Choosing Between Hockey Pants and Girdles (2024)

Choosing Between Hockey Pants and Girdles (1)

When choosinghockey pants, you don’t want to make amistake.

We’re not even talking aCooperalls-level mistake. Longpants have, thankfully, been consigned to the clearance rack of hockey history.

Rather, your choice is between traditional ice hockey pantsand ice hockey girdles. They do the same job, but differently enough so thatchoosing between the two is not merely a matter of aesthetics (even thoughappearance is part of the deliberation, as well). Do you want to look like GordieHowe or feel like a superhero?

At the most basic level, traditional pants appear a littlelooser, and with the padding built in, the overall effect tends to be a morevoluminous appearance. Girdles are akin to armored compression shorts, coveredwith a closer-fitting pair of shorts called a “shell.”

Fit Bits

Before we get into the cargo shorts vs. slim fits argument,here’s what you’ll want to make sure of when trying on whichever option youchoose:

  • They fit properly with yourshoulder pads. There shouldn’t be any gaps in protection — sticks and pucks have a way of finding those — but neither should your pants interfere with the back and abdominal protection on your shoulder pads.
  • The belt doesn’t sit on your hips, but rather at your waist, to ensure the intended kidney and lower rib protection is maintained.
  • The length works with yourshin guards — and what works is different from pants to girdles. Pants, when standing, should cover about half of your knee guard. The girdle should stop short of the knee guard, leaving it up to the shell to cover the rest.
  • Girdling Your Loins

    Hockey girdles, basically, are the inside of hockey pants,disconnected from the outside and reconnected to something much more form fitting.They’re what they sound like — tight-fitting, protective garments.

    A benefit of girdles is that one girdle can be worn underwhatever shell you like. So, if you play for two or more teams, you can swapoutshells and use the more expensive girdle with all of them.

    Also, some girdles come with a built-in protective cup.You’ll need to wear a cup and supporter under traditional hockey pants.

    Choosing Between Hockey Pants and Girdles (2)

    Shorts Report

    Thebest hockey pants are loose, except at the belt. The pads arebuilt into and move with the shorts. They’re a much more traditional look thangirdles with hockey shells. Some players prefer to wear their hockey pants withsuspenders, to make sure the belt stays as high as it needs to be.

    Final Analysis

    One argument some make against girdles is that theirrelative tightness feels as if it restricts a player’s stride, and the overallfit is finicky and requires constant adjustment. Conversely, others say thatsame close fit feels lighter and makes them feel stronger and more athletic,and the pads moving in unison with the legs feels more natural.

    Ultimately, it’s a matter of personal preference. Either way, qualityhockey pants or a girdle, properly fitted, will protect and perform well.

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    Choosing Between Hockey Pants and Girdles (2024)

    FAQs

    Are hockey girdles better than pants? ›

    Which is Better, Hockey Pants or Girdles? It really all comes down to personal preference. Some people like the tight feeling of a girdle and will say it feels lighter and allows more freedom of movement.

    Do NHL players wear girdles or pants? ›

    NHL players have the option to wear girdles or hockey pants, but they all boil down to personal preference. Girdles are worn over hockey shells and must be covered when performing in games or practices. Players who choose to wear them often do so because they feel it gives them an edge on the ice.

    Do you wear a girdle under hockey pants? ›

    You'll need to wear a cup and supporter under traditional hockey pants. The best hockey pants are loose, except at the belt. The pads are built into and move with the shorts. They're a much more traditional look than girdles with hockey shells.

    What do you wear under a hockey girdle? ›

    Put on your undergarments. These can be compression shorts or jock shorts. Jock Shorts have a pocket for a cup and velcro tabs on the front and back of each leg to attach your hockey socks to. Jock shorts can be worn over compression pants.

    What is best to wear under hockey gear? ›

    WHAT DOES A HOCKEY PLAYER WEAR UNDER ALL OF THEIR EQUIPMENT? Long shirt and pants that are breathable, typically a moisture wicking material is preferred. The base layer should fit tight and feel comfortable. This layer improves the fit of the pads and helps control body temperature.

