Padded shorts protect the vulnerable parts of your body from getting injured or bruised while experiencing the slopes, and if you’ve ever been slammed into compacted snow, you’ll know how painful it can be.

We’ve rounded up ten of the best on the market and summarised them in an easy-to-follow guide for you below.

Padded Shorts Under Review

Review

Bodyprox Padded Shorts (Editors Top Pick)

These shorts are made for intense sports. The thick EVA-padding is geometrically designed to dissipate the impact of falls and bumps away from vulnerable areas. It offers most of its protection around the tail-bone and hip-joint.

The material is soft and elastic, so it’ll follow the contours of the body without being intrusive. It has mesh fabric, so it’ll ward off the excess moisture and keep you fresh and dry even after hours of strenuous activity.

These shorts are made with durability in mind. They should retain their shape and protective properties and serve you well in your intense athletic endeavors.

There are only three discrete sizes for these shorts: small, medium, and large. The elasticity of the material provides some flexibility, but they’re mostly designed for average-sized adults.

These shorts are suitable for low-impact skiing and snowboarding, as their padding covers the backside and the hip. The crotch area isn’t padded in this model, which limits its usage in high-impact levels or in other contact sports.

What makes them great:

  • Impact dissipation through curved EVA pads
  • Efficient ventilation
    Comfortable form-fitting material
  • High-strength product with a fair lifespan
  • Decent Value
  • Cleaning is easy, and a hand wash is all that’s needed


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Shock Doctor Impact Short (Editors 2nd Choice)

These unique shorts come from a reputable manufacturer who’s been in the sports business since 1993. Shock doctor focuses on protection gear mostly. They serve pro athletes nationally and globally, but their reach is for everyone and their products are quite popular among sports enthusiasts in general.

These shorts are remarkably lean as they employ a shock-absorbing technology that doesn’t require much bulk for protection. The whole design is innovative and performs exceptionally well in all areas.

Beautiful things rarely come cheap, and these shorts are certainly pretty on so many levels. They’re not as cheap as some shorts, but the difference in attributes justifies the mark-up.

You can wear these shorts throughout the year for other contact sports as well. Young athletes who steer clear from cups and other bulky protective gear, usually like wearing the Shock Doctor impact shorts. This is an added benefit we just had to underline!

These shorts are a good choice whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned athlete. They’re unique in their efficiency, fit, and comfort. They can also work well for other sports, so you wouldn’t store them away and use them on snow occasions only.

What makes them great:

  • Lean shorts with new ‘Shockskin’ tech for impact resistance
  • High protection of the groin area with ‘X-Fit Brief Cup Retention System’
  • Good fit without being too tight as it uses a ‘Relaxed Fit’ concept
  • Multiple protection layers
  • You can wear it under your clothes with ease
  • Optimal protection, comfort, and flexibility
  • Aesthetically pleasing design


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KUYOU 3D Padded Shorts (Best Value Padded Impact Shorts)

The KUYOU shorts have a combination of cushioning and padding to offer protection along with comfort.

The sturdy padding focuses entriely on the tail-bone and backside. It surrounds the glutes and the front of the thigh, where bumps are more likely to take place. There’s a strip between the padding to allow for free movement.

The comfort aspects of these shorts get high marks from us. They’ll keep you warm, the fabric gives sufficient ventilation, and they would take the shape of your body.

The sizing starts from XS to XL, which is a wide selection. Just make sure to get your measurements right and match it with their size-chart.

Occasionally, the shorts tend to be made a little bigger so you might want to go for a smaller size. Padded shorts are optimal when they fit snugly, so this point carries some weight.

The waistline of these shorts is also a bit high. If you have a small stature, or you’re used to low-cut garments, you might want to reconsider this one.

All-in-all, the KUYOU shorts are budget-buy that’ll keep the fall bruises at bay and let you enjoy your favorite sport comfortably. They’re also great for beginners, who usually go through a lot of falls till they get their correct balance.

