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Skateboarding => Shoes & Gear => Topic started by: Sedition on February 01, 2019, 04:00:49 PM
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Over the last month or so, there seems to have been an uptick in reported head injuries on various Facebook skate groups. One 26-year-old even died from a head hit. There was that Jamie Foy slam awhile ago. That 10-year-old, who just did El Toro, was rocking knee pads and a helmet when he first tried (good idea, in my book). All this got me curious, especially for the 30+ crowd.
What gear do people wear (if any), and under what conditions (e.g. skating a curb v. 3' mini ramp v. 6' mini ramp v. full sized bowl v. boardsliding El Toro)?
To answer my own question, I am 44-years-old. Street skating I always wear an elbow pad on my leading elbow. I've hit it so many times over the years that I have a permanent swelbow, and I'm just sick of hitting it. At my age, once mini ramps hit 4' high, the knee/elbow pads come out. I never used to wear a helmet unless on full-sized transition. That changed last summer. I was skating a 5' mini, and did a set-up trick I've done a million times (b/s pivot). As I was reentering the tranny, my back truck slipped out. I went straight to the flat. Knee/elbow pad took the brunt of it, but the velocity of the fall caused me to bounce my head off the flat. I got a huge golf-ball on my forehead. Lesson learned. I know rock a helmet once tranny goes over 5' high.
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There's enough pad reviews and recommendations on youtube alone
187 and protec.. Earn the pads on big shit or sit in the corner fully padded for flatground. Just make sure to talk about it like a damn J witness to everyone that hasn't asked
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There's enough pad reviews and recommendations...
Reviews and recommendations were never queried. That said, I’d take PDs over Pro-Tec/187 any day. And agreed, proselytising sucks, no matter what the topic. I certainly hope no one would do it in this thread. People can make their own choices, which is why the question was about what choices people had made.
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I’m 34, skate mostly tranny. If I’m injured, I’ll wear a pad on the knee / elbow in question. I wear a snow boarding tail pad if I’m skating pool coping, broken my tailbone 3 times slipping out on grinds, and it never really healed right the last time it happened. Full pads and helmet over 10 ft.
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I’ve sprained and fractured my left wrist several times in the past and now wear a wrist guard on it most of the time skating. I’ll often put on the other one too if I’m skating transition. I have been thinking about trying knee pads to get a bit more courage to up my tranny game, because I’ve only been doing the same few basic tricks forever. I’m 33 and a scaredy-cat who’s bad at skating.
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For a while I was really wanting to get hip pads but ended up not doing it.
I fall on my
Hip sooo freakin much.
I was looking at the ones from Footprint.
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44 in May. I wear a helmet in bigger bowls but super inconsistent about this. I now keep it in my vehicle. Front elbow pad when I blow up my elbow. Knee pads when I'm trying anything beyond grinds on tranny that goes to proper vert and is smooth enough not to rip them off.
Messing around on curbs and small bowls just aftermarket insoles. Remind Medics.
Been using a TSG full cut helmet. And I use 187 knee pads. Not sure what my elbow pad is.
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I'm 46.
Knee pads generally if it's over 7 feet, or if I'm trying go go big on stuff around 6.
Elbow - I bought some elbow pads two years ago when I had a chance to skate a 12" vert ramp. Haven't worn them otherwise.
Right wrist if it's bothering me or I'm in 7 feet or more. I work on computers and if I can't use my right hand it makes it super hard to have income.
Helmet whenever I'm at the park - keep it in my car. No helmet if I'm screwing around on curb or doing flat - which I rarely do.
For much of the last 5 years I was using a Triple 8 helmet that wasn't certified - I didn't even know the difference. Last summer I was shopping for a helmet for my kid and noticed that some were certified and some not. I asked the difference and the guy said that the non-certified did dick for protecting your brain.
I came home and watched this video that showed in a lab that the helmet I was wearing reduced G forces on the brain from 1000 G to 995 G. The S1 reduced from 1000 G to 253 G. That's a huge difference.
It still took me a few weeks to buy a new helmet because I hadn't hit my head hard since I started skating again. I bought the S1 and about 3-4 weeks later I took a massive slam going head first at speed onto concrete. I believe if I had my old helmet I would have had a pretty bad concussion - and I have already had 3 in my life. As it was I got a mild headache for a day. No helmet and I would have surely fractured my skull.
