I’m 51 who does not engage in high-speed downhill or take big risks. That said, I wear knee/shin pads and elbow pads on every ride. They have saved me in in numerous low speed crashes over the years. Most of the riders in our group of 10+ guys wear some sort of padding.
I have Fox Launch hardshell pads which aren’t made anymore. They can be warm but are perfect for the rocky New England trails. I have yet to find a similar style pad to replace them.
We do have riders in our group that wear the G-Form soft pads which are cooler and they haven’t had any issues with tearing from impact with rocks.