What makes them great:

  • Heat insulation and good ventilation
  • Waistline elasticity plus adjustable width for a snug fit
  • Easy to wear and take off because of the adjustable waist
  • Cleaning is no hassle, as you can hand-wash it regularly
  • Affordable and budget-friendly price


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Soared 3D Padded IMPACT ShortS

These padded shorts come with a unique corrugated foam pattern on the pads. This gives maximum protection while maintaining flexibility and a wide range of motion.

This design comes with remarkable biomechanics, and the nest result is better safety and unrestricted high-impact sports.

The padding goes around the thighs to minimize their constant bruising up to the hip-joint. It continues its protection and lines the glutes area and the bottom parts. These are the fundamentals and they are nicely covered.

Sizing is a big deal for this brand, and they generously include everyone. You can get a double-X small for a child till a triple-X large for a well-built adult. You might want to double-check the sizing chart to get the best fit.

The price-point of these padded shorts hovers a little bit above the mid-range, but it’s a justifiable price for this prime quality gear.

What makes them great:

  • 1.5-cm EVA padding in the right places
  • The accurate and accommodating sizes
  • Mesh vent strap in the front for good ventilation and staying fresh
  • The waist is adjustable to have a form-fitting and comfortable attire
  • It comes with a convenient storage bag


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Triple Eight T8 Bumsaver

Triple Eight has been in the sports business for the past 15 years, and they know by now what works and what doesn’t. In these shorts, they certainly concentrate on what matters.

The padding targets the vulnerable spots on the lumbar region near the bottom, beside the hip joint, and around the thighs. These are the areas that get the most bruising and bumping, and this is where the foam ‘Bumsaver’ offers optimal protection.

The EVA padding is adequate but light, so you can wear these shorts under your outfit. They’re not too bulky, and the material is comfortable as a base clothing layer.

It’s moderately priced, which is typical from Triple Eight, who often pack up value with fair pricing.

What makes them great:

  • Body-hugging material so it doesn’t need further adjusting
  • Airy mesh fabric to ward-off perspiration and humidity
  • Gentle on the skin, which is essential during high-intensity sports to avoid chafing
  • The pads can be removed to facilitate cleaning and washing


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Tortoise Pads T2 Padded Impact Shorts

There’s a lovely story behind the conception of these shorts. Keith Jacobson, the founder of Tortoise pads felt that he needed to spend more time with his 12-year-old son, and decided that the best thing was to skateboard with him. But here’s the catch; Jacobson was 55 at the time, and he’d never been on a skateboard before.

Learning was easy, but falling wasn’t, especially at that age. Jacobson used his expertise as a material science engineer to develop premium quality padded shorts. The rest of the story leads to our review today of the T2 padded shorts.

The padding system is different from the ones we saw before. The pads have variable densities to give more protection in the areas more prone to impact. They also have a sliding action that seems to follow your movements for better mobility.

The sizes of these shorts are classified into two categories for the young and adult athletes. The youth sizes start from XS to L, and the adult sizes go from S to XXL. There’s a size guide including how to get your measurements right, try to follow the correct procedure to make sure the shorts fit you well.

The price point here rises well over the mid-range, but we already know that this is a high-end product with innovative design and above-average materials.

These shorts are for all ages and all skill levels. They’re designed for high intensity and contact sports. You’ll get significant protection for snow sports without feeling restricted or uncomfortable.

What makes them great:

  • Wide high-strength cushions cover the rear end
  • variable-density EVA pads provide optimal protection
  • Multi-layering of the pads offers higher flexibility
  • Designed and made in the USA
  • Broad selection of youth and adult sizes


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Silver Lining Padded Impact Shorts

Some women and girls wouldn’t be caught dead with some of the massive and bulky padded shorts. Looks are important, and that’s why the Silver Lining shorts are popular among ladies.