The S1 helmet is a use once and throw away, so I bought another one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnKiIAzKawo
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Well, I'm 33. I've never worn safety gear aside from a helmet and knee pads on vert a few times. Never broken any bones in my life either, somehow. If I get hurt these days, I just let it hang out.
I did recently just buy an ankle sleeve for my left ankle. Reason being that it feels weaker than usual, and I'm tired of slashing my ankle open on tricks. My left foot has gotten lazier when I do tricks, when I kickflip my foot's never totally on the board and my toes are hitting the ground, so I'm trying the sleeve to see if it helps. Anyone have any experiences with a sleeve?
Thing is though, I'm reading some reports about brain trauma and apparently it can occur even if you take a big hit without hitting your head. Like if your wheel hits a rock and you fall to the ground, your brain might still bounce around in your skull to an extent.
It's a bit frightening because thankfully I've only hit my head once and it was mellow, but I've taken innumerable slams otherwise. In this case, I doubt there's any safety gear that can prevent potential brain trauma; if I slam, I slam.
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I have been thinking about trying knee pads to get a bit more courage to up my tranny game, because I’ve only been doing the same few basic tricks forever.
Go for it. I started wearing knee/elbow on mini last year and it CHANGED EVERYTHING. Was way less scared of bailing, and started trying/learning shit I had never done before. After 30 years of street skating, I had finally been bitten by the tranny bug (and bitten real hard) all because I started wear pads. Wish I had “discovered” transition years ago, but I guess better late than never.
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For much of the last 5 years I was using a Triple 8 helmet that wasn't certified - I didn't even know the difference.
I also just recently learned the difference. Which begs the question: why do they even MAKE non-certified helmets??
Also, scary story about your wreck. Glad you’re OK. I’m actually a little skeptical of “multi-impact” helmets, but be that might left over from my motorcycle days.
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when we were kids my friend would wear high socks and put a CCS catalog inside as a shin guard
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when we were kids my friend would wear high socks and put a CCS catalog inside as a shin guard
Brilliant.
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flyaway helmets are where it's at. a little hard to find if you're not local in socal.
187 pads for sure. also knee gaskets and elbow sleeves.
edit - i wear all this crap if i'm skating a vert ramp. otherwise just knee pads in a bowl and an elbow pad if i've already fallen on it (have permanent swellbow too).
don't wear any safety gear skating street (except maybe a wrist guard if i've fallen on my wrist recently) which is probably stupid but w/e.
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...elbow sleeves.
What do you use for elbow sleeves? I often have problems with elbow pads sliding off (when I wear them), and was considering looking into some kind of sleeve.
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im 41. i stopped wearing pads about a decade ago because i found i was hurting my knees too much with them on. especially if i skated any smaller transition. i used to wear custom pain cheater knee pads. never really wore elbow pads.
i have a set of 187 knee pads ill wear if im skating something with like a foot of vert on it. i really wish i could get myself to wear a helmet full time in parks.
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...pain cheater...
Kevin is a rad dude.
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Almost 45; ever since son was born (11 years ago) helmet always. It took a little bit to make it regular without feeling self-conscious (esp. since I work in skateboarding with all the Cool Kids), but it’s easy after a while. Who gives a shit what anyone else thinks, right?
All helmets (legally) sold in CA are certified. Not as comfy generally, but far more protective. I alternate between Protec Classic and S-One Lifer. Have eyes on a Triple 8 that looks good, and have always wanted a Flyaway but they cost as much as3 othet helmets.
Knee pads and usually wrist at parks with overhead transition. Protec again, though thinking of upgrading. Can’t decide between Pain Cheaters and Pro Design : many merits for both, but again, both far more expensive. Will probably be the last set of pads I’d need ever though.
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These days I always wear wrist guards, Ennui City Brace that are brilliant, but it took a 5 broken wrists to get there. The final straw was my last one. Left wrist fractured in 3 places. 4 hours of surgery titanium plate and 11 months rehab was what convinced me.
At 42 I find that almost every big slam means weeks off the board which is a real pain and seems to slow me down more than I like.
Don't really skate vert so don't wear knee pads but I get my helmet out for anything bigger than mini ramps.
