Head and Wrist Protection

[Isk8NYC]

Someone linked me to this site a few weeks ago, but I forgot to post it:
http://www.brainpads.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=58

They sell headbands and wristbands with built-in impact-protection.

[AgnesNitt]

I've got a similar headband from a different manufacturer. Not wide enough or thick enough for skating. Okay for bouncing a ball off, but that's about it.

I had an ice halo for a while and it did a good job, but it was hot. Then one day it disappeared from my bag, and I started skating without it.

My favorite head protection was two skating safe knee pads in the back of knitted beret (called the 'pad in the hat' by the rink staff).  Unfortunately, that disappeared (or was left at) a new rink when I broke my ankle and it was never seen again.

[jjane45]

My favorite head protection was two skating safe knee pads in the back of knitted beret (called the 'pad in the hat' by the rink staff).  

We have so much in common when it comes to protection, AgnesNitt   I too have gel pads in my hat, velcro'd on in a small pocket.

Ice halo is too hot for the indoor rinks I skate at, I also suspect my head shape does not fit it very well.

Rencently heard that wrist injury is the top injury skating adults suffer, I speculate from tendency to break falls. Would a wristband be strong enough in this case? It's very different from say, volleyball.

[sampaguita]

The company that makes waxel pads also make wrist pads (if you buy them from a dealer in eBay they give it as a freebie if you buy a waxel pad set). You slip them under your gloves. They are effective, but they do make your hands warm so use thin gloves with these.

[AgnesNitt]

We have so much in common when it comes to protection, AgnesNitt   I too have gel pads in my hat, velcro'd on in a small pocket.

Ice halo is too hot for the indoor rinks I skate at, I also suspect my head shape does not fit it very well.

Rencently heard that wrist injury is the top injury skating adults suffer, I speculate from tendency to break falls. Would a wristband be strong enough in this case? It's very different from say, volleyball.

I found I didn't need a small pocket in the hat. I just used a floppy knit beret and the pads stayed in place.

Yes, I found the ice halo hot too. But when I start back 3 turns I'm getting another one.

I think the only good wrist guards are ones like these (I make sure the splint curves away from the wrist). They displace the force of the impact around the delicate wrist to the stronger arm bones.I don't think the ones with the splint flat against the wrist do any good.  It is still possible to break an arm with these on, but as I recently learned it's easier to treat broken bones than a broken joint (wrist, ankle). A woman in my rink broke her leg in July. She'll be back skating in January. A friend of mine who crushed her wrist in a roller skating accident in July has had two surgeries and is considered lucky that she's getting movement back in her fingers after two surgeries rebuilding the wrist.

[kiwiskater]

I think the only good wrist guards are ones like these (I make sure the splint curves away from the wrist). They displace the force of the impact around the delicate wrist to the stronger arm bones.I don't think the ones with the splint flat against the wrist do any good.  It is still possible to break an arm with these on, but as I recently learned it's easier to treat broken bones than a broken joint (wrist, ankle). A woman in my rink broke her leg in July. She'll be back skating in January. A friend of mine who crushed her wrist in a roller skating accident in July has had two surgeries and is considered lucky that she's getting movement back in her fingers after two surgeries rebuilding the wrist.

Been there done that - worse than breaking a bone in your wrist is stuffing up the ligaments & tendons - which is what I did, instead of the force causing a fracture it goes into the soft & connective tissues....

The problem with joints are there are so many things that can go wrong - ligaments, tendons, blood supply, multiple bones...the list goes on...further up the limb it is much easier to heal as there are less 'bits' to worry about...

I use flexmeter (US site is snowboard secrets) double sided guards, great things, saved me from many a repeat injury.. they come in varying sizes and they aren't just a single stiff splint that can cause breaks further up your arm or worse hold your wrist rigid so that it does a worse injury... I agree with Agnes the flat guards do you no favour!

[tazsk8s]

Someone upthread mentioned wristbands...if you're talking about what I think of as wristbands, the little terry cloth things I see tennis players wear, I can't imagine those would be very protective in the event of a fall that's bad enough to cause a broken bone. 

I think I got Kiwi hooked on the Flexmeter wrist guards, which I bought after much research following a bad fall and ten weeks off the ice with a broken wrist of my own.  They're bulky, but they work.  I'm not too concerned with appearances at this point...I just want to skate, and can't afford a repeat injury.  Not to mention, they take the fear factor out of elements that I'm likely to fall on (mostly lutz and axel at this point, when and if I ever try the 8 step mohawk again you can bet I'll be wearing them then).  I've never worn "regular" wrist guards (without the splint on the top as well as the bottom) so I can't say if they're any good or not. 

[kiwiskater]

I think I got Kiwi hooked on the Flexmeter wrist guards, which I bought after much research following a bad fall and ten weeks off the ice with a broken wrist of my own.  They're bulky, but they work.  I'm not too concerned with appearances at this point...I just want to skate, and can't afford a repeat injury.  Not to mention, they take the fear factor out of elements that I'm likely to fall on (mostly lutz and axel at this point, when and if I ever try the 8 step mohawk again you can bet I'll be wearing them then).  I've never worn "regular" wrist guards (without the splint on the top as well as the bottom) so I can't say if they're any good or not. 

LOL that you did! seriously though I come from a country that is not at all quipped for skaters - we're minor of the minor sports. Combined with the fact I skate in all ages LTS so I'm surrounded by resilient little kids not adults who aren't as rubbery....it's hard not to extol the virtues of good gear! I've fallen countless times in these guards with no problem.

