Hockey Girdle protection

[pavie17 0]

Hey guys,

I read here all the time but rarely post, but I was wondering, I've been using the protective girdles for a few years now and the mobility has been second to none, which is why I haven't gone back to traditional pants. I had the Bauer Vapor MBP8 and then picked up a One90 girdle, but I need to pick up a new one. I play college D3 which is decently competitive, lots of hitting though and I'm a finesse player that relies on speed mostly because I'm 6'1 but only 165 so I don't have a lot on my hips to protect me from hits, which sometimes hurt like crazy when I get hit exactly on my hip bone into the boards, so I was wondering, if I still stuck with the girdle, how would you rate the protection factor on the One90 vs the CCM vs. the Easton ones? Thanks in advance.

[Chadd 916]

No girdle is going to protect significantly better than what you already have. Time to move on to pants.

[MLSman 22]

I have to agree with Chadd. I wear both the One90 and the old Bauer MBP girdles, but I am not playing any full contact hockey at my age. The fact is that pants have overall better protection and should be the choice of anyone playing full contact at D III. I like the 8K pants for their girdle like construction, but can be a bit heavy. Any Tackla 5000, CCM, or Easton pro stock would be ideal. I also like the 9000 ACS (Canadian...not Indonesian) for their fit as well. They all have excellent protection.

[shooter27 117]

The fact is that pants have overall better protection and should be the choice of anyone playing full contact at D III.

I played 4 years at the D III level wearing a Bauer MBP girdle the entire time and loved it for the mobility it gave me. I was certainly anything but a finesse player (6'3" 220) and I thought they gave me plenty of protection.

[Chadd 916]

The fact is that pants have overall better protection and should be the choice of anyone playing full contact at D III.

I played 4 years at the D III level wearing a Bauer MBP girdle the entire time and loved it for the mobility it gave me. I was certainly anything but a finesse player (6'3" 220) and I thought they gave me plenty of protection.

You have 50+ pounds on the guy posing the question, that makes a difference. There are also guys in the NHL who wear girdles, but those are guys who throw hits, not the guys who take them.

[GekigangarIII 0]

What Chadd said. I don't know how, but somehow everything that hit me managed to find the gaps on the girdle. It's great for no contact leagues but for hits you need to pick up some pants for sure, for your lower back alone I'd think.

[pavie17 0]

ehhh, it's been absolutely great for me because most of the times I'm not getting hit because I can avoid a lot of hits or pass quickly. I go into traffic and into the corners, but the only time I have issues with the protection is when I get hit hip on hip by someone else into the boards. It does kill if you bust your ass when you're hit in a girdle but I can't remember the last time I fell backwards during a hockey game lol. I wore tackla pants before and they were awesome, but the girdle gives me such great mobility and quickness as well as range of motion, that usually I'm not taking hits full on. I'm thinking of sticking with the One90 girdle, but having a new one so the pads don't sag or slip down, as with the newer ones they're tighter and stay in place. Thanks a lot for the responses.

[Chadd 916]

Pants/girdle have nothing to do with getting hit or not getting hit. If you can avoid a hit in a girdle, you can avoid a hit in pants as well. The only way pants negatively impact mobility are if they're too small or absurdly heavy. Even a mid-level pair of pants are more protective than a girdle and are often just as light.

[GekigangarIII 0]

"Meh, why would I wear a visor or a cage? The visibility without one is so much better that I can avoid most hits/objects."

- Old one-eye

[TBLfan 25]

I'd go with something like a one90 pant, it's mobile that you'll like and it's got beefed up padding. The pants arent bulletproof but they might be just be enough to save you on some of those hits.

[pavie17 0]

Pants/girdle have nothing to do with getting hit or not getting hit. If you can avoid a hit in a girdle, you can avoid a hit in pants as well. The only way pants negatively impact mobility are if they're too small or absurdly heavy. Even a mid-level pair of pants are more protective than a girdle and are often just as light.

I see. The last time I wore pants was back when they weren't making them so form fitting for players, about 5 years ago or so and the only sizes available were massive bulky ones with no adjustable quad protection. Nowadays there are so many adjustments on pants and the mobility and protection and weight have improved so much so I really have no idea where to start. I'll check out the One90 pants and some others as well.

[Chadd 916]

Pants/girdle have nothing to do with getting hit or not getting hit. If you can avoid a hit in a girdle, you can avoid a hit in pants as well. The only way pants negatively impact mobility are if they're too small or absurdly heavy. Even a mid-level pair of pants are more protective than a girdle and are often just as light.

I see. The last time I wore pants were back when they weren't making them so form fitting for players and the only sizes available were massive bulky ones with no adjustable quad protection. Nowadays there are so many adjustments on pants and the mobility and protection and weight have improved so much so I really have no idea where to start. I'll check out the One90 pants and some others as well.

As long as the pant has a split thigh pad, you shouldn't feel any hinderance to your mobility. The one thing I do see on a regular basis is guys wearing their pants too low and that can cause fit problems.

[TBLfan 25]

Let me add the Missions(what ever series they have) and the S9 offering from Easton. Vapor is also nice.

I wouldn't bother with CCM, you might want to take a look at mid level RBK.

[rtwng20 0]

here is a totally different idea, I had used one while trying to heal a deep hip bruise. get yourself a football girdle and wear it under your bauer girdle. they are light weight and you can even cut the pads to add protection only where you need it. give it a try, under armour makes a good one, it fits snugly and also helps keep you cool.

[sabuonez 1]

Just thought I'd throw my two-cents out there...I find the Tackla girdle to be more protective than the Bauer ones. If you'd rather stick with a girdle, I think they might give you enough protection for checking....adding some muscle weight wouldn't hurt either though.

However....if you really want to go with pants, I'd again go with any Tackla.

[fatwabbit 93]

Dont think pants are very restrictive... only played inline and was one of the first guys around (circa '99-'00) to start wearing ice hockey pants. The ground we played on was pretty abrasive, but lets say the pants did its job.

As the years went by, I got a mission matrix girdle, some bauer 6000 ice pants, and now another mission matrix girdle. I've been hit, and given hits unintentionally, and the pads have done their job. I wouldnt skimp on any protective equipment these days.