Exploring the Sky Islands in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom can be made much easier with the right choice of armor. The effects of two armor sets in particular combine to make navigating the sky above Hyrule far less stressful than it may otherwise be. With everything that there is to do and see among the clouds, the potential of such an advantage cannot be disregarded in TOTK.
Armor sets come with many effects in Tears of the Kingdom, allowing Link to face a variety of situations with confidence. While these effects mean that players may want to aim to get one specific TOTK armor set first depending on their intended playstyle or interests, it cannot be denied that all the armor sets have their place, whether that be in combat or simply for the cosmetic appeal. However, when it comes to traveling up to and between the game's iconic Sky Islands, there are actually two armor sets that are equally important for players to acquire.
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The Glide and Zonaite armor sets are invaluable to midair travel and exploration in Tears of the Kingdom. The Glide armor set gives the player greater maneuverability whilst gliding, and when the full set is upgraded twice eliminates fall damage entirely. TOTK's Zonaite armor, meanwhile, reduces the energy consumed by active Zonai devices. The bonus upgrade effect for this set similarly increases the rate at which Link's Energy Cells recharge, something which becomes increasingly valuable as the player expands their maximum battery life. Together, these armor sets allow Link to travel further in TOTK with the vehicles he constructs, as well as allow him to survive any mishaps.
The Glide Armor set is obtained by completing various skydiving challenges found across the sky. These Dive Ceremonies, which are apparently a Zonai coming-of-age tradition, involve passing through a series of rings during an extensive skydive within a certain amount of time. The Glide Armor itself contributed massively toward this, as its effects allow for greater control of skydiving with every piece; therefore, the more trials Link has completed, the easier it becomes to complete them. The challenges themselves cost Link a single Zonai charge to attempt, although he does get a free trial run first (and doing so also allows him to activate a Shrine).
The Dive Challenge Sky Islands are easily identifiable by the towering series of blocks and other stonework above them. For example, the Glide Tights are found on Bravery Island, which is easiest accessed by launching from the Typhlo Ruins Skyview Tower and gliding south with the Paraglider. Speaking to the Steward Construct there will allow Link to attempt the trial, which needs to be completed in 35 seconds or less. Completing the challenge a second time, achieving a time below the 20-second mark, will earn Link a Large Zonai Charge. A similar sequence of events unfolds for the other pieces of the set, the Glide Shirt and Glide Mask.
The Glide Shirt is won on Courage Island, found in the Central Hyrule Sky. The Glide Mask, meanwhile, is located on Valor Island above South Lanayru. Again, completing both challenges requires Link to reach the bottom with a dive time of 35 seconds or less. Furthermore, by upgrading the set with Keese Wings and Aerocuda Eyeballs, Link will unlock the Impact Proof set bonus. This proves invaluable for times where Link is falling from a great height without stamina, perhaps as a result of gliding too far or climbing too high. It is similarly useful when flying machines begin to fail too far away from solid land.
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Finding and completing the Zonaite armor set is a challenge in its own right, requiring Link to visit some remarkably inaccessible Sky Islands. In order to reach these islands, he must have access to plenty of Stamina and Zonai Charge, or at least enough resources to refill his reserves. However, the investment of time and energy is undoubtedly worth it; each piece of the Zonaite armor set allows him to use Zonai devices for longer, and the full set's bonus recovery boosting effect will likewise help him make the next stage of a long trip sooner; an invaluable effect to any player who regularly uses Zoani devices to explore Hyrule.
The Zonaite Shin Guards are perhaps the easiest part of the armor set to find, being located in the Akkala Sky Mine above the Rist Peninsula. Zonai flying machines are crucial to reaching this location, which sits far removed from the Sokkala Sky Archipelago. Reaching the Shin Guards properly involves solving an environmental puzzle, and much like the Dive Ceremony islands, there is also a Shrine for players to activate. Meanwhile, the Zonaite Waistguard is located on Zonai Forge Island over West Necluda, and the Helm is on Lightcast Island over Tabantha. Both are similarly difficult to reach, with Lightcast Island even being so high up that gravity's effects are weakened.
With the Zonaite armor in Link's possession, and upgraded with materials gathered from Zonai Constructs, travel in Tears of the Kingdom is easier than ever before. This is especially apparent in the Sky, where miscalculations in range can lead to Link taking a fatal fall to the surface. Zonai vehicles are far more likely to carry him all the way to distant destinations with the Zonaite Armor, and the Glide Armor can likewise save him in the worst-case scenario where even the Zonaite armor isn't quite enough.
Collecting the Zonaite armor requires extensive use of Zonai devices, which is thematically appropriate considering the armor's effects, just as the Dive Ceremonies are for the Glide armor. Acquiring these armor sets pushes Link to the limits of his airborne abilities and rewards him by dramatically increasing those same limits. Of course, they have their uses on the surface and in the depths as well, but it is among the Sky Islands where they are earned that these armor sets truly shine. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's iconic domain is, without question, best explored with the Glide and Zonaite armor sets on hand.