To wear or not to wear that isn’t the question. We are talking about wrist guards, which are a must when you are skating and snowboarding.

Inline skating, roller skating also skateboarding has its type of injuries. When suffering a forward fall, your reflexes automatically put your palms forward to protect your body.

Therefore, it is crucial for you to protect your wrists at all costs, even if there is some restriction in movement. Also, some might wonder, do wrist guards protect against fractures on the upper arm? The answer is no!

They only protect the wrist as they are supposed to. Moreover, there is little obscure evidence that the wrist guard sends the fractures up the arm. So, is it worth it? Let’s find out!

How Do Wrist Guards Protect From Injury?

Engineers molded the wrist guard in such a way that it fits all-size hands. They hug the hands and wrist for complete protection.

However, Wrist guards and braces shouldn’t be compared. Wrist braces are for medical purposes and are used for the healing process of the wrist.

Wrist guards have a special thick plastic that acts as a shock absorbent when you fall. When skating or snowboarding, there is a higher chance of falling on your face.

In this type of sports, for example, inline skating, skateboarding, and snowboarding, forward fall is common.

As the body has its reflexes, it tends to put the arms first to stop the fall. This creates a great impact on the wrists and arms. However, the wrists take most of the impact. This creates weight overload on the wrists.

The wrists then bend too much backward and break. Wrist guards prevent this from happening by stopping them from bending backward too much.

There is a back splint that helps with that. It is also made of hard plastic. So, if you fall, there is no fracture of the bones.

The splint on the palm of the gloves has a little convex shape to it. The reason for that is to minimize the impact on the wrists.

When you accelerate and then suddenly hit the break, you are most likely to crash on the face. To compensate for that, your body puts the hands forward.

When the wrist guards hit the floor, the front splints create a sliding motion. This minimizes the vertical impact on the arms.

The sliding puts less weight on the arms. Thus, there are no fractures. There might be bruises on the hands, but the major damages are prevented.

Read: How do wrist guards work?

How Effective Are Wrist Guards?

There is no doubt that wrist guards will protect you from injuries. Depending on the severity of the situation, the effectiveness may vary.

However, it surely will mitigate the damage that would have taken place. It will surely minimize the amount of injury that ought to happen if you take no safety measures.

In most cases, the wrist guard prevents major damages to the bones and the joint as there is no device that is 100% effective because there are different kinds of situations when we perform sports.

Thus, you might wonder, can you break your wrist while wearing wrist guards? There may be a slim chance that it may occur. But the fall has to be from a great height to do so.

There is another type of wrist guard that has no splint at the back. This is kind of a trade-off for more wrist movement. Here you lose the protection by half.

If the fall is severe, both the splints keep the wrist alignment straight. But for the ease of movement, some prefer only one-sided protection.

Some wrist guards are not guards at all. They may be called wrist bands. These don’t have any plastic protectors. They might not be as effective as the real thing. But it is better to wear something than nothing.

In short, no matter how severe the fall, wrist guards will minimize its impact.

How To Minimize Injuries?

There are some ways you can minimize the damage when you fall on the ground. Injuries vary from bruises, sprains to fractures and dislocation.

Doctors suggest that you mustn’t try to catch yourself when you fall. Rather stretch arms out to make a sliding motion.

There is another way that needs a little bit of practice. The beginners should try to master this falling method.

When you get the instinct that you will fall, try to fall on the fleshy parts of the body. This prevents fractures of the wrists effectively.

Drawbacks

The only drawback of the wrist guards is that they might be restricting. It means they might restrict the wrist movement at some angles. However, it is better to protect the wrists than to have a fractured wrist.

Conclusion…

If you are a beginner, then the wrist guard is a must. Also, the older you get, the more susceptible you are to injure yourself.

As you age, the healing process takes more time. It is better to take protective measures rather than sitting back for months or maybe years.

Rather ask which ones prevent fracture best than do wrist guards prevent fractures. A beginner or advanced level skater should wear wrist guards and other safety gear when doing sports.

We all have heard that prevention is better than cure. For skating, it should sound like “Protection is better than cure.”

The reason behind it is that it will cost you so much time if you don’t protect your wrists when having fun. Additionally, the healing process kills your enthusiasm.

The injuries range from bruises, fractures to dislocations of joints. Experts suggest if you feel you are going to fall, you might want to land on fleshy parts rather than use your wrists. Still, protection is crucial as you cannot control where you land.

Thus, it is best to protect than sit back for months or maybe years. Knowing how to wear wrist guards for skating is necessary for proper safety with other protective gears. Here’s how you can do it yourself.

