What protection do I need for skateboarding?
Emily Ross
Published Jan 25, 2026
Every skateboarder should wear standard safety gear. This includes a helmet, wrist guards, elbow and knee pads and appropriate shoes. Skateboarders who perform tricks should use heavy duty gear. Skateboarders who go near traffic or use homemade skateboard ramps.
Do you need protection when skating?
Protective gear can inhibit this feeling by restricting your movement or making you too hot. But it's so easy to injure yourself on skates, and especially in a skate park, that if you are trying something new, it's always advisable to wear some level of protective gear.
How do you protect yourself from skateboarding?
Choose a Safe Environment
- Avoid skateboarding on irregular surfaces. ...
- Do not use homemade skateboard ramps.
- Never use your skateboard in wet weather.
- Avoid skateboarding in crowded walkways or in darkness.
- Never hold onto the side or rear of a moving vehicle while riding a skateboard ("skitching").
What is the most important protective gear for skateboarding?
Helmet: The skateboard helmet is the most essential safety piece of gear you will need because it protects your head from an injury when you fall. You should always wear a multi-sport or skateboarding helmet that fits your head snugly (look for one with installable pads—it shouldn't move when you shake your head).
What does every skateboarder need?
- Skate Tool or Multi-Tool. A skate tool is going to be very useful when you're at the skatepark or a street spot and you need to set up a board or make adjustments. ...
- Skate Wax. ...
- Reusable Water Bottle. ...
- Extra Skate Parts. ...
- Utility Knife or Box Cutter. ...
- Extra Shoe Laces. ...
- Headphones. ...
- Power Bank to Recharge Phone.
What is in a skater bag?
Blade covers or soakers for protecting your blades in your figure skating bag. Extra knee-high socks. Gel tubing sleeves - only use if ankles need the extra layer so they don't hurt in your ice skates. Wrist guards, elbow and knee pads.
Should skateboarders wear helmets?
When it comes to safety, you should be wearing a helmet whenever you are skateboarding. The very purpose of it is to protect your head from severe injury in case of a fall. Concussions and a variety of head injuries happen, especially when you're a beginner.
What pads do pro skaters use?
Top 10 Best Skateboard Knee Pads
- 187 Killer Fly Knee Pads. Best Overall. ...
- 187 Killer Pro Knee Pads. Best Premium. ...
- JBM International Skateboard Knee Pads. Best Value. ...
- Triple Eight KP 22 Longboarding Knee Pads. ...
- Pro-Tec Street Knee Pads. ...
- PHZ 3-in-1 Protective Gear Set. ...
- Triple Eight Covert Knee Pads. ...
- Triple Eight Street Knee Pads.
How common are head injuries in skateboarding?
20% of all injuries are to the head and a higher proportion of head injuries occur to skateboarders who are under 10 years old. Serious head injuries include concussion, skull fractures, blunt trauma and closed head injuries and represent 3.1% of all injuries.
What is the most common skateboard injury?
Common Skateboarding Injuries
- Head injuries, including concussions, pose the greatest danger to young skateboarders. ...
- Hand, wrist, or shoulder injuries may occur when skateboarders lose their balance and fall on an outstretched arm.
- Ankle injuries, such as fractures are also common.
Should skateboarders wear wrist guards?
Because wrist injuries are so common in skating, wrist guards are generally recommended for most use, and especially for beginners whose most common injuries are prevented well by them.
How do skateboarders not get hurt?
Wrist pads, gloves, knee pads, and helmets are a good place to start if you want to purchase protective gear. They won't stop you from skids and falls, but they will protect exposed parts and prevent more serious injuries. Helmets should have a buckle strap and fit around your head snugly.
Do I need gloves for skateboarding?
While skateboarding primarily requires you to be on your feet, wearing a pair of protective skate gloves provides cushioning and impact resistance should you fall or skid. Picking up your skateboard, touching the ground when attempting to slow down, and exposure to extreme weather conditions warrant reliable gloves.
Should I wear gloves while skating?
Ice skating rinks are cold, so every ice skater needs gloves or mittens. In addition to keeping hands warm, gloves or mittens protect a skater's hands if he or she falls down on the ice.
Should you wear knee pads when skating?
Not all skaters wear knee pads but if you're just starting out or are a bit older like me you need them! It's not only about safety, but safety gear also boosts your confidence. Fear causes accidents and tightens your muscles.
How tight should knee pads be skating?
Skate pads need to be tightened snug but not to the point they are pinching or hurting in any way. When tightened you should not be able to move the pads up, down, left or right because if you can move them they will most likely move on you while you're skating.
Do you need pads for skateboarding?
Skateboarders who do not wear protective equipment.
Every skateboarder should wear standard safety gear. This includes a helmet, wrist guards, elbow and knee pads and appropriate shoes.
What's the best age to start skateboarding?
At Board Blazers, we recommend 5 - 10 years old is the best time to start skateboarding. Below 5 years old, most kids probably won't have the best balance to completely learn how to skateboard. As a result, they'll get frustrated quickly and end up not liking skateboarding at all.
How Much Do helmets help skateboard?
It should be mandatory to wear a helmet when riding a skateboard. “Head injuries are the leading cause of death and disability in these types of crashes. Wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of death or injury and reduce the severity of the injury in the event of a crash” (John Hopkins Medicine).
How do you secure a skateboard to a backpack?
Technically, most skateboarders use a skateboard strap for backpack to carry their boards with them. You can put your boards on your backpack with or without straps attached to them. Other skateboarders use specialized straps, and most of them make use of the bag's clips.
