Help me choose new shins and girdle

[s4gobabygo 0]

i need to replace my shinguards and girdle, but am having a lot of trouble finding replacements. first i tried finding new old stock for both, but haven't had any luck. i play in a non-check adult league, so minimal protection is all i need. open to any/all brands and models, and i don't mind spending if i have to, but generally i tend to like the basic stuff... any time i buy really advanced protective gear i end up cutting off all the extra padding anyway. hopefully y'all can suggest some products i may like?

Shinguards: i'm currently using reebok 3K shins size 15" from about 2007. they're very low-profile from top to bottom, and can be worn without tape. i bought the current 3K model as well as the 6K model, but they're both enormous in comparison... very bulky and way more wrap-around coverage than i need.

Girdle: i'm currently using a CCM Pro Girdle size small. i like it because it opens completely, so i can put it on after my skates, and it's also really minimalistic (especially after i removed the extra white hip pads you see in the image, so that the only hard pads are on the front and side of the thigh and the tail bone piece... the rest is soft). i don't mind if i have to hack my new girdle apart to result in what i want, but i'm basicall looking for a girdle with the minimum protection, or with extra pads than can be easily removed/cut off.

[iceholes 0]

I used the ccm but moved to a Tackla. CCM was long in back on me was all.... Tacklas was super comfortable and light and the fit was great. No movement on ice and although light, was very protective when needed... including the tailbone, which many girdles fall short... but its equipment and its personal and thats what worked for me... hope you can try em on!

cheers

[pittu 15]

I agree with that Icehole on the Tackla girdle. I picked up a TP4500 and it is light, not too restrictive and protective enough for beer league...did I mention its light :)

Im in the same boat as you on the shins. I'm liking the Vapor series for lightness and non bulky, but havent made up my mind yet.

[s4gobabygo 0]

thanks. i should have mentioned that i tried on everything in the 3 local shops in my sizes and found the same thing... everything seems really bulky! have they really changed that much in the last few years? i'm going to take a trip to the NJ hockey monkey shop in a while. i'm hoping i can have some models in mind before i go, so i can call ahead to see if they're in stock. it's quite a long drive, but obviously i'd really prefer to try the stuff on first.

[AIREAYE 248]

Regarding the shins; if you want something basic and not as bulky, definitely start with the Bauer Vapor series. The X:20 and 30 SGs should fit the bill. If not, then take a look at the Warrior Hitman pads; a middle of the pack guy.

[s4gobabygo 0]

this probably sounds like a stupid question, but with the tackla girdle, is there any soft padding in addition to the hard hip pads? basically if i removed the "pocketed" hip pads (and maybe some others), am i left with anything more than spandex? my ccm girdle has a nice (maybe 6mm) layer of spongy padding after the hard shell part is removed...

also, how good are the thigh pads in roller girdles? the thigh is really the only area where i'm looking for some decent protection. is that a viable option, or no?

[kklinder 0]

thanks. i should have mentioned that i tried on everything in the 3 local shops in my sizes and found the same thing... everything seems really bulky! have they really changed that much in the last few years? i'm going to take a trip to the NJ hockey monkey shop in a while. i'm hoping i can have some models in mind before i go, so i can call ahead to see if they're in stock. it's quite a long drive, but obviously i'd really prefer to try the stuff on first.

Definitely call ahead...the Monkey Sports store in NJ wasn't flush with girdles on my trip over the weekend. I wear a Tackla; my son wears a Warrior Projekt and likes it a lot.

[ironslave 2]

I own and really like this, have had zero problems with protection. I like the built in jock too.

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/hockeymonkey_2177_179263270

[s4gobabygo 0]

I own and really like this, have had zero problems with protection. I like the built in jock too. http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/hockeymonkey_2177_179263270

thanks for the input. i was looking at this roller girdle last night!

-have you taken any pucks in the thigh? is the padding thick/strong enough to deflect a puck? i'm not looking for a lot of coverage, but i don't want it to break if it gets hit with a puck.

