Skate Protective Gear: What You Actually Need
Skateboarding is a sport where you fall. Not occasionally, routinely, and mostly while you are learning something. Protection is not about expecting the worst, it is about making falling boring enough that you keep trying.
Here is what each piece actually does, when it matters, and what it costs.
The short version
- Helmet: always. Skate style, not a road cycling helmet.
- Wrist guards: anyone learning. Wrists are the most commonly injured part in beginner skating.
- Knee pads: first few months, and any time you are in a bowl or on transition.
- Elbow pads: same as knees. Cheap and you forget you have them on.
- Kids: all four, no debate.
- Best value: a pad pack at $80 to $120 rather than three separate purchases.
- Where to spend: the helmet, and get it fitted rather than guessed.
What we cover
What each piece prevents · Helmets · Wrist guards · Knee and elbow pads · Pad packs · Kids · Getting the fit right · FAQ
What does each piece actually prevent?
| Gear | What it prevents | When it matters most | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helmet | Head injury, the one you cannot walk off | Always. Falls backward are the dangerous ones | $67 to $160 |
| Wrist guards | Wrist fractures and sprains from hands-out falls | Learning, cruising, anyone new | Around $55 |
| Knee pads | Knee impact and gravel rash. Let you bail knees-first | Bowls, transition, learning tricks | Around $100 |
| Elbow pads | Elbow impact and gravel rash | Same as knees. Often overlooked | In packs mostly |
| Pad pack | All three at once | Beginners and kids | $80 to $120 |
Knee pads deserve a note. Once you can slide out on them, they stop being purely protective and become a technique: you bail onto your knees deliberately and slide out of a failed trick rather than trying to save it. That is why bowl skaters wear them and street skaters often do not.
What kind of helmet do you need?
A skate-style helmet, not a road cycling helmet. The difference is real. Skate helmets have a rounded shell with low coverage at the back of the head, which is where skateboard falls tend to land, and they are built to take repeated impacts rather than one catastrophic one. Road helmets are vented, lightweight, angled for a forward-leaning rider, and leave the back of the head comparatively exposed.
Check whether the model is certified. Some skate helmets are sold as certified and some are not, and it is not always obvious from the outside. Ask, or read the label inside. If it is for a child, buy certified.
| Helmet type | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Classic skate shell | $67 to $100 | The standard rounded skate shape. Does the job properly |
| Commuter styled | $150 to $180 | Better finish and ventilation, popular for riding to work |
| MIPS or rotational system | $250 and up | Adds a layer designed to reduce rotational forces |
Brands we carry: ProTec, TSG and Thousand.
Skate helmet size guide · Shop helmets and protection
Do you really need wrist guards?
If you are learning, yes, and this is the piece people skip most often.
The instinct when you fall forward is to put your hands out. That puts your entire body weight through your wrists at an angle they are not built for, which is why wrist injuries dominate beginner skateboarding. A guard has a splint on the palm side that spreads the impact up the forearm instead.
Experienced street skaters frequently skip them because they restrict how the board feels underfoot and get in the way of catching yourself with your hands. That is a genuine trade-off made knowingly, not an argument that beginners should copy.
Standalone wrist guards run around $55, and most pad packs include a pair.
Knee and elbow pads
Knee pads take the most punishment and are worth the most money. A hard cap that slides is the point. Soft-shell pads absorb impact but grab on concrete, which twists the knee rather than letting you slide out.
Elbow pads are less discussed and just as useful. Elbows hit the ground more than people expect and gravel rash on an elbow lasts weeks.
Standalone knee pads run around $100. Brands we carry across pads: 187 Killer Pads, the name most park skaters know, plus TSG and Impala.
Knee pad size guide · Elbow pad size guide · Shop pads
Are pad packs worth it?
For beginners and kids, clearly yes. A pack bundles knees, elbows and wrists and costs less than any two of them bought separately.
| Pack type | Contents | Price | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry adult pack | Knees, elbows, wrists | $75 to $90 | Adults starting out, cruising, commuting |
| Junior pack | Knees, elbows, wrists | $105 to $125 | Kids, including regular park use |
| Full adult pack | Knees, elbows, wrists | $110 to $125 | Adults skating park and street |
| Knee and elbow combo | Knees, elbows | $110 to $120 | Skaters upgrading the pads that matter |
The trade-off is that everything in a pack is the same quality level. Skaters who progress usually upgrade the knee pads first and keep the rest, because knees are where the difference shows.
What do kids need?
All four, and it is not a discussion. Kids fall more, fall less skilfully, and are the group where a bad head knock does the most damage.
The practical argument, separate from the safety one: a child who is padded up treats falling as normal and keeps trying things. A child who is not gets one bad graze and decides skateboarding hurts. Protection is what makes the first month fun.
Get the helmet fitted properly. A helmet that rocks or tilts back does considerably less than parents assume, and it takes five minutes to sort in store.
What size skateboard for a kid? · Shop pad packs
How should it all fit?
Helmet. Snug all the way round with no rocking when you shake your head. Level on the head, about two fingers above the eyebrows, not tilted back. It should stay put with the strap undone. Most helmets ship with pad sets to fine-tune the fit and they are worth using.
Knee and elbow pads. Tight enough that they do not slide down when you walk, loose enough that you can still bend fully. Pads that migrate are pads that are not there when you land.
Wrist guards. The splint runs along the palm, and the straps should be firm without cutting circulation. You should be able to grip a board.
Come into Richmond and we will fit it. Sizing charts get you close and five minutes in person settles it, particularly for helmets and kids.
Skate protection FAQ
What protective gear do you need for skateboarding?
A helmet always, and wrist guards for anyone learning. Wrists are the most commonly injured part in beginner skateboarding because the instinct when falling is to put your hands out. Knee and elbow pads matter most in the first few months and at skateparks.
Do you really need wrist guards for skateboarding?
For beginners, yes. Falling forward onto outstretched hands is how most early skateboard injuries happen, and a wrist guard spreads that impact across the forearm. Experienced street skaters often skip them because they restrict board feel, which is a trade-off rather than an argument against.
What kind of helmet do you need for skateboarding?
A skate-style helmet with a rounded shell and low rear coverage, not a road cycling helmet. Skate helmets are built to take repeated impacts and cover the back of the head, where skateboard falls tend to land. Check whether the model you want is certified.
Are pad packs worth buying?
Yes, for beginners and kids. A pack bundles knee, elbow and wrist protection and costs $80 to $120, considerably less than buying the three separately. The trade-off is you cannot mix quality levels, so committed skaters usually upgrade knee pads first.
How should a skate helmet fit?
Snug all the way round with no rocking when you shake your head, sitting level with about two fingers above the eyebrows. It should not tilt back. Most helmets come with pad sets to fine-tune the fit, which is worth using rather than ignoring.
How much does skate protective gear cost?
Helmets run $67 to $160, with premium and MIPS models above that. Pad packs are $80 to $120. Standalone wrist guards are around $55 and knee pads around $100. A complete beginner setup of helmet plus pack lands between $150 and $220.
Prices current as at August 2026.
Come and get fitted
435A Bridge Road, Richmond. We will fit the helmet properly and size the pads on you, which matters more than any chart. Free shipping Australia wide on orders over $90. Call 03 9421 2293.
Keep reading: What Size Skateboard for a Kid? · How to Choose a Skateboard · Learn to Skateboard · How Much Does a Skateboard Cost?
Shop: Helmets and Protection · Pad Packs · Protective Pads · Longboard Helmets