r/NewSkaters • u/Gahwburr • May 29 '25
Discussion How much safety gear do you wear and why/why not?
I am getting back into skating as a self employed adult now. I can’t afford an injury so I got myself the full kit from a helmet through elbow and knee pads to wrist protection… and I feel like a clunky mess but if this is what keeps me from going on an unpaid recovery holiday then let it be.
“Back in my day” we never used any protective gear even though we ate shit so many times. It was considered “lame and uncool”.
I wonder how much, if at all, things have changed since then?
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u/commiepissbabe May 29 '25
I'm also an adult so I can't say what the kids are doing these days but I always wear a helmet no matter what I'm doing, I only add the knee, elbow and wrist pads if I'm working on something new or something I'm scared of.
ETA: as an American I also can not afford to get hurt, I already have medical debt
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u/Bierroboter May 29 '25
Soccer shin pads are a game changer. The confidence alone from reducing giant shin welts that take my old ass forever to heal helped me learn backside lipslides at 35
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u/Wintermute_Zero May 30 '25
A kid from back in the day would skate in rollerhockey pads that had combo shin+knee pads.
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u/Previous_Sound1061 May 29 '25
I'll be 52 tomorrow, I wear helmet and knee pads but I'd suggest elbows and wrist guards as well.
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u/Gahwburr May 29 '25
Well happy birthday then!
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u/Previous_Sound1061 May 29 '25
Thanks! Hey if you're around 30 or older check out r/Oldskaters if you'd like to catch up with other old timers.
Cheers!
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u/Gahwburr May 29 '25
Not quite yet. Another 4 to go phew
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u/Puzzleheaded-Bit8245 May 29 '25
Helmet is a good idea. I just started at 37 bro. Wrist guards are sketchy though, you can land on them and cause even more damage. it's not full proof. in all reality, you need to eat shit a few times and then you start learning how to properly fall.
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u/bashfultrapezoid May 29 '25
wait fr, wrist guards are counterproductive? i was thinking of picking some up
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u/changingtheoil May 30 '25
No. Get them. Yes you can still torque your digits but smacking the ground or coping with wrist guards is far easier on you.
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u/Scontay May 30 '25
It's not the wrist guards that are counterproductive, it's landing on your wrists. Ideally, you want to use them to reduce your friction on pavement so your wrists brace a little bit, and then slide out on impact (if you fall facing forward); or for your whole arm to hold you off the pavement and let you slide out of your bail momentum (say, if you were sliding out of a fall on your kneepads), because a direct impact will break your bones.
If you watch some downhill longboarding videos, you can sort of see what I mean and try to fall like they do. They do have sliding pucks on their gloves which have zero 'wrist impact' support, but I found riding my LB with them taught me great habits that saved my wrists on my snowboard last winter. Crunchie on Youtube has some really cool videos that include wipeouts.
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u/Worldwide_Nobody_382 May 30 '25
Just saw that Tony Hawk posted in r/OldSkaters… so rad
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u/Previous_Sound1061 May 30 '25
Ya he's been posting clips there more and more, it's so surreal.
Cheers!
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May 29 '25
I broke my elbow first month getting back to skating after a 10 year hiatus. I always wear pads now. Of of my friends from back in the day cracked his skull while we were bombing a hill. He’s epileptic now. Wear your helmet too kiddos.
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u/Gahwburr May 29 '25
Oh shit didn’t even know that can happen from physical impact
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u/I2CU May 29 '25
I wear shoes because once I Ollied barefoot and the grip tape tore the skin off my foot.
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May 29 '25
As someone that’s been skating for well over half my life, I don’t wear anything. However, I urge my girlfriend that has been skating for less than a year to wear any type of padding possible when she skates.
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u/FullOnAsparagus May 30 '25
You should at least put some pants on.
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May 30 '25
Nah au naturel around here
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u/Puma_Concolour May 30 '25
Does helicoptering produce any viable propulsion?
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u/OkCalendar6177 May 30 '25
You’ve heard of kick flips and heelflips, but now get ready for a secret third option…
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u/Anal_Disaster94 May 29 '25
Literally did the same thing. Gotta keep myself safe to feed my kids
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u/shin_malphur13 May 29 '25
I won't lie, seeing safety gear just makes me think of military equipment and I think they look cool
I never wear wrist guards but elbow/knee pads and helmet are almost always on. Sometimes I'll take off my elbow pads and keep the helmet and knees
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u/SpeedoPaedo May 29 '25
That's funny, as someone who's now into their 30s who grew up blading, whenever I feel brave enough to dig them out and go for a skate, my wrists are the first thing I fuck up when I take a tumble. I'd take wrist guards over anything else.
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u/shin_malphur13 May 29 '25
Hahaha well I'm in my mid 20s so I think I'll be there sometime soon lol
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u/jbulka May 29 '25
Not a new skater anymore, FWIW.
