How to Put on Hip Pads

Contributor

By Marie Mulrooney
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating:

(0 Ratings)

Snowboarding can be, quite literally, a pain in the butt. Whether you crash in the terrain park or are just learning and keep falling down, a little strategic padding will help you protect your tailbone. Pads that shifted around inside your clothing wouldn't do you any good, so snowboarding hip pads are usually stitched to stretchy, snug-fitting shorts that can be worn in place of underwear. If you're a beginner and just renting hip pads, however, you might want to wear a layer underneath them as well.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Lay the hip pads out to determine which side is the front and which is the back. Look for extra padding in the back, sometimes with a downward-pointing triangle shape.
Step 2

Strip down to your skin---or a pair of underwear, if that's your preference---and work both feet into the legs of the hip pads. You may want to sit down as you do this.
Step 3

Bundle the cloth on the sides of the hip pads in each hand, almost as if you were pulling up a pair of nylons. Pull the sides of the shorts up until the shorts legs are in their proper position.
Step 4

Roll or tug the cloth on either side of the hip pads up to the top of your hips. Adjust as necessary for a comfortable, snug fit.
Step 5

Put on the rest of your snowboarding clothing as usual.

Tips & Warnings

Snowboarders aren't the only ones who use hip pads; BMX bikers, inline skaters and generally anyone in a sport that might be hazardous to the tailbone will appreciate their added protection.