Many people out there dedicate their free time to skateboarding. It’s a fun recreation/sport that involves riding a small board with wheels. You control the board only with your feet. It may sound simple but can actually be dangerous if you’re a beginner without previous experience. For that reason, it is really important to always have the proper gear on you while riding a skateboard.
What is Skateboarding Gear?
The skateboarding gear has one purpose only – to make sure you suffer smaller and simpler injuries (or no injuries at all) in case you fall from the board or manage to somehow twist your wrists and ankles. There are quite a few gear types that you place on different parts of your body that are more prone to suffering an injury than others. You may think that skateboarding gear doesn’t look cool at all or that you’re a professional and protective gear is not necessary for you, but quite on the contrary. No matter how experienced you are, injuries happen and it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Skateboarding Knee Pads and Elbow Pads
Skateboarding knee pads are part of the essential skateboarding gear. They’re specially designed pads that you place on your knees and that help keep your knees safe in case you fall badly. Skateboard knee pads are important because serious knee injuries can further be the cause for serious mobility problems that you may go years without being able to fix and heal. Note that after a serious injury your knees may never be able to go back to a fully normal and functional condition.
Modern skateboard knee pads are anatomical, offer articulated protection, have an interior made out of stretchy lycra along with supportive straps and are ultra-flexible. The high-grade durable fabrics along with the cup foam and full-coverage caps provide top-notch protection without restricting movements. The ergonomic design makes for comfortable skateboard knee pads that don’t compromise the range of motion.
Kneeling pads have a form-fitting design and with the help of the superior foam system are able to absorb hard impacts. They are quite durable thanks to the industrial-weight stitching. You have the option to choose between sizes XS to XL. Getting the right size for you is important because the right size knee pad will create close contact with the knee thus maximizing the protection. A knee pad that doesn’t fit right can get misplaced and you’ll get zero protection from it.
Knee pads are engineered to be super easy to put on and take off, they are light and made from top quality materials that are abrasion resistant and pleasant on the skin. If the appearance of the knee pads is of big importance for you, don’t worry, because you can find basic black knee pads but also a wide range of other colours like white, pink, red, green, yellow, you name it.
Along with the knee pads it’s recommended to get elbow pads as well as wrist guards. Knee and elbow pads mostly have the same features. Both are made from durable and flexible materials that are strong enough to protect you but light enough so that you can freely move and perform well. It’s not uncommon for people to strain their wrists while skateboarding or hurt their elbows. So, you should really consider protecting them too.
Go for a Well-Fitting Helmet
Starting from the fact that the helmet protects your head, one can say that it is the most important piece of equipment out of them all. Helmets are made from a few layers with the external layer being the strongest one, able to withstand high impacts. The second layer is usually a thick one made of foam that also takes part in absorbing the impact but provides you with comfort at the same time. After that, you have another layer made from cotton or polyester fabric which offers additional support, absorbs sweat and aids the thermoregulation. You also have ventilation holes for that purpose.
The most important thing when it comes to the right helmet is the size. You need to pick one that fits perfectly because only a well-fitting helmet offers 100% protection.
The Right Skater Shoes
Skater shoes are designed to answer the needs of a skateboarder. They have a rubber sole that offers additional traction and prevents slipping. The toe caps are reinforced and prevent injuries while the whole design is made to offer support in all the right places and make the whole skateboarding experience pleasant.
On the other hand, skater shoes have a classic and cool look so you’ll be able to pair them with casual outfits and wear them on a daily basis too, therefore they are more than a smart investment.
Skateboarding Gear can Save Your Life
If you’re looking for reasons to buy skateboarding gear – here’s a good one. Skateboarding gear can save your life. Skateboarding accidents happen quite often even to experienced skateboarders, mostly because skateboarding includes the performance of dangerous tricks on hard and uneven surfaces.
A big number of people get hospitalized every year because they suffered a mild or a serious injury while skateboarding. For instance, strains and bruises are easily treatable and leave no repercussions. But head injuries are the ones that are a cause for concern. Although there isn’t a rule when it comes to the type of injury, you should keep in mind that most of the injuries are to the head and for that reason, you should never skateboard without a helmet.
Injuries to the extremities include strains but also fractures and dislocations. The fractures mostly happen to the wrists so a wrist guard is a must. Head injuries include concussion, blunt head trauma but also facial injuries like a broken nose or a broken jawbone. A hard enough strike on pavement without proper protection can even cause immediate death.
Taken everything into consideration, it’s much better to wear skateboarding gear and avoid accidents and injuries than suffer life-long consequences.