How To Wear Wrist Guards For Skating?

It is necessary and a must for beginners and older persons. The beginners are prone to falling.

As they haven’t mastered the falling style yet, the injury can be severe. As the learning progresses, skaters have more control over how they fall, and there is less damage.

Also, as you get older, your bones don’t heal at the same rate as they used to. So, if you take a hit at old age, it might take years to heal. Therefore, you might want to avoid injuries by wearing wrist guards which protect your bones.

Step 1: Choosing a comfortable and durable wrist guard.

The right wrist guard will provide you with proper protection. You know what type of tricks you are going to perform. Thus, choose a suitable guard for your wrists.

Step 2: Locate the thumb hole.

Knowing where the thumb hole is, makes your work that much easy. It indicates which one goes on which hand.

To make it simpler for you, the guard with the hole on the right side goes on the right wrist, and the hole with the hole on the left side goes on the left wrist.

Step 3: Hard side up!

The side with the hard and thick plastic resides on your palm. That hard plastic is called splints, and they absorb the shock when you fall. There is another splint that is at the back of the wrist guard.

Sometimes the front one is removable. It is so that it takes more damage and also can be replaced if it breaks or wears down.

The back of the wrist guard usually has the logo of the company to make it clear which side is the front. It makes the work easier for you.

Read: How do wrist guards work?

Step 4: Slide them on.

Slide the wrist guards on one after another. It is preferable to do one hand at a time. By doing this, you will have more control over the gear, and the output will be better.

Or,

If the guard is not a sliding system, you have to open it and lay your hand on the pad. Grip it and put your thumb through the hole. Then start the wrapping process.

Step 5: Wrap it around.

First, take the longer strap and wrap it around 360 degrees. Then attach the Velcro, which will not be much tight.

Then you take the shorter straps and tightly secure them in place on the Velcro. Now you undo the longer strap and pull it taut, making it snuggly tight to your wrists.

Step 6: Test it.

You have to make sure your hands and fingers are comfortable, and the grip is non-restricting. Also, they mustn’t be too loose as it will be inconvenient when skating.

Move your wrist around and fingers. If it feels alright, then just head outside.

Final Words…

To wrap it up, you always have to wear safety gear when attempting these types of sports. Especially if you are a beginner, you have to wear a wrist guard.

Skating has a higher chance of injury and can leave you with damages that you might not recover. Therefore, your protective measure will save you from an unpleasant situation.

There is no alternative to safety gear to keep the fun in the sport and danger, especially the wrist guard. Always remember that safety comes first!

Whether you are an adult or a kid, you will always find skateboarding is a challenging and exciting sport. Hence, it is hard to resist the temptation to go on the roads with your favorite skateboard and let the adrenaline take over you. Undoubtedly, it brings satisfaction for all of us. But it also runs the risk of tipping over and getting injured unless you wear the right protective gear for skateboarding.

That’s why we will review the seven best skateboard protective gears for safety to make sure you remain safe and practice carefulness. It will also allow you to ride skateboards with confidence and show some crowd-pleasing tricks like a pro.

Our skateboard protective gear review includes skateboarding shorts, helmets, goggles, elbow pads, and many more that both adults and kids require. So, you won’t miss anything.

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What are Skateboard Protective Gears?

U.S. National Safety Council reports over 50000 cases of injuries that come to the U.S. Emergency Department due to skateboarding every year. Also, around 1500 people are hospitalized in hospitals due to skateboard injuries.

These incidents happen because skateboarders don’t follow safety rules and aren’t interested in wearing skateboard safety gear. The safety equipment for skateboard refers to several gears, including thigh pads, protective helmets, goggles, knee pads, and elbow protection while riding skateboard and longboard on roads.

The equipment will protect different parts of the body. So, even if you trip over from the skateboard, you will be less likely to get injured. Also, it is essential if you are willing to practice skateboard and longboard tricks such as Ollie, backside flip, heelflip, power sliding, etc.

What Protective Gears Do You Need for Skateboarding?

When you plan for skateboarding, you must practice carefulness and follow safety precautions set by experts and elders. Hence, you need to wear safety gear for skateboarding. The list includes-

• A thigh pad to support your thighs well. It even comes with pockets to store smartphones these days.
• Wrist guard and knee pads will protect your wrist and knees from injuries.
• Closer-toe or metal-toe shoes will safeguard your feet from serious injuries and offer stability on the board base.
• A helmet with enough cushioning inside to protect your head. Also, it should fit well without any tightness.
• Shatterproof glasses or goggles will protect your eyes. Also, it keeps dust and debris away for a clear view.
• Gloves on hands to remain free from any cuts even if you fall.

