Longboarding, especially downhill, is an exhilarating sport, but safety should always be a top priority. This guide breaks down the essential and non-essential protective gear for beginner downhill skaters, ensuring you’re well-protected while you learn and progress. Remember, safety gear is an investment in your longboarding journey, allowing you to push your limits with confidence.
11 Types of Protective Gear for Downhill Skating
Is a Helmet Necessary?
What Helmets Do & What to Look For
Half-shell skate helmetHelmets are crucial for protecting your head from impacts. They are typically constructed with EPS foam, which expands upon impact, absorbing force that would otherwise cause a concussion. An impact force exceeding 300Gs can lead to a traumatic brain injury. Therefore, helmets are designed to reduce this impact force to a safer level. To ensure effectiveness, look for helmets that meet specific safety standards. These standards guarantee the helmet’s ability to protect your head when you need it most.
Key Takeaway: Always choose helmets that have been certified by relevant safety organizations. This certification is your assurance of the helmet’s protective capabilities. Avoid helmets without these ratings as their protective ability cannot be guaranteed.
Safety certifications can typically be found on the inside of the helmet, these ratings vary depending on the type of helmet.
Half-shell Helmet Safety Ratings:
skate helmet safety ratings
- U.S. CPSC Bike
- ASTM F-1492
- European CE
Full-face Helmet Safety Ratings:
- EN 1078
- ASTM 1952
Are Helmets Always Necessary?
Absolutely. Helmets are non-negotiable for all beginners. Traumatic head injuries can derail your progress, making a helmet the most essential piece of safety equipment you can own.
While experienced riders might feel comfortable cruising without a helmet, they’re still essential when bombing hills, regardless of skill level. Experienced riders can usually recognize when a fall is imminent, and can bail safely, minimizing the risk of injury. However, accidents are unpredictable, so the decision to wear a helmet when cruising ultimately comes down to your personal judgment.
Half-Shell vs. Full-Face Helmets
For beginners, half-shell helmets are usually the best option. They’re ideal for learning on small corners and hills. The Triple 8 Dual Certified Helmet is an example of a good half-shell helmet. You could also check out the highly rated S1 Lifer helmet here at Stoked Ride shop.
Half-shells provide sufficient protection at speeds under 30mph and are cooler and less cumbersome. Full-face helmets, like the TSG Pass, offer superior protection, but are overkill for beginners and uncomfortable for local riding.
TSG PassFull-face helmets are also heavier and hotter. They’re great in winter for warmth and protection, but half-shells are typically better for beginners due to their comfort and adequate protection for most beginner riding scenarios.
Hip Pads: An Underrated Essential
Hip pads are crucial, especially when you are learning to slide. You’ll often fall on your hips, making this protection vital.
What Do Hip Pads Do?
downhill skateboarding hip-padHip pads protect your hips and waist during falls. Falls can be awkward and unpredictable, so while knee and elbow pads are essential, hip protection can prevent injuries.
The G-Form hip pads are a great option for smaller riders. You can also find G-Form pads here on Amazon.com.
Are Hip Pads Necessary?
Yes. While you might feel you can get away without them, hip pads significantly reduce the risk of hip injuries and bruises, allowing you to continue your session after a fall.
Which Hip Pads Should You Choose?
For smaller riders, G-Form pads with their RAPT technology offer excellent protection while remaining thin. However, for riders over 140lbs/65kg, Hillbilly pads are better. Hillbilly Impact Shorts are thicker and include EVA foam and a plastic tailbone cup, which is ideal for sliding.
You can find the Hillbilly Impact Shorts here on Amazon.com.
Strong Pants
You’ll go through pants quickly while learning to longboard, so strong and durable pants are a must.
A good, strong pair of pants, or even a cheap pair from a charity shop can work well. Jeans offer excellent abrasion resistance, though their inflexibility can be a drawback. You can also sew leather onto the bum section of your pants for added durability.
Shorts can be great in warm weather, but always pair them with knee pads for protection.
Knee Pads: Absolutely Essential
What Do Knee Pads Do?
Knee pads protect your knees when you fall, and are an absolute must-have for beginners.
Check out the TSG Sk8 DHP pads here on Amazon as a good example.
Are They Necessary?
Yes. You will fall on your knees many times while learning. Knee pads allow you to fall safely and get back up without injury.
Hard Shell vs. Soft Shell Knee Pads
Softshell pads are flexible, breathable, and absorb impact well, while hard-shell pads feature a plastic cover for abrasion resistance.
tsg sk8 dhp knee padsSoftshell pads are low-profile, but they don’t provide abrasion resistance, and can tear if you slide for too long. Hardshell pads, like the TSG Sk8 DHP, offer excellent abrasion resistance, making them ideal for beginners.
In summary, if you are comfortable with falling on your toes, then softshell pads may work for you. Hardshell are better for beginners who are still a bit awkward in their movements and need more robust protection.
What are some good options?
The D3O mountain boarding knee pads are a good softshell option, providing great impact absorption and protection for heavier riders. Check out the D3O pads here on Amazon.
G-Form pads are also decent for lighter riders, but less effective for those over 120lbs. You can find a selection here at Stoked Ride shop.
