The range of PEVs at Atomic EV include the fastest electric skateboards and EUC available in New Zealand, with several having very high top speeds (boards over 60 km/h and EUCs over 95 km/h). So we take safety of our riders seriously, and offer the largest range of gear in NZ specifically for PEV riders.
Which is the best protective gear to wear depends on many factors. Besides the speeds and environment in which the PEV will be ridden, the type of PEV (upright stance or crouched over, forward or side-on stance), rider experience in the conditions, and hazards (cars, pedestrians, animals, other riders) all affect the choice of gear.
Most important is that any gear chosen will actually be worn, there’s no point buying protective gear that doesn’t fit correctly, not comfortable, or which you don’t like – try to check the fit of any gear before purchasing and ensure its safety certified for your intended use. This makes visiting a store in person for protective gear better than blindly buying online.
Remember above around 15 km/h it will be difficult to “run off” a fall, so an accident will result in some parts of the body making contact with the ground. Ideally contact with the ground should result in a painless slide or a tucked forward roll rather than an uncontrolled tumble, and no parts of the body (typically hands) should get caught on impact.
Particularly important while learning a new PEV or riding in new conditions or environments, protective gear also provides reassurance in case something unexpected were to occur. Even when an fall isn’t a primary concern, protective gear allows riding with more confidence and lowers the risks when pushing the envelope to improve riding skills.
Half-shell and full-face helmets
Helmets are essential as even a small knock to the head can result in a serious injury. They should always be worn, even at low speeds. At lower speeds (up to around 25 km/h) a half shell such as our Triple 8 Certified helmet range or a bicycle helmet can be suitable, provided it fits the head – it shouldn’t move around too loosely nor be so tight that the head rotates violently with a glancing impact.
Above 25-30km/h it becomes more likely that the hands cannot by themselves break a fall so chin protection becomes more important. We offer the popular Leatt Gravity range of full-face helmets for these situations. Leatt helmets are also compatible with neck braces for PEV racing or extreme off-roading.
At higher speeds (over 40 km/h) its also important to provide eye protection and more aerodynamic shape. So either googles are added to a helmet or our Predator full-face helmet range with integrated visor is chosen. Predator helmets are designed specifically for PEV riding, and very popular amongst EUC riders internationally.
Motorbike helmets are also an option, although except at extreme speeds they are comparatively quite heavy for PEV riders and many models either limit the field of view or muffle the surroundings (and PEV riders need to be able to hear surrounding traffic).
Hand and wrist protection
Although head injuries can be very serious, the most common injury from PEV falls is actually to the wrist. Instinctively, hands are put out to break a fall, but a heavy impact can cause a wrist or arm fracture, and if the hand that does not slide and catches on the ground, the rest of the body might continue the forward momentum resulting in the wrist being bent backward to the point of fracture. Unfortunately, wrist fractures are very common in many sports and can be difficult to heal.
Wrist guards are designed to absorb some of the impact that otherwise would be directed to the wrist and arms, using either a splint (used by our Triple 8 and colourful 187 Killer Pads ranges) or the patented Knox scaphoid protection system (used by our Knox Action Pro hand armour and our Flatland 3D gloves). They are also designed to slide and prevent the hand from being forced backward.
Elbow and knee pads
Next in importance after helmet and wrist protection are knee and elbow pads. These too are designed to absorb some of the impact from a fall, reducing the risk of bruising and fractures, and encourage sliding to avoid a limb being caught and unnaturally bent.
At lower speeds elbow and knee pads might be considered optional, avoiding grazes and bruising, but their importance grows as impact speed increases. Our Triple 8 combo packs provide an economical entry-level set of wrist protection, elbow and knee pads, very popular with skateboarders and roller skaters. A step up in protection is provided by the Leatt range, which is the dominant brand for downhill mountain biking, including the popular AirFlex elbow and knee pads, or the higher-rated 3DF elbow and knee pads. Leatt also have the dual-axis knee and shin guard, the most common choice for higher-speed EUC riders. Alternatively, Knox have elbow and knee pads in their Action Pro range, which are slim enough to be worn discretely under other clothes.
Protective clothing
Higher speed riding requires more consideration for protective gear, particularly protection of the shoulders, back, chest, hips and thighs, and better abrasion resistance to reduce damage to the skin. The protection to the hand/wrist, elbow and shoulder also help reduce impact force transmitted up the arm to the shoulder, which can commonly result in a clavicle (collarbone) fracture.
The Leatt impact shorts offer protection for the hip, upper hip, thigh and coccyx (tailbone). Atomic EV also stocks the Leatt shoulder brace (left or right side), particularly useful for anyone prone to shoulder dislocation (so a prior shoulder injury doesn’t necessary mean you can’t ride) or for the leading shoulder during side-on riding (left shoulder for regular riders, right shoulder for goofy riders).
Knox is a leading British company specialising in the design and manufacturing of innovative body armour and apparel, for motorcycling and other adrenalin sports. Atomic EV is excited to bring their Action Pro range of lightweight protective gear to New Zealand, designed for motorcyclists, e-bikers, mountain bike riders, skateboarders, skiers and snowboarders. Their impact shorts offer protection for the hip, upper hip, thigh and coccyx, and trousers extend the protection to include the knees and full leg abrasion protection. Their men’s and women’s Action Pro shirts likewise offer protection for the shoulders, elbow and back, and upper body abrasion protection, with optional additional chest protection. The range has Class A certified protection, the third highest CE category for motorcycle riding, yet discreet enough to be worn under other clothing.
Summary
With so much protective gear it can become confusing to know what to pick from the different brands. To help simplify understanding at Atomic EV we break the choices down into three groups, depending on the intended riding speed or how much the rider will be pushing the envelope of the PEV.
As illustrated in our shop mannequins at low speeds a Triple 8 half-shell with matching combo pack of wrist guard, elbow and knee pads might be sufficient. The half-shell helmets come in four sizes and each includes two thickness of Sweatsaver pads to help ensure a better fit. At mid-range speeds a Leatt Gravity full-face helmet (our Gravity 1.0, 2.0, or 4.0 series) with Leatt knee and elbow guards (AirFlex, 3DS or Dual Axis), accompanied by wrist guards chosen from Triple 8, 187 Killer Pads, or Flatland 3D could be chosen. For more extreme speeds the Knox Action Pro range with its Class A protection and integrated microlock armour, with a full-face Predator helmet could be a suitable choice, with additional chest protection if there are risks of high speed impacts (such as during off road riding). Of course there are variations between these, and its important to get the protective gear that fits and which you’re comfortable to wear.
We’re always looking to ensure we carry the best range of protective gear for our customers. If you’ve any questions or feedback please let us know at [email protected]. We’re also keen to hear from medical specialists and experienced riders of their views.