Why Do You Need Safety Gear for Skateboarding?

Skateboarding is one of the most challenging sports you will ever come across. There’re dedicated parks for skateboarding. But mostly, both kids and adults will practice their skills on roads or in crowded parks on hard floors made of concrete.

Since skateboard always runs the risk of falling over, the hard floor can result in different injuries. There are many cases of hospitalization due to injuries while people were on their skateboards. It even increases when riders practice different tricks.

The skateboard protective gear will help you remain safe from such injuries. Using a thigh and wrist pad, proper chest clothing, shatterproof goggles, and toed boots will eliminate the chances of injuries and boost your confidence.

Read: How to Look Cool Wearing a Skateboard Helmet?

What Happens If You Don’t Use Skateboard Safety Gear?

When you don’t wear skating protective gear, it will increase the chances of injuries. Just imagine how bad the cuts can be if you fall on gravel from the skateboards. Plus, longboards put extreme pressure on knees, which can cause strains.

If you don’t wear knee pads, it will increase the likelihood of knee strains and injuries. Then many riders dislike wearing goggles. It may cause dust to get into your eyes. Also, it will reduce your visibility on roads, and you may hit your fellow skateboards.

Thus, in short, not wearing the skateboard protective gear will increase the likelihood of minor cuts and injuries. So, be aware of it.

The 7 Best Skateboard Protective Gears Review

When it comes to skateboard sports, safety must be your prime concern, irrespective of your skill level. Yes, both professionals and beginners run the risk of injuries from skateboarding. We took concern of it and enlisted the best skateboard equipment in the following sections.

How Do You Choose Skateboard Protective Gear?

When you want protective gear for skateboarding, you must be picky about it. Since it includes multiple items, you have to look at various things.

First off, the helmet must be sturdy and offer a snug fit. It should have vents for breathability. Also, EVA foams inside will offer impact resistance with a softer feel. Similarly, the knee and elbow pads should have EVA foaming. It ensures maximum safety.

Also, the protective gear must be lightweight and flexible enough to allow easy movements. If the pads or helmet feel heavyweight, it will distract you and cause stress. Next, you may look at the airflow and breathability. If the fabric lacks breathing facility, you will feel sweaty.

Lastly, check the price. If you look for high-end protective gear, you have to spend more on it. But you should get these items mostly at affordable pricing.

Read: Skateboard Helmet Vs Bike Helmet

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best protective gear for skateboarding?

Skateboard protective gear includes different items such as helmets, wrist guards, and pads for the knee and thighs. So, it is difficult to choose one particular item. Yet, we recommend JBM and Triple Eight manufactured items.

Should I get protective gear for skateboarding?

Yes, you must wear skateboard protective gear. It will safeguard you from minor injuries and fractures which skateboarders often experience.

How do you protect yourself while skating?

You have to wear the right protective gear. Make sure you wear a helmet, wrist protector, and pads for protection. Also, learn the tricks with patience.

Do I need knee pads for skateboarding?  

Knees are the most vulnerable parts of your body while skateboarding. So, you must wear knee pads with EVA foam to avoid injuries and cuts.

What protective gear does Tony Hawk use?

Tony Hawk uses a Triple 8 helmet with EVA foam construction. He also uses a certified sweat saver wrist and elbow guard for protection.   

What gear do professional skateboarders wear?

Professional skateboards will always wear sweat-saver helmets, elbow pads, and wrist guards. They also use breathable knee pads.

How do you wear knee pads for skateboarding?

You should fit the pads right below the knee cap. You can also choose to cover half of your knee caps. Once the fitting is good, tighten the strap, and you are ready to go.

Why don’t people wear protection?

Skateboard is an exciting sport. So, people want to feel the excitement and thrill. It refrains people from wearing protective gear. But that increases the chance of injuries.

Conclusion

Whether you are a beginner or professional, riding on a skateboard always runs the risk of tipping over it. Since skateboarding surface is hard, it may cause you cuts, minor injuries, and fractures even. And it cans aloof you from the excitement of skateboarding for days and even months. If you don’t want such an experience, you must wear the best skating protective gear.

Our list includes a protective helmet, wrist guard, and pads for both knee and elbow. So, you will enjoy maximum safety. Plus, the kits are lightweight and breathable, which allows a cooler feel. Therefore, you will truly enjoy the elevated thrill of skateboarding.