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Best Padded Shorts of 2024: Reviews & Buyer Guide

Padded shorts are one of the essential bodywear to put on when you’re engaging in strenuous activities like skateboarding, snowboarding, scooting, inline skating, hiking, ice skating, figure skating, footballing, skiing, biking, and much more. Each of these sports is healthy and exciting, but you’re at risk of getting injuries either by excessive friction or falling if you don’t have quality padded shorts on. Despite your level of riding skills, putting on such protective gear can save you from unfortunate accidents.

In relation to this, I can’t help sharing my skating accident when it comes to safety body gear. When I was seven, I hit a log hard when rolling off with my longboard. It displaced my hip joint and I had to spend months in the hospital. It’s not that accidents don’t happen for a reason, but you just can’t predict when it’s going to happen. If I had my padded shorts on that day, it would’ve saved me from such a fatal blow.

However, it’s not easy to find the right shorts that provide maximum safety and comfort as the market is littered with hundreds of them. So, today we’re going to talk about the ultimate padded shorts that we’ve sorted through extensive market research and rigorous field-tests. We’ve carefully reviewed each of them for your perusal. Let’s get going.

7 Handpicked Best Padded Shorts Review

01 Bodyprox Protective Padded Shorts (Best Overall)

Bodyprox Protective Padded Shorts

Padded shorts from Bodyprox are an excellent choice for protection when engaging in your favorite sports. This pair is a combination of spandex and nylon to ensure your skin is always dry and fresh. With the Eva foam paddings, you’re guaranteed adequate protection from scratches, bumps, or falls.

The pads are 14mm thick and strategically positioned to efficiently protect the hip, thigh, and tailbone areas of the body. When we tried it, we noticed that injuries from fall reduced by 90%, and we became more creative and confident in performing trickier moves with our skateboards.

Our only area of concern was that the stitching wasn’t perfect and the threads could wear off if washed in a machine. Though it didn’t have an adjustable waistband, the flexible design made it easier and comfortable to wear with a secure fit.

When compared to other products on our list, it’s a highly reviewed and rated product on Amazon while the price belongs to the mid-range. This clearly shows that other users were quite happy with the overall performance of Bodyprox Protective Padded Shorts for skateboarding and similar sports.

Pros

  • Broader coverage with Eva foam
  • Premium soft and breathable fabric
  • Ergonomically designed to minimize discomfort
  • Extra protection for tailbone
  • No constant fidgeting and adjusting

Cons

  • Not machine washable
  • Slight issues with stitching

Final Verdict

For the money, this model offers excellent value. It’s not bulky so that you can use it as base layer wear. The material construction and padding spread are adequate. It’s got thick hip pads that should absorb shock effectively and our testing was satisfying.

02 Soared 3D Protection Hip Butt EVA Padded Short Pants

Soared 3D Protection Hip Butt EVA Padded Short Pants

The Soared 3D padded short pants are a fantastic choice for protecting your butts and hips when sporting outdoors. It has a 2.5cm thick foam to protect your butt, lumbar, thigh, and crotch. Snowboarding isn’t a risk-free sport, so it’s great to find a product that’s thick enough to guard your hip and tailbone when an accident occurs. Not only does it offer protection, but the material is also elastic and lightweight, perfect for wearing inside or outside pants.

About durability, from what we can tell from the construction, we can say it’ll last longer. Most users were impressed with its resistance to wear under stress, and unlike most models, the Eva padding didn’t lose its form after washing.

You’ll appreciate the mesh vent at the front, which makes it breathable and excellent at wicking out moisture to keep you dry. That’s why these padded shorts are at the top of our list.

This Soared 3D version is available in different sizes for kids and adults. It means you can buy it for your baby while learning to walk or for guarding an older adult against a fall.

We found that it didn’t come with cup protection for boys, but that wasn’t a deal-breaker for us since it was designed for both men and women.

