Best Choice
Tortoise Pads T2 Impact Protection System
Best Value
Bodyprox Protective Padded Shorts
Editors Choice
Shock Doctor Shockskin Impact Shorts
The Best Padded Impact Shorts for Snowboarding and Skiing
Summary
There are tons of impact shorts and protective butt pads for snowboarding on the market. However, they can vary greatly in terms of design, comfort, price, or other features.
To help you pick the padded impact shorts that will suit all your needs, we’ve scoured the market to compile this list of the best impact shorts for skiing and snowboarding that you can find out there. Let’s have a brief overview of each one of them and see what they have to offer!
Best Choice
Tortoise Pads T2 Impact Protection Systemt
5/5
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If you’re looking for an unparalleled level of protection or butt pads for snowboarding, the Tortoise Pads T2 impact shorts are your way to go.
Despite being one of the most expensive impact shorts on the market, it does offer a level of protection that easily rises head and shoulders above the competition.
The Tortoise T2 padded shorts features a multilayer impact protection system that is distributed across 7 pockets providing excellent coverage and protection around the tailbone, hips, crotch, and glutes.
This one is an upgrade from the T3, which only covers the tailbone and lower glutes, making it a much more versatile option that you can use for a larger range of impact sports.
The foam used is also super durable and holds up pretty well against countless cycles of using, falling, and washing.
In addition to durability and versatility, the shorts are also comfortable, soft, breathable enough to keep you going without being irritated by the shorts.
Moreover, the shorts are a modular design that you can customize to suit your needs. Although the short has high-quality foam, you can replace them with different types of foam that suit your needs.
Pros
- Unrivaled level of impact protection
- Customizable pad thickness for the ideal fit
- Highly versatile and can be used for a variety of impact sports
Cons
- Premium price tag
Best Value
Bodyprox Protective Padded Shorts
5/5
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The Bodyprox 3D padded shorts are designed for serious snowboarding and impact protection in different sports.
The padding of the shorts is made of thick EVA foam, which helps in dissipating the fall impact and provides excellent shock absorption.
The cushion pads are very well placed on the shorts to provide a high level of tailbone and hip joint protections without compromising the flexibility and mobility in the shorts.
The shorts are made of a blend of nylon, spandex, and rubber. This gives a high level of ruggedness and durability thanks to the nylon and a lot of flexibility and contouring thanks to spandex and rubber.
Since these materials can trap heat, we like that the shorts also have room for airflow and wicking off extra moisture, thanks to the mesh fabric design.
The 3D protective shorts are also available in a wide variety of sizes to suit different body dimensions.
Pros
- Excellent value for its price
- Great impact protection without compromising mobility
- A proper balance between durability and flexibility
- The mesh fabric supports airflow to stay fresh and dry
Cons
- Can’t double as impact shorts for cycling and sports that require sitting
Editors Choice
Shock Doctor Shockskin Impact Shorts
5/5
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Shock Doctor is one of the leading manufacturers in the impact protection gear industry, and the Shockskin Impact shorts live up to the name of the brand!
From the first moment you try the shorts on, you’ll notice that it’s a great fit! This is because Shock Doctor uses an advanced cup retention system with a wraparound structure to keep the cup in place no matter how long you wear them.
In addition to cup position stability, the X-FIT system also allows for unrivaled comfort and body fitting without compromising durability.
The foam pads on the shorts are secured with high-frequency seams while having proper venting for warding off sweat continuously.
As for durability, the Shockskin has a top-notch shock absorption design, which is composed of a multi-stage protection technology that they call “Ultra Carbon Flex Cup”.
These protective cups are claimed to shield your body against impacts at speeds that reach up to 100 mph!
Additionally, Shock Doctors designed the seams in a flatlock style that prevents skin friction and reduces chafing, so you can wear the shorts for a long time.