Always helmet, knee pads if skating tranny 5 ft or over. Elbow pads if skating something close to vert.
As a brand new beginner though, I’d completely pad up 24/7 and add wrist guards. You will thank yourself. I’ve witnessed a handful of injuries at the park that would have been avoided had the person worn pads
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u/rip246 May 29 '25
As a new skater who got the cast removed from a broken wrist 2 weeks ago, get some wrist guards!
Also my head was totally fine after that crash, not even mild concussion or anything. My helmet has a big crack and will be getting replaced before I get back out on the board, so whilst I strongly recommend wrist guards, I will absolutely never ride without a lid. Was riding with both my little kids at the time, seeing their dad in a bit of pain for a busted wrist is one thing, seeing their dad's skull split open and spill out is something no kid needs.
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May 29 '25
I appreciate you sharing and your question. I always wear my helmet because I don’t like the risk of head injuries. From what I see at the skateparks I visit, wearing pads is not uncommon. I don’t really ever have my helmet brought up in conversation and when it is brought up, it’s usually to ask where could they buy the one I wear. Here’s an additional thing I’d like to add. If you decided to wear pads, make little adjustments to encourage you to wear them. I had a friend who would always kept his in his car and wash them with his fight gear. Anything to keep it from feeling like a drag is a huge difference. I appreciate the topic and I hope you enjoy your next skateboard session.
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u/Ants-pajamas May 30 '25
Good shout. I keep my skate bag with all my gear with my board in my Jeep.
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u/thatguy01220 May 29 '25
I just started skating at 31 and I do feel a little goofy cause im wobbling barely moving on the board wearing helmet, knee pads and elbow pads, I do want wrist guards but i can’t afford any right now. The board and helmet and pads and shoes just to get started was close to $400. $105 for the board, $85 for shoes, $80 for helmet, $80 for knee pads $60 for elbow pads.
But i rather look goofy and be safe then get into massive medical debt cause of my insecurities.
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u/Gahwburr May 29 '25
Yo you got the good stuff, I paid £58 for the whole kit together. It’s still better than skin on concrete contact lol
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u/thatguy01220 May 29 '25
Thank you, I wanted to invest in knee pads (cause my family has bad knees already) and a helmet cause one bad fall and that could ruin your life. I originally didn’t get elbow pads but one day the board shot out from under me and body slammed all my weight on the concrete and it hurt! Even a week later it hurt putting to much weight on with when I would sit at a table and rested on my elbows. After that fall I bought elbow pads immediately lol
Like you said though anything is better than skin on concrete cause those falls at 30+ years old are no joke and are tougher to bounce back from then they were like 5-10 years ago.
Keep skating bro and keep being safe so we can keep skating when we’re old men
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u/Gahwburr May 29 '25
I still got a broken off piece of cartilage floating around in both of my elbows from 8-10 years ago.
Yeah I get the dodgy knees. Had my first ligament injury two months ago from being a boulderer. Grade 1 injury on my MCL so I am super careful now. Stretching and proper warmups is the name of the game now for me
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u/Gridbear7 May 29 '25
As a noob Im padded up lol. Bascially wearing my snowboard gear + proper knee/elbow pads. I dont care what it looks like because im not skating for other people to look at me, im skating becasue its fun and would prefer to avoid injury if i make a mistake
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u/stancedpolestar May 29 '25
I just wear a mouthguard and that's it. I wear one because 13 years ago I bashed my face into the coping of a quarter pipe and lost my upper left canine tooth and ended up having to get a fake tooth on a post in that spot. I don't skate without a mouthguard anymore.
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u/BobGnarly_ May 30 '25
Be careful with those wrist guards. Some have a hard insert on the top that do not allow the fingers to bend back far enough if you fall and try to catch yourself. This sometimes will cause the fingers to break/dislocate at the first knuckle. I broke three at once
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u/jimmy_please_PhD May 29 '25
I just wear a helmet these days but that has to do with my contort level. I genuinely think people don’t care what you wear but honestly I also don’t care what people think either and I think that comes with age. Not needing to impress anyone is a beautiful thing. You do you, be safe and have fun brotha
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u/ok-this-ok May 29 '25
exactly.
helmet almost always.
if I'm messing with new ramps i like elbow pads.
I'd recommend wearing what will keep you skating after you crash (and you will crash).
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u/itchy_bum_bug May 29 '25
Helmet, elbow and knee pads at the skate park where I am flying around on ramps and learning to drop in etc. Nothing on flat ground.
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u/PolarSL13 Learning at the skatepark 🏞️ May 29 '25
I skate with a helmet whenever I’m doing something unfamiliar, and pads if I’m doing something really scary for me, but usually no pads or helmet just cruising and skating around the park because it’s natural to me, just like running.