Pros

  • 2.5cm thick Eva padding
  • Lightweight and soft material
  • Elastic fabric and adjustable waist
  • Unisex design
  • Great to fit growing kids
  • Available in many sizes

Cons

  • No hard plastic protection

Final Verdict

This is one of the best-rated models on our list. It’s ideal for the beginners as it’s easy to use, and available for both kids and adults. The price is economical, and it’s packed with many features that make it a top choice. Overall, it’s an excellent product for sale. For the price, it offers excellent value.

03 Triple Eight Bumsaver Men’s Padded shorts

Triple Eight Bumsaver Men’s Padded shorts

As the name implies, the Bumsaver is one of the latest innovations from Triple Eight to help protect your hips, thighs, and tailbones during the most rigorous sports.

Unlike our top pick that combines nylon and spandex materials, this one is engineered with a lycra mesh fabric which is sturdier yet lightweight and form-fitting to enhance your flexibility and mobility. Still, the clothing is breathable, quick to dry, and won’t be stuck on your skin, which is one feature you’ll greatly appreciate when cycling or skating.

The Bumsaver is equipped with a shock-absorbing 10mm Eva foam for superb protection against hurting bums, and you can remove each of the pads from their locations to customize your comfort.

This brand prides itself on the ease of washing their shorts. We appreciated how you could clean the pads and shorts on the machine, then dry without deforming them. A few wearers complained about the difficulty when replacing the pads after removal, but we didn’t see it as an issue since you could still wash with the paddings on.

Yet, the option to take out the pads is an advantage to reduce the weight and make you feel more comfortable without compromising your level of protection.

It’s designed to cover from the waist to just above the knee joint to allow you push to your limits while being safe. However, there’s no cup to protect the crotch area from severe fall.

Since the most vulnerable region is the tailbone, this Bumsaver is equipped with a coccyx pad for extra coverage of the tailbone. It’s available in four sizes for kids, youths, and adults.

Pros

  • Molded coccyx pad for tailbone
  • Machine washable
  • 10mm thick Eva foam
  • Ideal for extreme conditions
  • Comfortable fit
  • Excellent coverage
  • 180-day limited warranty

Cons

  • No cup protection

Final Verdict

Though coming in the high-end range depending on the style you select, this Bumsaver is the real deal wear for the most demanding conditions. If you can afford it, you’ll not be disappointed with it.

04 Hillbilly Impact Shorts

Hillbilly Impact Shorts

Well-made for a standard performance and excellent quality, this Hillbilly impact shorts will upgrade your safety for the more exceptional sporting experience. Many users were happy with its fantastic ability to cushion the right amount of the impact.

Fortunately, this Hillbilly model features lightweight Eva foam and a plastic tailbone protector to absorb the impact, preventing severe harm to your body. It comes with a string tie waistband to allow you to customize the fit. However, few users complained that the rope felt too bulky.

This product can work well for longboarding, mountain biking, skiing, and skateboarding in the most snow knitted conditions. The company recommends you choose the smaller size if you prefer a tight fit or the larger size if you want a loose fit. From our observations, the pads were more secure upon impact under snug fit than on loose fit.

It was also a highly reviewed and rated option on this list though the price was a little on the higher end when compared to our previous choices. Overall, it’s performance met the expectations of the wearers.

Pros

  • Plastic tailbone protector
  • Highly versatile
  • Eva foam
  • Adjustable waistband
  • Breathable mesh fabric
  • Secure fit

Cons

  • Rope felt bulky
  • Relatively expensive

Final Verdict

This product holds the right combination of the features we expect in the top-rated padded shorts. The padding is robust, the fabric is breathable and stretchable, making it useful for the most active sessions. If you are riding an electric longboard or skateboard, this padding can be an ideal choice. Don’t let the price put you off, and it’s better to spend a little more to guarantee your safety. For the price, it offers good value and we highly recommend it.