-another concern is keeping my socks up... maybe i need to have my garter sewn onto the outside? it doesn;t seem like wearing a garter under this would work well, since it's a compression short. how do you deal with this?

[nickyb13 9]

Since its a compression fit you could always just wear your garter on the outside of it if you didn't want to mess with sewing it on... I am also looking at that girdle and my girlfriend said it would be pretty easy to sew some velcro taps on it

[ironslave 2]

thanks for the input. i was looking at this roller girdle last night!

-have you taken any pucks in the thigh? is the padding thick/strong enough to deflect a puck? i'm not looking for a lot of coverage, but i don't want it to break if it gets hit with a puck.

-another concern is keeping my socks up... maybe i need to have my garter sewn onto the outside? it doesn;t seem like wearing a garter under this would work well, since it's a compression short. how do you deal with this?

Yes I have, it's fine. Though like yourself, I play in an adult non-contact league. The caliber of play is pretty mixed, some good players, some not so good players, and most in between. Point of that is I haven't been hit by a 100mph blast to the thighs, but I have been hit there by incidental shots, and it's okay. I am a forward as well though, so it's not often that I get hit with a puck on shots anyways.

The padding is definitely not very thick, and it is less padding than even traditional hockey girdles with a few areas with no protection, but unless you are blocking a lot of shots by people who can blast the puck, it should be good for you. I further just tried it on, and hit myself on the thigh with a shaft... I can feel it, but the padding absorbs a lot of it.

The biggest thing I looked for in a girdle was being as minimalistic as possible, yet good hip protection if I am incidentally tripped by a defender was a bigger concern for me, and this one fit the bill. I've used it for a year with zero problems, and I have had a few times of being tripped and well on my hip/tailbone and the protection is good.

I wear a garter belt underneath it and it works great. The fit is snug but it's not like wearing spandex. You can put the garter belt on first, and then the girdle, and wiggle the garter straps down and it's perfect.

Overall, it works great for me in my men's league. Would I wear it if I was still playing competitive hockey? Possibly, I'd consider it, as mobility is out of this world..... Would I wear it as a defender playing competitive? Probably not.... If I had a son playing, would I let him wear it playing competitive? Absolutely not, as there are some exposed areas.

I like the looks of Warrior's girdle as well, as it seems similar to this one but with a bit more padding and less exposed areas. If this was on the market when I bought a girdle, I would probably get this one as it seems pretty minimalistic as well.

http://ep.yimg.com/c...y_2177_77330018

[s4gobabygo 0]

ironslave: thanks a lot for the detailed review of your use of the roller girdle on ice! i have one more question... in the areas that you say offer no protection... is there any thickness to the girdle at all, or is it a very thin spandex or single-layer material? i'm not expecting any kind of impact protection, but my ccm girdle has a thin spongy padding throughout all the "unpadded" areas which helps take the edge off a hook/slash/lovetap.

all: also thanks to everyone for suggesting the projekt girdle... i'll definitely call ahead to be sure i can try on one of those as well... looks very similar to my CCM girdle before i modified it.

right now i'm hoping to try on the vapor 3 shins, the warrior projekt girdle, and the mission roller girdle. is there anything else i should be looking for? any suggestions are welcome, since it's a pretty long drive to get to the monkey sports store... i want to be sure i try on everything i can! does anyone have any more suggestions on the lightest & least bulky stuff out there?

[althoma1 575]

I used to wear a Mission Thorax Advantage girdle (basically the same as the one discussed, but orange instead of red) and it's light, very mobile and has enough protection for roller, but personally I'd want a bit more protection for ice (it has no spine guard at all and the thigh protection is a lot lower than you'd get with an ice girdle). For ice I use the Warrior Projekt - I feel like I'm fully protected, but the mobility is similar to that of the Thorax. The Projekt offers good spine, thigh and hip protection. It's obviously beefier than the roller girdle, but it's much lighter and more mobile than traditional hockey pants.