The TSG Sk8 DHP hardshell pads are purpose-built for downhill skateboarding. They are very durable and provide excellent protection. You can read a review of the knee pads here.
Slide Gloves: Necessary for Downhill
Slide gloves are essential for downhill longboarding. They protect your hands during falls and help you slow down with controlled powerslides.
What are Slide Gloves & How Do They Work?
longboard slide glovesSlide gloves have pucks made of a slidey, abrasion-resistant material on the palms. The first slide gloves were simply gardening gloves with pieces of kitchen cutting boards hot-glued onto them. Thankfully, technology has come a long way since then.
Great Slide Glove Options
The Loaded leather race gloves are an excellent option for beginners, durable and comfortable to use, with finger pucks. You can read a review of these gloves here.
You can buy the Loaded gloves here on Amazon.com.
Spine Protectors
What are Spine Protectors?
Spine protectors safeguard your back and spine from impacts and scrapes. They’re flexible, allowing natural movement, and are made from hard plastic with impact-absorbing foam like EVA, Kevlar, or D3O.
Are They Necessary?
Spine protectors are overkill for beginners, but they are essential as you start skating faster, more dangerous runs. A simple error at high speed could cause serious spinal damage. They are necessary for high-speed skating and more risky situations.
The Dainese Manis is a high-quality back protector.
In summary, spine protectors are not necessary for beginners but are essential as you become more experienced and take on more challenging runs.
Elbow Pads
What Do Elbow Pads Do?
Elbow pads protect your elbows from impacts. Elbows are typically vulnerable as they are usually one of the first points of contact with the ground during a fall.
Are They Necessary?
Elbow pads are not always considered essential because slide gloves provide hand protection, and you usually catch yourself with your hands when falling. However, they can still be useful for beginners who haven’t developed the habit of catching themselves properly.
What Elbow Pads are Best?
Softshell pads, such as the D3O mountainboard pads, are generally a good option as you will usually slide on your palms first. You can pick up a set here on Amazon.com.
Ankle Protectors/Hi-Top Shoes
What Do They Do?
Ankle protectors keep your ankles from getting injured during falls.
Are They Necessary?
While they may seem out of place, ankle protectors or hi-top shoes can protect your ankles, especially if you use low-top shoes. A lot of skaters will get nicks and bangs on their ankles when learning, and this can easily be avoided.
You can buy ankle protectors like these or simply get some hi-top shoes. Hi-top shoes have fewer moving parts making them a great option.
In summary, ankle protectors or hi-top shoes will help avoid injury to your ankles.
Leather Suits
What are Leather Suits?
longboard leather suitLeather suits are flexible leather “one-sies” designed specifically for downhill skating. Leather offers excellent abrasion resistance, making these suits ideal for high-speed skating and racing. They are thinner and more flexible than motorcycle suits.
Should You Get a Suit?
Leather suits are non-essential for beginners and can be quite costly, though you can find second-hand or generic options for less money. They offer excellent protection, but are unnecessary for beginners.
They are popular among some older riders, and those that want to commit to the sport without worrying as much about injuries.
Ultimately, somewhere along the line, it is recommended to get a good set of custom leathers if you are committed to high speed downhill longboarding.
Sunglasses/Glasses/Eyeshields
What They Do:
Protect your eyes from UV rays, harsh sunlight, dust, and bugs.
Are They Necessary?
sunglasses longboardYes. Sunglasses or eye-shields keep your eyes clear of dust and bugs and prevents your eyes from tearing up due to wind.
They act as a visor, only protecting your eyes, whilst leaving air to cool down your face.
Sunglasses go well with both half-shell and full-face helmets.
They are essential as getting dust or a bug in your eye can create a dangerous situation when skating at speed.
Gripsoles/Brakesoles
What are Gripsoles?
longboard gripsole brakesoleGripsoles are pieces of rubber glued to the bottom of your shoes, allowing you to footbrake without wearing down the soles of your shoes. They also add extra grip to the board.
Are They Necessary?
When starting out, foot braking is your primary way of slowing down, which will wear out your shoe soles quickly. Gripsoles provide a solution, making your shoes last longer.
DIY Gripsoles: A Cheaper Alternative
While you can buy after-market gripsoles, a cheaper hack is to make your own:
- Buy a smooth, non-bumpy rubber car mat and Loctite (or any) superglue.
- Cut out a slightly larger outline of your shoe sole from the rubber.
- Rough up the sole of your shoe for better adhesion.
- Glue the rubber to your sole, ensuring adequate time and pressure for the glue to stick.
- Trim the rubber to fit your sole.
- Touch up the soles with more superglue as needed.
This DIY approach offers a cheap and easily replaceable option to extend the life of your shoes.
Essential Gear for Beginners: A Conclusion
Starting out, you might not think that a lot of the above items are necessary, but experience will soon teach you otherwise. If I had to suggest the bare minimum it would be a helmet, knee pads, and slide gloves. The next purchase would then be hip pads.
Ultimately, your gear selection depends on your budget and personal preferences. Remember that you can always buy gear gradually over time.
If you’re buying someone safety gear as a present, check out my list of the best presents for skateboarders to help you out.