05 KUYOU 3D Padded Shorts

Triple Eight RD Bumsaver Women’s Padded Short

If you want to stay on top of your game without breaking the bank, the KUYOU 3D padded shorts are for you. It’s made from heat-resistant fabric to help keep you warm while skiing or snowboarding.

They provide fantastic protection, thanks to the Eva placements around the hip, thigh, and tailbone areas. Its shape design is pretty excellent and fits your body curves, meaning, you’ll enjoy both secure fit and cute looks.

This KUYOU model comes with Velcro and elastic waist for you to comfortably wear and adjust with ease.

The cost is quite essential when considering your ideal padded shorts, and this one is pretty affordable, making it the right answer for those on a budget.

Our only complaint was it felt a bit itchy around the waistline, and unless you’re wearing another clothing under, it might irritate your skin, especially if yours is highly sensitive.

Pros

  • Excellent butt protection
  • Elastic and Velcro waistband
  • Thick padding
  • Affordable
  • Lightweight
  • Breathable and flexible

Cons

  • Prone to itch

Final Verdict

A low cost yet high-quality padded short pair, this product is a reliable choice for persons on a budget looking for the gear with enough paddings to protect, absorb shock, and prevent injuries upon impact. So, if you ride a kick scooter, a bicycle, or take part in any similar sports, you can’t really go wrong with this.

06 Triple Eight RD Bumsaver Women’s Padded Short

Triple Eight RD Bumsaver Women’s Padded Short

Designed for the women’s sports lovers, this pair of RD Padded Short will keep you on the go despite the number of times or how hard you drop on the ground. It’s constructed from lycra to provide better freedom of movement and comfort during skating. The fabric is excellent at wicking off moisture while inhibiting the growth of bacteria.

This RD pair comes with a small inside pocket for holding gums and any other item needed for your convenience. Compared to our 3rd choice (Bumsaver), this one is a little shorter in length to enhance its flexibility and overall comfort.

To the woman, her butt is one of the most critical assets, and this model features a 10mm thick Eva foam pad to take the shocks away for this region. That’s not all; you can remove the pads to customize your feel and make it quick to dry.

Since a few of the previous users complained that it wasn’t right to size, and felt too tight on the body, we suggest you should choose a larger scale to eliminate this issue.

Pros

  • Great protection
  • Ergonomically designed for women’s body
  • Breathable pads
  • Lightweight
  • Tight fit
  • Machine washable

Cons

  • Not true to size

Final Verdict

This is one of the most efficient padded shorts for protecting young girls and women from severe injuries and pain. The pads are breathable and easily removable so that you can feel comfortable under any condition. However, it comes with an extra cost when compared to our other picks. If you prioritize comfort and convenience, these shorts are definitely for you.

07 OHMOTOR 3D Padded Protective Shorts

OHMOTOR 3D Padded Protective Shorts

Available in three colors, the OHMOTOR padded shorts are here to protect your butts, crotch, and thigh, against injuries. With this protective wear, you can skate, ski, or snowboard without fear of a crash. It has many sizes for children and adults, but it’s one size up to offer a loose fit. So, if you want it tighter, we recommend you choose one size lower.

Besides featuring Eva foam to protect the user from crash-related injuries, the material is quite stretchy, enabling you to feel comfortable and move with ease while snowboarding.

We observed that the pads were pretty stiff, but we had no issues with comfort when sitting; it’s likely you’ll forget having them. Besides, they weren’t noticeable when wearing underpants, it certainly worth the investment looking at its price and the protection it provides.

It got many exciting features that outweigh most products in its price category. The only drawback was the sizing; every other thing was perfect for us.

Pros

  • Cheap
  • Adjustable and elastic waist
  • Soft and breathable fabric
  • Eva pads
  • Can be washed by hand
  • Strong wear-resistant fabric

Cons

  • Not true to size

Final Verdict

Economical and durable, this is an excellent choice for someone looking for a reliable but pocket-friendly padded shorts for skateboarding. Though there were a few issues with the sizing, you can’t complain much looking at its high-quality construction and affordability.

