If there is something a good skater should never skip looking over and spending good money on, it is the safety gear. Having in mind its importance, the longboard community heavily encourages the use of helmets, gloves and other safety gear as needed. This means that you won’t be uncool for wearing a helmet the likely thing to happen is that other riders will look down on you if you refuse to use safety gear.
Skateboarding Helmet
Skateboard helmets are the cornerstone of protective equipment for longboarding and skating because they protect the most important part of your body. Therefore, protect your head while skating with lightweight and impact-resistant skate helmets. Nowadays, there are a variety of options to choose from in all sorts of shapes, sizes and prices, each of them designed with varying skating styles and preferences in mind.
When individuals start shopping for helmets, they usually think about classic designs. From the centre of your forehead to the edge of your neck, classic models fit over your head to safeguard it from all angles. While they provide less head coverage than other, more specialised options, classic styles are typically lighter and more comfortable. They have air openings on the front, top, and back in addition to ear cutouts.
Full-cut helmets resemble the classic design a lot. The primary distinction is that they are marginally heavier than traditional ones, completely enclose your ears, and extend lower down your neck for greater protection. A full-cut skate helmet is best suited for skating big vert ramps and bowls.
Another great thing to consider is how much protection is needed. In this regard, you can choose between certified and uncertified options. While an affordable and uncertified skateboard helmet will nonetheless protect your head. The interior constriction of the softer foam will assist shield your head from most little falls. Although they provide less protection against concussions and other related head trauma, they’re primarily designed to prevent skull fractures.
Certified helmets, on the other hand, have an interior composed of tougher foam, which more efficiently disperses impact energy away from the head. Numerous federal and international safety bodies have recognised these models for their level of protection. When a certain model is certified to protect your head from just one collision before being replaced, it is said to be single-impact. Helmets designed to withstand many low hits on the head are approved as multi-impact.
Skateboarding Pads
If you’re just getting started, have some joint issues, or simply don’t like bleeding, pads are a good option. Remember that wearing pads will significantly limit your range of motion, and there are situations where it is safer to be without that restriction.
However, longboarders and skateboarders are aware of the risks associated with performing tricks or skating at fast speeds. For this reason, a lot of people decide to wear some sort of protective clothing. When learning how to skateboard or longboard, we would advise wearing as much protection as you can. Some skaters decide to protect their knees—one of their most frequently used high-impact areas—only with padding. Although most often used for knee protection, elbow and wrist guards can also provide protection and confidence to help you master new tricks or skate more quickly than you would without them.
The majority of pads have rigid, hard plastic covers; however, others are constructed of thinner, more flexible materials. Standard pads are made of foam, high-durability fabric liners, and a rigid outer shell. They are your standard safety pads. These cushions strap onto your arms and legs using Velcro and nylon fabric. When you crash out, they will offer the greatest protection for your elbows and knees.
On the other hand, sleeve pads are made out of stretchy nylon materials that feature a smaller foam pad. These are designed to look low-key when worn underneath clothing. They won’t protect against abrasions, but they will provide some impact protection.
Longboarding Gloves
Regardless of whether you are pulling off the trendy skater look or not, the most essential gear to have if you want to start riding your longboard aggressively is sliding gloves. They are designed to withstand concrete without breaking apart. Gaining proficiency with your gloves will let you explore and conquer an entirely new realm of manoeuvres and terrain.
Slide gloves are an essential piece of safety equipment, even if you have no intention of learning to slide. These gloves feature plastic pucks that go over the palm and tips of the fingers to protect your hands while facilitating easy hand sliding on the ground in case you need to correct your balance.
The gloves’ exterior is composed of abrasion-resistant materials like synthetic suede, Cordura and Kevlar. These materials will keep your skin protected since they are robust enough to resist sliding across pavement without tearing.