    Is it better to wear a girdle? ›

    Girdles do not reduce tummy fats! On the other hand, some studies have shown that wearing a girdle does not reduce tummy fats. It can only temporarily redistribute one's fats to the right places and make you look slimmer for the time being. However, it does not reduce tummy fats as it can't shrink the fat cells at all.

    Does McDavid wear a girdle? ›

    McDavid with the Super Tacks girdle (usually wears HP45), Jetspeed FT5 Pro and AS-V skates (most likely wrapped stick and skates) : r/hockeygearinfo.

    Do NHL players use flat bottom V? ›

    One of the first NHL teams to be using the flat bottom v skate sharpening method was the St. Louis blues, now over 20 NHL teams are using this method, quite a bold statement for a technique that just took off at the beginning of the year!

    Do NHL players shower between periods? ›

    Some players will take a shower during the intermission to feel revitalized for the upcoming period. Other players choose to meditate, closing their eyes, staying silent and visualizing their success for the remainder of the game.

    What kind of pants should I wear to a hockey game? ›

    Loose pants hold heat better than skinny jeans, particularly when you've got long johns under them, but it's your hockey outfit, not ours. And don't forget the wool socks and some winter boots. Wear what you'd wear to shovel the driveway on a cold, dark morning.

    How should a hockey girdle fit? ›

    How Should Hockey Pants Fit? Both hockey pants and hockey girdles should be snug with the belt around your waist, not your hips. Hockey pants will fall a little longer, overlapping the kneecap of your shin guard by about half way.

    What do hockey players wear around their waist? ›

    Garter Belts. Garter belts are basically suspenders. Garter belts are not worn very often in hockey, but the garter belt is used to make sure a player's hockey pants do not fall and slide down their waist.

    What do hockey players wear to protect their lower body? ›

    The hockey skate is usually made of a thick layer of leather or nylon to protect the feet and lower legs of the player from injury.

    What kind of pants do NHL players wear? ›

    Hockey players wear shorts, which are usually simply called “pants,” for mobility and safety reasons. The pants are padded and serve as protection for the thighs and the waist region. The pants are short to allow for the maximum range of motion during skating.

    What should kids wear under hockey equipment? ›

    Arrive at the rink with your child already in their hockey base layer, and a track suit or T shirt and pants over top. This will speed things up, and ensure that you didn't leave any of the base layer pieces at home. Start dressing your child from the bottom up, starting with the skate socks.

    Where do you put your weakest player in hockey? ›

    A "weaker" player is more focussing on the forehand techniques. Therefore he/she will position him/herself with the left shoulder or even the back towards the goal recieving a pass from a co-player. In this position the stopping/control of the ball will be in forehand and a shot/push can be taken also in forehand.

    Do you wear anything under hockey pants? ›

    For the lower body area, players often use a base layer pair of compression pants with an athletic cup. Some pants come with a jockstrap, so the purchase of a separate one wouldn't be necessary. Having a tighter pair of pants as a base layer can often keep shin guards from rubbing uncomfortably on bare skin as well.

    Should you wear a base layer for hockey? ›

    Your base layer in ice hockey is what you wear underneath all your gear. It's also known as performance apparel. This gear is important because it helps prevent excessive moisture from your sweat, prevent chafing, and extra comfortability, and even add more protection.

    What is the disadvantage of using girdle? ›

    Due to being rather restricting, a girdle can lead to problems with blood circulations, which, in turn, will cause your heart to work harder with negative consequences. Digestive problems. Most girdles feel rather tight on your abdomen and often compress your stomach, intestines, and colon.

    Is it OK to wear girdle everyday? ›

    Because of its stretchy nature, shapewear won't permanently damage your organs, Dr. Wakim-Fleming says. But if you wear a body garment that is extremely tight for a long time, it could squeeze your digestive tract enough to create acid reflux, a condition in which stomach contents leak into the esophagus.

    When did people stop wearing girdles? ›

    By 1970, the girdle was generally supplanted by the wearing of pantyhose (called tights in British English).

    What Flex does Ovechkin use? ›

    Alexander Ovechkin is 230 pounds and uses a 79 flex stick, which is probably a big reason for his one-timer. Sidney Crosby uses a 100 flex stick, higher than you may imagine for a skilled player.

