"I found this product absolutely perfect to protect myself during Vert ramp skating. The very first day that I used them I took a pretty big slam (ramp is a 12footer), felt on my side and no pain at all... That is fantastic and give my confidence. Highly recommended"
"I wore my new OBT Impact Shorts on a snowboarding trip last week. The shorts we very comfortable and breathable. I also wore them while mountainboarding at a pump track yesterday. Protected my tail bone on a bail in the berm. I will definitely be wearing my new Impact Shorts more this year."
"My kid starting ice skating which means I had to start ice skating to be able to spot him, etc. I’m 40 and my first fall was humbling… so I bought these. Inevitably I fell again wearing them and it was like nothing happened. Zero pain during or after."
Hip and Tailbone Protection
When you slam, your hips and tailbone usually hit first: a sideways fall on concrete, a slip-out on a ramp, a backside landing on ice or hardpack. A bruised hip or a sore tailbone can keep you off your board for weeks, so the answer is padding where you land.
Impact Shorts
Our impact shorts are a snug nylon and spandex compression short with high-density EVA memory foam pads over both hips, the glutes and the tailbone. Some people call them padded skate shorts or hip pads; they're the same idea. They're slim enough to wear under jeans, pants, athletic shorts or snow pants, and the foam panels flex as you move, so you can still skate and ride the way you normally do. Padding softens a fall; it won't stop one.
Who Wears Them
Vert and bowl skaters, BMX riders, snowboarders, roller skaters and roller derby skaters wear them. So do plenty of grown-ups getting back on a board or a pair of skates after years away, or learning to skate to keep up with their kids. Your wrists and knees take falls too: pair the shorts with our knee sleeves for skateboarding and our wrist sleeves and wraps.
Sizing
Size by your waist: measure around it with a soft tape. S fits a 25 to 28 inch waist, M 28 to 30, L 30 to 33, XL 33 to 36 and XXL 36 to 40. The shorts should fit snug, like compression wear, so the pads stay over your hips and tailbone when you fall, but if you land between two sizes, go with the larger one.
When to See a Provider
After a hard fall, get checked if you can't put weight on a leg, your hip or tailbone hurts sharply when you sit or stand, the pain keeps getting worse, or you notice numbness in your legs. A hip fall in an older adult should always be checked.
Sore lower back after a slam? See our back brace and gel packs, or start at shop by body part.
FAQs
Where are the pads on the Impact Shorts?
High-density EVA memory foam sits over both hips, the glutes and the tailbone, the spots that take the hit when you fall sideways or land on your backside. The rest of the short is a stretchy nylon and spandex blend.
Can I wear the Impact Shorts under my clothes?
Yes. They're a close, slim fit, so they go under jeans, pants, athletic shorts or snow pants without much bulk, and the foam panels flex as you move.
How should the Impact Shorts fit?
Snug, like compression wear. Size by your waist measurement using the chart on the product page. If they're loose, the pads can shift out of place when you fall, which defeats the point.
Do the Impact Shorts prevent tailbone injuries?
No pad can promise that. The foam spreads out and softens the hit on your hips and tailbone, which is why skaters and snowboarders wear them, but a hard enough fall can still hurt. If your tailbone hurts sharply after a fall, see a provider.
Are the Impact Shorts a hip protector for older adults?
They're built for sports. Plenty of grown-ups wear them to get back on a board or skates, but for protection from everyday falls at home, ask a provider which hip protectors they recommend.