girdle/shell vs. traditional pants

[rh71]

I came from roller and doing the transition to ice (been a year) so I have been wearing a relatively thin girdle with integrated cup along with an old CCM Supra pant. It's mainly because it's my only cup. I'm wondering if I switch to a full ice girdle/shell will it give me better mobility? Seems a little bulky the way I'm setup right now... bulky is fine, but does it slow you down / make you less agile?

I definitely felt more agile in roller but not sure if it's just because we didn't wear shoulder pads nor big pants.

Is the girdle/shell the next generation in gear, or simply just another option for players? The other question is are the CCM Supras surpassed by newer pants by a lot?

 

[Evergreen]

I've been wearing a girdle and shell since I was a squirt. I even wore one up through college hockey (D3). I've always liked the better flexibility you get from a girdle. I have been considering buying a pair of traditional pants, however, as my current girdle has lost about half of its pads and it's starting to become a pain in the neck to find them in my bag and try to reinsert them properly. Pants are the one thing I have always hated changing for some reason - even more so than skates - because more protection always felt more bulky to me and I just felt slower. It is probably just a mental thing, though. People seem to be gravitating back toward traditional pants these days. Almost nobody I played with in college wore a girdle. They also look worse if you want to tuck in your jersey because the shell doesn't cover the top part of the girdle.

 

[PierreMcGuire*]

I think traditional pants would be the way to go. I like using the girdle for Roller Hockey, but I can't imagine ever using it on ice, just doesn't seem right. But I've been wearing the pants my whole life.

But I guess at the end of the day it's all about what you want to wear, and what you feel most comfortable in. Though I don't think I've ever seen anyone not use traditional pants on ice in game action.

 

[keysersoze98]

I've been using a Mission roller hockey girdle and shell for ice hockey for about 10 years now. In non-checking hockey (adult league), it provides enough protection for me.

 

[jsykes]

Though I don't think I've ever seen anyone not use traditional pants on ice in game action.

If you've watched any NHL game you've seen guys wearing girdles and shells. They're not that uncommon in the pros or in most leagues. Taylor Hall and Gaborik are two of the bigger name guys that wear girdles.

I wear a girdle and shell and there are a couple other people on my team that do. When they're on, they're really hard to tell what is and is not regular pants.

I like them because they're more maneuverable and not as bulky as pants.

 

[CornKicker]

i always thought the girls wore girdles for ringette so any boy who does gets teased. I cant think of the last time ive seen one to be honest.

 

[PierreMcGuire*]

If you've watched any NHL game you've seen guys wearing girdles and shells. They're not that uncommon in the pros or in most leagues. Taylor Hall and Gaborik are two of the bigger name guys that wear girdles.

I wear a girdle and shell and there are a couple other people on my team that do. When they're on, they're really hard to tell what is and is not regular pants.

I like them because they're more maneuverable and not as bulky as pants.

I was speaking more from my own on ice experiences. Don't recall a teammate ever using the girdle set up when it comes to playing ice. Don't recall an opponent using the girdle shell set up, but then again I've never looked at what pants or whatever that the opposing player is wearing, and like you say you it's hard to tell, so I probably wouldn't notice even if I was looking out for it. I know it's an option and I do understand there are people that prefer it, but again it's just not something I think I would ever do.

 

[jsykes]

I'm sure its like Graf skates, some places just have more people that use them than others depending on availability and places that actually carry them. We have a lot of Graf users in my area as well.

I run a shop, I sell quite a few girdles, probably 1 in 5 pant sales. I have six of my staff that play hockey, three wear girdles, three pants.

 

[Fanned On It]

I wear a girdle. I like it because I'm thin and it's got that compression-style fit. Seems less bulky than the pants I've tried on as well. I don't think anyone can really tell it's a girdle from the outside unless they are really inspecting it. I know I never notice when someone else is wearing one unless I happen to see under his shell or up his/her leg for whatever reason.

 

[Jarick]

Pants are clean and simple, so I like them. Pull them on and tighten the belt, good to go. The girdles I've tried involved screwing around to get them on, then tightening the legs, screwing around with the cover, and they seemed to move around funny on the ice.

 

[rogerharris]

because pro hockey never made the transition to cooperall I dont think enough people have had a reason to try a pro level girdle system, and it just looks like more hassle. I kept the cooperall from the roller hockey league. I still had the old tackla pro shorts when i went back to ice, but prefered the snug fit of the girdle, and stripped the tackla pro into a girdle shell.


the idea was that the trousers are so much easier than all that hassle, messing around with stockings and suspenders... and who was that taking the P out of wearing a girdle ? whats stranger for a man to wear out the two options ?

 

[Gino 14]

I've worn both hockey pants and roller hockey girdle and pants and see no difference in either mobility or protection. Wear what you feel most comfortable in. If you happen to be playing upper level leagues then stick with a true hockey girdle for the protection.