Have ice hockey girdles died a slow death?

[Doctor Hook 0]

I've always been an ice pants guy, but now I'd like to get one ice hockey girdle for use in both ice and roller hockey (hey, sometimes that pink ball actually hurts!)

I've been checking out the various gear sites looking for a reasonably priced (approx. $60-80 or so) ice hockey girdle and I'm only seeing a high end Bauer set and maybe some dead stock that is not my size. Roller hockey girdles are plentiful, though.

I seem to remember seeing lots of Tackla, Easton, etc girdles maybe 4-5 years ago. Have ice hockey girdles been phased out?

[mia 0]

I hope so. The girdle always reminds me of roller hockey. I hate when the kids wear girdles and then a shell past their knees like basketball shorts. I am loving the pro stock Blackhawks pants I picked up on ebay this week. If I could ever figure out how to post a picture I will. Best pants EVER.

[bearfight 1]

This season after realizing my pants just weren't comfortable anymore I switched back to an old girdle I used in high school... don't know if I'll ever go back. On my team at school I think we had five guys in girdles this season, 3 Supremes and 2 Vapors. I would typically just look at the top end ones for the protection, so I hope the companies plan on keeping them around.

[mia 0]

=thats cool, they are very comfortable and light, but where those shells the right size so they don't hang lower than your knees. I one saw a guy going in on a breakaway and the dman put a little hook on him. his shells dropped to his ankles and he wound up resurfacing the ice with his face. Always remember if you want to play good, you must feel good, if you want to feel good you have to look good. Shells below the knees doesn't look good. Look good and have fun.

[IPv6Freely 2100]

Check out the Warrior Projekt girdle. Definitely the one I plan to buy soon to finally give girdles a try.

[HockeySavants 5]

Not really, people are still paying ridiculous prices for the 9K Girdle

[jsykes 35]

Girdles are still very much around. Actually, there are quit a few pros that use girdles, I know Taylor Hall for one and there are a bunch of others.

Most companies only make one though and dont have a full line of them. Bauer makes a Supreme and Vapor model, Tackla makes a couple models, Warrior makes one, CCM makes one and Easton makes one.

I went to a Warrior girdle about a year ago and really like it. I doubt I'll ever go back to a pant.

[mia 0]

Gaboric and Dubinsky both wear them on the rangers.

[the iceman 132]

My grandmother seems to like hers.

[innotastic 12]

i used a vapor girdle for years and love it. i really like what bauer is doing with the vapor girdles; girdle feel with good mid range protection.

they just aren't as popular as regular pants.

[Davetronz 109]

i really like what bauer is doing with the vapor girdles; girdle feel with good mid range protection.

they just aren't as popular as regular pants.

This.

I'll wear my X60 ACP when protection isn't the number one concern. It's light, cool, and it hugs the body. The protection is pretty good on the front, but lacking on the back.

[splitbtw 2]

I have worn my X6- girdle for 6 months and only once gotten a puck on the inner thigh. I would have the same bruise if I wore pants because I like the legs un-zipped. A girdle is fine and depending on where you want protection, a girdle will cover it. The 9k still seems to be the best but if you play beer league, you won't need it.

[Chadd 916]

They're as popular as they ever have been, maybe even more popular than ever. All of the major manufacturers offer one and they are all at the high end of the pant pricing. Personally, I prefer more protection since I'm not getting paid to play and can't afford to miss work due to a hockey injury.

[hunterphfr 12]

_{Hockey Monkey's selection of girdles:}

_{http://www.hockeymon...girdles-sr.html}

_{and their selection of shells:}

_{http://www.hockeymon...ant-shells.html}

_{Theirs still a lot of selection out there, you just need to know where to look for it.}

[hrvd214 0]

9k girdle is used by many in NHL and is very popular among major junior players.

[leftwinger37 43]

They're as popular as they ever have been, maybe even more popular than ever. All of the major manufacturers offer one and they are all at the high end of the pant pricing.

I totally agree. I didn't think anyone besides pros used these things until about two years ago. Now I see guys wearing them all of the time; especially the Warrior Projekt.

Not really, people are still paying ridiculous prices for the 9K Girdle

Ha, so true. If you search 9K Girdle on ebay right now, there are five listings going for $100+. About a year and a half ago, I decided to go the girdle route and bought a brand-new size M 9K girdle for $75 shipped; I had no idea they were such a sought after item. If I didn't like it so much I'd be trying to cash in too.

[Doctor Hook 0]

Good info, bros. Totally skipped HockeyMonkey because I dislike them.

[pulax30 1]

I was actually bidding on a 9k girdle on ebay that went for $86 I think. I'm currently in a one95 girdle and love it. I will never go back to a pants setup.

[hunt3rsean 44]

What areas of protection does a high-end girdle lack over a mid-high to high end pant? I read above that girldes lack padding for back of the thigh and inner thigh, but is that it? Is the padding itself not as good as a high end pant or is it just the coverage spots? My local LHS does not stock girdles.

[dsjunior1388 81]

I was disapointed in the sizing of the girdles. I tried both the Projekt and TotalOne girdles in an XL and neither fit, where I have no trouble with XL pants which are even a little big. No 2XL in sight, even online.

[theflash0000 0]

One thing to keep in mind about the 9k girdle is that its not set up like most retail girdles. Almost all retail girdles are "bike short" style with the pads attached and held close to your body. Some are wrap-style but still all the pads hug you closely.

The 9k is much different--its got a snug-fitting shorts section to which free-floating leg guards are attached (they are also height-adjustable). IMO, it feels like you're wearing a girdle upper, but the lower leg sections feel much more like traditional pants. Similar to the Easton Motion hybrid girdle/pants. I think its an awesome set up and I'm surprised more manufacturers don't make a similar model for retail.

[althoma1 575]

One thing to keep in mind about the 9k girdle is that its not set up like most retail girdles. Almost all retail girdles are "bike short" style with the pads attached and held close to your body. Some are wrap-style but still all the pads hug you closely.

The 9k is much different--its got a snug-fitting shorts section to which free-floating leg guards are attached (they are also height-adjustable). IMO, it feels like you're wearing a girdle upper, but the lower leg sections feel much more like traditional pants. Similar to the Easton Motion hybrid girdle/pants. I think its an awesome set up and I'm surprised more manufacturers don't make a similar model for retail.

That's good to know. I came from an Easton Motion setup and now use the Warrior Projekt girdle. I liked the Easton S15 Motion setup better than traditional pants, but prefer the Projekt girdle. I like to have the pads on the legs tight too. That's personal preference, but at least now I know not to look at the 9K when it's time for my next girdle. Thanks for elaborating on the fit.

[mhkehoe 1]

I'm also a Warrior Projekt girdle wearer. I hated their shell design, so I use the Easton ST shell. It is perfect of beer league hockey.

I have a pair of CCM Fit 05 pants, but they feel bulky to me. After spending a year exclusively playing roller hockey, I got used to the close fitting roller girdles. Now regular ice pants feel like I am wearing a paper bag.

[ambro 0]

Wearing the Projekt girdle with Tackla's girdle shell, and I love the combo.