Wear closed-toe athletic shoes, a comfortable top that lets your throwing arm move freely, and pants or shorts you can stand and step in easily. Leave dangling jewelry, scarves and open-toe footwear at home, and tie long hair back. That covers about 95% of what you need to know, and the rest of this guide explains the reasons, so you can adjust for date night, a work outing or a birthday party.
TL;DR
- Closed-toe shoes with a flat, grippy sole are the one item you should not compromise on. No sandals, heels or bare feet.
- Choose a top with room in the shoulders and sleeves. A throw is an overhead motion, and tight or stiff fabric fights it.
- Skip hanging jewelry, scarves and loose hoodie strings, and tie long hair away from your face.
- Dress for the room’s temperature in layers you can remove. A light layer beats a bulky jacket.
- The same basic outfit works for combat archery, Nerf battles and other active party games, so you can plan once.
Table of Contents
- The short version: your axe throwing outfit
- Shoes: the one rule that matters most
- Tops and layers: freedom for your throwing arm
- Pants, shorts, skirts and dresses
- Hair, jewelry and small accessories
- Outfit ideas by occasion
- What to wear for other active party games
- Perspective: what we see when groups arrive
- Planning a group event? Here is how we can help
- A quick checklist before you leave the house
- FAQ
- Sources
The short version: your axe throwing outfit
Think of how you would dress for a casual gym session or a walk through a park, then make small adjustments for an overhead throw. A simple outfit works:
| Item | Good choice | Skip |
|---|---|---|
| Shoes | Running shoes, sneakers, flat boots with laces | Sandals, flip-flops, heels, slides, bare feet |
| Top | T-shirt, athletic top, or a fitted, stretchy long-sleeve | Tight blazers, stiff jackets, very loose sleeves |
| Bottoms | Jeans with some give, leggings, joggers, athletic shorts | Very short skirts, tight pencil skirts, restrictive trousers |
| Hair | Tied back or clipped away from the face | Loose long hair across your eyes |
| Accessories | A watch-free wrist, small studs at most | Dangling earrings, necklaces, bracelets, scarves |
Nothing here needs to be bought. If you own one pair of sneakers and a T-shirt, you are ready.
Shoes: the one rule that matters most
Closed-toe shoes are the answer to the most common question people ask before they book. A thrown or dropped axe is heavy and sharp, and your feet are the closest part of you to the floor. Even in a controlled lane, nobody wants an exposed toe near a mishap.
Beyond “closed toe,” the sole matters. Official Canadian school guidance, which is written for physical activity in general, recommends athletic footwear with a flat, rubber, treaded sole that is secured to the foot and rules out open toes, open heels, cleats, wheels and sock feet. That is a sensible standard for any active game night.
Practical tips:
- Tie your laces securely. You step toward the lane line and sometimes retrieve axes, so loose laces are a trip hazard.
- Avoid slippery soles. Dress shoes with smooth leather bottoms can skid on a polished floor.
- Bring socks. If you arrive in sandals, a pair of socks does not fix the problem. Open footwear is still open footwear.
- Winter boots are fine if they are flat and grippy, but kick the slush off first so you are not carrying water onto the floor.
If you are coming straight from work in heels or loafers with a slick sole, pack a pair of sneakers in your bag. It takes ten seconds to change and saves a conversation at the door.
Tops and layers: freedom for your throwing arm
A standard throw brings the axe back behind your head and forward in a smooth arc. Your shoulder, elbow and wrist all need room. That is why most guides tell you to choose a top you can swing your arms in without it riding up or pinching.
Good picks:
- A cotton or athletic T-shirt.
- A stretchy long-sleeve top.
- A light zip-up sweater or fleece you can take off if you warm up.
Be careful with:
- Stiff or tight jackets. A fitted leather jacket or blazer looks sharp, but you will feel it pulling every time you reach back.
- Very baggy sleeves. Sleeves that flop over your hand can interfere with your grip. For archery, the same Canadian school guidance says not to wear loose-fitting upper-body clothing. The principle carries over to anything involving a launched or thrown object.
- Hoodie strings, scarves and shawls. Anything that dangles can swing into your throwing path or snag on something. If you wear a hoodie, tuck the drawstrings in or take it off.
Layering for Ontario weather
Ontario winters mean heavy coats, and venues can be warm once a group is moving. Wear a base layer that works on its own, keep a light second layer, and leave the parka on the coat rack. After a few rounds you will be glad you did.
Pants, shorts, skirts and dresses
You will stand, step slightly and follow through with one arm. You do not need athletic gear, but you do want to move without restriction. The same school guidance lists shorts, sweatpants, leggings, T-shirts and sweatshirts as suitable activity clothing and warns that restrictive or ill-fitting clothing can cause discomfort or injury.
In practice:
- Jeans: fine if they have a little stretch. Stiff, skinny denim makes lunging and reaching harder.
- Leggings and joggers: the easiest choice.
- Shorts: good in warm weather, as long as your shoes are closed.
- Skirts and dresses: workable if they are a comfortable length and you can move your arms. Pair them with leggings or shorts underneath if you like, and wear sneakers rather than heels.
Hair, jewelry and small accessories
These are the details people forget, and they are easy to fix.
Hair. Tie long hair back so it does not fall across your face while you aim. Canadian school safety guidance says to tie long hair away from the face to prevent blocked vision and injury to other participants. A simple elastic or a headband is enough.
Jewelry. The same guidelines note that exposed or hanging jewelry such as necklaces, earrings, rings, watches, bracelets, hairpins and clips can catch on equipment or clothing, or be struck by a projectile. You do not need to strip off every ring for a casual outing, but long chains, hoops and dangling bracelets are better left in your pocket or at home. Check with the venue about its own rules when you book.
