Pant Zippers

[All Torhs Team 0]

You know how some pants have the zippers under the thigh and others dont? Can you guys really tell a difference when skating with them zipped and un-zipped?

I took my Bauer 6000 and cut out all the material under there to give it the same features as a pant with zippers. Im not sure if I'm just acting dumb or if there really is a big difference. I think I moved faster the last couple times because there was no restriction.

Do you guys feel the same way?

[Alias81 0]

I used to do it but since I got a bunch of splinters in my leg from a churned up blade I decided not to do it, one of the main things for me was the added ventilation though thats one of the things I miss about it.

[Rustpot 1]

My Tacklas have zippers, but I've never thought of skating with them unzipped. I never really felt restricted, but the ventilation might be worth looking into, since playing the last few times I've been getting a bit overheated

[Slapshot25 0]

I've used both types of pants (zipperless and zippers) and I've never noticed any difference

[sc37 0]

No difference for me...then again I'm skinny so I don't really fill them out. But it does come in handy when I'm dressing and undressing.

[Monty22 835]

I've tried it both ways, and have not noticed a difference either, other than the inside of my thigh being exposed to stick blades.

[DangleDangleChamp 0]

Most places in the US and Canada that you play the ref's tell you to zip them up. I believe you may even be able to get a penalty for having them unzipped.

Chadd would know better than me about receiving a penalty for having them unzipped.

[usahockey22 0]

I always leave mine unzipped, it's just more comfortable...

[Tyler B 0]

ive never tried them un zipped... maby next practice ill try it out

[Wayne 0]

I'll venture a guess and say that many people who do it are way too concerned with how they look. Do you see any of the best players in the world play with their pants unz-ipped?

[chilaxin12 2]

I'll venture a guess and say that many people who do it are way too concerned with how they look. Do you see any of the best players in the world play with their pants unz-ipped?

Yea Mike Commodore skates with them wide open, a lot of other players pro, minor, prep, college, it vents a lot better.

[Wayne 0]

I'll stick with my earlier post about aesthetics...

[asdfa 0]

i do notice a difference but only when the pants are new-ish. once they get worn in there is no difference except for the fact that opened zippers are cooler. all hockey leagues in Toronto require zippers closed though

[LkptTiger 1]

There is a drastic increase in the mobility/comfort of my 8Ks when left un-zipped. I've played all over the northeast, as well as across the majority of the northern states without an issue. Everytime single time I've played in Canada, though, I've been told to zip 'em up. Left to their own devises, they un-zip themselves, which means I usually have to tape the zippers in place.

[gtoddh 0]

I'll venture a guess and say that many people who do it are way too concerned with how they look. Do you see any of the best players in the world play with their pants unz-ipped?

Yea Mike Commodore skates with them wide open, a lot of other players pro, minor, prep, college, it vents a lot better.

He said "best" players in the world. I'm a 'Canes fan, and like Commodore, but he's no Lidstrom, Pronger, or Neidermeyer. I personally think Commodore looks ridiculous with his pants wide open like that.

I like the convenience of having the zippers. It allows me to put my pants on over my skates and shins. I zip them up for playing. I haven't ever considered playing with them open.

[indaslot 0]

In Quebec you would definately get a penalty for torn pants and probably be expelled from the game.

[duch 0]

The original idea of putting zippers in the pant leg was to allow players who like to put on their skates before they put on their hockey pants, a little room to put their skates though, without cutting the crap out of their pant legs. A lot of guys like to leave them undone for mobility and better aeration purposes and to me that's just fine. Myself I don't find its a big difference however I am very big on protection and for myself I prefer to leave the pant legs zipped up. I figure if you have mobility problems you either buy a bigger size pant or switch to another brand. I myself use a European fit pant with the double panel thigh guard. We are not supposed to solicate brand names on this thread so all I can say it's one of the two major European brands, so you figure out the brand I wear. Either way I figure it's best to use the pants the way they are intended but everyone is different so that's just my opinion.

[DamnLocust 0]

He said "best" players in the world. I'm a 'Canes fan, and like Commodore, but he's no Lidstrom, Pronger, or Neidermeyer. I personally think Commodore looks ridiculous with his pants wide open like that.

Sure, Commodore's not winning a norris anytime soon, but he's still playing at the highest level of hockey available, and has a stanley cup ring on his finger. something that can't be said for most of us.

Like everything else, it all comes down to PP.

[gtoddh 0]

Sure, Commodore's not winning a norris anytime soon, but he's still playing at the highest level of hockey available, and has a stanley cup ring on his finger.

True. Not a very big percentage of hockey players can make that claim.

Does anyone know if Commodore wore his pants like that in Calgary or NJ?

[srv2miker 0]

Wore my pants un-zipped today because I have new shins and they kept getting caught on the bottom-hem of the pants. I honestly noticed very little difference.

[trevor13478 1]

Wore my pants un-zipped today because I have new shins and they kept getting caught on the bottom-hem of the pants. I honestly noticed very little difference.

thats exactly why i started skating unzipped. my rbk 6k shins kept getting caught on my 652 pants. i haven't had the problem since, i love the ventalation as well. however, the velcro at the end of the zipper to keep them from unzipping while playing keeps sticking to my socks and making the pants stick way out to the side, that can easily be solved by cutting the velcro tabs off though. i just keep forgeting.

[mills 0]

Wore my pants un-zipped today because I have new shins and they kept getting caught on the bottom-hem of the pants. I honestly noticed very little difference.

thats exactly why i started skating unzipped. my rbk 6k shins kept getting caught on my 652 pants. i haven't had the problem since, i love the ventalation as well. however, the velcro at the end of the zipper to keep them from unzipping while playing keeps sticking to my socks and making the pants stick way out to the side, that can easily be solved by cutting the velcro tabs off though. i just keep forgeting.

I just wrapped a little tape around the velcro part the was getting stuck to my spants.

[Chadd 916]

I laugh at the people who complain about the restriction of having their pants zippered. How weak do you have to be to have to be for loose fitting hockey pants to be restrictive?

[chk hrd 164]

I took a nasty shot to the inside of my thigh because my velcro didn't stick and my zipper went up. If the zipper was down the padding in the pants wouldn't have shifted. Since then I put snaps on the pants and keep them zipped.

Plus I think you look like a dolt with your pant legs flopping around. If you need the extra space for movement buy bigger pants or get your legs stronger.