Selecting Soccer Shin Guards Recommendations, Reviews and Tips

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Let me ask you a question...

What are the most important criteria while shopping for soccer shin guards? Let me guess…

If you answered comfort...
...you must be a soccer player.

If you said protection...
...you are a parent of a soccer player.

Unfortunately, comfort and protection in shinguards are somewhat mutually exclusive. In other words: more comfort-less protection and vice versa.

What kind of soccer shin guards should you choose then?
Of course the kind your parents will choose for you. They pay for it…Right?... Just kidding.

Actually they do pay for it (in most cases at least).
So, if there is disagreement between you and you parents on what kind of shinguards to buy - read this guide with your parents.
If there is no disagreement and you just want to find out what’s on the market ( find out more than any commercial site provides these days) - use this guide to make the most valuable selection for you.

Based on my experience as a professional soccer player and now as a soccer parent, let me give you some pointers and recommendations.

Hopefully I will provide you with enough resources to select the kind of soccer shin guards that are adequate for you…and your parents.
Factors to Consider

1. With ankle sleeves or without
2. Size
3. Material
4. Manufacturer
5. Where to buy

With ankle sleeves or without

* Shin Guards with ankle sleeves.
This type of soccer shin guards will give you extra protection of your ankles. The strap under the foot should hold the shinguard in place. I said, “should” because sometimes the strap pulls the shinguard down, causing discomfort.

Also thickness around your ankles reduces the feel of the ball. Not preferred by older and more advanced players but very adequate for young kids (10 years old and younger).

* Shin Guards without ankle sleeves.
Soccer shin guards without ankle sleeves are lighter and less restrictive; more comfortable. They are called “slip-ins”.

Such shinguards are usually slipped into and held in place by the socks. They are less expensive but also less-protective than those with ankle protection.

Tip ! Soccer shin guards with ankle sleeves (guards) are very good for young players. Their skills are still on a low level. Therefore, bulkiness around their feet and ankles doesn’t really affect their performance that much.

However, during skill practices, they should wear regular hard shell without sleeves. It will allow them to feel and control the ball better…they will learn faster. And don’t worry about buying two different types. Most (if not all) of ankle sleeves are detachable.

When a youth soccer player reaches a higher, more advanced level, playing with ankle sleeves could be little bit more difficult. Higher level requires better skills. Soccer player needs to use these skills to the fullest of his/hers potential.

Anything thick, insulating and bulky on player’s feet (ankles included) will interfere with his/hers performance on the soccer field.
Just imagine a football quarterback wearing hockey gloves (maybe little extreme example but… funny).
This is just my opinion. The decision is yours.

Size

This brings us back to the debate of comfort and protection.

Bigger, covering more of your shins…better protection - less comfort. Smaller…you know the drill.

Definitely, in order to be able to play soccer to your potential, you can’t have too big shin guards. What is too big?
If a shin guard covers more than ¾ of your shin - it is too big.

If someone ever tells you that soccer shin guards should cover the entire length of your shin...
...neither he/she has ever played soccer nor he/she doesn’t know when the tibia (shinbone) starts and ends.

Remember - do not buy soccer shin guards that will cover your entire shin (up from the bottom edge of the knee cap-down to the top of the foot).
¾ of the length of the shinbone - this is the ultimate length of a soccer shin guard.

What about if the shinguard is shorter than that?
Nothing, really.

According to FIFA rules there are no length limitations.
All it states is that shinguards “are covered entirely by the stockings; are made of a suitable material (rubber, plastic, or similar substances); provide a reasonable degree of protection”.

According to your parents rules…
...it could be little different.
Just stick with the “3/4 of a length-rule” and you have the best combination of comfort and protection.

Tip ! It is very simple to determine the right size of shinguards… actually the length of it. Measure the length of your shin and then multiple by 0.75 (3/4-75%). The result is the maximum length of the shinguards you want to buy. That’s it.

Selecting soccer shin guards by sizes-small, medium, large could be confusing, because they differentiate from different manufacturers. So, if you buy shinguards in your local soccer store, make sure you have measuring tape with you.
If you want to buy them on Internet (cheaper), most of online soccer stores specify the length of every shinguard they sell…at least those I recommend.

Material

Today’s soccer shin guard is constructed with a hard outer casing and softer inner layer. The outer casing is made out of different materials:

* Plastic
* Thermo Plastic Rubber
* K-resin
* Fiberglass
* Polyethylene
* Polyurethane

I can’t tell you what material is better than the other. They are all highly effective forms of protection.

That is why you shouldn’t be too concerned about it…what I mean is…the type of the outer layer’s material should be your least factor in determining the kind of shinguards you select. All of them are good enough for soccer.
Plastic shinguards are considered the “weakest”…but they are the cheapest and very light.

The inner layer of soccer shin guards is made of soft, light-weight (comfort) and shock-absorbing (protection) foam. The most known is EVA Foam. All Top 10 Soccer Shin Guards I recommend have this kind of backing material.

Adidas and Nike, besides basic foam material, use specially engineered materials that reduce heat and moisture build-up from perspiration. Adidas calls it ClimaCool and Nike - DriFit. Of course extras like these will cost you little more.

Manufacturer

Most of soccer shin guards makers use the same materials and very similar technologies, so I wouldn’t worry too much about the manufacturer.

However, to make your search easier, I would suggest: Adidas or Nike. Besides, these two companies make the best soccer equipment in the world, so why bother with any other brand.

Unless you choose to get shin guards with Osi technology (moldable), than Brine, Parker or Sondico should be your selection.