A cheap source of safety gear

[Odiwan]

Hi all, this is my first post on this forum (second on the fish), and I would like to share a great source of extremely cheap safety gear... Op shops! (well, in Australia that is what we call them (op for opportunity), ie: charity stores.
I live in a small town, and the first 2 didn't have anything, but the third (and last) I scored a sets of wrist, knee and shin pads for $4 total!
The wrist guards were (I believe) an old set of rollerblading guards, and the knee and shin pads were from a sports set, me thinks (okay, I REALLY don't think that I will need shin pads, but at a dollar a set I figured I may as well).
Anyway, as I have started gaining confidence, and my speed down hills is increasing, I figured that it was about time to get some sort of protective stuff. So, until I can afford the real deal I feel a bit safer. Besides if I am sliding fast across bitumen, I don't think that I will be thinking "I would look cooler now, if these weren't old rollerblading wrist guards" I think that I will be happy to have an intact wrist!

[Staticage]

I'll second that one. I've gotten alot of my pads from local thrift shops and sometimes youll find some pretty good equipment for like $1 id say its worth spending a few minutes to check em out especially when you dont have mounds of cash to throw away.

[xedell]

I've gotten a complete sliding/pool setup that is ancient but works great and it came with indies that are prime condition all for $5
i love thrift shops!

[Firefox777]

I have gotten complete set of Quality safety gear (knee,elbow,wrist) at play it again sports, in the hocky gear section for $12. (only New helmets for me though)