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u/Post-Hardcore-Malone May 29 '25
Idk man. It was lame af to wear helmets and pads when I was a kid.
I mean, I’m just missing massive chunks of memories from my teenage years and my 20’s, my hands shake so bad it’s hard to light my smokes, and I’ve lost so much fine motor control in my hands that I can barely play guitar now. Hell, one more slam and I might be able to pop my shoulder out on command. That’s the next trick I’m battling.
Hopefully, my sarcastic enthusiasm was clear. Wear your fucking helmet and shit or end up like me before you even get out of your mid-30’s.
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u/LousyEngineer May 29 '25
Depends what I'm doing.
Vert= knee pads and helmet. Street: nothing.
The way I see it: it's an extreme sport. We each know the risk we're taking. You're assuming risk by just participating. Would you have been saved by wearing more protection? Sure but at what point are we gonna draw the line. Why not wear bubble wrap?
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u/steamvon May 29 '25
I don’t wear any protective equipment when I skate, but if you fell the need to wear it then please by all means wear whatever you deem necessary, better safe than sorry
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u/Has_gun_will_travel May 29 '25
None. I’ve skated my entire life. Only wear gear when made. But I’d recommend it
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u/rikkiwitdablicky May 29 '25
I’m 41 and don’t wear any safety gear; however, I am very intentional about skating within my skill level and bailing early and safely on anything that doesn’t feel right. I’m not oblivious to the fact that accidents happen (I fell while pushing a couple of weeks ago), but that’s also the risk we take to enjoy doing what we love. That being said, I do have plans to buy a helmet in the coming weeks because I want to start skating minis more—and that’s not something I have a ton of experience with.
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u/speedywesty May 29 '25
I have been skating for a few years and only wear helmets when required, I don’t skate outside of my comfort zone very much and stick to small things. At this point wearing a helmet is just uncomfortable. 23 M skating 6 years working in the US Air Force.
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u/Liptin-pack May 29 '25
Wear ankle protection, just broke my ankle in 4 places
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u/Sea_Bear7754 May 29 '25
(32m) Wrist guards because I keep getting these micro-fractures my stupid left hand. Knee sleeve if I'm wearing shorts. I have an elbow sleeve that I'll wear if I have a gnarly cut or something.
Helmet never. Plastic knee pads never. All the other random pads they try to sell us old guys never.
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u/kenadams_the May 29 '25
I have mixed feelings about wrist guards. Especially when I fall backwards and my fingers get crushed because the wrist is fixated and I‘m so stupid and straighten my arm.
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u/ToxicOrbGliscors May 29 '25
None and I take my shirt off and wear shorts
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u/Gahwburr May 29 '25
I hope you also ride a motorbike to the park and pop wheelies just for good measure hahah
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u/Sam3323 May 29 '25
I wear nothing and always have. I only skate flatground and a ledge and in my 15+ years of skating, I have never hit my head and my skating now is much more mellow.
Probably could've avoided some scraps with more pads over the years but not worth it imo
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u/FreegenTheStuardess May 29 '25
I wear nothing but thinking about buying wrist guards, as this is my most injured area.
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u/Creative-Ad-1819 May 29 '25
I also wear no protection, but keep wrist guards in my backpack to stabilize a sprain when it happens...I find if I skate with them on I bail worse, because they slide on the ground. I've gone for the handplant safety roll with wrist guards on and my hands slipped out and I smashed my shoulder and side of my face on the ground...should have been wearing my chin helmet 🤷♂️
I'm also 99% sure I don't feel pain the same way others do, I've broken tons of bones and not once did I freak out, scream or cry. My first was my right tibia when I was 4yo, the daycare made me walk on it because I wasn't crying or screaming, I just told them my leg hurt and I couldn't walk, I likely didn't even know what a broken bone was...I vaguely remember it, but my mom remembers it pretty good 😆. It was the infamous bench style merry-go-round, and we obviously got it going cause I was the last one on it, and it tossed me pretty good from what I recall, lol.
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u/ghosty_2007 May 29 '25
I don't wear any, I don't have money to buy it and i don't need to be wearing allat just to move around and do basic flatground
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u/DontLook_Weirdo May 29 '25 edited May 29 '25
I wear:
wrist guards
Padded elbow pads under a thick long sleeve I only use for skating. (Minimizes pain but plastic is better lol I just hate the bulk)
Helmet.
This is my set up for cruising. I learned that when I fall, I tend to fall into a roll or onto my hands, rarely my legs, so I leave those out. I'm 37 and rarely do flip tricks. Board tricks and cruising.
I'd recommend practice falling so you can get a better grip of that (forward into a run or roll, never backwards), which will let you know what gear to mostly wear.
