Protective gear is an absolute must when skating. Wearing protective gear will eliminate most injuries and improve the overall safety and enjoyment of your inline skating experience.
A complete set of protective gear consists of four primary pieces. The first and most important piece of equipment is a helmet. We recommend that you invest in an inline skating helmet or aggressive skate helmet because they’re designed to come down lower, towards the base of the skull, to provide maximum protection in case you fall backward. Here is picture of a typical skating helmet:
The most common question asked regarding helmets and skating is whether a bike helmet is suitable for use when skating. The answer is yes but you should keep in mind that its design is different than a skating helmet in respect to how far it comes down towards the base of the skull. Falling backward on a bicycle is far less likely, thus the reason for the design difference.