Pros
- Ideal fit for both men and women
- An unmatched level of shielding with the ultra carbon flex cup
- Securely seamed and vented foam pads for decent airflow and chafing prevention
Cons
- A bit pricey
Cheapest
Soared 3D Protection Hip Butt EVA Padded Short Pants
5/5
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Maintaining proper protection while skiing or snowboarding isn’t something that you should save much on.
However, if you’re on a strict budget and want to get decent impact padded shorts without compromising durability and protection, this must be on your shortlist!
Despite being very affordable, the Soared 3D Padded Shorts come with a thick EVA foam cushioning that provides tailbone, lumbar, and crotch protection.
Not only that, but it also comes with a thickened version with more extra padding for more extreme and high impact snowboarding!
Moreover, the shorts feature a packing bag that makes it very easy to store the shorts and fit them in your bags.
The soft materials along with the elastic closure will keep you comfortable while wearing the shorts even for a long time.
Similar to other models, this one also has a decent mesh fabric to retain breathability and over-sweating protection.
Pros
- Ideal for buyers on a budget
- Comes with a carrying bag for portability
- Features sizes for kids and adults
Cons
- The shorts run a bit small, so consider ordering one size up
BenKen Hip Protective Padded Short Pants
5/5
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The Benken Hip Protective Padded shorts are another option to consider if the thickness is among your top priorities while picking a padded impact short.
This one uses a unique EVA foam that’s compressed in hot pressure to cushion your body while saving as much bulk as possible.
Not only that, but the padded impact shorts are built with an exceptional 2 cm thick cushioning for the maximum level of protection.
The shorts feature an elastic band that allows for easy quick adjustments as well as letting you wear the shorts and take them off in no time.
The fabrics used to make the shorts are made from bi-elastic lycra, which is characterized by being highly flexible and takes the shape of the body all the while staying durable and rugged to prevent wear and tear.
The shorts also have a unique zipper and velcro double adjustment system that allows you to enjoy a perfect fit around your waist. The shorts are also available in 5 different sizes to give you ample room for choice.
Pros
- Equipped with hot pressure 2 cm EVA foam with advanced shielding
- Has a unique zipper and velcro system for easy adjustment and wearing
- The bi-elastic lycra contours to the body and enhances durability.
Cons
- A bit bulky compared to other options on the market.
Triple Eight Bumsaver Men’s Padded Shorts
5/5
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Ending on a high note, the Triple Eight Bumsaver is one of the best-selling Snowboarding padded shorts on the market for all the good reasons!
The shorts have everything you might be looking for in premium padded impact shorts all the while being very well priced when you keep the quality of the materials used in mind.
The impact padded shorts feature thick EVA foam cushions that are 10 mm thick. This thickness offers a superb level of protection and safety to your bones without hindering the mobility of the shorts.
These pads are strategically placed to provide full coverage over all the sensitive areas around the body, such as the hips, the waist, the outer thighs, and the tailbones.
The choices for the spots are made in collaboration with top athletes with tons of experience in the most critical spots of injury.
Additionally, athletes test the design for flexibility and mobility, which shows the level of attention to details that Triple Eight give to their products.
The shorts are available in 4 sizes to fit adults, teens, and kids. Lastly, the product comes with a generous 180-day limited warranty, which adds an extra layer of security to your purchase.
Pros
- Removable padding pockets for adjustability
- Features 6 months of a limited warranty
- Equipped with top quality EVA foam while staying relatively affordable
Cons
- Not a unisex model
Why Padded Impact Shorts are Crucial for Snowboarding or Skiing
You might be wondering whether a padded impact short is necessary gear for snowboarding or just a luxury accessory.
However, if you’ve been snowboarding for a long time, you’ll know that injuries while practicing are highly common and can happen to anyone from rookies to legends of the game.
While most of the injuries are on the arms, an injury to your rear end can cause a much more drastic impact on your snowboarding or skiing career.
On the other hand, if you’re protecting your tailbone and hip region, you’ll feel much more secure upon falling, which allows you to react adequately and avoid serious injuries.
