A beginner slips off the board and lands on a knee and a wrist. The skateboard pads that answer that fall are knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards, worn with a helmet, in a size that stays put.
Pads work best alongside instruction, so pair this guide with our skateboard lessons calgary overview if you are just starting out. The rest of this page separates the pad myths that cost beginners money from the facts that should drive a purchase.
What a beginner actually needs
TSG describes typical beginner falls as low-speed slips, loss of balance, and light wrist and knee impact. Impala makes the same point more bluntly: learning to skate means falling over at least a few times. That profile points to a simple starter kit rather than the heaviest gear on the shelf. Knee pads and wrist guards cover the contact points most likely to meet the ground, and elbow pads round out a standard set.
Most buying mistakes come from a handful of assumptions. The table sets each one against what the manufacturer evidence supports.
| Common assumption | What the evidence supports | Planning use |
|---|---|---|
| Beginners need the toughest pads available | Beginner falls are low-speed slips, loss of balance and light wrist and knee impact. TSG’s Basic Set is described as simple, reliable protection with foam padding and plastic caps. | A basic foam-and-cap set matches early falls. Save specialist pads for later riding. |
| Every set includes wrist guards | TSG’s Basic Set includes wrist guards; its Plain Set does not. | Check the contents list before buying a set, then add wrist guards if they are missing. |
| A tighter pad is a safer pad | TSG advises choosing gear that feels and fits good, because you will wear it more often. | Pick the pad you will keep on for the whole session, not the one that feels most restrictive. |
| Knee pads and slide pads are interchangeable | TSG’s Sk8 DHP uses a long design, slide extensions and a reinforced PE cap as a platform during slides. | Ordinary knee pads suit learning. Slide-specific pads matter once slides are part of your skating. |
These contrasts draw on TSG’s skate protection guide.
- Start with a set. A bundle of knee, elbow and wrist protection covers the usual first-session impacts in one purchase, and the price section below shows how sets are listed.
- Put knees first if you buy piecemeal. Knee impact is named in TSG’s description of beginner falls, so knee pads are the first single item worth buying.
- Treat the helmet as part of the plan. Pads protect joints; the helmet is a separate item that sits alongside them.
Knee pads, hard caps and foam padding
A knee pad is built from two working parts. Foam padding absorbs and spreads the force of an impact, and a hard cap gives a slick, tough surface over the kneecap. TSG’s Force III shows how the layers combine: a multi-layered foam core absorbs heavy impacts, while reinforced sides and a replaceable cap offer full coverage. A replaceable cap is a practical feature, because the cap is the part that takes scraping.
Foam quality is worth reading about on the label. SkatePro’s kids range highlights an anatomically shaped fitting design that allows mobility and has a high impact foam. For a beginner, that pairing of freedom to move and a dense foam layer is a better test than cap size alone.
Are slide pads different from knee pads?
Yes. A general knee pad is designed to take a fall onto the knee. A slide pad is designed to travel along the ground. TSG’s Sk8 DHP lists slide extensions and a reinforced PE cap that act as a reliable platform during slides, with a long design to match. If you are learning to push, turn and stop, a standard knee pad is the better match. Move to slide pads when sliding becomes part of your skating.
Fit and sizing
Fit decides whether a pad is worn or left in the bag. TSG’s advice is direct: choose gear that feels and fits good, and you will wear it more often. A pad that rotates or slides down the shin protects the wrong spot, so the strap system matters as much as the pad itself.
- Pull-over sleeves. TSG’s All Terrain uses a pull-over style that keeps the pad snug without slipping, which suits riders who dislike adjusting straps.
- Shaped pads. TSG’s Force III uses a horseshoe shape that keeps the pad securely in place, a useful feature if you want a firm hold without a sleeve.
- Strap-on pads. Impala’s knee and elbow pads use a breathable Lycra backing with top and bottom Velcro straps. Two straps let you set tension separately above and below the joint.
Reading a size chart
Sizing varies by brand, so check the chart for the exact model rather than assuming a letter size carries across. Impala’s pad sets run from adults small to extra-large, with youth sizes also listed. For younger riders, SkatePro’s method applies to any brand: measure elbows and knees first, then check the size chart. Try pads on over the clothing you skate in and judge them by whether they stay where you put them.
Pads are one part of the setup. If you are still choosing a board, the 8.5 Skateboard Deck: The Complete Guide To Choosing, Riding, And Sizing In 2026 – Calgaryskateboarding covers the deck side.
Wrist guards and the helmet
Wrist guards address the most common reflex in a fall, which is putting a hand out. TSG’s wrist guard uses an ergonomic splint design that provides wrist protection and support while still allowing natural movement. For a beginner, that mix matters because stiff guards that block pushing and balancing tend to end up unused. Our dedicated page, Wrist Guards For Skating: Protect Your Wrists And Skate Longer — The 2026 Guide – Calgaryskateboarding, goes deeper on choosing them.
On the head side, SkatePro says that for younger riders, skate helmets and wrist guards are a must-have as well as pads. Buy the helmet as its own item, fitted to the rider, rather than expecting it in a pad set.
What skateboard pads cost
Listed prices span a wide range, and the difference mostly reflects what is in the box and how specialised the pad is. Currency is shown as USD on Impala’s page and is not stated on Pro-Tec’s, so treat the figures as indicators of relative cost rather than Canadian shelf prices.
- Entry-level kids sets. SkatePro lists a Powerslide One kids 3-pack in size XXS at $16.95, the lowest set price in that listing.
- Mid-priced sets. SkatePro lists Triple Eight 3-packs, Impala’s Protective Set is listed at $59.00, and Pro-Tec’s Street 3-pack is listed from $56.99. Impala’s set contains knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards.
- Single knee pads. Pro-Tec lists its Street open-back knee pad, a JR Classic Fit Certified knee pad and Vert knee pads as separate single pads.
- Single wrist guards. Pro-Tec’s Street wrist guard is listed at $29.99.
The practical reading is that a beginner set sits at a fraction of the cost of a vert knee pad. Sets also bundle the elbow and wrist protection that a single premium knee pad would leave unaddressed. Spend more only when your riding or your size calls for a specific feature.
Frequently asked questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do skateboard pads carry a safety certification? | Some do. TSG lists its Force III vert knee pad as EN 14120 Level 2 certified, and Pro-Tec sells a JR. Classic Fit Certified knee pad. Check the product listing for the standard named before you buy. |
| How do I size pads for a child? | Measure the child’s elbows and knees, then check the size chart for the specific model, as SkatePro advises. Its Triple Eight 3-packs are listed from Junior to L, and Impala’s page lists youth sizes alongside adult ones. |
| What is an open-back knee pad? | It uses straps rather than a pull-over sleeve. TSG describes its All Ground pad as an open-back butterfly design, ideal for fast changes between sessions. |
| Does a pad set include a helmet? | The sets listed by Impala contain knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards. A helmet is a separate item to add. |