Other items. Keep phones, keys and wallets in a zipped pocket or a locker if one is offered, since you will be bending and reaching. Glasses are fine, but a strap or secure fit helps if you tend to push them up your nose.
Outfit ideas by occasion
Date night
You can look good and still throw well. Dark jeans with stretch or leggings, clean sneakers and a soft top with room in the shoulders work for nearly everyone. Hair up, no dangly earrings, and you are set. If dinner comes first, choose the outfit that works for both, and bring a light layer rather than a stiff coat. Our couples’ guide to booking an axe throwing date walks through the planning, and the date ideas for couples page has ways to make the evening more fun.
Team building and corporate outings
Business casual is the trap here. A tailored blazer and dress shoes are the opposite of what you want. Tell the group in advance: sneakers, comfortable pants, a top that moves. A short note in the calendar invite prevents a half-dozen people showing up in loafers. We cover this in more detail in our corporate event dress code guide, and if you are organizing the outing, our axe throwing team building page explains how it works for Ontario groups.
Birthday parties
For kids’ parties, think play clothes and running shoes, the same as for any active party. For adults, treat it like date night with a bigger group. Send the guests a one-line reminder about closed-toe shoes so nobody is turned away or has to borrow footwear.
Leagues and regulars
If you throw weekly, you will quickly develop favorites: a stretchy shirt, broken-in sneakers, maybe a thin glove for grip if you like one. Many regulars also work on their grip, stance and release, and you will notice that good technique depends on clothing that stays out of the way.
What to wear for other active party games
Most of what applies to axe throwing also applies to the other games at an active venue. The footwear and hair rules are the same: closed-toe, flat-soled, laced shoes, and tied-back hair.
Combat archery and archery tag
You will be moving, crouching and sometimes running, so choose athletic clothes. For archery specifically, Canadian school guidance asks for suitable footwear such as running shoes or hiking boots, no sandals or open-toed shoes, no exposed jewelry and long hair tied back. Fitted tops matter more here, because loose fabric can catch on a bow string. Face protection is part of the game, and our guide to combat archery masks explains what they cover and how to choose one. You can also read about archery sessions before you go.
Nerf battles
Dark or neutral clothes are fine, and you should wear things you do not mind sweating in. Our Nerf battle outfit guide covers what to wear and what to skip, and the Nerf Battle page has the session details.
Dodgeball, bazooka ball and ping pong
Choose clothes with a full range of motion, such as shorts or joggers and a breathable T-shirt. Court shoes or running shoes with good grip matter most when you are pivoting and dodging. For ping pong, comfort is the only real requirement, though closed shoes keep you steady on the floor.
Perspective: what we see when groups arrive
We run an indoor venue where groups move between combat archery, Nerf battles, bazooka ball, dodgeball, ping pong, axe throwing and arcade games, so we think about clothing as part of the plan, not an afterthought. The problems are almost always small and avoidable: someone in sandals, a scarf looped around a neck, hair that keeps falling in a face. None of them require a special wardrobe.
Our advice is to dress for the most active game on your list, not the least. If you are doing axe throwing and then an hour of dodgeball, the sneakers and stretchy top you chose for the first activity carry you through the second. For organizers, a one-line message before the event, “closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothes,” does more than any long policy document.
And when in doubt, ask us. Dress rules differ between venues, and we would rather answer a question before the day than see you worry about it at the door.
— Archers
Planning a group event? Here is how we can help
If you are organizing a party, team outing or sports team event, we have packages built for different group sizes, with planning support included. Our published starting prices include the Game On Birthday Party from $399 and the Epic Birthday Party from $499, the Collab Package for team building from $699, and adult event packages starting at $299 for Pong & Party On. Single activities such as Combat Archery are listed at $35, and Ping Pong and Dodgeball at $30.
For the current details, browse the Archers Battlefield home page and send an inquiry. Mention your group size and which games you want, and we will help you plan the day, including what guests should wear.
A quick checklist before you leave the house
- Closed-toe shoes with a flat, grippy sole, laced and tied.
- A top you can reach overhead in comfortably.
- Pants or shorts that let you step and bend.
- Hair tied back.
- Dangling jewelry, scarves and long chains left at home.
- A light layer for temperature changes.
- Small valuables zipped away or stored securely.
If you want to prepare further, read how axe scoring works and browse games you can play with a group. Knowing the rules ahead of time means the evening is spent throwing, not figuring out the scoreboard.
FAQ
Do you need closed-toe shoes to go axe throwing?
Yes, plan on it. Closed-toe, flat-soled shoes are the standard expectation for axe throwing, and sandals, flip-flops and heels are the usual exclusions. Running shoes are the safest choice, and it is worth confirming the venue’s own policy when you book.
Can I wear a dress or skirt axe throwing?
Yes, if it lets you move your arms and step comfortably. Avoid very short or very tight styles, and wear sneakers instead of heels. Leggings or shorts underneath add comfort and confidence.
Should I wear gloves?
You do not need them. Some throwers like a thin glove for grip, but plenty of people throw bare-handed. Skip bulky winter gloves, since they reduce your feel for the handle.
What should I wear to combat archery or archery tag?
Wear athletic clothes that fit close to the body, closed-toe running shoes, and tie your hair back. Remove dangling jewelry before you play. Face protection is part of the game, so follow the instructions at your session.
Is there a different dress code for kids?
The basics are the same: closed shoes, comfortable play clothes, hair tied back and no dangling accessories. Kids move a lot between activities, so shoes that stay on securely matter most.
