Buying pads & helmets for skateboarding

Ok we’re going to talk today about buying pads & helmets for learning to skateboard. This article mostly deals with when you are beginning to learn to skateboard. The pads that are best for you may change based upon:

• your age,
• ability,
• your ambition, and
• the style of riding you want to do. 

When you are learning to skate, the more protection you have, the more risks you can take, and the faster you can learn. It’s recommended.

Buying pads for absolute beginners 

Buy pads that you have to pull over the limbs, like socks. This is going to prevent them from slipping when you fall. Yes sweaty, but safety first

Don’t buy these[Picture of shit pads]

Buys pads that are made to accommodate the knee flexing. The cheap ones don’t. The aforementioned style, which pull over the limbs usually have this feature. There is a little crease stitched in above the knee/elbow cap, where you fasten the strap up, which helps with this. 

How much to spend?

If you’re buying for kids who are beginners you can get decent pads for as little as £12. You might want to spend a little more than this however. I’d suggest maybe not spending too much until you know your kids want to continue riding. Adults, you’ll want to spend at least £20 on pads.

Pads for more advanced skating

Pads for ‘park’ and ramps

Once you’ve learned the basics, pads are used more generally for skating transition, i.e. ramps & bowls etc. This is because tricks often involve jumping and the best way to bail from these types of tricks is to knee slide. Pads made for knee slides are bigger, to give the knee plenty of protection from the ground. If you, or your child is getting into ramps or bowl skating, and you want to put some air between yourself and the ground, then you should probably invest in a set of more expensive pads and learn to kneeslide. These pads might cost from £30 to £50. 

Pads for street skating

Pads are used less for street style skating, because knee sliding isn’t really an option when you bail a trick. Knee pads often get in the way when you’re trying to flip the board or skate a ledge.

Should you wear protection skating street? We’d suggest that wrist guards and helmets are a good idea irrespective of what style of skating you are doing.

Buying pads for adults

Aside from what’s mentioned above. Adult learners might want to consider getting some hip pads, similar to what is sold for snowboarding. Burton do some good ones.

There’s also more discreet (and expensive) knee and elbow pads, I won’t mention brands but these constructed in a similar way to the snowboarding hip pads and are really flexible. These can be worn under the clothing.

Buying helmets for beginner skateboarders

Make sure to buy helmets which protect the forehead. A lot of bike helmets don’t.

If you’re buying Helmets for kids you might want to get one where you can adjust how it fits around the skull. These helmets have a little wheel at the back of the helmet, which you can twist. You can adjust it as their head grows. 

Watch out for the foam lining inside the helmet. Often these are fixed with velcro and they come loose and fall out. Make sure when you purchase a helmet that it has its full complement of foam lining.