Some bungee cords are pre-stretched. This prevents the cord from stretching as much during the actual jump, which provides more of a 'jerking' action and a shock as the jumper reaches the end of the cord length. These are used mostly in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere the commercial proponents of bungee jumping tend to use a natural rubber, un-stretched and unbraided cord. This provides for a lot more 'bounce' and a more smooth experience at the bottom of the jump. While these natural cords do not last as long as the mil spec cords, they do provide a much more comfortable jump for the average user.

The next piece of bungee jumping equipment that you should inquire about is known as the harness. There are two main types of harnesses - the leg harness and the body harness. The leg harness usually consists of a towel wrapped around the ankles with webbing tied around this in a special knot. The towel provides padding to help prevent injury to the ankles. The webbing is then attached to the bungee cord. The body harness is very similar to a climber's harness, and in fact, is many times the same thing. The most important aspect of the harness is how it attaches - if it is secure - to the bungee. Some accidental deaths have occurred when the bungee cord was attached using climbing carabineers instead of specialized equipment. It can definitely be said that bungee jumping equipment has come a long way since the vines on Pentecost Island!