Crash Pads : Pro Pant with Tail Shield

Review:
These shorts are very unobtrusive way to protect yourself. I fractured my tailbone last year snowboarding after two hard falls that could have happened to anyone. It is too late to go back in time to see if the pads would have done anything in those instances; but now that I am more fragile, I feel some comfort in knowing there is at least some kind of barrier between myself and those nasty wrecks.

In my experience, these shorts are an advantage for two reasons. Not only do they provide protection for behind and in crucial areas around your thighs (i.e. rail wrecks), they also will keep you warm. On lifts, or as you sit on the side of the slopes for a break, it makes a huge difference.

When I first put them on I was sure the whole world could tell I was wearing pads, but I was assured they could not by many different people. In fact, many pros are wearing pads, but we the observers cannot necessarily tell. It takes a little while to get used to them and they you forget you have them on.

A disadvantage is that you have to make sure to have snowpants that will fit over the pads- it may require buying bigger snowpants. The padding isn't too bulky, but it does add thickness. Another important point is to make sure the pads fit you correctly. There is not guarantee that they will prevent you from injury to begin with, but as I said they can definitely help. They will not be as effective if they are not properly fitted so make sure to purchase the size that will fit you and give you the utmost protection.

I have been wearing the Crash Pads more consistently and am pleased to have them as an option. I really suggest them for anyone who will be learning new tricks and taking falls.

Review:
For the last 11 years Crash Pads has been making pads for all sorts of extreme sports. Their snowboard pad line is designed to provide protection without compromising freedom of motion or comfort; something that, for the most part, they accomplish. The Coolmax material fits tight to your skin, and provides a good base layer, wicking moisture and keeping you warm. The pads are welded to the outside of the Coolmax, and are shaped and arranged in ways that let them fit the contours of your body. The pads aren't at all bulky, and most of the time people can't tell that you're wearing them.

As rail extermination progressed to more and more technical levels, many professional riders started wearing pads under their snowpants. All it takes is one bad bail to make you wish you had those pads on. The week before these pads arrived for testing I took a fall on a rail, which left a 12x4" bruise on the side of my left leg in a place where the pad would have covered. I couldn't flex my quadriceps for about a week because the muscle was so bruised up.

My only complaint about the Pro Shorts is that the tailbone pad is a little uncomfortable. It isn't too bad when you put them on, but after hiking around for a while, it can begin to feel like you've got a big piece of foam padding giving you a wedgie. However, the tailbone is an essential place to pad, so hopefully Crash Pads can just tweak the pad a little bit and make it fit better.