The padding follows the curves of the body meticulously, so it doesn’t spoil the natural image of the body. You can wear it as an undergarment or a short, and to add more convenience, there’s a beige alternative you can wear with white or tan outfits.

The padding is compact to give a more subtle appearance, but at the same time, it offers high protection especially to the backside and the hips.

These shorts are closer to the high-end than the mid-range when it comes to pricing. They do serve a good cause though, and many ladies are thankful for the nice contouring and subtle padding.

What makes them great:

  • Suitable for woman
  • Streamlined design flows with the natural curves of the body
  • Wide coverage of vulnerable areas
  • Compact padding offers more protection and less bulk
  • Comes in child and adult sizes to provide several fitting choices
  • There’s a beige variety for lighter outfits
  • Can be used as an undergarment


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Guide 3D Hip Padded Shorts

The design of this padding follows the distribution we often see in snowboarding shorts. The padding size, shape, and configuration is pretty good, but what stands out loud and clear is the price.

These shorts are quite affordable without taking out much from their overall quality. They might not live forever, but they’re good for a season’s fun times. Older people who should avoid falls at all costs find these shorts useful as well.

If you feel uncomfortable with tightfitting shorts, you might want to go one size up. The sizing chart occasionally errs on the side of tighter.

Buy these shorts if you’re a beginner or prefer moderate-intensity snow sports, and you don’t want to break the bank for the season’s leisurely activities. You can also use them in other sports or in daily activities.

What makes them great:

  • Budget-friendly price
  • Versatile usage
  • Breathable material for freshness and good ventilation
  • Handwashing is sufficient to spruce it up
  • Protection of the higher risk body parts
  • Adjustable waist for a snug fit
  • Comes with a convenient storage bag


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TUOY Padded Compression Shorts

The Honeycomb padding is the highlight of these shorts. It’s economic and targets the more sensitive spots exclusively. This, along with the hexagonal patterns, provides optimal protection and flexibility.

It’s easy to wear under an outfit, as the padding shows minimal bulk, and also because its fabric is airy, so it wouldn’t trap perspiration close to your skin.

It’s made from a highly elastic and soft material with about 90% polyester mix and 10% spandex. This is a cocktail for comfort and snug fit.

The available sizes range from Small to triple extra-large. This includes a wide variety of ages and body structures, and it accommodates both genders.

What makes them great:

  • Honeycomb patterned padding for protection and flexibility
  • Easily wearable as a base layer under an outfit
  • Wide range of sizes
  • Breathable well-aerated material
  • High elasticity to wrap around the shape of the body
  • Versatile shorts suitable for various contact and high-intensity sports


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TOMSHOO Hip Protection Shorts

Comfort is a top priority for these padded shorts. The material is carefully selected to avoid skin irritation or chafing, even with prolonged sessions of intense movement. The waist is made from an adjustable velcro strip to facilitate wearing and taking it off, and also to optimize the fit.

To contribute more to overall comfort; several mesh strips maintain the dryness of your body even after hours of activity.

The EVA sturdy padding is clustered around the vulnerable areas only, leaving an ample range of elastic material for free movement.

The price is another nice attribute of the TOMSHOO shorts. It’s among the budget-friendly models, and that’s always a plus.

What makes them great:

  • Comfortable material that’s easy on the skin
  • Adjustable velcro waistband for a better fit
  • Breathable fabric and mesh strips allow good ventilation
  • Clustered padding leaves higher degrees of freedom for movement
  • Moderate price makes these shorts an appealing product


Read Buyer Feedback >>

Why Do You Need Padded Shorts for Skiing
or Snowboarding?

Skiing and snowboarding injuries aren’t a rare occurrence in snow sports. They’re frequent to the point that several studies are exploring their causes, means of prevention, and rehabilitation methods.

The most common type of injuries in both skiing and snowboarding is in the upper body parts. The wrist takes the most impact, followed by the elbow and the shoulder.

Here’s an interesting fact: even though injuries of the rear end and hips are much lower on the injury list, wearing protective gear like padded shorts decreases the occurrence of injuries in upper extremities.