Padded Shorts Buying Guide: Things to Look For

1. Size & Fit

Sizing differs from brand to brand, while some are true to size; others are smaller or larger. Ensure that you refer to the manufacturer’s fit chart before making a payment. You need a pair that’ll offer a snug fit to keep the cloth in place, ensuring it’s not flapping in the wind.

2. Material

Trendy materials for impact shorts include polyester, nylon, and cotton. Most companies combine nylon and polyester with rubber yarn to create spandex or lycra to make it long-lasting, stretchy, comfortable, and itch-free. Always look for a pair of shorts with at least 15% spandex, since it’s content will determine the quality of the stretch. Foam and sponge are often used as the pad materials.

3. Protection

These impact shorts have pads in strategic sections, covering the tailbone, sit bones, hip, upper thighs, and hip pointers. Check the paddings to ensure it must completely protect those body parts. They can save you in times of falls during inline skating and skateboarding.

4. Dual Stitch Feature

Shorts with double stitching last longer and less likely to tear under stress compared to those with single stitching.

5. Pad Thickness & Weight

Thicker pads offer better protection than thin ones though they’re bulkier. They work wonderfully as butt enhancers. You’ll find pads with a thickness range of ¼-inch to ½ inch, but choose according to your weight-bearing capacity. An average sturdy snowboarding short pair weighs around 0.5 pounds.

6. Moisture Absorbent Material

If you’re in a hot environment, you’ll always sweat and might feel uncomfortable. So, look for underwear with proper ventilation and moisture-wicking properties to keep you comfortable and reduce bacteria buildup.

7. Antibacterial Treatment

Choose shorts with an antibacterial or silver ion finish to reduce the growth and spread of disease-causing germs.

8. Stretchable Fabric & Comfort

Ensure that the material is stretchable enough to provide freedom of movement for certain skateboarding motions. Since you can use these shorts as base layers, they should be breathable, soft, warm to give the needed comfort in the harshest weather condition.

9. Extra Tailbone Protection

Most of today’s padded shorts for skateboarding come with extra plastic pads for shielding the tailbone from sharp objects in the event of a backward fall.

10. Eva Foam Padding

The top-rated snowboarding shorts feature Eva foam since they ensure ultimate protection and comfort while dispersing the force of impact.

11. Stiff or Flexible Pads?

Ideally, thick pads offer better protection because of their thick Eva foam, but you’ll experience challenges when making specific movements like squatting or bending. However, flexible pads have thinner foam, offering less protection but gives more comfort and flexibility. Thinner foam should also be suitable for the basketball and volleyball athletes.

Why Should You Use Padded Shorts for Skating?

The question is: is there a reason not to wear padding shorts? Of course, no! As a skating enthusiast, you already know that the possibility of falling off the board and getting injured is high. These short pairs offer a great deal of protection on the thigh, groin, hip, and tailbone parts of the body, leaving them unaffected whenever there’s an impact. These are second to only helmets and shoes when it comes to essential protective gear when skateboarding or any similar sports activity.

Sure, falling may not be an issue, but those injuries could be painful. A bruised tailbone is much worse since any slight impact on the area would cause a lot more pain.

What about ordinary shorts? You can’t rely on standard shorts for protection since they have only a layer of fabric to provide coverage but won’t protect you from injuries. The only option is wearing shorts that come with high-tech shock-resistant foam and blocks to protect you from bruises whenever you fall.

Though you might be a professional skater, the workout surface could be tricky, and you never know when an accident might happen. No matter the weight of the fall, the foam padding will cushion the effect, ensuring the safety of your bones and muscles.

Snowboard Padded Shorts vs Cycling Padded Shorts

The foam or chamois in cycling shorts (also known as compression shorts) is thicker than the one in padded snowboard shorts. The reason is to minimize pain during hours of staying on the saddle. This thick chamois will reduce abrasion and cushion the butt, making it ideal for long-distance riders. You’ll likely feel a lot of pain in a matter of hours if you’re cycling with skating clothing because of its lesser padding density.

