Protective gear is extremely important for roller derby as you will fall a LOT! make sure you buy the best you can afford. We’ve collected together some information to help when choosing you roller derby protective gear
Image by JamesCalder
Skateboard or skating helmets are the best choice for derby as they have a soft foam lining and are made to withstand many impacts. They also cover the back of the head more thoroughly than bicycle helmets which is better for protection on falling backwards. Bicycle helmets (especially used ones) are not suitable as they are designed for only a single impact and it is not always obvious that the helmet has been damaged. If you borrow a helmet at least make sure that there are no signs of damage.
A helmet should be a snug fit but not too tight as to be uncomfortable. Some helmets have two liners to allow you to adjust the size. For an average size head choose a small/medium size.
Knee pads are especially important for roller derby as you will fall on your knees A LOT! Cheap knee pads are not going to protect you properly or last very long. Buy the best knee pads you can afford with the most padding.
Knee pads come in two types - slide on and strap on. Slide on pads fit better and are more secure . Strap on are more flexibly are easier to use as you can put them on or remove them without having to remove your skates.
Getting the right size knee pads is extremely important. They tend to fit smaller than you might expect. You don’t want them to be so tight they cut off your circulation or too loose so that they slip off! Buy ones that are only slightly too snug when new as the elastic tends to stretch a bit with wear.
The following is a rough guideline for the size you will need
Body size (lbs) Knee Size Knee Pad Size
90 - 130 small small
130-145 medium medium
145-165 medium/large……………..large
more than 165 big xlarge
Wrist guards are well used in roller derby! Apart from falling they are used for multiple uses including grabbing on to them, clapping, using them to wipe away sweat etc!! Wrist guards with plastic inserts give some extra protection and durability and are very comfortable.
You will not fall on your elbows nearly as often as you fall on your knees but the impact can be severe if you do so elbow pads must fit properly to give you adequate protection. Cheap recreational elbow pads are probably adequate for training but buy a better pair as soon as you can.
Elbow pads tend to fit very large so you will probably need a smaller size than you think you need. Medium elbow pads are probably the correct size for most people.
Mouth guards are available in the three types, cheap ones, gel mouth guards and dentist fitted mouth guards.
Cheap ones are suitable for training but get a better one as soon as possible. They are good to use as a spare. They have limited warranties so check that the one you buy covers you adequately. They are boil and bite.
Gel mouth guards are better than the cheap mouth guards and the warranty is better. They are boil and bite.
Dentist made mouthguards are the most expensive but the best looking and most comfortable. There is usually no warranty.
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