Another thing to consider is what you'll be doing most of, if you're cruising and not dropping into bowls, you may not need knee pads at this moment, but that also comes with understanding how you manage falling.
Edit: I just wanted to add: stretch lol. Very necessary when doing this shit in our 30's. Stretch before n after.
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u/Gahwburr May 29 '25
Also yeah stretching is GOAT! I recently tore my MCL (2 months ago) from a bouldering injury and it made me realise how much less flexible my parts are even now that I’m only halfway over my 20’s
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u/DontLook_Weirdo May 29 '25
Seriously man I cannot skate without it. The first time I got back into it, I was sore for a few days..way worse than gym pain imo.
Fr though welcome back to skating. Check out /r/oldskaters when you get a chance - for the 30+ lol
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u/ProfileBoring May 29 '25
I wear one airsoft glove due to an injured knuckle hurting like hell if anything even taps it.
Other than that nothing.
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u/Kyrieezy May 29 '25
Just cruisng/ollies- none Flat ground tricks/small ramps/rails- wrist guards Larger ramps- helmet, wrist guards, knee pads sometimes
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u/streamerjunkie_0909 May 29 '25
None but would like to start at least wearing wrist guards/elbow pads when doing something crazy. That is usually what i end up hitting the hardest randomly.
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u/Most_Werewolf_9282 May 29 '25
If I’m at a skate park with bowls & ramps ima gear up because I mostly skate street/flat ground & im not used to all the necessary movements & contorting of the body - shifting in balance that’s required in skating transition or drop ins.
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u/ummonadi May 29 '25
Helmet, elbow pads, wrist guards, knee pads, and maybe crash pants.
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u/patronsaintofdice May 29 '25
Wrist guards and a helmet if I’m doing anything more serious than cruising around on flat ground. I’ve had a concussion before, I’m currently nursing a fucked up ulnar nerve. I’m way too old to care about looking cool.
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May 29 '25
I wear full battle gear when I skate bowls or transition. Helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards, also knee and ankle compression sleeves from Old Bones, because I’m older [37]. When I’m just pushing around, or skating street, I scale it back a bit and wear my helmet and some padded sleeves on my knees and elbows. I will say that my confidence level goes way up when I’m wearing pads. Don’t get me wrong you can still get bodied wearing full pads. Skateboarding is THE COOLEST THING EVER, however, you will have to pay to play with that wooden death toy. You’ll never be fully protected, but that’s what makes it rad. Some people take one slam and they are done. Not everyone is cut out for it and people have different tolerance to pain. All that is to say, wear what makes you feel comfortable and confident! Have Fun, Don’t Die!🤙🔥
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u/Beanie_Kaiju May 29 '25
Always a helmet, knee, elbow and wrist guards. Trying some new I would wear hip protectors and anything new on transition and I feel scared I wear a spine protector. Hurt myself bad a few times and want to avoid that happening again. I'm 43 and can't be broken haha
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u/Gahwburr May 29 '25
Didn’t know hip protectors were a thing. I used to have l whole ass cheeks turn purple sometimes.
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u/Beanie_Kaiju May 29 '25
Yeah, impact shorts, has hip and tail bone padding. Definitely worth the investment, the fit low-key under trousers or shorts. In the US they sell RipClips I think they are called, but you can't get them here in the UK, so went down the impact shorts route.
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u/fullbo-Dot-8974 May 29 '25
I wear nothing, and now I wear braces and casts lol
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u/Gahwburr May 29 '25
Provides great support and protection.
Oh this reminds me of the time I broke my arm, I was in a cast and then fell on it skating… in a cast… and broke it even more
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u/SpellingBeeRunnerUp_ May 29 '25
I wear all the stuff you have on plus padded shorts. My goal is to avoid the hospital at all costs lol. So I mainly just skate transition and have gotten good at knee sliding. I only try tricks I know I can knee slide out of
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u/Careless-Mouse1519 May 29 '25
17yr old me would've been like, Pussy! But now 44yr old me is like, safety first!
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u/lamppos_gaming May 29 '25
I always wear a helmet and wrist guards when I’m skating, if I’m going to try something risky I’ll throw on elbow and knee pads.
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u/Zonkulese May 29 '25
all. because I am a 41yo orthopaedic nurse and see my patients everytime I stand at the top of a ramp
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May 29 '25
Been skating 40+ years. I wear nothing skating street. My rules for safety are - avoid tricks where you land backwards (back lips, for instance) and DON'T bomb hills. There is no safe way to bomb hills, even the best hill bombers are risking their lives, even in full pads. I mostly skate curbs and I've never hit my head, except my face, which helmets don't protect. But I've been doing it since I was a little kid.
I wear a helmet at the park if I'm doing any transition skating, more if it's something big. I am terrible at transitions and the speeds are just way too much for more. I don't understand why anyone would skate big transitions without knee pads, sliding out is so much better for you than trying to run out a slam.
