Fitting for shoulder pads/pants (First time playing ice).

[jnovakii 0]

I'll be playing ice hockey on a beer league for my first time (been playing roller for about a year or so). To give you some background info...I'm 6 foot and a half, 165 pounds.

I like the Bauer Vapor line for the shoulder pads and either Vapor or Supreme for the ice hockey pants.

Here is my question (I've tried on these at Perani's to get an idea):

The shoulder pads both fit. The medium maybe a little tight and the large a little loose.

The sizing for the Vapor shoulder pads goes as follows:

Medium / 5'7"-5'11" / 38"-42"

Large / 5'9"-6'1" / 40"-44"

My chest is around 40", so in theory, both pads could honestly probably fit me. Just trying to get some insight.

Onto the pants. I tried a large and medium on in both a SuperemeOne80 (love the look of them) but they may be more loose fitting than a tapered Vapor design (also tried large and medium). My jean waist is a size 32.

The sizing of the pads both are:

Md / 32" - 36" / 5'7" - 5'11"

Lg / 34" - 38" / 5'9" - 6'1"

Again...just trying to figure out what would be better for me. Appreciate it in advance. I'm currently battling with skate sizing as well. In an 8K Reebok for roller in a size 8.5D (my foot measures normal width and a 10 foot) but I'm getting lots of numb toes near end of game so I'm having to deal with figuring out if I want to go to an E or just a 9D and if that'll solve it. Probably going with a CCM U+ 08 E (Perani's guy said it would be ok to have the E width) or a Bauer Supreme...as I hear they fit wider than the Vapor I tried on.

Sorry for the long post but I know you guys will help a noob out. Thanks again!!!

[wrangler 157]

I'm guessing "six foot and a half" doesn't mean 6.5'; otherwise you've got additional considerations for pants.

I would use the sizing guidelines just to select items to try on. Once you've tried them on, forget about the numbers, and go by the fit.

It sounds like on the shoulder pads, you just have to decide which one feels best, not too loose or too tight, considering mobility and a secure fit for protection.

This page on IW will give you an idea of how the Supreme and Vapor fits compare : http://www.icewarehouse.com/catpage.html?ccode=HSRIPBAUER

For best protection, I'd select size for a waist that fits well and securely, but the cut comes down to personal preference.

[AIREAYE 248]

Regarding the shoulder pad fit : To find your size, grab a medium and large in both series and try them on. Move your arms up to shoulder-level. If the entire pad shifts up, leaving a considerable gap between your chest/collar and the pad then it's too big. There also should be a large gap in the area where your shoulder blades are...the entire pad should sit flush to your body without shifting around when you're moving. You don't want a pad too large because it cannot absorb impacts like it's designed too.

Pants : I have roughly the same jean size as you and I fit into Mediums, however best way to check is to grab both M and L, do up the strapping as you would and push the pants down so that it sits right on your hip bone without sliding off. The pant legs should be roughly at the centre of your knee cap in this position for optimum coverage.

Skates : Supremes and CCMs look to be a good start.

[Chadd 916]

Any time it comes to fitting, "try it on" is the best advice any of us can give. My preference is that my gear isn't too small but fits snugly to be an extension of my body.

[elevation 1]

Hi Jnovakii

I know exactely how it feels in between sizes...I am like you 6 ft plus something, 187 pounds, same chest , pants 33/34...skates are my worst case, as I have different sized feet...over the years I collected quite everything in two sizes, M or L...16'' and 15'' shins, skates from 6.5 to 7.5, fit in a M Reebok helmet on the largest as in the same L helmet in the smallest position...and so on. Problem to start is, how to know what feels right, to know what is a right fit..my M shoulder caps fit perfect, strenum is too short...

for your pants I would definitely try to get a M in 'tall' (= 1 or 2 iches longer) as Tackla 9000 in 50 or even 48, Bauer Mtall One 80...Warriors M are long too...

shoulders depend on your league, I am in L (Reebok 8K) in games, but in my M 4k in trainings...try the smaller/snugger sizes first...

[jnovakii 0]

Thanks a ton everyone! These forums are always an absolute pleasure and so helpful. Everyone is awesome!!!

[Hockeydog 8]

Waking this thread up rather than starting a new one since my question is regarding shoulder pad fit.

I am in the market for new shoulder pads, and have a question about length. My current pads do not come all the way down to the top of my pants, they stop about the width of my hand short of that. Is that the suggested fit, or should I look for pads that come closer to the top of my Tackla pants? Wearing a medium in a iTech 990, fit is good in other aspects.

[AIREAYE 248]

If you want optimum coverage, I would suggest that they meet, with a focus on spine and kidney coverage. Be careful though that moving up a size doesn't necessarily offer you only extra length. You don't want the pad to be too roomy.

[Hockeydog 8]

Thanks for the response. My current pads come down to within about an inch in the back, and the actual padding just barely leaves my bottom ribs exposed around the front. ( like half a rib width ) I tried on a teamates X:40 shoulders in the same size and it was pretty much the same. I have about a hand width of uncovered area in the front where the belly pad doesn't cover, and of course on the sides where my arms hang- which is normal I think for most pads.. I might want a bit more coverage around the front ( kinda the side of the front) but I am not interested in a really bulky pad as I play chippy but non- check league hockey.

[AIREAYE 248]

Best thing to do is try on a few pairs. On the flip side, you could look for pants with higher spine and kidney coverage.