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About five years ago I thought I could pull off an Auby Taylor and become a vert skater, so I went out and bought kneepads and a helmet. I got the 187 pro kneepads and the full-tec Pro-Tec helmet. Realistically the soft foam helmets don't really do anything for you besides slightly softening the blow. You need a rated liner(the hard foam style) to actually help if you bash your head. If it's your first time buying pads I can't stress enough how important it is to go try them on first. If they're too small they're going to be too tight and uncomfortable; if they're too big they can push down when you're sliding on them, or you could have them covering the wrong spot of your knees/elbows. Having them too big is definitely the bigger problem
Learning how to kneeslide is a weird one in itself. It goes against every instinct you learned skating street. It might look kooky, but definitely take the time to properly learn how to do it. I ended a few sessions too early tripping while trying to run full speed out of a bail at the top of the vert ramp. They take time to break in, too. At first they seem really bulky and awkward to skate in. If you wear them enough you'll get used to it and you'll be able to avoid other possible injuries just from sliding one out. One last tip is to stretch beforehand
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I should get my helmet/kneepads honestly. I only wear them when I'm back home and skating the bowl at 3rd Lair where I can borrow some for the free, and it's usually only when I wanna skate the deep end/try shit a little more out of my comfort zone. Kneesliding makes a world of difference honestly, don't have to risk wrecking your shit running out on tranny and it's just a lot easier.
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Kneesliding makes a world of difference honestly, don't have to risk wrecking your shit running out on tranny and it's just a lot easier.
Absolute truth. That was a real epiphany to me when I started wearing pads on mini ramps; pads/knee slides were not mainly about preventing impact injury on knees, but so that you could knee slide out of stuff, rather than run out and/or fall onto other parts of your body. That's huge, esp. for the older crowed (e.g. me), who are more susceptible to soft tissue damage (twist, tears, sprains, etc.) which is often cause by a bad run out.
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Street (back then and now) no pads
Park/Street no pads unless required (then I wear the soft slip on Triple 8 pads)
Concrete bowls of any real size = knee pads and helmet, and the soft elbows like above)
I'm afraid of heights when it comes to edges (roofs, railings, and the lip of ramps and pools) it can be 6' and it will wig me out; has never affected me going off sets or gaps however. Fucking sucks so I pad up.
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I don't know how you guys knee bail on mini-ramps. I'd rather slide on my arse or run out... than go straight to flat, even with good pads... Vert on the other hands, knee pads are a game changer.... unless its rough concrete and then its more dangerous to wear them. The worse though is sessioning in pads and then forgetting you've taken them off... padless knee bails... not fun...
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Got back on a board at 33 and thought that protections were useless because I was saying "I will just roll around, no crazy tricks". I fell on my elbow some weeks after. Not a big fall, but I got pins and needles for 1 week, which is a sign of bone fracture... I realized that I was lucky, it was just a warning sign, so I bought 187 elbow pad. Some week after I was flying forward after hitting a small rock on my way to the parking. I did a perfect ninja roll at reception, but realized 10 seconds after that my wrist had hit the ground and that small pebbles got inside the skin. Some bleeding, but it also went blue for 2 weeks. So I bought the Triple Eight gloves. Some months after, a scooter kid face crashed in front of me. He lost 2 front teeth. The helmet was useless in this case, but I realized how fast your head can be thrown to the ground. So I bought a S1 helmet.
From my experience:
-the S1 helmet is great but the light foam tears apart quickly due to sweating. But as this foam is just for confort, I guess it's ok.
-the Triple Eight gloves are great because you still have a lot of freedom with your fingers to pick up your board or roll on the ground when falling. It's not like classical wrist guards that look like a plaster cast and will impede any movement.
-Not so happy with the 187 elbow pads. They are bulky and it's uncomfortable to wear anything inside or outside. Also the real problem I had is that they were hurting when sweating, I got many bleeding burns due to the foam scrapping my skin.
-So I moved to G-Form elbow pad. They are very confortable, low profile, you can wear them under a sweatshirt, no problems. However I'm not sure they will provide enough protection in the case of a hard fall from the top of a bowl.
-no knee pads, but as I'm more and more doing transition stuff and going higher in the bowl, I might start wearing them only for that purpose.
In anyway, I consider that protections are your last line of defense to save what can be saved. It cannot replace you to learn how to fall properly and roll on the ground.
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34 years old and body pretty busted. I pad up at 10ft+ vert. That would count for vert ramps, and bowls that are mostly 10ft+. If it’s a smaller bowl with a random 10ft wall I ain’t padding up. I use 187 pads. Started padding up because I wanted to learn to skate vert properly so I find myself at vert ramp a bit more regularly.
