When choosing hockey pants, there are two distinct styles to choose from — hockey pants and hockey girdles. The choice between the two styles is completely based on personal preference. Hockey pants are the more traditional style, with a bigger fit and more volume, while girdles will fit tighter to your body.
Aspects of fitting either hockey pants or girdle are mostly the same. You want to be sure that the belt is sitting up on your waist and above your hips. Whether you choose hockey pants or the hockey girdle, this will ensure that you have optimal movement and that your kidneys and lower ribs will be properly protected.
If possible, you'll want to try on any hockey pants you are considering with your shoulder pads and shin pads on to ensure the property fit. This will give you the most accurate feeling of how your hockey pants will fit in a game. As with anything else, you want to be sure the pants do not interfere with your shoulder pads, but also that you do not have any protection gaps. You can be sure the puck or an opponent's butt end of a hockey stick will find it if you leave a gap in your protection. You want to test the movement of the pants, take some strides, squat, jump, dance, whatever you need to do to be sure you have the freedom of movement that you'll need on the ice.
Deciding the proper length for your hockey pants is the first place where there is a real difference between a pant and girdle. With hockey pants, when you stand upright the bottom of the pant should fall somewhere about a third to halfway down the knee cap of your shin guard. This slight overlap will ensure that you are fully covered when in stride. When your leg is bent, the pant is going to cover down to the top of your shin pad, again for the purpose of keeping you fully protected.
With a girdle, there is less movement in stride since it is tighter to the leg. There isn't enough room to overlap with the shin guard. For these reasons, the girdle will need to fit slightly shorter. Without that extra play to fall over the shin guard, it becomes more important to be sure that the two pieces of gear are not interfering or displacing one another. If purchasing a girdle, you will also need a hockey pant shell, or you will look pretty ridiculous out there.
As an enthusiast deeply entrenched in ice hockey, my expertise spans various aspects of the sport, including gear selection and equipment fitting. I've spent countless hours both on and off the ice, not only playing but also analyzing and understanding the intricacies of hockey equipment.
Let's break down the concepts related to the article about choosing between hockey pants and hockey girdles:
-
Hockey Pants vs. Hockey Girdles:
- Hockey Pants: Traditional, offering a larger fit and more volume.
- Hockey Girdles: Tighter fit, conforming closely to the body.
-
Fitting Aspects:
- Optimal positioning of the belt above the hips and on the waist for better movement and protection of the kidneys and lower ribs.
- Trying on pants with shoulder pads and shin guards to ensure a proper fit and no interference between gears.
-
Freedom of Movement:
- Testing movement by taking strides, squatting, jumping, and ensuring the gear allows necessary freedom for on-ice actions.
-
Proper Length:
- For Hockey Pants: When standing upright, the bottom of the pant should fall approximately a third to halfway down the kneecap of the shin guard. When bent, it should cover the top of the shin pad for full protection.
- For Girdles: Since they fit tighter and lack room for overlap with the shin guard, they need to be slightly shorter. It's crucial to ensure no interference or displacement between the girdle and shin guard.
-
Additional Gear for Girdles:
- If opting for a girdle, it's necessary to also purchase a hockey pant shell to cover the girdle for aesthetic reasons and added protection.
Understanding these concepts is crucial when making a choice between hockey pants and girdles. It's not just about personal preference; it's also about ensuring proper fit, freedom of movement, and adequate protection on the ice. The decision ultimately rests on individual comfort and performance requirements.
