I don't know if the ones priced at $100+ are any different than $30 pads/shorts, don't want to waste money just because something has a brand like Burton on it.
I was in a deep toeside carve on the icecoast and my back knee tapped the ice for a second and holy hell it left me down for a hot minute. Been bruised for a while and still a tiny bit weak after a week and a half. So definitely going all out on protection from now on.More expensive items use D30 or something similar, which is a flexible padding that stiffens on impact. Otherwise you're using foam/plastic padding that's far more bulky. More expensive items will also tend to have things like adjustment straps, while cheaper ones will just be a pull-on design.
These are generalizations, but if you try on a cheap set and an expensive set, you'll notice the difference. Whether you're willing to pay for that difference, well, that's up to you. How attached are you to your knees? 😁
(Seriously, if you've ever been subjected to a single knee-strike, you'll never complain about cost of knee pads again)
I need to update my tailbone protection. My available options are limited, I have this exact choice: azzpadz (D3O or original) and Demon FlexForce X2 D3O and Demon FlexForce X D3O. I already have Red impact shorts, but they make no difference for me, they are more padded where I don't need. So I'd like to level up.I used to wear the Azzpad for a couple of season then switch to the demon 3d shorts, more comfortable. [...]
That is what i wear(G-form not the Demon 3D) except its the short version, same with my kneepads (G-form).@drblast I definitely go with option #2. But it isn't just rails that can bite. I caught a heelside edge over a month ago after landing a jump. My butt was black for weeks, if this wasn't the interwebz I'd post a picture for the shock value. The backside of my knee joint turned black and blue too, I guess the blood trickled down. Still hurts a little. And I was wearing G-Form base layer, if not for these I think they would have needed to amputate the buttcheek. Not a perfect solution, I'd like more padding, but it's what I've got.
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I think they are good for any level of rider. you do need to get the sizing right so the the pads don't move around much. snug, not super tight, the coccyx/tailbone pad in the Dainese hard shorts E1 (made for moto riders) is far better than any snowsports crash shorts I've seen, I've bought (and then sold straight away) troy lee, EVOC & POC crash shorts.@MountainMystic, are those Dainese really good for an almost-newbie? My issue, of course, is mainly tailbone.
I know I should learn how to fall, but on the other end I need to overcome the fear of trying new stuff.
The tailbone protector sits where it is supposed to when sized correctly, and it's thick AF. lots of other crash shorts have wide looking tailbone pad, but they are often too thin, and IMO would make bugger all difference if you crashed on your ass.Thanks @MountainMystic. I can't find so manu images of those Dainese shorts but it seems theyd do not have such a big tailbone protector, but this is only what appears from the outside.
Other than that I have wrist guards because I am super terrified of breaking a wrist.