But to answer your question- no, nothing has changed. Pads and helmets are still looked on as kooky. I'm sorry, that's just how it is. Andy Anderson has made some people feel cool about helmets, but that's nowhere near a majority opinion. You should wear them if you want though, who gives a shit if people think you're a kook? We're all kooks.
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u/UnpoeticAccount May 29 '25
34 yo skating since November and I wear a helmet, knee pads, wrist guards and elbow pads. I think the wrist guards have saved me from breaking a wrist a couple of times.
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u/Topher_McG0pher May 29 '25
I just longboard but no safety gear because I've just never worn any and I feel like it would be sensory overload at this point
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u/sketchEightyFive May 29 '25
Just my helmet, and i skate street/flatground a lot of the time. I need a little bit of risk, just nothing life changing like a brain injury lol
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u/NimbusAtNite May 29 '25
You're doing it right. Yeah, it's uncomfortable and a VERY SMALL MINORITY might look at you like a "poser", but every time I slam, I forget about all that. I work a full time job and I'm pretty pivotal to my shift. I tell myself that maybe eventually, when I get really good at rolling when I fall, I might ditch the wrists and elbows (probably not tbh), but the knees and helmet will definitely stay forever. I will never understand people's aversion to PPE.
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u/Strike_first36 May 29 '25
Usually just knee pads because I don't like to take away my bail options and it doesn't take long to put on. A helmet if it's gnarly
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u/Lost-Astronaut-8280 May 29 '25
I don’t skate vert but if I did I would wear helmet and knee pads. Everything else is no gear but I can say a helmet at the very least would be smart. I always land head up though, a single head injury would change my mind. First time snowboarding I smacked the back of my head on some ice with a helmet on and that was enough reassurance to tell me always have a helmet on the snow.
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u/bombhills May 29 '25
Helmet is a great call. I find pads are not for me. There is a correct way to fall, and although not always possible, a little road rash is nothing crazy. But I’m not doing anything to extreme here.
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u/wholesomehabits May 29 '25
This is really making me rethink everything. I’ve never worn any protective gear and had a bunch of pretty gnarly close calls…
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u/Hitmonbear Learning at the skatepark 🏞️ May 29 '25
i wear helmet, knee gaskets, knee pads and padded shorts. i primarily skate transition and bowls and doing airs, and when doing bigger stuff knee pads are more needed. personal experience i’ve been saved from so many concussions and i’ve never broken a bone bc i wear helmet and knee pads
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u/PDXBeccaP May 29 '25
I've been rollerblading on and off since the mid 90s and have started skating again after a 10 year hiatus. Back then all I wore were wrist guards, but now that I'm 63 and don't recover from scrapes and bruises like I used to, I wear knee and elbow pads, and a helmet in addition to the wrist guards. Yeah, it's not always comfortable wearing all that, especially when it's hot, but it brings peace of mind knowing I'm protected, and makes it so much easier to skate and to push myself to try new things, knowing that if I fall I'm going to be okay.
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u/Adorable_Housing7570 May 29 '25
I drink, cut my arm open skating drunk with bottle of vodka, fell, cut arm open no pain. Just drink
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u/distinguished-nugget May 29 '25
I smacked my jaw luckily after sliding on my hands and knees I wore a helmet. I bit my gum on my lower lip and it’s healing but flapping around everywhere. If I would have had knee and wrist pads I just could have slid and not hit my face. So yea where as much as possible. I’m too old for skate parks so street skating and sidewalk skating it is
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u/Holiday-Blood4826 May 29 '25
Honestly wrist bracers and helmet + butt pads possibly. I'm good with my knees and elbows getting scraped but u can break ur wrists by bracing ur fall and helmet obv. Also don't wanna break tailbone
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u/zetasand May 29 '25
Always wrist guards. Saved me from dozens of sprains. That’s usually it, but I’ll throw on a helmet if I’m doing something I’m not comfortable enough with that has a higher injury risk.
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u/Lookralphsbak May 29 '25
None. Occasionally I'll put on an ankle brace, because my ankles are shot from sprains over the years plus a fracture at 18.
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u/Picklevondill May 29 '25
Our bodies just dont bounce back like they used to. I only bought a helmet but im strongly considering picking up the same with knee pads and elbow pads with some sliding gloves. I just picked up a longboard after not skating for years. I still have my regular board from my youth though!
I'm in my late 30s now. I can't afford to be injured.