This summer I picked up a Valken V-Elite girdle - it's even lighter and more mobile than the Thorax, but unlike the thorax it doesn't have removable plastic pieces for protection. It does have some spine protection which the Thorax doesn't have. Again, I highly recommend the Valken V-Elite for roller, but would go with something like the Projekt for ice.

If you try on all three I think you'll find the V-Elite to be the lightest and most mobile, but the Projekt offers the best protection out of the three and still offers excellent mobility. The only issue I and others have had with the Projekt has been the belt being too short - that's an easy fix though. Before you try them on fully loosen or even undo the belt completely and keep in mind that you can use a longer belt instead of the stock belt.

As for the shin pads - I'd try on the Vapors and Warriors (Projekts, Hustlers ect. - I have the Projekts and really like them) for sure, but obviously you should try on as many as you can before making your final decision.

[ironslave 2]

s4gobabygo, as althoma1 mentioned, the protection is definitely lacking for ice, no question. There are areas where the protection is just the thin spandex, specifically in the groin/hip bone area.

I uploaded a picture comparing the Warrior to the Mission one, circled in blue are areas of the mission one without protection (along with the other areas in between the red pads, this just shows you though where my main area of concern is).

http://i56.tinypic.com/bg3blc.png

I would concur with althoma1 though, if I had my time back (and if these were on the market when I got a girdle) I would likely go with the Warrior Projekt.

As far as shin pads, I will never wear another pair other than my Easton Stealth S7 ones. Someone here recommended them to me because the inner liner is not fully removable, but it is stitched so folds up so it still airs out. I find this keeps it in place well.

http://images.bizrate.com/resize?sq=500&uid=1793617853

[s4gobabygo 0]

thanks again for all the input guys! got the bauer x30 shins... i think i'm going to like these!

i didn't pick up a girdle. the mission roller girdle seemed like it would work looking at it from the front, but then i looked at the back, and there's essentially nothing in the way of slash/hook protection back there. i then checked out the warrior projekt, which seems like it's right up my alley. i'll probably have to make a couple edits, but i like it.

the problem is i'm between a small and a medium and i wanted to get some feedback. taking the belt out of the equation, the small seemed a hair snug, and the medium seemed big. seems like there's a pretty big difference between these sizes (and the velcro adjustment patches are small, offering little adjustability). does this girdle stretch at all through time? my ccm pro girdle got a little "roomier" after the first half-season or so, making the small fit perfectly... can i expect the same to happen? i'm a wiry 6'0 170lbs.

[s4gobabygo 0]

i just wanted to say thanks to everyone who helped. i ended up using the warrior projekt girdle (with cup), a garter belt overtop for my mesh socks, and i stuck with the reebok 3k (jofa) shins after i removed some of the extraneous padding. very happy with the results... all said and done it's quite a bit lighter than my old stuff, and slightly more protective. i'm especialy impressed with the girdle... it fits a lot more snugly than my old ccm one did, which took some acclimation, but now that i'm used to it, i couldn't be happier.

thanks again!!!

[Stoop 1]

i just wanted to say thanks to everyone who helped. i ended up using the warrior projekt girdle (with cup), a garter belt overtop for my mesh socks, and i stuck with the reebok 3k (jofa) shins after i removed some of the extraneous padding. very happy with the results... all said and done it's quite a bit lighter than my old stuff, and slightly more protective. i'm especialy impressed with the girdle... it fits a lot more snugly than my old ccm one did, which took some acclimation, but now that i'm used to it, i couldn't be happier.

thanks again!!!

Did you return the X30 shins then? I was considering them. What did you think?

[s4gobabygo 0]

the x30s seemed great in the store, and are very comfortable, but when i tried them on with the rest of my gear, they didn't work out as well, so i returned them. i wear the tongue of my skates under the shinguard, and this didn't work well with the X30s. the ankle area of the X30 is very narrow, so it didn't wrap around/over the skate tongue very well, and was therefore floating away from my shin, not hugging against my shin. the X30s would be better worn under the tongue of the skate in my opinion, not vice versa, but if thats how you wear your shins (under then tongue), then these look like great shins for the price.