I wanted to like the RIPPL Impact Shorts. Really. But the weird sizing and painfully slow shipping make them tough to recommend.
I wore them for normal resort laps, a couple of park sessions, chairlift sits and a few small falls. They’re not useless, but I wouldn’t buy them again.
That became even clearer once I compared them against the better impact shorts we’ve been testing.
Here’s what I found.
Full Review
RIPPL kept popping up in our feed and we figured it was time to see what the deal was.
We ordered a pair directly from their site and waited. And waited. By the time they finally landed, we were already dubious. But we still gave them a fair shot.
I wore them for a few days of regular riding – groomers, a couple park laps, and a handful of small drops – just to see how they actually felt under normal use. We’d actually just finished up testing a dozen other crash pants, so the timing was perfect.
Here’s our unfiltered thoughts.
1. Fit and Sizing
This is where things started to go sideways. We carefully sized according to RIPPL’s size chart – but the actual fit was weird. The waistband felt loose, while the padding sections were oddly tight and didn’t sit where they should. I had to pull them up super high.
I could have written this off as just my own weird proportions, but Jess had the same experience.
They weren’t unwearable, but they never felt properly dialled. With impact shorts, that matters. If the pads aren’t sitting where you actually hit the snow, they’re pretty pointless right?
2. Comfort
Not terrible, but not great either. They’re low profile, but I could feel the individual padding “lumps” every time I sat on the chairlift.. These didn’t break in much after a few laps either.
Compared to something like the Bodyprox, which pretty much disappears once you’re riding, these stayed very noticeable.
If you hate bulky protection, you might still prefer this style. I just didn’t find it especially comfortable.
3. Protection
The padding is fine for casual riding, but it falls short of the better shorts I tested.
The biggest issue is the tailbone area. That’s the bit I care about most, and it didn’t feel as reassuring as Demon, Triple Eight, or even some cheaper padded shorts. The foam has coverage, but it doesn’t feel especially dense or confidence-inspiring.
On smaller falls, it helped. I’m not saying it did nothing. But on harder landings, I could still feel more of the hit than I wanted.
4. Build Quality
Build quality was another question mark.
The stitching and fabric didn’t feel awful, but they didn’t feel premium either. After handling a lot of impact shorts back to back, these felt closer to the cheaper end of the pile than the price suggested.
The padding also didn’t feel as neatly integrated as the better options. It felt more like separate foam blocks sewn into stretchy shorts, rather than a properly thought-through protection system.
Maybe they’ll hold up fine for occasional use. But if I was riding every week, I wouldn’t be fully confident in them long term.
5. Shipping and Experience
This part really bugged us. The shipping was ridiculously slow and we got zero updates along the way. Tracking updated on the day it was delivered, but that was it.
There’s no “fast delivery” option either (at least not in America).
We paid for the only available option (6-9 days) and received it in around 2-weeks. By todays standards, that’s slow.
The package also appeared to come directly from China, which surprised me. That isn’t automatically a problem, but when delivery is slow and communication is thin, it doesn’t exactly build confidence.
This might not bother everyone, but it matters when there are other options that are easier to buy, easier to return and better once they arrive.
6. Pros & Cons
What Users Say
RIPPL’s own site has positive reviews, so clearly some people are happy with them.
But when I looked beyond their site, the feedback was much more mixed. The main complaints I found matched my experience: odd sizing, slow shipping and uncertainty around where the shorts were actually coming from.
I also saw people questioning whether similar-looking shorts were available elsewhere for much less money. I can’t verify every claim, so I’m not going to pretend I can. But combined with my own testing, it was enough to make me cautious.
That’s the main problem here. RIPPL might work for some riders, but the overall buying and testing experience didn’t give me much confidence.
Better Alternatives
If you want proper protection and can stretch the budget, I’d buy the Demon Flexforce instead. It’s bulkier and more expensive, but the padding feels miles more serious and it stays where it should.
If you want something cheap and easy to wear, I’d go Bodyprox. It isn’t as protective as Demon, but it’s more comfortable than RIPPL and much easier to recommend for casual riders.
That’s the awkward bit for RIPPL. It sits in the middle, but it doesn’t beat the budget option for comfort or the premium option for protection.
- Triple D3O + XRD padding for tailbone, hips, and butt
- TPS comfort system + extra plush foam
- Ventilated Lycra/mesh for breathability
- Extended lower back protection
- X-Connect compatible with Demon tops
Final Thoughts
RIPPL Impact Shorts aren’t the worst thing I tested, but I wouldn’t buy them again.
The fit felt odd, the padding never gave me much confidence and the whole buying experience – from shipping to sizing – left me disappointed.
Credit where it’s due though: RIPPL are absolutely killing it with their marketing and social media. That’s probably why so many people end up finding them.
Unfortunately, the product itself didn’t live up to the hype.
If you want serious protection, I’d spend more on the Demon Flexforce. If you just want something cheap, comfortable and easy to wear, I’d buy Bodyprox instead.
RIPPL sits awkwardly in the middle without really beating either.
Need more options?
Check out our crash-tested guide to the best snowboard impact shorts ↓
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