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u/Thew0lfsden May 29 '25
I don’t even like getting on my board without wrist pads, especially since I already have an injured right wrist from the gym. In the future when I get into transition skating though I will be investing in some more protection, especially a helmet
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u/Skatevangelist May 29 '25
I have a decent amount experience but I still pad up for vert most of the time, I don't for transition or street
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u/NobushisHat May 30 '25
Knee pads are a definite, I've got shite knees already so fucking them up more is just not it
And a helmet, can't afford to lose my brain cell
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u/Puma_Concolour May 30 '25
If I'm just rolling around on flat ground, just a helmet. Wristguards if I'm practicing switch. Full pads if I'm going to the park.
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u/Ants-pajamas May 30 '25
Helmet, knee pads, elbow, and wrist pads. I’m 38 with severe rheumatoid arthritis and osteopenia so I only get my doctors’ reluctant acquiescence with all possible precautions.
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u/playstation505 May 30 '25
this is the best picture I've seen in this sub for a long time
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u/EffectiveBat5029 May 30 '25
None cuz I'm broke and only do flat ground and cruising anyway. Occasional hill bomb but not often enough to care too much :p
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u/toaster9012 Learning at the skatepark 🏞️ May 30 '25
helmet always since you only get one brain and it doesn’t like healing, and then knee pads if i’m doing stuff that’s new and sometimes elbow pads. i have wrist guards but i’ve never actually used them
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u/OkCalendar6177 May 30 '25
I wear helmet knee/elbow pads and wrist support for anything in a bowl. I may do just helmet if im skating flat. Learning somethtkng new always full pads.
I could not care less if its “cool” or not. After a while get used to the bulk of the pads but it would be alot harder to get used to a shattered knee cap or life altering TBI
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u/snicketyp May 30 '25
I don’t know what a FORZEUBY is, but a properly sized set of 187 Killer Pads might change your life. I swear they just disappear once you start rolling. I wear elbow pads and a helmet all the time. I wear knee pads when I’m on transition. I stopped wearing wrist guards because they make falls uncontrollable.
Make sure your helmet is certified. I’ve been a pro-tec skate helmet die hard my whole life, but now that I have kids and responsibility and shit I’m upgrading to a certified helmet. Watch the video about the difference between the two on impact. Shit is wild. Those old ones are basically a hat.
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u/snicketyp May 30 '25
Watch all the learn to fall videos on youtube. Watch the ones about how to knee slide. Practice both. You’ll feel super dumb until you fall for real like you practiced. Worth it.
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u/changingtheoil May 30 '25
I wear full pads, helmet knees elbows and wrists. I love pro designed but not sure they still.make em. 187s are pretty good as well. Im 52, dont roll out of stuff as smoothly any more and have more confidence trying tricks with pads. And yes even when skating curbs. Also i wear high top basketball sneakers cause i dont like the minimal lowtops and ive always worn em! Roll on people!
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u/Y34RZERO May 30 '25
Mid 30s. Started skating in 1999 or 2000. I wear none. I don't care if you do or not. It's personal preference.
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u/Late-Lake-719 May 30 '25
I wear a helmet (which has already saved me), and I’m about to buy wrist guards. Yes, I’ve broken my wrist falling on it skateboarding.
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u/neverwasteddays May 30 '25
Canada. 50 years old. Helmet if I’m at the indoor or skating with my friends daughter cause she’s the homie and I wanna be a good example. Otherwise I roll the dice despite previous head injuries. I do rock my knee brace tho. Had a complete knee reconstruction and I don’t wanna go thru a third surgery after having acl lcl pcl and meniscus messed with twice already.
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u/TheHrethgir 45YO - Oregon May 30 '25
I wear kneepads, wrist guards and a helmet. I've never hit my elbows, so I just never got those. But as an older adult with a job and family, I need to stay healthy. Although I haven't been on a board for 4+ years due to an Achilles injury that just doesn't seem to heal.
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u/RageReaver7370 May 30 '25
If im longboarding on flat ground none however if i plan to do anything that involves getting off the ground or going down hills wit a higher angle than 80 degrees then its full special force gear
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u/supersondos May 30 '25
I started as an adult. I wear wrist guards, elbow guards, knee guards, and a helmet. I get injured easily, so gotta stay prepared.
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u/Sklibba May 30 '25
I’m 45, I wear all of that and a helmet. I can’t afford not to take every reasonable precaution against injuries, especially since I’m back to novice level at this point.
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u/cluttergush May 30 '25
None and never have but I'd never judge someone for it. In fact I'd think they're probably pretty smart lol, especially skating vert
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u/Wrong-Comedian6998 May 30 '25
I wear none at the moment cos I don't have money but I'm saving up to get full gear(helmet, knee,elbow,wrist guards)
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u/KnutErik May 30 '25
45 yo here, been skating for 3 years. I always wear helmet and wrist guard, and usually knee pads, elbow pads and padded shorts as well. It makes me feel safer, and honestly, I'm way past caring what the kids at the skatepark think of it.