For kids that are just starting to learn how to use a snowboard, there are going to be a lot of failures and falls.
These falls can cause some bruises or fractures in the worst cases, which can be reduced significantly by proper protective gear like padded shorts
Moreover, as people get older, their bones become more fragile, which makes them prone to breaking their bones even on the simplest of falls.
By wearing these shorts, a senior person will have an extra layer of protection while enjoying their favorite sport.
For all these reasons, a padded short isn’t just a critical protective measure to enjoy the slopes but it’s also a smart investment to make if you want to avoid the health risk of having a serious fall while gliding on the snow.
What to Look for While Shopping for Padded Impact Shorts
A padded impact short is a critical item for snowboarding and skiing that any athletes and amateurs should have. Since it’s an essential tool, you need to make the right investment based on your needs.
Here’s a quick look at all the essential aspects that you need to keep in mind while shopping for one.
Padding Materials
The standard for padding materials used while making impact shorts is EVA foam. This material is soft enough to be worn yet tough enough to provide an excellent level of shock absorption and dissipating the impact of falls.
Some brands might even take a step further and use polypropylene plastics to fortify certain sensitive areas, such as the hips, the waist, and the tailbone.
Thickness & Mobility
EVA foam provides decent protection at 0.75 to 1.5 cm (0.3 to 0.6 inches) thickness, which is the industry’s average for the foam thickness.
Some companies were also able to boost the protection level of the shorts by compressing more foam within this thickness.
However, avoid going overboard with thickness because the bulkier the pads, the less you’ll be able to maneuver around while snowboarding or skiing.
Breathability
One of the most important signs for a good impact short is that it doesn’t ignore the airflow inside the shorts.
By having mesh fabrics and vented padding you’ll be able to get rid of excess heat as well as moisture from sweating, which is essential to avoid irritation of chafing.
Comfort & Fit
Besides the EVA foam, padded impact shorts also use different fabrics for the rest of the shorts. This includes fabrics like nylon, which is known for its durability and sturdiness.
However, there should be a percentage of other fabrics that make the padded impact shorts softer and more flexible to wear, such as rubber, spandex, and lycra.
How to Care for Padded Impact Shorts
Due to the nature of the foam and fabrics used to make padded impact shorts, the vast majority of padded impact shorts will become damaged if you toss them in a washing machine.
For that reason, unless the instructions on the padded impact shorts say otherwise, avoid machine washing them.
Instead, you might opt for a much safer alternative, which is dry cleaning the shorts. Additionally, you can try to wash them by hand with some mild detergent and warm water and then leave them to dry out in the air.
FAQs
Q: Are snowboarding pants the same as padded impact shorts?
Answer:
While some people might think that snowboarding pants are the longer counterparts to the padded impact shorts. They’re fairly different.
These pants are much baggier than the impact short’s tight fit and they’re designed to allow athletes to move and bend comfortably without hindering mobility.
Unlike the padded shorts, the slimmer fit version of the snowboarding pants is designed with aerodynamics and heat retention in mind more than protection.
Q: What should you wear under the padded impact shorts?
Answer: Padded shorts are designed to work the same way that undergarments do. That’s why you usually don’t have to wear anything under the padded shorts. In fact, this would actually trap the moisture and lead to friction and chafing.
Q: Are padded shorts suitable for men and women?
Answer:
Ideally, the majority of padded shorts on the market are unisex, so they can work for both men and women.
The spandex fabric contours to the body curves and structure, making it only a matter of short sizes.
Final Thoughts
There you have it. A complete guide that walks you through everything you need to know, so you can pick the best padded impact shorts for snowboarding and skiing.
If you’re looking for the best shorts for skiing, you might want to check the Bodyprox 3D Protective Padded Short.
This one gives you excellent protection and comfort for a great value for money.
However, if you need serious protection for high impact skiing, you should go for the premium Tortoise Pads T2 Seven Pad Impact Protection System, which gives you the ultimate level of protection a padded short has to offer!
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