Shin pad buying help please. Pretty long post

[TWerner 0]

Hi,

I'm a new beginner about to take an adult learn to play course despite being 41. I played a little roller hockey years ago and want to be able to do stick and puck with my 7y/o son. I am also planning to join the D league.

I've got the required helmet, gloves, and elbow pads. But I need shin pads and the local shops are out of sizes 14 and 15 except for one pair of 14" Easton ST4's.

I'm a hair under 5' 9" and 150#. With my leg bent to 90 degrees, if I measure from the top of the skate cuff to my pre-patellar notch, it's 14". So almost 15" to the center of my patella.

The 14" Easton Pads seemed enormously wide, although I could strap them on fine. I do have longish, skinny calves, just a touch over 13" around.

I have a pair of 12" Jofa 2500 pads that still have the tags on them from 8 years ago. I think they were supposed to be for my wife but she never used them when we lived in Vermont. Those just touch the top of the tongue on my CCM Vector skates. It's a pretty tall tongue, and the sides of the boot cuff are 3 inches below the bottom of the shin pad. I can't imagine I'd need 15" pads given how huge the 14" eastons looked, but I don't really know. I will bring my skates to that shop today and try the pads on with them, but should the pads come below the top of the boot cuff?

Looking for some advice on what is my best option when ordering without being able to try something on. Also, is it possible I need 15" pads? The size charts say my height puts me in 14".

Trying to stay around $30-35, the online choices seem to be RBK 4K, Bauer Supreme 30's or Vapor XVIs, Mission Fuel 70s or 90s, and Sherwood 5030s. Or the Easton ST4's. But those flare way out to each side, and I didn't like them much.

Thanks,

Todd

[Globalz 1]

Hi,

I myself am 5'8 155 lbs and i am using 15'' shinpads but i put them over my skate tongue instead of under it.

i have taller friends using 14'' and that's because they put it under so just try some shin guards with them over the tongue and others under.

[althoma1 575]

The length you need depends on if you want to wear them under or over your tongues. Usually you use a shorter pad for under than over. The sizing can also vary by brand.

From your post it sounds like you want a slim/tapered shin pad that fits well under your tongue. If that's the case a 14" Bauer Supreme or Vapor pad sounds like what you're looking for.

I know you said your local shops were out of 14" and 15" shins...I'd recommend calling a few shops that may be a little further away to see if anyone locally has stock - that way you can get them right away and you'll be sure the size is right and you like the fit. You should also ask your local shops when they expect to have 14" shins in stock as they should be receiving the new models soon (they may arrive in store before any product you order on the internet).

You won't save much buying a cheaper pair of shin pads online once you factor in the shipping - there's usually only significant savings on top of the line closeout models from previous years - in fact on the low end models you may actually save money by buying locally. If no one has anything in stock and they aren't getting in stock soon then ordering a 14" supreme or vapor pad is probably your best bet as stated above.

[TWerner 0]

Thanks for the input. I called a couple of shops further away, and found one that definately has Easton and TPS pads in stock. They may have others in the back that aren't unpacked yet, but no Bauer yet. The store owner said the higher end Easton pads are slimmer than the ST4s. I didn't ask about the TPS.

Based on what you're saying, it's probably worth the time. Not very "green", burning the 6+ gallons of gas, but I'll just make sure I get everything I need on this one trip.

Thanks again,

Todd

[dangross 0]

Im the same height but about 165 and i have skinny calves as well and i LOVE my ccm vector 4's and their about 35 bucks! not much in the way of a wrap around pad but i got no complaints.

P.S. Im in a 14 over tongues and they sit just below my vapor 25 top eyelet.