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43 years old. I have a Triple-8 helmet that I wear at my YMCA park that requires them (and they enforce it). With my other helmets, sweat eventually runs down my face and into my eyes. Not with the T-8. I have 187 pro knee pads for big stuff (8' +) and I have some Triple - 8 knee pads for smaller tranny and mellow concrete bowls. I prefer butterfly strapped pads so I can wear them over jeans or dickies in colder weather without having to take off a shoe and slide them up. I don't wear pads for street. (I suck so it's not like I'm doing anything too tech anyway). I will usually wear a wrist guard on my right wrist. I've hurt it before. I play darts in a league and national tournaments so I don't want to screw up that wrist. I have some Rector elbow pads but just pull them out for big pools and ramps. I used to be a little more self conscious about the helmet and knee pads when I was younger, but after I hit 40 I knew I no longer had anyone to impress and nothing to prove, so screw it! I have great insurance, but at this age I don't heal like I used to. Wearing pads today means I can skate tomorrow!
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When I skate pools I wear a helmet. Actually, I should probably wear knee pads too.
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...after I hit 40 I knew I no longer had anyone to impress and nothing to prove, so screw it!
...at this age I don't heal like I used to...
...Wearing pads today means I can skate tomorrow!
This. Everything this.
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I was teetering on buying knee pads for the longest time. Mostly shame held me back. What if someone said something to me about them?
But then I realized, “these knee pads are for when your mom is sucking my dick”, and I’m fully padded all the time now.
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I was teetering on buying knee pads for the longest time. Mostly shame held me back. What if someone said something to me about them?
But then I realized, “these knee pads are for when your mom is sucking my dick”, and I’m fully padded all the time now.
Um... aren't they for when you are sucking his mom's dick?
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I was teetering on buying knee pads for the longest time. Mostly shame held me back. What if someone said something to me about them?
But then I realized, “these knee pads are for when your mom is sucking my dick”, and I’m fully padded all the time now.
Um... aren't they for when you are sucking his mom's dick?
Ever since she got that last tooth removed, she’s been giving killer ones. But, fuck man, if you need to wear safety gear for a blow job from a 71-year old geriatric woman, you def better pad-up when skateboarding, it’s way more dangerous.
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I have friends who wear pads now that were senior citizens.
I couldn't care less if they do. Too each their own.
I can't wear pads , it feels constricting.
I've been keeping it low impact though.
Strictly flatground or park skating.
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As someone who pads up for very/large tranny only, it confuses me that dudes maybe a few years older than me rock the full gear in a 5ft bowl. As some have said, it’s all about that knee slide and learning to bail to a knee slide. You just can’t do that on a small bowl. By the time you get to your knees your in the flat and your spine is getting compressed. I get that old blokes wanna protect themselves but fark I swear they’re setting themselves up to get fucked up
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...full gear in a 5ft bowl. As some have said, it’s all about that knee slide and learning to bail to a knee slide. You just can’t do that on a small bowl...
Totally depends on how tight the tranny is, and where in the process of a trick you bail. In many cases, you can get into a knee slide just below coping, even on 4' ramps/bowls. Others times, it's absolutely akin to dropping to a knee slide on curb, and a run out is a much better option. That said, I was skating a bowl last year w/o pads. Came into a tight corner (in the shallow section) way too hot, and got chucked forward into the tranny. Ripped my pants, and knee, open pretty bad, and on the side (def wasn't a proper knee slide situation). Was done for the day. Pads would have prevented that, so it not always about just dropping to a knee slide.
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I've got a Pro Tec from the 80's that probably doesn't protect for dick. I've been wearing it for bigger parks intermittently.
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As someone who pads up for very/large tranny only, it confuses me that dudes maybe a few years older than me rock the full gear in a 5ft bowl. As some have said, it’s all about that knee slide and learning to bail to a knee slide. You just can’t do that on a small bowl. By the time you get to your knees your in the flat and your spine is getting compressed. I get that old blokes wanna protect themselves but fark I swear they’re setting themselves up to get fucked up
Totally agree. Knee Pads on small tranny cause me more problems than padless. I prefer the arse-slide in these situations.
