stayed with me—it showed just how hard it can be to ensure true safety and reliability in specialized equipment.

And that’s why in circus, we stick to equipment from companies that are transparent, well-established, and whose entire business revolves around life-supporting gear.

This isn’t about keeping things exclusive

As a teacher, I’m thrilled when kids want to dive into their artistic practice. Your kids’ safety matters to me more than anything, and I want every family to feel empowered to make informed, confident choices—not rushed Amazon decisions that could put someone at risk.

So what can you do? Here are a few helpful steps:

• Talk to a structural engineer before installing anything in a ceiling.

• Consider freestanding rigs if indoor rigging isn’t an option.

• Start small. Many kids benefit from flexibility tools,  or conditioning equipment long before they need a silk in their bedroom.

You’re doing a great job

Truly. The fact that you’re even reading this means you’re thoughtful and invested in your child’s wellbeing. Aerial arts are magical, empowering, and transformative—and with the right equipment and guidance, they can be safe too.

Warmly,
Heidi

Share this: