The Best Hockey Shin Guards for 2024 (with reviews)

Hockey is a high-contact sport that involves flying pucks, sticks and body checking, so having the right equipment is important for performance and safety. A hockey player's shins, knees and calves can be especially vulnerable. This is why it's so important to get the right shin guards for your level of play. As you read on, we'll break down how to choose the most protective shin guards available and list some of the best ice hockey shin guards produced by major brands.

To see more options, check out our full selection of ice hockey shin guards.

In this article, we’ll cover:

• List of the Best Ice Hockey Shin Guards
• How to Pick to Correct Hockey Shin Guards
• Steps on How to Measure for Hockey Shin Guards
• Factors to Consider When Selecting Hockey Shin Guards
• Best Hockey Shin Guards by Category

List of the Best Ice Hockey Shin Guards

1. Bauer Vapor Hyperlite Hockey Shin Guards

2. CCM Tacks AS-V Pro Hockey Shin Guards

3. Warrior Alpha LX Pro Hockey Shin Guards

4. Bauer Supreme Mach Hockey Shin Guards

5. Warrior Alpha LX 20 Hockey Shin Guards

6. CCM Tacks AS 580 Hockey Shin Guards

7. Warrior Alpha LX30 Hockey Shin Guards

8. CCM JetSpeed FT680 Hockey Shin Guards

9. Bauer X Hockey Shin Guards

10. CCM Next Hockey Shin Guards

How to Select and Wear Hockey Shin Guards

Shin guards protect the front of hockey players’ legs from the top of the knee to just above the ankle. You should always select a shin guard that’s sized to cover this area. You should also consider a style of hockey shin guard that's appropriate for your age, skill level, position and personal style of play. We'll cover these factors later, but regardless of which shin guard you are thinking about purchasing, it's vital that you wear them properly for best protection. Wearing shin guards can be broken down into three easy steps.

1. Identify your right and left shin guard and place on the appropriate leg with the knee centered in the inner pocket of the knee cap
2. Secure the calf and knee straps tight enough to hold shin guards in place
3. Cover with your hockey socks and wrap the lower leg with hockey sock tape for added security

Steps to Measure for Hockey Shin Guards

Wearing the wrong size hockey shin guard can hamper performance and increase the chance of serious injury. Oversized shin guards will be bulky and restrict movement, while shin guards that are too small will leave open gaps in protection from pucks and sticks. It's fairly easy to measure hockey shin guards for optimal fit - simply follow the steps below and use our shin guard sizing chart to find the correct shin guard size. 

1. Wear and lace your hockey skates as if you're ready to hit the ice
2. Sit on a chair that allows you to bend your knee at a 90-degree angle with your skate blades on the floor
3. Measure the distance between the center of your knee and the top of the skate boot
4. Round this measurement to the nearest inch and refer to our size guide chart to find the appropriate size

Factors to Consider When Selecting Hockey Shin Guards

After you've determined the right size, it's time to look at a few other things before you purchase your shin guards. Below we'll discuss the best ice hockey shin guard style for your position, skill level and fit.

Hockey players who play different positions on the ice have different needs from their equipment. Defensemen will want more shin guard protection since they're often in harm's way when blocking shots. Smaller, more agile forwards may want a lighter, slimmer shin guard. There may even be considerations based on the way you play your position. For example, a forward always grinding in the corners might want more coverage against opposing players’ sticks. By contrast, a forward who prefers to keep to the open ice might not be as concerned with greater coverage.

You should also consider your skill level and the amount of time you spend on the ice. Beginners or casual drop-in players may not need the advanced ice hockey shin guards designed for elite players, and intermediate players may be searching for something that falls in between beginner hockey shin pads and professional grade shin guards.

• Beginner or Low Impact: Recreational hockey players and beginners will most likely do just fine with a standard style shin guard. These are usually a classic fit made from hard plastics with a basic foam liner that offers protection for low-impact hockey games.
• Experienced to Competitive: Experienced players may want a little more protection than basic hockey shin guards provide. But they might not necessarily want to blow their equipment budget on elite hockey shin guards.  Experienced players will typically want to look for a shin guard with a calf protector and firmly locking shin guard straps.
• Intermediate to Advanced: Elite players not only need the best protection, they'll also want shin guards that won't hinder performance. These shin guards are made from lightweight materials, conform to the lower leg better and can be much more comfortable than shin guards designed for the average hockey player.

