To continue the series on gear for new skaters, this article will focus on pads. Gear will be listed in order of how heavily it's used. When it comes to protective gear, your kneepads will probably be your single biggest purchase, and it's a good place to spend a little money. You'll be using How can you tell you need a new set of knee pads? If you're experiencing knee pain from regular sliding and falling drills, if you find yourself tugging, adjusting, or pulling up your pads a lot, or if you just have a history of knee injuries or problems, it may be a good sign you need a new set of pads. What you should know about kneepads: Things to look for in a good set of kneepads are a hinged design that allows your knees to move freely, replaceable caps, thick comfortable padding, heavy duty fabric, such as ballistic nylon, and a secure fastening system that keeps the pads from sliding or twisting. Personally, I also prefer an open backed design that lets you put your knee pads on and take them off without having to remove your skates. • A good set of kneepads should absorb the impact of a properly executed fall or slide, allow you to slide and turn easily, and stay comfortably in place. Good kneepads can save you from a lot of injuries, both major and minor. • Look for knee pads that are machine washable to cut down on gear stink. Some cheaper knee pads are made of foam that will fall apart if it gets too wet. • The best knee pads usually have replaceable caps that are held on by heavy duty Velcro. This means that if you ever manage to crack or damage one of the plastic caps, you can replace just the cap rather than the entire pad. What you can expect to spend: $60 - $80 for a very good set of knee pads. $20 to $30 dollars for cheaper set. I would recommend springing for higher quality pads, you won't regret it. High Quality Kneepads: Pro-Tec Drop-In Ramp Knee Pads Popular Brands: Wrist guards are meant to prevent fractures to the small bones of your wrist and the bones of your arm and by keeping the wrist from bending when you catch yourself during an unexpected fall. They also help prevent burns to the heels of your hands when sliding across the floor. What you should know about wrist guards: When shopping for wrist guards look for a pair that fits comfortably and securely and prevents your wrist from flexing very much. Personally, I feel that wrist guards with a double splint (a hard plastic insert on both the top and bottom the wrist guard) provide the best protection. Some girls prefer a wrist guard that allows them more mobility, though I think that really defeats the purpose of wearing wrist guards in the first place. It's up to the individual skater, but please consider your own skill level and what level of risk you're comfortable with when selecting gear. • Look for a wristguard that is comfortable and will wick sweat as well as absorb impact. • Slip-on style wristguards or wristguards with a full neoprene sleeve have great protection against track rash, but will get smelly faster than wristguards with a more open, ventilated style. • A wristguard with a hard plastic palm will slide across the floor more easily than wristguard with a cloth or leather palm. Depending on your skating style, this could be a good thing or bad thing. • To cut down on wristguard stink, you can make your own washable gaskets. Take a pair of holy old crew socks and cut the feet off just above the heel, leaving a tube. Snip a hole partway down on one side for your thumb and slide them on, then put your wristguards on. When they get smelly, just toss them in with the laundry. • If you suffer from wrist problems or injuries, you may want to consider a wristguard like the S-One Damager Control. It was designed by orthopedic specialists for athletes who have broken or sprained their wrists before. What you can expect to spend: $20 - $60 a pair, depending on the level of protection you want Popular Brands: What you need to know about elbow pads: Elbow pads have a pretty basic job: they keep you from getting nasty rink rash on your elbows while preventing fractures and other such injuries. A decent pair of elbow pads paired with a good set of knee pads can make more advanced techniques like barrel rolls and superman slides an important part of your falling repertoire. A good elbow pad absorbs the impact of a four-point fall or slide and stays comfortably in place. It has sturdy caps and padding and fits snugly enough that pulling or tugging on it will not make it slide down your arm. • Elbow pads with an open strap design tend to breathe more than pads with a full neoprene sleeve, but they're also more prone to pinching the skin on the inside of your elbows. • To cut down on elbow pad stink, you can make your own washable gaskets. Take a pair of holy old crew socks and cut the feet off just above the heel, leaving a tube. Slip them on, then put your elbow pads on. When they get smelly, just toss them in with the laundry. • If you like to do four-point slides, look for an elbow pad with a smooth, symmetrical cap. What you can expect to spend: $20 - $30 a pair Popular Brands: Thanks for reading Part Two of the New Skater Gear Guide! Continue reading to Part Three: Skates. Skate Safe! Rei Zerburnn
your knee pads a lot; to fall on, to slide on, to turn on, and to scrub off speed, among other things. Having a decent set of kneepads means you don't have to be worried or scared about using them, and you can focus on skating and doing what you need to do.
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