How do I know if the pads are positioned correctly on my hips?

The pads should cover the greater trochanter—the bony prominence you can feel on the upper outside of each thigh, roughly at the level of your hip joint crease. When wearing the shorts, press on the pad and you should feel the bony point underneath it. If the pad sits above or inside this point, the sizing or gender fit is wrong. Test pad position in a skiing stance (knees bent, slightly forward lean) since your body position changes when skiing. If pads shift off the greater trochanter when you move, the shorts don't fit correctly.