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43 years old. I have a Triple-8 helmet that I wear at my YMCA park that requires them (and they enforce it). With my other helmets, sweat eventually runs down my face and into my eyes. Not with the T-8. I have 187 pro knee pads for big stuff (8' +) and I have some Triple - 8 knee pads for smaller tranny and mellow concrete bowls. I prefer butterfly strapped pads so I can wear them over jeans or dickies in colder weather without having to take off a shoe and slide them up. I don't wear pads for street. (I suck so it's not like I'm doing anything too tech anyway). I will usually wear a wrist guard on my right wrist. I've hurt it before. I play darts in a league and national tournaments so I don't want to screw up that wrist. I have some Rector elbow pads but just pull them out for big pools and ramps. I used to be a little more self conscious about the helmet and knee pads when I was younger, but after I hit 40 I knew I no longer had anyone to impress and nothing to prove, so screw it! I have great insurance, but at this age I don't heal like I used to. Wearing pads today means I can skate tomorrow!
My dad used to be one of the top pro darters of the mid 80s. He still plays and runs the league in Alabama.
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My dad used to be one of the top pro darters of the mid 80s. He still plays and runs the league in Alabama.
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I have probably met him. I am on the board for the league here in Nashville and I've been to a few big tournaments in Alabama (like the Shoot for the Moon tournament in Huntsville that will happen this weekend).
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Bumping...
Are there any benefits to wearing a helmet that covers your ears vs. the normal ones that don't? I haven't bought a helmet in years and I've never bought pads, but I'm going to soon...
Found a big combi bowl about a 1 hour drive from my house and I'm determined to learn to skate transition for real this summer. Or at least not die while trying.
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Is it realistic to wear pads on top/outside of pants? Not down with shorts but I feel the need to pad up just like that dude ^
Some nice bowls and 3 pools a little north from me. Totally worth padding up for
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Is it realistic to wear pads on top/outside of pants? Not down with shorts but I feel the need to pad up just like that dude ^
Some nice bowls and 3 pools a little north from me. Totally worth padding up for
I bought a set of Triple 8 XL knee pads because they have butterfly straps and you don't have to slide them on. So they are much easier to wear over pants. They have already saved me in the concrete bowl in my town. I got squirrelly coming out of a corner and went to the pavement fast and hard, luckily I was able to turn my body and hit my knees. The pads saved me big time.
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I kinda want big ol hip and bum pads.
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Salba sleeps with leopard print Pro-Tec gear on. I always feel like safety gear makes me fall more. Maybe due to not being used to the weight or balance, but then I don't skate much over the 7ft bowl at my local park. To each their own.
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Are there any benefits to wearing a helmet that covers your ears vs. the normal ones that don't?
You get to look like Gonz?
Honestly I have no idea on specifics but it does guarantee you more coverage overall.
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Is it realistic to wear pads on top/outside of pants? Not down with shorts but I feel the need to pad up just like that dude ^
Some nice bowls and 3 pools a little north from me. Totally worth padding up for
I hate skating in shorts, unless I'm wearing pads on transition. I mean, yeah, you can wear pads over pants, but IMHO, it's much, much more comfortable with shorts. Pants bind-up and bunch-up under pads and create weird pressure points, add another layer, end up with weird wet knee prints (e.g. sweat) when you take them off, etc. If it works for you, by all means, go for it. That said, give pads and shorts a try. You'll probably find it much more comfortable.
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Knee Pads & Helmet in Pools/Bowls for me, Nothing when Street/Park skating.
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any good advice on finding a good ankle brace?
I love skating but I'm scared to roll my feet again :(
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Sorry to resurrect an old thread but this was probably the best one for pads.
There are a few new big bowls opening up near me that I'm stoked to skate. Being fresh concrete, knee bails are fully a possibility unlike the pad-grabbing aged 'crete I usually skate.
Anyway, I usually use 187s on the once in a blue moon that I do actually pad up. However, I might treat myself to some new pads to get amped to skate some smooth new bowls...
Anyone tried the S1 Gen 4.5 pads? I have a 20% off coupon but would love a review, if you have one...
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Sorry to resurrect an old thread but this was probably the best one for pads.
There are a few new big bowls opening up near me that I'm stoked to skate. Being fresh concrete, knee bails are fully a possibility unlike the pad-grabbing aged 'crete I usually skate.
Anyway, I usually use 187s on the once in a blue moon that I do actually pad up. However, I might treat myself to some new pads to get amped to skate some smooth new bowls...