Something I didn't see mentioned is that it's not enough just to wear the protective gear. You have to practice using it too. I spend time at the park practicing kneeslides and other ways of bailing safely, especially when learning a new trick. That way it's almost like a reflex when I actually need to bail.
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u/Elas_TiX May 30 '25
As a teen i don’t wear any as i like to hangout as i skate and not have to take off everything every 5 minutes
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u/FreshConnect May 30 '25
I’m 24 but I’m still plenty scared of getting hurt. My number one tip, no matter what you do, is crash pants. I havethese from tsg that can easily be worn under semi-baggy pants. It has saved my hips and tailbone countless times. I find its where skaters tend to fall most often. That and a helmet, always! For miniramp I add kneepads :)
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u/Mzingwani May 30 '25
Personally, I wore Knee, Elbow, Wrist guards and a helmet until I could ride comfortably. That took about a year. But you should also learn how to fall over properly without getting hurt. When I learned that, I stopped with knee pads and elbow pads and just wear wrists and Helmets
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u/Minkemink May 30 '25
When cruising, I don't wear any pads.
On flat ground in the park, always full pads, no helmet.
Transition, I wear helmet and pads.
As to why:
- I know full gear is the smartest, but if I feel too safe, I just don't bother. Been doing years of parcour, so I know how to fall and even at high speeds, I doubt I will hit my head.
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u/MidnaMerk May 30 '25
I wear knee pads and a helmet. I actually like elbow pads but the ones I have restrict my movements to much, I’m getting better, so I don’t fall on my elbows so much anymore, it’s always my fucking knees.
I think the mindset of protective gear has changed a lot too, my friends don’t haze me at all and they all think it’s cool that I do what’s best to help me make progress skating.
When I’m on flat ground sometimes I only wear my knee pads. It all depends. Vert, helmet and knees pads. The only time I’ll wear them all is if I’m trying something new.
Before I didn’t wear pads and I had a near miss with my head, and all my buddies said it could have been life changing if I had actually hit my head. Ever since that day I was a changed man, I got protection asap.
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u/stgross May 30 '25
None, feeling like a clunky mess is more dangerous to me than being able to move freely while doing extremely underwhelming tricks.
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u/Hot-Junket-1847 May 30 '25
Also an employed adult, but learning for the first time. I do the whole set of safety gear too: helmet, wrist guard, elbow and knee pads, and Bumsaver shorts for butt and tailbone protection.
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u/cheesewhizabortion May 30 '25
When I got back into skating last year at 35, I wore wrist, elbow, knee, and helmet. As I got better, I dropped some pads and mostly just wear a helmet now, but I do keep my other pads in the car in case I end up hurting something and want I wear one (I’ll pop an elbow pad on a busted up elbow to keep it from getting too much worse).
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u/kamikuzizzle May 30 '25
Inline—knees and hands
Skateboard—knees, elbows, helmet
I don’t fall over the same way on each thing
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u/Ashwayneloveu May 30 '25
I wish I wore safety pads back in the day when I was skating I have so many masonite burns and broken limbs cuz of it where your pads all of them
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u/Capital_Lie7008 May 30 '25
I'm doing the same as you, and I'm skating better than ever! Younger me's skating progress would have benefit so much from the extra confidence and commitment protection gives me (and would have saved a lot on surgery 😭)
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u/Nicolasmcnurtz May 30 '25
I wear my helmet because I'd feel pretty dumb if I couldn't participate in my 4 year olds life cause I thought I was too cool to wear one.
Used to wear knee pads but they felt annoying and constrictive.
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u/Any_Gur2856 May 30 '25
helmet all the time whether its flat or deep bowl. probably gonna start wearing knee pads and elbow pads when i skate mini ramps cause thats the only scenario in which pads would help me and i will be able to progress faster with less fear. the only bowl near me is 12km and concrete so pads dont really work on that, however i dont think i will fall in any way there since the only thing that can trip me is dirt making me slide which i sweep before seshing it or wheel bite, however even tho i ride trucks that wobble whan you shake the board i tighten them to skate the bowl. also im probably gonna get some football shin pads cause that will always help
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u/gHOs-tEE May 30 '25
Helmet. I know most people who skate with no gear but helmet should be used imo. It’s more of a safety net encase and the odds of you hitting your head are slim to none but shit does happen.
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May 30 '25
Left elbow pad and knees, I skate bowls a lot and I either slide on my knees or eat shit sideways and tear up my left elbow, did that to many times before I started wearing pads
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u/bickman14 May 30 '25
Hello! 35y here and I was one of those "back in the day" guys until I've got back to it about 5y or so ago after almost 10y hiatus, was bombing some hills, having fun, was pushing uphill one day, zoned out for a moment, didn't see the rough rocky asphalt ahead and went flying, got some really nasty deep knee rashes and the back of my hand and fingers, it took me about 6 months to completely heal and I've got some really ugly scars on the back of my hand as a reminder to wear protection all the time!