    Who wears a girdle in modern times? ›

    A modern-day girdle or waist trainer will help slim down your natural waistline to create an hourglass figure, with a tiny waist and curves over the hips. They were made popular again by the likes of the Kardashians (mainly Kim and Kourtney), Nicki Minaji, Jessica Alba and even Lindsey Lohan.

    Why are hockey pants called breezers? ›

    Well, the term originated from an early hockey gear manufacturer who referred to a new model of hockey pants as “Breezers”. You could think about it like “Cooperalls”. This was another piece of protective hockey equipment where the manufacturer—Cooper—put the brand name into the name of the new piece of gear.

    What is the hardest position in hockey? ›

    It is said that goalie is the most difficult position to play within Ice Hockey, and one of the hardest to play in any sport. The main objective for a goalie is to keep the puck out of the net, and with a great one, they can control the game and greatly influence their team's confidence.

    What curve do most NHL players use? ›

    Mid-curves are the most common. They're better for stick-handling than heel curves while retaining a decent sweet spot on both the forehand and backhand. Toe curves twist down as they bend, making them great for danglers who favor quick wrist shots.

    What is the most tiring position in hockey? ›

    The hardest position to play in hockey is the goalie. The goalie takes the longest to learn, is the most mental taxing, the most physically demanding, and often the biggest factor in determining whether a team wins or loses.

    What do female athletes do when they get their period? ›

    Some female athletes also use birth control pills to manipulate their periods, but it is advised not to pop these pills right before an event, since it could lead to decreased performance levels. There's another way female athletes manage their periods, and that's by using a period tracker.

    Do NHL players get new gloves every period? ›

    Mark Stone uses three pairs of gloves per period and rotates them every timeout,” Davidson-Adams said. “So his gloves don't end up being that sweaty. We dry them after every TV timeout, and he goes to a fresh pair, so his gloves aren't naturally that sweaty.

    What do NHL players drink? ›

    BioSteel is the Official Sports Drink of the NHL (CNW Group/BioSteel Sports Nutrition Inc.) BioSteel's Clean. Healthy. Hydration.

    How do you look cute in a hockey game? ›

    You can wear duck boots and leggings too with a vest for the hockey game. But make sure to match your shirt with the vest. Another option is cowboy boots with skinny jeans. Sweater, skinny jeans tucked in high knitted socks paired with cowboy boots is sure to make you look attractive.

    What do compression pants do for hockey? ›

    Many people who play sports involving equipment (think ice hockey, football, lacrosse, etc.) wear compression tops and bottoms under their gear to encourage blood flow and enhance performance.

    How do you know if your hockey pants are too small? ›

    If the pants are too tight around the waist and don't overlap the thigh protection of the shin guards they are too small.

    How do you know what size girdle to get? ›

    You just need to follow 3 simples steps:
    1. Take your contour, waist and hip measurements like shown in the figure.
    2. Locate your measurements in the sizing chart.
    3. If all of your measurements are not in the same column, choose the size based on your biggest measurement.

    What size girdle do I need? ›

    How do I know what sized girdle is right for me?
    SizeWaist Size
    Youth Large30" - 32"
    Small28" - 30"
    Medium32" - 34"
    Large36" - 38"
    5 more rows

    Is it better to have a shorter or longer hockey stick? ›

    A longer hockey stick is usually preferred by defensive players! The longer stick allows you to intercept passes, take larger poke checks, and achieve an overall greater reach. On the other hand, using a larger stick can make stickhandling more difficult and often get in the way when trying to dangle or shoot.

    Why do hockey players have tight hips? ›

    Hip tightness is a common complaint from hockey players, caused by the repetitive pattern of skating and a lot of time spent in a hip flexed position. Upper back tightness is also common problem, building up from forward leaning and rounded postures on the ice.

    How do you avoid body checks in hockey? ›

    Take the Proper Angle to the Puck

    To avoid a check that throws you into the boards—especially head first—approach the puck at an angle that doesn't square your shoulders to the boards: Don't skate straight at a puck that's along the boards.

    What is a Jill in hockey? ›

    Women's Protective Jocks (known as Jills) are offered by your favorite brands in both loose and compression fits. Loose mesh jills are loose fitting for a more traditional fit that breathe very well. Compression fit jills sit close to your body for more responsiveness.

