Inline Skating Protective Gear Saved Me

Thank You, Safety Gear!​

Today, I went on my first skate since my 10K inline skating event. I went on a different route with a few more hills. On one downhill slope, while I was focusing on technique, my front right skate wheel hit the grass, and I went down. Fortunately, I was wearing safety gear. What could have been a broken wrist, a messed up knee, and a lot more blood ended up being way less dire. It was also a good reminder of how quickly something can happen, and how safety gear makes the end result more manageable.

What The Pros Wear

If you see competitive inline skaters, they usually wear a short-sleeved cycling jersey, biking shorts, a bicycle helmet, wrist guards, and their skates. Most inline events require a helmet and wrist guards. Bicycle helmets are popular due to their aerodynamic nature. These are also experienced, pro skaters who place in world-class events. I am definitely not at this level. 

Competitive inline skaters typically only wear a bike helmet and wrist guards for protection. I gear up a bit more.

What This Instructional Design Manager Wear

Here I am decked out in safety related glory. Note head, elbow, wrist, and knee protection to keep extra distance between my person and the pavement.

My day job is as a manager within a training department at a fast-growing software start-up. One of my primary work activities, as I'm solving problems and interacting with people, is typing. Consequently, having an injury (like a broken wrist) would suck in general and make my job significantly harder. I also very much enjoy my mobility and look forward to decades more of being able to walk and use my appendages as designed.  Wearing protective gear is a non-negotiable.

In addition to pads o'plenty, I also wear full length leggings. While some may be concerned about being hot, I prefer to have an additional barrier between my skin and the pavement no matter the temperature. I also have my phone (which I typically keep in my front left leggings pocket) in an Otterbox, and I carry it with my phone screen facing towards me. Today, leggings and that phone protector are also what saved my leg (and my phone) from additional damaged. 

My Outdoor Inline Skating Protective Gear

Here is my current safety gear for when I inline skate (or roller skate) outside:

• Triple 8 Sweatsaver Helmet
  After trying many, many different helmets, I settled on this helmet in blue for outdoor inline skating. My derby helmet, which I crashed with once, is also this helmet in black. (I thought blue would be less hot than black.) It also has a liner that absorbs sweat, mitigates the fragrant odor that comes along with said sweating, and keeps me cool. It's even a multiple-impact helmet, so it can take more than one blow. I also feel more comfortable with a helmet that protects more of my head than a bicycle helmet. Since I use my head every day for things like thinking, I want to be sure to keep it safe. 
• Triple 8 Saver Series Wristsavers Wrist Guards
  When I started doing roller derby, I read a lot about wrist guards, and tried a few different types. My overall preference are these Triple 8 wrist guards. These fit me well, are easy to put on, and can be adjusted with a Velcro strap. The biggest thing I like about these are that they have two metal braces--one on each side of my wrist. This helped save my wrist from being broken. They are also roomy enough that I can still wear my Fitbit under my left wrist guard and still be protected. Also, at about $20, they are affordable as well as durable. My wrists, which enjoy things like writing and not being broken, are very happy with these.
• 187 Killer Fly Knee Pads
  For roller derby, I have a bigger, fancier pair of 187 knee pads. I like those because they are durable and dare I say "pillowy" for all knee-hitting-the-floor related activities. 187 Killer Fly Knee Pads are a smaller version of those knee pads. They are still substantial (and some people don't like them because they stick out), and they were the right choice for me as I started skating outside and I often "took a knee" once per trail skate. Today, I was glad to have them there to cushion the fall. After today's fall, my knees are very happy at their status of being to bend, straighten, and bleeding-free.

Even on a flat trail, there are terrain changes, cracks, and possible debris.

What Do You Think?

​What safety gear do you wear or not wear when inline skating outdoors? Include your thoughts in the comments. 

Learn More

• Protective Gear: What Do I Really Need? 
• Use of Protective Equipment by In-line Skaters: An Observational Study
• Preventing Inline Skating Injuries
• Triple 8 Sweatsaver Helmet
• Triple 8 Saver Series Wristsavers Wrist Guards​
• 187 Killer Fly Knee Pads​​