Fitting Shin Guards
By Tyler Hinds; lover of the shin pad breakaway goal (@THinds3)
Sticks, pucks, and the ice are constantly ricocheting off your shin pads. This vital piece of protective equipment could be the difference between a blocked shot for a breakaway or lying on the ice in agony with a bruised/broken leg. Below is the buyer’s guide to getting properly fitting shin pads.
Key Points
ProTip - When shopping for new shin pads, bring your current skates and hockey pants to ensure that everything connects well while offering maximum protection with plenty of mobility
- Knee Cap - The knee should fit comfortably into the knee pocket of the shin pad
- Top - Shin pad should overlap slightly with the hockey pants
- Drop down on your knees wearing both the pants and shins pads and stand tall. This test is to make sure that there is hardly any gap between the hockey pants and the shin pads
- Base - Shin pads should drop down to the top of your skate laces so there isn’t a gap in the padding
- Players that chose to wear the tongues of their skates outside of their shin pads will most likely prefer a slightly shorter shin pad so there isn’t as much pressure on the laces which can result in a nasty case of lace bite
- Players that chose to wear their tongues of their skates under their shin pads can get away with a slightly longer shin pad which may offer more protection and less likelihood of developing lace bite
- It is best to buy a shin pad that offers excellent protection on to the back of the leg to avoid bruising or injury to the calf
- Shin pads without any straps and must be secured with clear tape overtop of your hockey sock
- Shin pads with one or two straps that wrap around the back of your calf and secure the shin pad in place. Tape may still be necessary if the player likes the additional tension.
Style
What’s your style, tongues in or tongues out?
Brands & Sizes
|
CCM Shin Guard Sizing Chart |
||
|
Youth |
||
|
Size |
Height (in.) |
Height (cm) |
|
8” / 20cm |
3’4”-3’8” |
100-110 |
|
9” / 23cm |
3’8”-4’0” |
110-120 |
|
10” / 25cm |
4’0”-4’4” |
120-130 |
|
Junior |
||
|
Size |
Height (in.) |
Height (cm) |
|
11” / 28cm |
4’4”-4’8” |
130-140 |
|
12” / 30cm |
4’8”-5’0” |
140-150 |
|
13” / 33cm |
5’0”-5’4” |
150-160 |
|
Senior |
||
|
Size |
Height (in.) |
Height (cm) |
|
14” / 36cm |
5’4”-5’8” |
162-172 |
|
15” / 38cm |
5’8”-6’0” |
172-183 |
|
16” / 41cm |
6’0”-6’4” |
183-193 |
|
Bauer Shin Guard Sizing Chart |
||
|
Youth |
||
|
Size |
Age |
Height (in.) |
|
7” |
4-7 |
3’3”-4’1” |
|
8” |
5-8 |
3’7”-4’4” |
|
9” |
6-9 |
3’9”-4’7” |
|
Junior |
||
|
Size |
Age |
Height (in.) |
|
10” |
8-11 |
4’3”-4’8” |
|
11” |
9-12 |
4’7”-5’0” |
|
12” |
11-14 |
4’11”-5’4” |
|
Senior |
||
|
Size |
Age |
Height (in.) |
|
13” |
14+ |
5’5”-5’9” |
|
14” |
14+ |
5’7”-5’11” |
|
15” |
15+ |
5’9”-6’1” |
|
16” |
15+ |
5’11”-6’3” |
|
17” |
15+ |
6’1”-6’5” |
|
18” |
15+ |
6’3”+ |
|
Easton Shin Guard Sizing Chart |
||
|
Youth |
||
|
Size |
Age |
Height (in.) |
|
7” |
4-7 |
3’3”-4’1” |
|
8” |
5-8 |
3’6”-4’4” |
|
9” |
6-9 |
3’9”-4’7” |
|
Junior |
||
|
Size |
Age |
Height (in.) |
|
10” |
8-11 |
4’3”-4’10” |
|
11” |
9-12 |
4’5”-5’0” |
|
12” |
11-14 |
4’7”-5’4” |
|
Senior |
||
|
Size |
Age |
Height (in.) |
|
13” |
14+ |
5’5”-5’9” |
|
14” |
14+ |
5’7”-5’11” |
|
15” |
15+ |
5’9”-6’1” |
|
16” |
15+ |
5’11”-6’3” |
|
17” |
15+ |
6’1”+ |
|
Warrior Shin Guard Sizing Chart |
||
|
Youth |
||
|
Size |
Shin Size |
Knee to Ankle |
|
Small |
7” |
6-7” |
|
Medium |
8” |
7-8” |
|
Large |
9” |
8-9” |
|
Junior |
||
|
Size |
Shin Size |
Knee to Ankle |
|
Small |
10” |
9-11” |
|
Medium |
11” |
10-11” |
|
Large |
12” |
10-12” |
|
X-Large |
13” |
11-13” |
|
Senior |
||
|
Size |
Shin Size |
Knee to Ankle |
|
Small |
13” |
12-13” |
|
Medium |
14” |
13-14” |
|
Large |
15” |
14-15” |
|
X-Large |
16” |
15-16” |
|
XX-Large |
17” |
16-17” |
New to hockey? Checkout Fitting Hockey Pants before making your next purchase. Create your team for free to receive weekly divisional newsletters including a practice plan, skill video, animated drill, timely blog, & ProTip.