Different styles of hockey shin guards may fit differently, even if they’re the same size. Choosing a fit that isn't tailored to your style of play can hurt your performance, increase injury risk and reduce comfort. Hockey shin guards come in three styles that all have advantages and disadvantages depending on your specific style of play.

• Traditional: A traditional fit hockey shin guard offers the most protection, but can be heavier and bulkier than other styles. Defensemen, beginners, youth and power forwards typically choose a traditional fit for the added protection over other styles.
• Contoured: Contoured hockey shin guards have the lowest profile and provide the closest fit. Quick forwards that don't expect to block shots or take sticks to the legs will often choose these for their lightweight and comfortable feel.
• Tapered: Shin guards with a tapered fit combine features from both traditional and contoured guards. The knee and upper half offer expanded protection while slimming down in the lower portions for improved mobility over traditional hockey shin guards.

Best Hockey Shin Guards by Category

Choosing the right shin guard doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you need shin guards on a budget or you’re looking for the best junior shin guards for a youth player, we’ve got you covered.

Bauer X Hockey Shin Guards: The Bauer X's are our best budget shin guards because of their anatomical construction and molded protective caps that offer comfort at a great price point. The liner uses hydrophobic mesh technology to keep players dry, and an elastic strapping system secures these shin guards in place.

Bauer Vapor Hyperlite Hockey Shin Guards: The Bauer Vapor Hyperlite hockey shin guards are designed to provide the lightest elite level protection. The front of the Vapor Hyperlite features a deep fitting EDL cap and X-Lite shielded shin cap, while the back features an EXO-Lite Skin calf guard that offers full coverage for the back of your leg. Crafted from lightweight materials, these hockey shin guards offer premium protection and ultimate comfort.

CCM Tacks AS-V Pro Hockey Shin Guards: The CCM Tacks AS-V Pro hockey shin guards are designed to offer pro protection while enhancing mobility. A JDP knee cap with D3O smart material and anatomic PE shin cap are durable as well as lightweight. An exposed injection molded calf guard with D3O shot block protection gives you elite level protection from shots and stick checks in the calf area. Adaptfit+ straps include a length adjustable dual calf strap plus a padded hyper X lock strap for ultimate adjustability.

Warrior Alpha LX 20 Hockey Shin Guards: The Alpha LX 20 shin guards make our list as best Warrior shin guards because of their elite level design and lightweight craftsmanship. The Sling wrap strapping system with Fantom Stretch that secures the knee into the engineered knee pocket that provides a comfortable fit and protects against impacts. The secure fit design absorbs shocks and impacts without coming loose. The Wartech FNC STRIKE yellow linerliner offers moisture wicking and keeps players dry and comfortable.

Warrior Alpha LX Pro Hockey Shin Guards: Warrior focused on using lightweight materials without sacrificing protection when they designed the Warrior Alpha LX Pro shin guard. With new perforated lightweight molded slash guards, lightweightmolded EVA IMPAX foams and Warriors WarTech FNC Strike liner, the Alpha LX Pro has incredible comfort and protective engineering while remaining one of the lightest ice hockey shin guards on the market in 2023.

Bauer X Youth Hockey Shin Guards: Bauer's X Youth shin guards feature an ErgoDynamic lab knee cap for a deep fit and a full coverage calf with PE inserts. An injected shin cap with textured details and MD foam knee wing provide great protection for little legs. 

CCM Tacks 9550 Junior Hockey Shin Guards:The CCM Tacks 9550 Junior Hockey Shin Guards are a popular choice among young players, featuring a lightweight design and high-quality materials for superior protection and comfort on the ice. These shin guards are also adjustable, allowing players to customize the fit to their individual needs, making them a versatile and reliable option for any junior hockey player.

CCM Jetspeed FT680 Senior Hockey Shin Guards: We've named the CCM JetSpeed FT680 our best senior shin guards for the protective features adult players of any skill level will appreciate. The length-adjustable calf strap provides a customized fit andcompress molded mid-density foam in the calf offer protection and comfort. A JDP PE-molded knee cap and anatomically fitting shin cap gives durable protection with ample shock absorption and a stable fit.

Now that we've covered all the factors that go into choosing the best ice hockey shin guards, you're ready to begin shopping. HockeyMonkey has you covered with all the best senior, junior and youth ice hockey shin guards on the market, so be sure to check out our full selection of ice hockey shin guards today.

This article was originally published on July 5, 2021, and has been updated with new information.