Inline Skate Knee Pads

Give Your Knees a Break--Invest in Skating Knee Pads

Whether you call it inline skating or rollerblading, you're still going to fall. You don't have to be a speed skater to start cruising pretty fast on inline skates. In fact, even a weekend rollerblader can approach speeds of 25 mph. A crash at that speed can do a lot of damage to your knees. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that inline skating knee pads can reduce inline skate knee injuries by 32%. Shop our great selection of quality inline skate knee pads from top brands like Triple Eight, 187, and ProTec. Learn more about keeping yourself safe with rollerblading knee pads below.

Why Do I Need Inline Skating Knee Pads?

Knee injuries make up an estimated 9% of all inline skating injuries. While the percentage may seem small, a serious knee injury can keep you sidelined for weeks or even months. Some researchers speculate that longer wheel frame lengths, such as those used for speed skating, can act as a lever arm that can apply injurious torsion forces and result in serious injuries to the knee, leg, and ankle.

What Kind of Inline Skate Knee Pads Do I Need?

Rollerblading knee pads are kind of like tacos, you can get hard shell or soft shell. Both types of skate knee pads have some sort of Neoprene or other soft, flexible sleeve and EVA foam padding to protect the kneecap and the area surrounding it.

A hard shell inline skate knee pad

• Has an ABS plastic shell riveted or Velcroed to the front of the knee area
• Provides greater protection than a soft shell knee pad
• Offers more durability than a soft shell knee pad (the ABS plastic shell won’t rip or tear no matter how many times you slide or fall on it)
• May offer slightly less range of motion
• Is bulkier than a soft shell knee pad, which means it may not fit under a pair of pants

A soft shell inline skate knee pad

• Will have some sort of Kevlar or other abrasion-resistant panel over the front of the knee area
• Does not provide as much impact protection as a hard shell knee pad
• Is smaller and lighter than a hard shell knee pad, so you can wear it under pants (but bear in mind that if you fall and slide, you can rip the front of your pants)
• The panel covering the knee area is not as durable as the plastic cap on the hard shell knee pad and can eventually rip or tear

Two Ways to Put on Rollerblading Knee Pads

One of the things to consider before you purchase skate knee pads is whether you want to be able to put them on without removing your shoes or not. There are two basic designs: rollerblading knee pads that slip on or those that close in the back (often called a butterfly closure). Slip-on skate knee pads slide up your leg to your knee. This design is more commonly found in soft-shell guards, less expensive knee pads, knee gaskets, and youth-sized pads. Inline skate knee pads with a butterfly closure wrap around your knee so you can put them on and take them off without removing your shoes. The butterfly closure design is typically found in hard shell knee pads and more robust and/or more expensive knee pads.

XSportsProtective Staff Picks for Inline Skate Knee Pads,

We've found ProTec Street knee pads to be a durable, comfortable choice for inline skaters. Flexible and lightweight with hard exterior cups and interior EVA cup foam, ProTec Street kneepads are designed for comfort and protection. Other features of ProTec Street knee pads:

• Interior foam behind knee cup for maximum comfort
• Full coverage molded plastic cups
• Solid Neoprene backing material
• Two-inch Velcro straps above and below cups
• Slip-on/slip-off design

Don’t skimp on inline skating safety - shop the protective gear experts

As the web’s original protective gear store, XSportsProtective stocks a huge selection of top quality inline skate knee pads and other inline skate protective gear. No matter what rollerblading knee pads you choose, we stand behind every product we sell and will work with you to get you the right equipment. Haven't shopped with us before? Give us a try. XSportsProtective is The Original Protective Gear Store. We’ve been in business since 2005 with over 50,000 customers served. Same day shipping, free economy shipping, and no hassle returns on your inline skate pads. Call us at 1-800-930-4084 or email us at info@XSportsProtective.com today to order your rollerblading knee pads.

Still not sure what inline skating safety gear you need?

Check out our Inline Skate and Rollerblading Protective Gear Learning Center to find the right gear for you, including inline skating knee pads and other inline skate protection.