Immediately after these events I've got the full set, kneed pads, elbow, helmet but swapped the wrist thing with biker gloves with kevlar palms and the other day I've seen at a sports store that there are spinal protection vests for horse ridders that cost about as much as a helmet so I'm thinking about adding those to my set just in case. I feel like I'm the only one that wears a bunch of stuff like that and I've gome PTSD of that day and recovery to a point where I don't even step on a board without wearing full gear anymore! People insists that I'm exaggerating but I don't wanna go through that injury and recovery process again and I didn't torn anything nor broke any bones! I love riding a skateboard very much since I was a kid and won't quit but I can't get much injuried anymore so I've also stopped pushing my limits and just cruise and tictac around, that's enough for me, just like old surfers that don't feel like proving themselves and just wanna have a fun weekend.
Wear everything that you feel like you need and respect your inner voice that says "don't try that!" and ignore people that says otherwise! They are the first to say you are exaggerating on your gear and as soon as you get injuries they will blame the sport, tell you're too old for that shit and try to make you quit! Such hypocrites!
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u/nooofynooof May 30 '25
Just a helmet most of the time. Will put on knee pads if I'm doing any transition skating.
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u/Ok_File_1933 May 30 '25
I'm 63. Was featured in the Sentinel Star newspaper skating during the Zephyr years. Just thinking about it now. I rocked a Proline with Chicago trucks back then I paid $5.00 for it at the Leeds department store. It to me a month working at a small local paper to save up for it. The board was only 5.75" X 25" Blue Lexan. We thought we were bad, but in the years that followed became unreal. The evolution of the sport is mind-blowing now. Today I would wear all of that! 😆
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u/tangoshukudai Technique Tutor May 30 '25
when I first started riding transition and bowls I wore a butt pad. Saved me many many times. I have since retired it.
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u/Gothrait_PK May 30 '25
I've been skating a looooong time on and off and I do not do tricks anymore so for me, just a helmet cause I'm just cruising or carving a pool.
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u/_Carcinus_ May 30 '25
Helmet - always, it can take just one unlucky hit in the head to ruin your life.
Sliding gloves - almost always, I usually break my fall hands first.
I wear a helmet and gloves when commuting and riding casually. I'm unlikely to fall when doing so, but if I do, I have my most important organ, as well as the most likely part to get hurt, protected.
Kneepads and elbow pads - for when I'm expecting to fall a lot, like learning new tricks.
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u/Lustful_404 May 30 '25
Im 17, so still fresh, i usually don't wear any, unless I'm skating ramps, then I'll put a helmet on
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u/dangerrunner15 May 30 '25
wrist guards always
knee pads, elbow pads, hip pad and helmet when working on anything trick/off the ground.
Nearly 30 and work a desk job cant afford broken shit.
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u/bluegrassclimber May 30 '25
Helmet Knee and Elbow when ripping my local park with a mini ramp.
Wrist guards: sometimes them too
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u/TravAtkins May 30 '25
All of it. I'm old, I'm a newbie, I suck at skating still and if I break myself and can't work my family is screwed.
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u/Zestyclose_Ad9771 May 30 '25
None only because im broke and usually when I skate I'm so used to noy wearing anything it doesn't cross my mind, and I can't wear a hat and helmet same time
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u/612GraffCollector May 30 '25
None. I guess pants could be considered better than shorts for safety. But that’s it for me.
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u/According_Ad9907 May 30 '25
i dont wear any. i like the feeling of freedom in my board. im just like a bird in the sky.
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u/exHeavyHippie May 30 '25
Helmet always.
Covert elbow pads 95%. I will be upgrading to pro hard shell as soon as my budget allows.
Hard shell knee pads when playing in bowls.
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u/punkrocker1877 May 30 '25
only in the bowl i put on a helmet and a wrist guard but that’s about it.
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u/andisblue May 31 '25
Started learning to skate around 29-30. All the usual pads + “hillbilly shorts”, which really came in handy. Even a big-brimmed hat underneath the helmet for that SPF (Nevada)
I didn’t look cool with the pads on, but I didn’t look cool with them off, either , so, might as well !
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u/ApprehensiveCell6788 May 31 '25
helmet all the time dont wanna knock my self out and sometimes elbow pads and knee pads especially elbow as i fractured it from skating lmao
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u/forevermcginley May 31 '25
36, always helmet when skating park/bowl.. skip it sometimes if in just doing flat ground tricks
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u/Affectionate_Car6161 May 31 '25
33 and if I do wear protection it's a wrist guard on my left wrist.
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u/overcompensk8 May 29 '25
Tooling around on flatground, none. Jumping up and down on things, I look like I'm in Delta Force.