Anyone tried the S1 Gen 4.5 pads? I have a 20% off coupon but would love a review, if you have one...
I've tried the S1 4.5 after skating 187 for a number of years and they're good but the padding isn't as thick as 187. I haven't felt any pain knee-sliding but it is notable. The S1 is a little more comfortable so if you need pads and have a discount then I'd say go for it. Be sure to measure precisely if you can't try them on in person first.
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Sorry to resurrect an old thread but this was probably the best one for pads.
There are a few new big bowls opening up near me that I'm stoked to skate. Being fresh concrete, knee bails are fully a possibility unlike the pad-grabbing aged 'crete I usually skate.
Anyway, I usually use 187s on the once in a blue moon that I do actually pad up. However, I might treat myself to some new pads to get amped to skate some smooth new bowls...
Anyone tried the S1 Gen 4.5 pads? I have a 20% off coupon but would love a review, if you have one...
I've tried the S1 4.5 after skating 187 for a number of years and they're good but the padding isn't as thick as 187. I haven't felt any pain knee-sliding but it is notable. The S1 is a little more comfortable so if you need pads and have a discount then I'd say go for it. Be sure to measure precisely if you can't try them on in person first.
Appreciate that. my 187 are still in good shape so I'll just skate them until they are toast. You saved me some $s.
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Got the 187 Derby pads. They don't really prevent any kind of movement for me which is great but of course means they won't protect me from twisting my shit into some unnatural position and getting injured that way. But hey impact protection without any hinderance is a pretty sweet deal. Only disappointment has been figuring out they are the roller derby model instead of being named after the skatepark. :D
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Got the 187 Derby pads. They don't really prevent any kind of movement for me which is great but of course means they won't protect me from twisting my shit into some unnatural position and getting injured that way. But hey impact protection without any hinderance is a pretty sweet deal. Only disappointment has been figuring out they are the roller derby model instead of being named after the skatepark. :D
Ha. I love skating Derby but I'd never knee-slide out of any bails there.
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Sorry to resurrect an old thread but this was probably the best one for pads.
There are a few new big bowls opening up near me that I'm stoked to skate. Being fresh concrete, knee bails are fully a possibility unlike the pad-grabbing aged 'crete I usually skate.
Anyway, I usually use 187s on the once in a blue moon that I do actually pad up. However, I might treat myself to some new pads to get amped to skate some smooth new bowls...
Anyone tried the S1 Gen 4.5 pads? I have a 20% off coupon but would love a review, if you have one...
I've tried the S1 4.5 after skating 187 for a number of years and they're good but the padding isn't as thick as 187. I haven't felt any pain knee-sliding but it is notable. The S1 is a little more comfortable so if you need pads and have a discount then I'd say go for it. Be sure to measure precisely if you can't try them on in person first.
Appreciate that. my 187 are still in good shape so I'll just skate them until they are toast. You saved me some $s.
Happy to help! You could always get some different color caps for your 187s; spruce them up a bit.
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Yeah, I wore through the black re-caps and got some grey ones last summer.
My discount coupon expires in Oct so I'll get another summer out of these 187s and then try the S1s.
I don't use knee pads very often but when I do its usually on concrete and they take a hammering.
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...after I hit 40 I knew I no longer had anyone to impress and nothing to prove, so screw it!
...at this age I don't heal like I used to...
...Wearing pads today means I can skate tomorrow!
This. Everything this.
I am going to turn 42 next month and I don't wear any pads. Never even thought about it..
I just skate some curbs and my local skatepark. nothing wild...
I guess there are no pads for big toe osteoarthritis and back pain...
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I guess there are no pads for big toe osteoarthritis and back pain...
DC Lynx OG
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Never wore pads in my life. Took about 20 yr hiatus on skateboarding and when I got back into it, first thing I tried was to 50/50 a small ledge at a skatepark because it was an easy goto trick I could always do and "what could go wrong?" Well, I slammed pretty hard and luckily didn't get too hurt but I ordered a helmet and full set of pads including wrist guards before I went back to the park again. For a while, I wore it all every time. Then I started skated small street spots again and gradually removed some pads depending on what was going on. Funny thing is usually, if I removed an elbow or knee pad, that elbow or knee would be what I slam on. I will still wear a helmet anytime I'm at a skatepark and riding transition and add more protection depending on what I'm doing. I rarely ever wear the wrist guards anymore for anything though.