Girdle/Shell Pants

[Zzapdog 3]

Has anyone here gone from a traditional pant to something like the NXG or MX3? Wondering what your thoughts are in the feel of the girdle compared to a traditional pant. Currently have the Crazy Lights and was looking into the MX3's. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Hills 717]

I switch back and forth between a more bulky protective pant and a NXG girdle so perhaps I can comment on this.

The girdles fit ridiculously snug, and at first felt like it might hinder movement coming from my very loose fitting pants. But once I started playing you realize it moves ridiculously well with your body. I don't find pants or the girdle restrictive in any way and it comes down to what I'd rather wear for the day.

For protection I find they actually range. For example since the girdle fits so tight on your leg I feel the protection stays exactly where it should be so gaps are slightly minimized (as in sometimes I find my pants to shift and open up a space that would normally be covered) but it also feels like there are some clear gaps in protection that a pant has at least a thin piece of foam covering that area.

Does that make sense? What were your concerns?

[DRR 112]

I've worn both, I prefer the girdle/shell. I used to wear the old Cooperall girdles with a Tackla shell, now I'm using the Bauer Supreme combo.

Overall I find the two-piece combo fits a lot better and hugs your body as you skate. It keeps the pads where you want them, I find the protection with a one piece pant "floats" a bit.

The downside, I find my current pants don't have as much kidney/lower back protection as most one-piece pants do.

If you find a one piece pant kind of bulky (as I do) and want something that you can skate in a little easier, I'd recommend trying a girdle combo. I also am tall for my weight so I could never find a one-piece pant that was proportioned right.

[hawkeyfan 36]

I am a 40 something adult league player. I have combat pro shorts and some basic CCM shorts I have fallen a few times sideways on my hip and the shorts have not provided hip protection for me. One of the falls was a doosey. Girdles I have 2 bauers a total one and a much older bauer girdle that is designed like a cooperall girdle. The hip pads sit right where I want them...why wear an extra short pad under hockey shorts when you can just wear the girdle. My only hang up with the girdle is the tailbone pad needs to get pushed down (on the older shorts)...but I primarily use the older girdle that I picked up new for $9. I look for deals with new old stock items.

[Chadd 916]

I've used both over the years and prefer Tackla 9000s over anything else. Tons of protection but a loose fit that doesn't restrict movement in any way. The looser design of those Tackla pants is much better than the semi-snug fit of most pants, the middle of the road fit is the worst way to go. Pucks, sticks and impacts seem to have a way of finding the gaps on the girdles that I have owned, but rarely seem to do so when wearing my 9000s.

[darkhors 88]

I just picked up the TotalOne NXG's from Total Hockey on clearance and am coming from an old CCM shell. I absolutely love the girdle way more than I ever loved my pants. It's such a snug fit that I don't even feel like I'm wearing pants when I'm skating, but it's not restrictive. I feel like I can move more freely with the girdle and because it's adjustable, I can set it up exactly how I want it. The protection is very good on the NXG's, as I slid very hard into the post last Friday hip first and it did it's job well. I was a little sore on the inside of my leg (groin area), but that would have been exactly the same had I had pants on.

Also, I wanted the ability to just buy another shell and not have to have multiple pairs of pants for when I play on a team with different colors.

Hope this helps.

[canard 2]

I've been using the Bauer Total One MX3 and it's the most protective pant I've had in years. There are no gaps and all the pads are where they should be and offer great protection and adjustability. I'm 6'1" and found I needed a large tall for the best fit.