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Skating is fun and rewarding, but it’s also rough on your clothing. Skaters need to wear well-fitting shirts, shoes, shorts (or pants), and socks. Your shoes are key as a skater. You’ll want them to have good grip so you can maintain control on the board, good ankle support, and excellent traction—you don’t want them slipping out from under you as soon as you start skating. As for pants or shorts: You’re going to fall down; that’s a fact of skating life. Choose something durable so your knees don’t get skinned up every time you take a spill!
Buy protective gear that is up to industry standard.
Also, always make sure that you purchase protective gear that is up to industry standards. Don’t go for the cheapest option on the market—often, these cheaper products don’t function as well as they should and will not protect you effectively if you fall. If in any doubt, check with someone who knows what they’re talking about (a professional skateboarder or experienced skater) or refer to a skateboarding forum if you’re still unsure.
Be sure to check your protective gear regularly to ensure it’s in good condition and still fit for purpose. Perhaps get a second opinion from a skating buddy too.
Wear knee pads when skateboarding.
Safety is vital when you’re skateboarding, and one of the most important steps you can take to keep yourself safe is to wear knee pads. Knee pads protect the soft tissue of your knees, which can be seriously impacted by even a minor fall.
Knee pads should fit snugly without being too tight. Your kneecaps should fit right into the hard caps on the front of them, so make sure they’re not too small or large. A good way to check if they’re sized correctly is to slide them up your leg when they’re fully fastened. They should stay in place, even after sliding—if they fall off easily, they may not be suitable for skating with!
Wear elbow pads as well.
You should wear elbow pads as well. These are designed to protect the elbow from impact. However, they will not protect the elbow when you fall on your elbows or sides of your body (abrasion) and will cause you more pain as a result unless you have proper protection for this situation. The most common type of pad is called “skateboard elbow.” They’re made with a thin plastic shell over which a foam pad goes, like the ones found in shoes.
You can also purchase protective gloves that come with an attached wrist guard and additional padding to provide further comfort while skating.
Choose light shoes with good grip.
Choose a pair of shoes that have good grip. This will help you slide on the floor and avoid falling. Shoes made of leather or suede are best. Try not to wear metal accessories as they can cause injuries should you fall over them. You don’t want to wear shoes that weigh too much as this will make it hard for you to balance your body weight on the skates.
You also want to keep your feet warm and comfortable so socks are very important in skating. Pick a pair that is thin, but warm enough for comfort.
Tighten your shoelaces.
As you sit down to put on your shoes, keep in mind that this is not the time for a “just fine” attitude. If you don’t tighten your laces, the shoe will come untied (or at least partially untied) and your heel will lift up just enough from the skatebed that you’ll be sliding around like a drunk person in socks. Not fun for you or for whoever’s about to crash into you.
It’s always best to tie your shoe with two bunny ears, two loops of equal size around one another. This way, if one part of your shoelace comes undone—which happens often when skating—you won’t have to take the whole lace out of the loop and re-thread it through every eyelet on your way back down. It also makes it easier to pull tight and lock into place.
Finally, make sure that your laces are tight enough so that they aren’t slipping as much as possible without constricting blood flow to your feet. This can require some practice; every pair of skates will fit differently even if they’re all size 8s! Once more: while being tight is important so that they don’t slip while skating, do not wear them so tightly that it hurts or compromises circulation!
Opt for long sleeves and pants.
Long sleeves and pants are essential when ice skating. You will likely fall, so it’s advisable to protect your arms and legs from scrapes, cuts, and bruises—a pair of jeans or leggings paired with a long-sleeved t-shirt or sweatshirt is a good look for skating. Remember that you’ll be able to move more freely if the clothes you wear are fitted but not tight. For first-time skaters: save the skirt or romper for after you’ve mastered staying on your feet!
Wear a helmet while skateboarding.
While it may seem like a no-brainer, you’d be surprised by how many people try to get away with not wearing a helmet. A helmet is one of the most important pieces of equipment to protect your head from serious injuries. If you are skating in traffic, you are at risk for a collision with a car. Even if you’re an expert skater, accidents happen and can result in serious injuries—wearing a helmet isn’t just good common sense; it’s mandatory.
Proper skateboard helmets should have:
- A hard shell exterior made of polycarbonate or ABS plastic
- Extensive padding on the inside to absorb the shock of impact
- A chin strap that keeps the helmet securely on your head while riding and falls off in case of an accident
If you don’t want to wear a helmet while skateboarding, then please consider another hobby besides skateboarding! It’s always best practice to wear protective gear while skating, but sometimes even experienced riders slip up and forget their helmets. So remember: no matter how good you think you are at skating or how confident you feel about avoiding injury, accidents do happen and wearing a helmet is the only thing that can protect your head from serious damage.
Wear sun protection.
With all of the sun exposure, there’s a chance that you’ll be injured in an accident, and it only takes one. You take a hit to the head or even worse, your eyes. If contact occurs with your head, you could expect some pretty severe side effects like:
- dizziness
- headache
- drowsiness
- nausea
- decreased vision
What’s more is that if this happens to you while on skates, you could be permanently sidelined from skating for months. With all of that said, having all the proper gear can avoid the inevitable, and keep you safe at all times.
To avoid injuries while skateboarding, you should wear protective gear including a helmet, knee and elbow pads, wrist guards and shoes with good grip.
Even if you aren’t particularly worried about getting hurt, it’s still important to wear all the protective gear we listed above, because getting hurt isn’t just bad for you—it’s also really annoying for your friends who have to take care of you or drive you to the hospital. You can’t go out and skateboard without these items.
Conclusion
- A skateboarder should wear a helmet, elbow pads, knee pads and wrist guards when they go skateboarding.
- They can start by getting a helmet and then working up to the other protective gear.
- They can find this protective gear at a local sporting goods store or at an online retailer like Amazon or Dicks Sporting Goods.
FAQ
Skateboarding can be a dangerous sport, but with the right safety gear, you can stay uninjured and enjoy your time on wheels. We’ve all seen those skateboarders who don’t wear helmets and don’t appear to have any protection at all. But while they may get away with it, it’s not safe, and you should consider wearing clothing that protects you from injury.
The most important protective gear is a helmet. But how can you tell if a helmet is safe? It’s easy: just look for the CPSC sticker on the inside of the helmet. This stands for Consumer Product Safety Commission, which means that the product has passed tests conducted by this organization and is therefore safe to use in skateboarding. If your helmet doesn’t have this sticker, then it won’t provide enough protection if you fall off your board or lose control at high speeds. It’s best not to take chances–wear a CPSC-certified helmet!