[Hockeydog 8]

I have Tackla 5000 pants that cover kidneys very well, and come up to the back okay. I guess my question is, given the same size (medium for me) do all shoulder pads come down about the same length, or are some brands or models longer. My LHS has a few Easton and Bauers, but no CCM or RBK. I'll see what they have with my pants on but don't want to limit my options if CCM/RBK have better coverage. I don't need heavy duty, just want a lower profile pad that covers the important stuff. Right now I am just slightly exposed in the front part of my ribs.

[AIREAYE 248]

Maybe not CCM then. Also, see if you can search around the market for a protective undershirt with padding in the areas you need.

[hunt3rsean 44]

Best thing to do is try on a few pairs. On the flip side, you could look for pants with higher spine and kidney coverage.

Maybe not CCM then. Also, see if you can search around the market for a protective undershirt with padding in the areas you need.

Overall, this is what I have to do. I'm 5' 11" and float around the 160-165lb range. Due to my smaller chest size and average shoulderwidth I have to use a small or medium size shoulder pads. I'm kind of inbetween both sizes, but opt to size down to get a more snug fit for shoulder pads. Problem is that it leaves a gap at my mid-section. So then I use pants that have taller spine/kidney protection to help fill that space. Has worked for me so far. Basically, I use a small adult shoulder pad and a medium adult pant in Bauer's Vapor line.

I have also thought of looking into protective undershirts that have the kidney padding included, but have not needed it so far.

[Hockeydog 8]

I am 5"10 about 180, roughly 40" chest. Medium in that X:40 and my Itech 990 fits well around shoulders and chest, but as I have maybe a slightly longer torso for my height those pads don't quite cover the bottom of my ribs. Tackla pants cover my kidneys well and come pretty far up the back. I think I'd want just a bit more protection than one of those padded shirts and no pads.

My next question is this, are there some models/brands that are a little longer fitting for a given size?

[AIREAYE 248]

Nobody said to not use shoulder pads, the shirt was meant to be worn with the shoulder pads. I was implying that you should try on a few more pairs of shoulders; that's the only way to know. Other pairs may give you the length, but lack in some other area.

If you really wanted a brand suggestion, then perhaps see if you can find a Warrior Projekt or Reebok 9K to start, however I still stress my point above.

[Hockeydog 8]

Of the two sets of pads I tried on ( mine and the X40's) there was not a huge gap in coverage, just a small amount that I'd bet other players have as well. Since I want a less bulky pad than the 990's I thought I'd try and find one that covered that last little bit mine don't with at least single density foam. I do see that Shock Doctor wants $79 for a shirt with some rib padding, which is all I'd need. Even though I had broken ribs from an auto accident in the past, not sure $79 bucks is worth the inch of protection I'd get. My LHS has a small selection of pads, so I may have to buy a couple of pairs on line and send back what doesn't work, which is why I was asking if there were general fit differences between brands/models. If I had a good inventory nearby to try on, I'd likely not have even posted this, I will check out what LHS has. Regarding your suggestion to look at 9K's or Warrior Projects, would other RBK or Warrior pads fit similar?

[Hockeydog 8]

AIREAYE, thanks for the feedback. Went to my LHS last night. I tried on EQ30's in medium and large, as well as a One40 in large and a 9K in a large. The EQ30 medium and the One40 large both provided the same length of coverage in the rib area as my iTech 990 medium and the X40 medium I tried on. The EQ30 large and 9K large both hit the mark with length. Both went lower and covered the last bit of ribs the rest left out. In any medium that I have had on my body, the fit around the chest is pretty snug, as in the velcro straps can only be attached at the ends or they are too snug. With both large sized pads, the fit around the chest is lightly snug, the velcro straps can be comfortably attached farther in, if that makes any sense. Neither seemed to move around much when I simulated shooting, or just moving arms up and down.

My question is where my shoulders should be on the caps? Should the end of my shoulders be at the end of the caps, or centered in the caps? And does that change if the pads are low profile or not. I have searched and there doesn't seem to be a consensus. Will go back to LHS tonight and try them both on again. Thanks again.

[AIREAYE 248]

Glad to be of assistance! The shoulder cap should ideally be centered on the joint to optimize protection (imagine 45 degrees). However, if, in a hypothetical situation, you had to choose between having the cap sit further back (towards the collar/neck, imagine between 0 and 45 degrees) or further down (towards the elbow, between 45 and 90) you'd be safer having them sit lower because if you were to imagine a hitting motion, there wouldn't be impact at the top of the shoulder, but rather on or against it as your arm/shoulder comes up to brace. However on the receiving end of a hit or while making contact with the boards, the necessity of a centered cap is more apparent because there will often be times where you won't have the time to properly brace and impact to the top of the shoulder is more likely. This is provided that there is adequate collar protection of course. This is also why I'm a big advocate of lower-profile caps.

However, if one is playing recreationally, the checking isn't as much of a concern. Go with whatever shoulder cap fits better.

[Hockeydog 8]

Update. I ended up buying the 9K shoulders in a large after going back to LHS and trying everything they had on again. I couldn't try on any CCM or Warrior as they don't stock those brands, but am very satisfied with the 9K's. They fit well, provide great coverage, and are really light and mobile. It was worth the drive ( twice) to try them on and make sure I had the right size. I feared my height and weight indicated a large but as I am not really broad shouldered a large would not fit so well in the shoulders. Not the case, as found out by trying on in person.