# Zip-lines: Anything beyond the adrenaline rush? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 14, 2014, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458 "2014-05-14T18:56:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458/1 "2014-05-14T18:56:02Z")
I just don’t get the appeal of zip-lining, so I’m asking. All I see in it is spending a bunch of time getting into safety gear, then a tiny little time falling sideways, then a bunch of time getting out of safety gear. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458/2 "2014-05-14T19:16:13Z")
They can be fun. The higher and longer the better. If it’s not your thing, don’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![babygoat666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2acd7d/32.png) [@babygoat666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/babygoat666)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458/3 "2014-05-14T19:19:10Z")
Adrenaline rushes feel good. People like to feel good. It’s really not a mystery. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458/4 "2014-05-14T19:23:34Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I just don’t get the appeal of zip-lining, so I’m asking. All I see in it is spending a bunch of time getting into safety gear, then a tiny little time falling sideways, then a bunch of time getting out of safety gear. That basically describes all of my sexual encounters. ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458/5 "2014-05-14T19:35:44Z")
I didn’t find it to produce much of an adrenaline rush, actually, and I’m a big fan of adrenaline. I think it’s peaceful. I like to be high up, and where we went zip-lining (Costa Rica), there was beautiful scenery to admire. I’m really glad we went, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to go again unless I go somewhere with scenery to appreciate from the zip line. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458/6 "2014-05-14T19:55:59Z")
South Park didn’t have a [high opinion of it](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Should_Have_Never_Gone_Ziplining). ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458/7 "2014-05-14T20:07:12Z")
It could be overcoming a fear for people who don’t like heights, too. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458/8 "2014-05-14T20:07:58Z")
> [@BetsQ](#): > > I didn’t find it to produce much of an adrenaline rush, actually, and I’m a big fan of adrenaline. I think it’s peaceful. I like to be high up, and where we went zip-lining (Costa Rica), there was beautiful scenery to admire. > > I’m really glad we went, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to go again unless I go somewhere with scenery to appreciate from the zip line. Ah, see, now _that’s_ something I hadn’t taken into consideration. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458/9 "2014-05-14T20:11:12Z")
It’s a lot like the thrill from roller coasters and Ferris wheels. If you don’t like it, you won’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458/10 "2014-05-14T20:34:03Z")
Next time you try it, let go. ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458/11 "2014-05-14T20:45:21Z")
It be can be fun. It’s over too quickly for me to really enjoy it, though. It resembles having sex when I was a teen and then having to pay for the experience…LOL ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458/12 "2014-05-14T20:53:26Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I just don’t get the appeal of zip-lining, so I’m asking. All I see in it is spending a bunch of time getting into safety gear, then a tiny little time falling sideways, then a bunch of time getting out of safety gear. I didn’t either, it seemed rather silly. But then, I was going to Whistler during the off-season and someone I trust said that I had to try their zipline & that it was amazing. So, I did. And it was both rather silly and a hell of a lot of fun. (It also had gorgeous scenery.) ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458/13 "2014-05-14T21:09:13Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I just don’t get the appeal of zip-lining, so I’m asking. All I see in it is spending a bunch of time getting into safety gear, then a tiny little time falling sideways, then a bunch of time getting out of safety gear. Maybe you should try it sometime. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458/14 "2014-05-14T21:25:20Z")
While going from line to line, our guides on Maui taught us lots about endagered native birds and invasive species, such as the eucalyptus forest the ziplines were contained in. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458/15 "2014-05-14T21:35:02Z")
Last time I went it was a long ropes course that ended in a series of zip lines. The amount of time dealing with safety gear was pretty minimal considering we took around half a dozen rides, getting progressively longer. The first one was mainly adrenaline but after that you could enjoy them and take in the views. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458/16 "2014-05-14T21:44:23Z")
The ones I’ve seen have been too damn expensive. I just can’t see paying $50 for three minutes of fun. That said, damn, it’s tempting! It looks like a great deal of fun. Hey, look, I’m Soooopa-Man! ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458/17 "2014-05-14T22:09:46Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > It could be overcoming a fear for people who don’t like heights, too. Though it seems more effective for overcoming a fear of widths. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458/18 "2014-05-14T22:16:02Z")
An aerial adventure park ([example](http://www.catamounttrees.com/)) may be more to your liking. They typically contain ziplines, but also wobbly-bridges, tight ropes, and other obstacles (while harnessed to a safety line). You get some exercise, and it quells the “$50 for three minutes?!” feeling. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458/19 "2014-05-14T22:24:10Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > An aerial adventure park ([example](http://www.catamounttrees.com/)) may be more to your liking. They typically contain ziplines, but also wobbly-bridges, tight ropes, and other obstacles (while harnessed to a safety line). You get some exercise, and it quells the “$50 for three minutes?!” feeling. I should have made more clear: I’m not in the market, just idly curious. When I see something that a bunch of people seem to get all excited about that seems so utterly pointless to me, I like to find out what the appeal is. A couple of folks here have mentioned beautiful scenery, which I find illuminating. Other folks are telling me if I don’t get it I shouldn’t do it, which I find less so. I never suggested that I was intending to try it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458/20 "2014-05-14T23:07:00Z")
I have no interest. I have friends who are excited to do it. They love it and say how great it is, and yes, they talk about the scenery and how cool it is to see things from above, but it still doesn’t appeal to me. And it seem expensive. I do like roller coasters and other thrill rides. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-lines-anything-beyond-the-adrenaline-rush/688458.md?page=2)