Could your snowboard with a pair of cycling shorts? Perhaps not. The pads on the biking shorts are denser, hot, and uncomfortable for snowboarding. However, many seasoned bikers would prefer thinner pads on their shorts, which can prevent abrasion and yet remain hidden from the eyes. Such pads are getting popular among road and mountain (MTB) bikers, specially when they take long rides like the century rides.

Padded Shorts Maintenance Tips

Since skateboarding shorts are a unique piece of fabric, you should know how to enjoy its benefits for long by keeping it in good condition. Below are a couple of tips to keep in mind.

  • Don’t wash your padded shorts with regular clothing like jeans or shirts. The spandex or lycra material is very delicate and might quickly wear if you’re not washing them separately.
  • Refrain from using fabric softeners since they could block the tiny air holes on the material, making it less breathable and uncomfortable.
  • Though we’ll always recommend hand washing over machine washer, it’s not all padded shorts that you can wash with a machine. Check the manufacturer’s instructions before throwing them into the washer.
  • If your shorts have zippers, it’s a good idea to zip them up to prevent the zipper from tearing other fabrics in the washer.
  • Never put your skateboarding shorts in a dryer since the heat of the machine could deform the fabric. Instead, hang them outside after wash to dry before wearing.
  • It may be impossible to wash your skating clothes each time you’re returning from the ride, but you can prevent bacteria buildup by hanging it on a rack to allow it dry for the next outing.

Final Words

Putting on the right outfit, specially padded shorts, will offer you complete protection and confidence during riding. These protective garments will keep you safe and secure whenever you’re sporting outdoors, shielding you from dangerous wounds or pain.

When looking for the highest quality padded shorts for skateboarding, skiing, scooting, or cycling you can’t just take anything expensive available on the market and pay for it. You should take time to consider essential things like padding thickness, size, material, durability, and extra tailbone protection. So, look into our buying guide again if necessary and figure out which of the specs we’ve examined is essential for you.

If you haven’t still made up your mind, you can go through our list again. We believe all or cushioned shorts recommendations have something that’ll suit your needs. For the best all-rounder, you can’t go wrong with our top pick. It’s reliable, affordable, bacteria-resistant, versatile, and durable. If you’re on a budget, you can always choose the KUYOU or OHMOTOR versions.

After buying your ideal short pair, you need to maintain it per the manufacturer’s instructions for it to stand the test of time.

FAQs

1. Do you want your padded snowboard shorts to be machine washable?

Ans. Though we don’t recommend machine washable shorts, there are a couple of versions that you can wash with a machine. However, to prolong their life, it’s necessary to wash them by hand and line-dry. Avoid drying with machines; especially lycra-based fabrics.

2. Do you want a gender-specific cut in your snowboarding padded shorts?

Ans. Most padded shorts are designed for boys, but you can get a gender-specific model by using the right keyword to tailor your search. Note that the pads having a line or compression through the middle are for boys, while the women’s pads are more like a pillow.

3. How do padded shorts prevent injuries?

Ans. Padded snowboarding shorts protect your quads, tailbone, buttocks, and hips. They have foams that range from a quarter to half-inch thick along with hard shells to prevent direct collision and dissipate the force during a fall. Though crashes are unavoidable when skateboarding, wearing these cushioned shorts will save you from excruciating pain and injuries.

About the author

Colin Kint

I’m a professional skateboarder and have participated in most skateboarding competitions in San Francisco. I believe my innate passion for the sport drove me to pursue my career as a professional skateboarder.

Another reason I’ve got so good at it is because of my relentless practice sessions with my friends. As an environmental activist with an undergraduate law degree, I volunteer in different community awareness programs. I’m also into photography and do most of the photography for this site.

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