Which ProTec Helmet Do I Need?

One of the most popular lines of helmets we sell at XSports Protective are made by ProTec. You can find a ProTec helmet for just about any sport–skate helmets, skateboarding helmets, mountain bike helmets, BMX helmets. With such a wide product line, it’s difficult to figure out which ProTec helmet will best meet your needs. The helmet liner is your best guide there. (Note that the liner is the padding that is right next to the plastic exterior shell of the helmet, not the soft, squishy foam pads for comfort and fit that sit next to your head.)

We’ve created a handy page that looks at each of the three different types of liners used in ProTec helmets and offers some guidelines as to what type of helmet is best suited to a specific sport or sports.

Briefly, ProTec helmets are made with three different kinds of liners—2-stage soft foam, stiff expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, or surface-activated expanded polypropylene (SXP). Each Pro-Tec liner is designed to cushion your head in the event of an impact. However, each type of liner is best suited for a particular kind of impact. The 2-stage liner is designed to withstand multiple small impacts, such as you might get at the skate park. The EPS liner is designed to protect you in the event of a major collision, such as a bicycle crash. Pro-Tec’s patented SXP is a high-grade multi-impact liner designed to protect even the most aggressive riders.

To read more and to see a detailed photo of each type of helmet liner, check out this page from the XSports Protective website. Whatever ProTec helmet (or other helmet) you choose, be sure to inspect the interior and exterior for cracks or other damage after any serious impact. If you take a hit hard enough to make you say, “Wow!” please check your helmet.

Triple Eight Brainsaver Rubberized Helmet

A helmet is often the first (sometimes the only) piece of equipment a person buys, and we sell a lot of helmets at XSports Protective. Skateboarding helmets, roller derby helmets, snowboarding helmets, ski helmets, bike helmets–you name it. One of the most unique helmets we carry is the Triple Eight Brainsaver rubberized skate helmet.

What’s a rubberized helmet, anyway?

The Triple Eight Brainsaver rubberized skate helmet isn’t made of rubber, but it does have a rubberized coating on the outside of the helmet that helps keep your skate helmet looking new. Glossy helmets are gorgeous when you first get them, but a spill or two can scratch the finish. Some folks like that look–the scratches are like battle scars. Some people would rather keep their helmet smooth and blemish free. With the Triple Eight’s Brainsaver rubberized skate helmet, you can literally just “wipe out” small scratches and rub marks on the helmet. It’s pretty cool. Just like the classic Triple Eight Brainsaver helmet, the rubberized Brainsaver is multi-impact, with a soft, one-inch thick, dual-foam inner liner designed to rebound to its original shape after a low-force impact. The rubberized series of Brainsaver helmets include Triple Eight’s Sweatsaver terry cloth liner, rather than the standard foam liner. The washable terry liner absorbs sweat and keeps your brow-drip free so you can concentrate on skating.

Always remember to check your helmet for cracks and other damage. Multi-impact helmets like the Brainsaver (both rubberized or gloss finish) were designed to retain their protective qualities even after a small impact, making them ideal skateboard helmets or roller derby helmets. But no helmet is impervious to every impact. Our rule of thumb here is, if you take a hit or a fall that makes you say “Wow,” you should probably replace your helmet.

Padded shorts option paralysis?

There are a lot of padded shorts to choose from. Some are great for a range of sports, while some work well with one sport but not another. Below are some of the most popular roller derby shorts we sell, with a few quick reasons why customers like them. Obviously, your mileage may vary, but we hope this can give you a start on finding the roller derby padded shorts that meet your specific needs.

McDavid HexPad Roller Derby Shorts

The McDavid HexPad derby shorts are the first padded shorts designed specifically for roller derby. The HexPads are very slim, lightweight, and offer great flexibility and mobility. Some girls LOVE them because they are so slim and discreet. Other girls want more protection. If you are looking for light weight impact protection with a low profile, these are a great choice.

Triple Eight RD Bumsavers Roller Derby Padded Shorts

Although relatively new to the market, the Triple Eight RD Bumsavers have become very popular with those derby girls who want an intermediate level of protection. The RD Bumsavers have thicker pads than the McDavids, but not as much padding as the Crash Pads. If you are looking for “more than the McDavids, but not as much as the Crash Pads,” then the RD Bumsavers should be your pick.

Crash Pads 2700 Roller Derby Padded Shorts

The Crash Pads 2700s offer the advanced roller derby protection. The 2700s have the most protection all around, including excellent tailbone protection. Plus the 2700s have more advanced fabric that wicks sweat away from your body. They were designed by a Olympic level gymnastics trainer, so the pads, pad placement, and seams are all specifically designed and located to maximize your mobility and protection.

Vigilante Women’s Tech Padded Shorts

This is the new kid the block. The Vigilante tech padded shorts give you 1/2-inch foam padding all around with a custom designed plastic tailbone shield. The pads are shaped, cut, and designed to move along with your body without bending or crushing, while the breathable, wickable mesh fabric sandwiches the foam padding, moving air and keeping you comfortable. The Vigilante shorts are extremely lightweight (they weigh 8 ounces), low profile, and can do double-duty as ski padded shorts or snowboard padded shorts.

So there you have it. Four padded short options with varying degrees of protection depending on your needs and your style. Whatever one you choose, please skate safely.

The XSports office has been busy this fall getting ready for the winter season. Our big news is that we’ve introduced a line of padded shorts and body armor under the Vigilante name. We’ve worked with the good folks at Crash Pads to design and produce padded shorts and body armor that are ergonomically designed with human kinetics in mind. The pads on all the Vigilante products are cut and placed to move with your body and enhance your movement, not inhibit it.

The padded shorts are in stock now–the body armor will be available in a matter of days. Vigilante padded shorts come in two weights–an ultra-lightweight short in men’s and women’s cuts that provides a basic level of protection or the professional-level tech short in men’s cuts and women’s cuts. Need some low-profile padding under your snowboard pants or ski pants?  Or maybe padded shorts for roller derby? Try Vigilante.  You’ve never seen padded shorts quite like this. Frankly, that’s the idea.

All Vigilante products are made right here in the U.S. You can read more about our unique collaboration with Crash Pads here.