Sizing hockey shin guards can be challenging, but it is important to get the measurement right in order to properly protect the lower legs. Different manufacturers have different size recommendations that can vary, and may use height, weight or age to determine the best fit for the guards that they produce. One relatively certain way to determine proper size is to actually measure the height of the shin.
Step 1
Determine the needed weight of the shin guard. Defensemen usually use heavy shin guards that provide greater protection against opponents' sticks and flying pucks. Forwards use lighter shin guards that give them more freedom to skate quickly.
Step 2
Place blade protectors on your hockey skate blades. Put on your hockey skates and sit down so that your lower legs and thighs are at 90-degree angles.
Step 3
Measure from the top of the skate boot, just above the top eyelets, to the center of the kneecap.
Step 4
Use this measurement to compare the measurements of various shin guards from the bottom of the guard to the center of the kneecap cup.
Step 5
Select a pair of shin guards that are the appropriate measurement and weight, and try one on for proper fit while you are sitting. If the shin guard seems to fit, put on both shin guards, then stand and walk around to determine if the fit is correct. Both the knee and the top of the boot should be completely covered, with no portion of the shin exposed.
Things You'll Need
- Hockey skates with blade shields
- Tape measure
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