Aspects herein relate to a shoulder-pad system that may be used to attenuate impact in various contexts. The shoulder-pad system may have a number of subcomponents, which may include an impact-plate assembly, an impact-attenuation sub-layer, a base-layer garment, and a securing garment, among others. The shoulder-pad system may be described as modular, in that the various subcomponents may be added to, and/or removed from the system when it is desirable to do so.