womens' (vs. mens') shoulder pads

[vectoranalysisgo 3]

I tried searching for this topic but didn't find much beyond a review here or there.. apologies if there's a better thread buried somewhere..

I'm in the market for new shoulder pads. I have been wearing the same old pads since I started two years ago, which were my brother's pads that he outgrew and are some old Bauer model that I don't even know off the top of my head as I sit here typing. I love that they are so light and fit close to my body but they're honestly no better than just taping a couple pieces of cardboard wrapped in pillowcases to my breasts. I haven't taken too many elbows or sticks to the chest but now that I'm playing in co-ed situations I'd like to make sure I'm not going to wreck my shoulders when I try to stand up to guys twice my size and inevitably end up on the ice or in the boards.

So- I've checked out some of the "womens" shoulder pads out there and have a few questions for any other ladies who either wear them, or have tried them and intentionally stuck with mens' pads: what would be the benefits (if any) of the womens' pads? What's the difference? The major point I can see in having them would be that some seem to be contoured to a woman's shape, including more room for the breasts, but I have a pretty small chest and with the girls held in place by a good sports bra, I don't have too much squishing going on to begin with, so I don't know how much that matters to me. I've also noticed that some seem to have separate pieces where the mens' chest pad is more a single unit.. I don't know which I'd prefer. Do womens' pads tend to have narrower shoulders? I wouldn't mind biceps pads that are a tad smaller. I've asked a few of the women I play with and a lot of their responses have been shrugged shoulders and a " it just fit, but I don't really know why I bought these particular pads" type of comment.. not too helpful.

Even though the pads I wear now aren't particularly protective, I like that they are not cumbersome and fit snugly- I'd like to find another model that offers me a little more protection but isn't much bulkier- any recommendations (womens' or mens') on that?

I don't have access to much selection to be trying them on, (otherwise I wouldn't bother asking here), so any input people might have about the pros/cons of buying womens' instead of men's pads would be much appreciated...

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Yes, they are smaller in the shoulder area/bicep and have the breast cups. Don't worry, it's not like the cups are deep - they're just contoured to fit, and the straps run underneath. When they are flat, what happens is that it rides up on a woman as it doesn't sit flat on their chest.

TPS makes a nice set of pads - very well padded and fully adjustable. Used to watch the guys try them on in the shop - and I'd come up to them and honk. They'd turn beet-red and rip them off as fast as they could.

[rtwng20 0]

don't know if this is a possible option for you but you might want to check out the farrell sp's. they are still men's pads but seem to have more than adaquate protection in the chest area.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Will have the same problem.

[qmechanic 17]

I'm a woman and I use the TPS 808 women's shoulder pads, which I bought in 2002. I don't know the details of how women's shoulder pads differ from men's shoulder pads, but when I tried on various shoulder pads in the store, the women's pads fit best. My teammate who was shopping at the same time also ended up getting the TPS women's pad.

I have a pretty flat chest but wider than normal shoulders for a woman. Before the TPS pads, I used a boy's shoulder pad which worked fine, but I think the women's pad fit me better due to the reduced shoulder width. The contouring in the chest area isn't a big deal for me.

I play on a women's hockey team and many of the women use some form of TPS women's shoulder pads. One woman uses an Itech women's shoulder pad. Another woman uses the Farrell pad which is really light and not bulky. She's pretty small and flat chested like me. I asked her about the pads and she likes it.

Hope this helps!

[MsConduct55 0]

I wore a pair of women's shoulders for a bit. I think they were an older pair of TPS 808s. They were the second pair of shoulders I tried. I ended up going to something else (my Bauer Supreme 50s). Part of my issue, which wouldn't be the same as yours, I actually have bigger shoulders than some women, from weightlifting. I do have a couple of teammates' on my women's team that love their Itech SPW66s. The rest of our roster (20+) wears men's and some juniors.

Btw, my LHS doesn't carry women's shoulders, last I checked. I bought my shoulders at a LHS in which I just tried which ones felt right to me. I've taken a couple slapshots to the chest (co-ed novice league). I recommend trying on different brands and if you get a chance try on the womens (even if it is from a teammate).

[Cove 39]

Womans Itech Chest protector on HM

[vectoranalysisgo 3]

Thanks- this has been pretty helpful. The thing about the shoulders is iffy for me because I, too, actually have pretty broad shoulders for my frame, partly genetics and partly from weightlifting.. but I gather I am still not as broad across the shoulders as a man with the same general size as me. That'll probably just be something I'll have to feel out when I try some on. I'm glad to hear the contoured chest isn't a major factor.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

I used to have an employee who was petite but wasn't flat-chested by a long shot. We were trying to get her in a set of pads and she was looking at the SW 5030s but the face of the pad pretty much went out at a 45 degree angle. What we ended up doing was putting her in a set of CCM 92s and adjusting the velcro tabs to make sure it attached under her chest.