Best option for max spine/rib/kidney protection?

[psulion22 402]

I'm currently out for 6 weeks after fracturing 3 transverse processes in my lower back. This is incredibly painful and has essentially makes any movement difficult. It was done on a cheap play in front of the net where a forward, that I had knocked off of my goalie after a whistle, grabbed my leg from the ice and stood up with it, throwing me down in the process. I landed on my lower back and side, on a stick, to the side of the spine protector. Had to be taken off the ice on a backboard.

So now I'm looking for the best way to protect that area when I return. (Yes I can return after 6 weeks and doctor approval, with no further risks) I'm currently wearing an Easton Synergy girdle, which has pretty decent spine protection, and a Bauer X:60 shoulder pad, which does lack in solid protection on the back outside of the spine area. Even cross checks and such to my back and kidneys sometimes hurt or leave marks. So I'm thinking its in my best interest to get rid of that.

What is going to be the best way to get coverage I need there? I prefer the Vapor line of shoulders for their weight and mobility. Is there a different brand, or even the APX2, that will extend lower and fill into the pants and have better protection in the lower back? Is there a different model/brand of pant I can go to that has a higher (and more importantly wider) spinal protector? Again, I prefer the fit and movement of a girdle, but have heard that some of the newer pants have the same feel. Is there nothing that will cover that? What about padded shirts? A lacrosse or football flak jacket? I'm open to any ideas. Thanks!

[flyers10 57]

I'd look into the lacrosse rib protection that might also give extra kidney coverage you need as well. For $30-$60 is a good value.

[swede 50]

I'm currently wearing an Easton Synergy girdle, which has pretty decent spine protection, and a Bauer X:60 shoulder pad, which does lack in solid protection on the back outside of the spine area. !

Are you sure your'e wearing the right size shoulders and pants? And wearing the pants the way they are supposed to be weared?

Just wondering, cuz i see a lot of kids and adult players wearing their pants way to low on their hips and therefore loose kidney and lower back protection.

Otherwise, you could allways make a custom lower back protector yourself.. Just take a neoprene belt and stich some plastic to it.

[Monty22 833]

There are a few hockey specific options, as well as some football/ Lax pads that would work (the Lax stuff will be lower profile). I've got the CCM pad below on my shoulder pads. Douglas, Schutt and Ridell make beefier ones for football. Those also can have wrap around rib protection as well like the Douglas model below. Just Google image search Football rib pads and you'll find pages of the things.

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[psulion22 402]

Are you sure your'e wearing the right size shoulders and pants? And wearing the pants the way they are supposed to be weared?

Just wondering, cuz i see a lot of kids and adult players wearing their pants way to low on their hips and therefore loose kidney and lower back protection.

Otherwise, you could allways make a custom lower back protector yourself.. Just take a neoprene belt and stich some plastic to it.

yep. I don't like loose or low hanging pants. That's why I wear the girdle. It's pulled up where it should be. The shoulders are the right size. They fit in the body correctly about in the middle of the adjustments. If I went bigger to get longer coverage they would be too wide. I guess that's what I was looking for. Either pants or shoulders that would be longer and fill that space but still fit in the other areas. Thanks

There are a few hockey specific options, as well as some football/ Lax pads that would work (the Lax stuff will be lower profile). I've got the CCM pad below on my shoulder pads. Douglas, Schutt and Ridell make beefier ones for football. Those also can have wrap around rib protection as well like the Douglas model below. Just Google image search Football rib pads and you'll find pages of the things.

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where did you get the CCM pad? I've looked all over the online hockey stores and don't see anything. I think I'm going to go with lacrosse ones. They are inexpensive, wrap around, pretty mobile, and designed for exactly what I need. I think I might try to find a way to actually attach them to my shoulders. Sounds like a job for a speedy stitcher.

[bearcathockey14 2]

I'd also try evoshield and if they don't have anything on their website thats to your specifications they can make very form fitting custom pads for you as well.

[psulion22 402]

I'd also try evoshield and if they don't have anything on their website thats to your specifications they can make very form fitting custom pads for you as well.

the Evoshield stuff does look promising. I'll talk to them on Monday and see what it will cost to get one of their HybridPro shirts custom made with the pads lower. That's probably the best option. Thanks!

[Chadd 916]

Evoshield makes a great product. WSI has a nice shirt that may work for you, and it's on sale this week. G-Form might also be worth looking into, though I'm not sure it fully covers the areas that you want.

[psulion22 402]

Evoshield makes a great product. WSI has a nice shirt that may work for you, and it's on sale this week. G-Form might also be worth looking into, though I'm not sure it fully covers the areas that you want.

The WSI looks interesting. But the pic is confusing. Is that padding on the back, even though it's on the front in the pic? And it still might be too high. The best thing about the lacrosse pad is it will be adjustable. And cheap. Evoshield makes a football spine protector that attaches to the pad. It might work, especially if they can make two more pieces to cover the sides for me (and keep the back plate in place at the same time). I don't need the compression shirt. I'd prefer their protection to just the foam of the lacrosse ones. Maybe they can make me a lacrosse style rib protector with their material which will be the best thing possible. Thanks!

[psulion22 402]

I am leaning towards this right now, if Evoshield can't do something reasonable. It's cheap, and will do the job pretty well. It's made of thick EVA foam, and I'd probably attach my own poly plates to it. I definitely think it's a good option. Thanks for all the input! http://www.lacrossemonkey.com/reebok-lacrosse-rib-pad-black.html?green=E43C317F-10FC-5324-AFFC-622678FF9DAF&utm_source=mybuys&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=web_rec

[Monty22 833]

I picked up the CCM pad a few years ago on Ebay right after the Peranis auction for a couple of bucks. This guy still has some: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-CCM-Supra-M-SP901-Custom-Hockey-Back-Pads-/300963081190?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4612cc2be6

[psulion22 402]

Thanks for all the input guys. I spoke to evoshield and we worked together to come up with what I think is the best option. I am going to get the Reebok pads I posted above, which are just thick EVA foam. Evoshield is going to sell me just the pads from their baseball shirt, which are the same shape as the Reebok pads, to attach and reinforce the foam panels. We both thought this would work great. Evoshield was really helpful, eventhough I wasn't buying a custom, oreven full, piece of equipment from them. I would definitely look into their products in the future.

[bearcathockey14 2]

thats great to hear. It was kind of luck that I mentioned them at the time because I was at the apple store and one of their founders happened to be sitting across the table from me. Seemed like a nice guy so great to hear that his company also follows the same values. I used a couple of their products like their wrist and upper arm guards.

Could you post pics once you're done? Not sure if you consider sewing them on but if you do, I've done it to an old pair of shoulder pads before but you have to time it right so that they do not harden before you attach them and mold them. Otherwise you'll have to take them to an upholstery place to stitch through the hardened pad. Or simple velcro will work too but I preferred having them set in place.

[psulion22 402]

My thought was to drill small holes in the pieces once they hardened and then use a speedy stitcher to put them on. Either that or to make a fabric sleeve to put them in and then see that on. I'll post pics once I get it to work