Knees, Elbows, and Wrists, Oh My!

First, I'd like to give a huge awkward hug to the NOVA Roller Derby league!  Not only did they give me an awesome show, but they also graciously let me attend a couple practices (more like invade!).  Seriously a great group of sweaty athletes.  They are also the reason I was not able to get a post out last week, sorry.

Second, congratulations to the winner of a new Atom backpack, Tamara Dameron! She stomped a huge "2N1" in the snow that was probably visible from space, and I appreciate the effort to advertise to aliens.

Onto this week's topic: knees, elbows, and wrists (oh my!).  Now, there are so many brands and types out there that I just want to start with the basics.  I will get to reviewing products soon so if you have any specific ones you would like me to test out, please let me know!

When fitting knee and elbow pads, you want them to be pretty snug, but not tight enough to cut off your circulation.  If it feels just right then they are probably too big.  These pads will stretch out after a few uses so if you get them where they feel great at first, they will end up falling down once they break in and that means they won't be in place to protect your pointy parts when you need them.  Wrist guards don't need to be super snug as they generally don't stretch as much as the other pads and tend to stay in place better even when loose.

187 Pro Derby Knee Pads

Out of the three items we're discussing, we use knee pads the most (especially when first starting).  There are a couple different designs out there but for the most part they either pull on or wrap around.  Some skaters like the snugness of the ones that pull on, but after seeing a few skaters break legs I would rather not need to have my knee pads cut off of me if that unfortunately occurs.  The most common type of wrap around knee pads have a butterfly strap system like the ones shown here on the 187 Roller Derby Knee Pads.

It is important to check your knee pads every once in a while to make sure the hard caps haven't cracked and that the "stuffing" hasn't squished down too far.  Some knee pads can be recapped by putting double-sided tape on the old caps and sticking the new caps on top.  Other knee pads (like the 187's) have removable knee pad caps which makes it easy to replace or change colors.  Since you use the straps so much, you will probably notice any tears as they develop, and if you do please replace the pads before the strap ends up breaking during your championship bout.

Elbow pads are not used as much as knee pads in derby, but it sure is nice to have them when you are suddenly flying through the air and unexpectedly land on your belly.  If possible, try on as many different types as possible because there isn't a standardized sizing convention and every body is different.  That being said, the majority of my customers who end up trying on all of our elbow pads end up liking the Atom Elite Elbow pads the best.  Not only do they fit well, but they also have a strip of silicone along the top and bottom of the pad that keeps them in place.  Most elbow pads have a hard cap, just like the knee pads, but I haven't seen any that can be replaced so if the elbow pad cap cracks or starts coming off, you will need to replace it.

Triple 8 Roller Derby Wrist Guards

Just like knee pads, wrist guards either pull on or wrap around and generally are pretty much the same.  Two specific wrist guards do stand out from the pack, the Atom Armor and Triple 8 Roller Derby wrist guards.  Both have wider coverage of the palm area than other wrist guards out there, which helps when you slap your hands against the track, but that is where the similarities end.  The Atom Armor wrist guards have an open back which can freak skaters out, personally I like having the wind blowing over the backs of my hands.  The Triple 8 Roller Derby wrist guards are made out of neoprene, have a red loop that helps pull them on (see pic), and the wide strap makes your wrists feel nice and secure.

Since we are talking about pads that we wear whilst sweating, I should mention the wonderful solution to smelly pads that is Stink Out.  Just two sprays on each piece of equipment after practice, then letting it all dry at home makes Shocker smell sweet.  If I'm practicing more often and can't get my pads dry between practices, I will end up having to eventually wash them in the washing machine then lay them out to dry.  Some people put their pads into the dishwasher, but this can ruin some pads and personally, I feel icky about putting sweaty stuff in with my dishes.


Lastly, there is still time to tell us your helmet story for a chance to win a new Nutcase Helmet.  Just tell us anything about helmets in the comments section of One Hit Wonder? by April 15th to enter.

Until we skate again!
Shocker

One Hit Wonder?

My Orange S-One Lifer Helmet in Action

There is some confusion as to "one hit" versus "reusable" helmets. There are el-cheapo helmets that are not good for much of anything, there are multi-use which provide some protection, then there are high impact helmets. High impact helmets have layer of hard Expanded PolyStyrene (EPS) foam lining, which if you hit your head hard enough will act like a crumple zone in a car.  Some cheap helmets will have a hard foam lining that may look like EPS, but look for the Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) sticker on the inside of the helmet to make sure it is going to protect your brain.  The CPSC certification means the helmet has been proven to protect your head in bicycle crashes (think how fast you go on your bike!), so they translate well to Roller Derby.  Here is an illustration of a CPSC certified Lifer helmet:

Both S-One and Nutcase brands have CPSC certified helmets with a layer of hard EPS lining followed by a soft foam pad. They are made for multiple lower impact hits to the head and if you happen to take a hit hard enough to dent the hard EPS foam lining (you will be able to see this), it's time to replace it.  So basically these helmets are reusable helmets at low impact and single use at high impact.  You can replace dented or cracked S-One helmets for $20 through the manufacturer or $35 through 2N1 Skate Shoppe, which is a pretty sweet deal.  I also heard a rumor that Nutcase likes to replace broken helmets when you send them an awesome story about how it saved your brain from catastrophe.



Non-CPSC Certified Helmet



Helmets that only have a hard shell with a thick terry cloth liner (see picture to the right) used to be the most popular helmet in Roller Derby, and this may also be why we were seeing so many concussions or traumatic brain injuries.  These helmets are not CPSC certified and are even illegal to sell in some states because your head is the crumple zone instead of a hard foam liner. Doesn't sound like much fun, does it?

The Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) has recently taken the helmet issue a step further by recommending HECC certified helmets. These are (imho) ugly hockey helmets that run about $150 (from the models I looked at), but are tested to even harder hits than the CPSC helmets.

Nutcase Modern Dots CPSC Certified Helmet

Some skaters I've met want to keep their helmets forever...personally, I think it is better to look at all of your protective gear as being easily replaceable after it has done its job. Hopefully no one ever hits their head hard enough to need to replace their helmet, but I don't think that worrying about having to get net stickers should be a reason you get a lower rated helmet.  Besides, with the awesome color selection S-One has and super cute Nutcase designs, who wouldn't want to switch it up every once in a while?

Chris from Nutcase sent me a helmet to try out and review, as well as one to give away to a G Spot reader!  While I'm testing mine out, let's hear some of your helmet stories...  Post your tale of woe, near-miss, or triumph in the comments for your chance to get your own brand new Nutcase helmet.  We'll announce the winner April 15th.



Sweet Atom Backpack

 Speaking of giving away stuff, you have less than 2 weeks left to enter our Atom Backpack giveaway contest!  Just post a pic of you showing your 2N1 pride on the 2N1 Skate Shoppe FaceBook page and you may be carrying around all your derby stuff in style!