Longboarding safety gear guide

Let's get this out of the way: wear a helmet. Everything else on this page is negotiable depending on how you ride. The helmet is not.

Now that that's settled, let's talk about what gear you actually need, what's optional, and what's worth spending money on.

Do you really need safety gear?

Here's the reality: longboarding involves falling. Not if, when. The question is how much protection makes sense for your riding style:

• Casual cruising on flat ground: helmet + closed-toe shoes is sufficient. Falls are usually low-speed.
• Riding hills or learning slides: helmet + slide gloves + knee pads. You will go down, and you want to slide on pads, not skin.
• Downhill / high speed: full-face helmet + full leathers or pads + slide gloves. At 40 mph, every exposed inch of skin is at risk.

The beautiful thing about longboarding safety gear is that good protection doesn't cost much. You can be fully kitted out for under $150.

Helmets

The single most important piece of gear. A certified skate helmet protects against the one injury you absolutely cannot afford.

Types of helmets

• Half-shell (skate style): covers the top and back of the head. Standard for cruising, freeride, and dancing. Look for CPSC or ASTM F1492 certification. Budget: $30–60.
• Full-face: covers the entire head and chin. Essential for downhill riding at speed. Look for CPSC + ASTM F1952 (downhill specific). Budget: $80–200.

What to look for

• Certification: CPSC is the minimum. Don't trust a helmet without it, regardless of brand claims.
• Fit: it should sit level on your head, not tilted back. Snug but not painful. The strap should form a V under each ear.
• Ventilation: you'll sweat. Good vents make a huge difference in comfort.
• Replace after impact: helmets are one-crash wonders. The foam compresses and loses its protective ability after a significant impact.

Our picks

Slide gloves

Slide gloves have hard plastic pucks on the palms that let you put your hands down on the road during turns and slides. They serve two purposes:

1. Performing slides: hand-down slides are the most accessible way to learn speed control on hills.
2. Protecting your hands in falls: your instinct when falling is to catch yourself with your hands. Slide gloves make that safe instead of skin-shredding.

Our picks

• Sector 9 Apex ($35), great entry-level gloves with replaceable pucks.
• Loaded Freeride Gloves V7 ($50), premium feel, durable, excellent puck placement.
• DIY option: buy a pair of work gloves and attach Velcro-backed pucks ($10–15 for puck sets). Many experienced riders prefer this.

Knee & elbow pads

Pads are your insurance policy for hill riding and learning new techniques. The best pads are the ones you actually wear, so comfort matters more than maximum protection for most riders.

When to wear them

• Always recommended: learning slides, riding unfamiliar hills, downhill sessions
• Optional: flat-ground cruising, commuting on familiar routes
• Mandatory: organized downhill events (most require full pads)

Our picks

• 187 Killer Pads Fly ($35–45 per pair), the industry standard. Hard cap over soft foam. Comfortable enough to wear all session.
• G-Form Pro-X3 ($50–60 per pair), sleek, low-profile, hardens on impact. More comfortable for casual riding.

What to wear longboarding

Beyond safety gear, what you wear matters more than you'd think:

• Shoes: flat-soled, closed-toe shoes are essential. Vans, Nike SB, Converse, or dedicated skate shoes. The flat sole gives you maximum board feel. Avoid running shoes (curved soles), boots (too stiff), and obviously sandals.
• Pants: whatever lets you move freely. Jeans are fine for cruising. For hill riding, consider thicker pants or dedicated slide pants, road rash through thin joggers is no fun.
• Layers: wind chill at speed is real. A windbreaker makes 40°F feel bearable instead of brutal.

Gear by riding style

Complete gear kit recommendations

Budget kit, $75 total

• Triple Eight Brainsaver helmet ($30)
• Generic slide gloves with replacement pucks ($25)
• Basic knee pads ($20)

Recommended kit, $150 total

• Triple Eight Sweatsaver helmet ($45)
• Sector 9 Apex slide gloves ($35)
• 187 Killer Pads Fly knee pads ($40)
• 187 Killer Pads Fly elbow pads ($30)

Downhill kit, $350 total

• TSG Pass full-face helmet ($180)
• Loaded Freeride Gloves V7 ($50)
• G-Form Pro-X3 knee pads ($55)
• G-Form Pro-X3 elbow pads ($55)