That’s probably because of the way people react as they take a fall. Without the padded shorts, they usually try to stop the impact by using their hands, which is hardly sufficient to dissipate the shock of the fall, and that’s why we see broken wrists at the top of the list. Wearing guards for your wrists will mitigate at least some of these injuries.

Falls are quite frequent, and females get the most hits, especially the ones just starting out in snowboarding or skiing. This adds to the importance of wearing padded shorts for the ladies.

Older people are at a higher risk of bone fracturing and joint displacement, but that shouldn’t be a reason to stay away from the slopes. Wearing protective gear like padded shorts allows them to join the festivities of the season without the worries or bruises.

How to Choose Padded Impact Shorts?

Here are the fundamentals of choosing the right padded shorts. If you can get most of these features in your new purchase, that would be great.

Protection

That’s the whole point from wearing these odd-looking garments. You might as well get the full benefit of it.

The size of the padding is often a good indication of its cushioning capability, but that’s not an absolute rule. Think of it like your bag that carries your board or skis, the more padding the bag has, the more protection is offered to your gear. Some paddings are compact or have variable density. These offer the same amount of protection or even more, with thinner layers of foam.

The location of padding is also important. Most fall injuries harm the tail-bone, but the hip joint, lumbar region, and groin are also susceptible to hits and bruises. The correct distribution of EVA foam pads minimizes these inconveniences and limits the intensity of impact.

Theoretically speaking, fully padded shorts are better, as they cover larger areas. This is not done as it would restrict movement severely, and the shorts would weigh much more. There’s a balance between protection and flexibility.

Comfort

The material of the shorts should be soft on the skin, as there’s plenty of friction during high-intensity sports, and it needn’t cause rubbing or chafing.

Having ill-fitting shorts would be like having boots that rub, it would definitely ruin your day.

It should also be breathable and capable of wicking moisture away from the body. Effective ventilation keeps your body dry and fresh throughout your exercise.

Fit

Loosely fitting padded shorts aren’t effective in protecting the various body parts. They move about and end up lining up the wrong places.

On the other hand, extra tight garments are restrictive and cause unnecessary compression.

Good fit starts with understanding the shape of your body and then following the manufacturer’s size chart. Some products tend to be larger or smaller, so you can go want size up or down for shorts that match your figure.

Durability

Padded shorts are mostly pricey gear, and you shouldn’t need to buy a pair each season. High durability means that they would stand the wear and tear of your sport, maintain their flexibility, and remain unaltered after washing.

It’s not easy to tell if a pair of shorts would be durable by just looking at it. However, certain brands have a long track record of premium quality gear. This is a good reason to expect a satisfactory performance from such products.

Aesthetics

There’s a lot of value in visually pleasing design. Humans generally like good-looking, well designed things.

Good aesthetics also includes padding that doesn’t make us look weird wearing it. These shorts are often used as an undergarment, and the best ones are discrete or at least subtle.

Frequently asked questions

Most of the padded shorts we know of will be damaged by machine-washing. Dry-cleaning is often a safer bet, and some of them can be hand-washed and left to dry out in the air.

Padded shorts manufacturers didn’t seem to see the point to that, so we haven’t seen any that came with any zippers at all.

Most padded shorts are good for both genders. Some shorts come with a brief-cup, but it’s often removable. Others are a bit biased towards the feminine contours; however, they’d readily fit a male body.

Wrap Up

Snowboarding and skiing along the slopes is such fun, but it’s always associated with nasty falls. There are two ways to take a fall: if you’re not protected, a fall hits you hard and you get back to the cabin. Alternatively, you could come prepared. So if you fall on your padded bum, then you’ll shake off the snow, laugh about it, and go on having fun.

For the reasons mentioned above we feel that the Bodyprox Padded Shorts comes out on top along with the Shock Doctor Shorts. You may prefer one of the others, each have their own qualities that may attract you.

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