I tried the straight ones (they have splints top & bottom but they aren't shaped or able to move) but they are awful - if you simulate falling over with a ruler or something straight tied along your arms you'll get what I mean - they dig into your arms at the ends of the guard, your wrist is locked into a straight position so there is no flexing that allows the force to spread across your arms rather concentrate in 1 spot which is how you end up with breaks. Flexmeter (and probably other 'flexi' brands) allows your wrists to act like they weren't in guards but protecting them from 'hyperextension' - that is your wrist bending too far back that it causes an injury - that would happen if you didn't have guards on.

I did my wrist over nearly a year ago now, it still isn't back to pre-injury levels let alone I wouldn't trust it to hold weight compared with my other wrist...I would hate for anyone to experience it because of a lack of gear of inadequate gear, I was searching for guards at the time I fell. I've had the odd parent at the rink approach me & ask where I got them from because in our little backwater information is scarce, that's why skatingforums is such a gem for me!!

[jjane45]

I found I didn't need a small pocket in the hat. I just used a floppy knit beret and the pads stayed in place.

AgnesNitt, how heavy and how snug was your hat before it disappeared? Mine does not fasten very well because the gel pads are too heavy, last week it even fell off from a camel fall :/ Maybe I need to sew in some wide elastic to hold the hat in place bettah.

[AgnesNitt]

AgnesNitt, how heavy and how snug was your hat before it disappeared? Mine does not fasten very well because the gel pads are too heavy, last week it even fell off from a camel fall :/ Maybe I need to sew in some wide elastic to hold the hat in place bettah.

Apparently, my first hat was an anomaly, also I wasn't jumping or spinning, but doing figures, so it didn't have much slippage opportunity. I've tried two other knit hats and they all hold the pad in the wrong place or fall off my head. I'm now working on a kangol beret, but I'll have to add a chin strap. The kangol beret is of stiffish hat felt (not knitted) and holds great promise (provided I can get a chin strap on it). If it doesn't work, I've been assured I look 'cute' in it, so I'll wear it to-from the rink so my 'cuteness' can shine throughout the world. 

[jjane45]

I had a lousy chin strap before but did not like the look / feel / or neither. My hat at that time was also ridiculously overpadded so maybe I will try the chin strap again if a well hidden elastic can't do the trick

[AgnesNitt]

I had a lousy chin strap before but did not like the look / feel / or neither. My hat at that time was also ridiculously overpadded so maybe I will try the chin strap again if a well hidden elastic can't do the trick

I'm thinking of using one of those 'no slip' headbands that are about a half inch wide as a chin strap. They look a lot sturdier than hat elastic (which only works for a light breeze), and they come in colors. Maybe I can find a tan one.

If that doesn't work I'm getting a riding helmet out of storage or going to doversaddlery.

[jjane45]

Ok I'm giving chin strap another try. It does not look as hideous as I remember, and can't shake the hat off me even if I try now. That's one step forward!

[AgnesNitt]

Ok I'm giving chin strap another try. It does not look as hideous as I remember, and can't shake the hat off me even if I try now. That's one step forward!

The other option is to put the hat on and tie it down with a  scarf.

I found a fantastic helmet at doversaddlery. The Tipperary Skullcap. Close to the head and industrially strong. Mmmmm , all it needs is a decal of a skater or some crystals and it will look 'skatey'.

[jjane45]

Ice halo is too hot for the indoor rinks I skate at, I also suspect my head shape does not fit it very well.

Anyone else used micro fleece ice halo? My comment above only refers to faux fur, not sure if micro fleece would work better in the ventilation department?

[AgnesNitt]

I had the micro fleece ice halo. It was hot, but I felt safe. In the winter it was just right.

[jjane45]

Anyone knows anyone who actually fell on an ice halo?
I really like the ribcap, had it been priced similarly as an ice halo I'd get one...

[nicklaszlo]

Someone should make a helmet that is also an ice pack.  It is way too hot and humid at my rink in the summer.

[slcbelle]

Anyone knows anyone who actually fell on an ice halo?
I really like the ribcap, had it been priced similarly as an ice halo I'd get one...

I'm selling my Jackson Ribcap in anthracite in a size Small.  I just ordered another exactly like it in a Medium.  I'll post to the For Sale section but I'm thinking $100 and free shipping.

[jjane45]

New rink, half of the ladies on adult session wears ice halo   guess someone had a bad head injury and led to the trend.

[Icicle]

I know an older adult skater (in her 70 's) who wears an ice halo. She says, she fell and hit her head wearing it and was fine.

[SynchKat]

One of the ladies I skate with had a fall compete with concussion and broken wrist.  She tried the halo but found it gave her a headache.  She now wears a hockey helmet.

[CaraSkates]

I'm thinking of using one of those 'no slip' headbands that are about a half inch wide as a chin strap. They look a lot sturdier than hat elastic (which only works for a light breeze), and they come in colors. Maybe I can find a tan one.

If that doesn't work I'm getting a riding helmet out of storage or going to doversaddlery.

Slightly OT but my best method to keep a hat on is a sewn on bra elastic - nude in color and adjustable! Great because you can loosen to put on and then snug up once hat is on your head. I don't use this for protection purposes but have a hat as part of my artistic costume - stays on even during fast layback spins and is the only thing I have found to work for that!

I do wear a ponytail as a sort of head protection - had a mild concussion but think it would have been worse if I hadn't had the ponytail!

[jjane45]

Slightly OT but my best method to keep a hat on is a sewn on bra elastic - nude in color and adjustable!

Oh oh great! I used to have a chin strap, no longer need it with my current hat - covers my ears and very snug.