    What do you wear under a hockey jock? ›

    Compression shorts and jock or jill shorts are the first piece of equipment you should put on. You can wear compression shorts on their own if they have a cup pocket, or you can wear them underneath your jock or jill shorts. Jock shorts always have cup pockets and Velcro tabs for keeping hockey socks up.

    Why do hockey players have big thighs? ›

    The intensity and volume of hockey is often adequate for breaking down the muscle fibers and thus causing an increase in leg and hip muscle size in novice and average players.

    Are girdles better than hockey pants? ›

    Which is Better, Hockey Pants or Girdles? It really all comes down to personal preference. Some people like the tight feeling of a girdle and will say it feels lighter and allows more freedom of movement.

    What CCM pants do NHL players wear? ›

    The CCM Tacks AS-V Pro is the go-to choice for the highly physical player who dishes out hits and blocks shots because it features thicker D30 Foam than the AS-V. If the Bauer Hyperlite doesn't suit your style of play, then definitely take a look at the AS-V Pro!

    Can you wear 69 in the NHL? ›

    Fun fact: Desjardins and forward Melvin Angelstad (two games with the Washington Capitals in 2003-04) are the only players in NHL history to wear No. 69.

    What does my son need for hockey? ›

    Kids who play hockey need:
    • Helmet. When it comes to preventing serious injuries, this is the most important piece of equipment. ...
    • Skates. As with helmets, be sure to get skates that fit well. ...
    • Shoulder pads, elbow pads, knee and shin pads. ...
    • Hockey pants. ...
    • Gloves. ...
    • Athletic supporter and cup. ...
    • Neck protector. ...
    • Mouthguard.

    Do Balance Boards help with hockey? ›

    Do Balance Boards Work For Hockey Training? Absolutely. Balance boards are designed to strengthen the body's core. Hockey players need a strong core in order to stay on their skates and play well for an entire game.

    How do you look cute at a hockey game? ›

    You can wear duck boots and leggings too with a vest for the hockey game. But make sure to match your shirt with the vest. Another option is cowboy boots with skinny jeans. Sweater, skinny jeans tucked in high knitted socks paired with cowboy boots is sure to make you look attractive.

    How do you break in hockey pants? ›

    The best way to break in leg pads is to work them naturally — meaning to bend them in the same ways they would be bent during a game. This can either be done while wearing the pads, or by bending them while they're off.

    Is black or white tape better for hockey? ›

    Many believe that using black tape is what hides the puck from the goalie, but many goalies actually mentioned that white makes it harder to see when they are shooting the puck because the tape blends into the color of the ice.

    When should you stop wearing compression? ›

    When compression stockings are recommended after surgery, they should usually be worn as much as possible, day and night, until you're able to move around freely.

    What is the point of wearing compression pants? ›

    Compression clothing claims to increase blood flow to working muscles, and improve recovery and performance. “Compression wear is largely used by athletes who participate in sports, from cycling, running and weight training to rugby, soccer, netball, triathlons and swimming,” says personal trainer Kristy Curtis.

    How do you get your legs in shape for hockey? ›

    Jump squats, one-leg hops, box jumps, and skater jumps are all examples of plyometric exercise. These exercises demand that your muscles contract to explode upwards and then cause a stretch as you land, the combination of which is highly effective in developing leg and stomach muscles and improving your hockey shape.

    How do you fix weak ankles in hockey? ›

    Additional support exercises that I like to incorporate into my hockey athletes warm-ups, cooldowns, and training to improve ankle mobility and stability include:
    1. Single-Leg Balance And Reach. ...
    2. T-Stands. ...
    3. Toes Elevated Squats. ...
    4. Deep Squat Hold With Toes Elevated. ...
    5. Cossack Squats. ...
    6. Ladder Drill Variations. ...
    7. Hurdle Drill Variations.
    Jul 13, 2020

    How can I increase my stamina for hockey? ›

    The simplest off-ice interval training exercise is running, whether on a treadmill or outside. You would sprint at high-intensity for about half a minute and then jog slowly or walk for a couple of minutes to recover.

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