Help with Shoulder Pad Sizing for a Beginner

[kjvelo]

Hey everyone,

At the age of 38, I’m finally getting around to learning how to play ice hockey. Took a couple sets of weekly classes this past winter that didn’t require full equipment, and now want to start going to some low level pick up games in my area (once this whole COVID-19 situation passes), which require full equipment.

I’ve managed to get a bunch of equipment at end of season prices, following advice / reviews I’ve found online.

One thing I’m not sure about is whether my shoulder pads fit properly and/or whether they’re a good choice for what I’ll be using them for (maybe something lower profile would be better?). They’re a pair of Bauer Supreme S150 shoulder pads (2015 version I think) in a size medium, and I’m 5’10” and 165 lbs. I think, but am not sure, that the shoulder caps sit a bit high and there seems to be a bit too big of a gap between my hockey pants and the bottom of the front of the shoulder pads (it’s fine at the back), but I might also have my hockey pants too low...? Some of the reviews for these pads say they do fit a bit on the small side, which might explain things since I think normally I’d fall right in the middle of the medium size range for most brands.

I’ve attached a pic of how they fit and would really appreciate any advice!

Two alternatives I’m looking at, with shoulder caps that I think might have a better shape for me, are:

CCM Tacks 9040: CCM TACKS 9040 SR SHOULDER PADS

Bauer Supreme S170: BAUER SUPREME S170 SR SHOULDER PADS

Would appreciate any thoughts on those alternatives or any others that might be good for me.

Thanks!

 

[Yukon Joe]

I'll defer to bigger experts (I have all of 2 seasons under my belt) but those look fine. There is supposed to be a gap between your shoulder pads and your hockey pants! That's how you're able to twist and move. A puck to the abdomen will hurt, but will not break bones or cause any significant injuries.

Make sure your shoulder pads (really more of a chest protector + shoulder pads) covers your rib cage and you should be fine. And yours looks like it will.

Congrats on finally taking the plunge! It was a great decision for me to do as an adult! If possible, I would recommend looking around for a full learn-to-play class rather than just jumping into pick-up games, but I don't know what's available in your area.

 

[Toonces]

I've been playing nearly 30 years and as far as I can remember I've always had a little gap between my pants and my shoulder pads. During that time I can count the number of pucks I remember taking to the belly on one hand. I did get butt ended a few times, but I hope just playing beer league that's not really happening.

Fit looks just fine to me. More often than not you aren't going to be standing straight up anyway. Assuming they're comfortable and have good range of motion, go for it.

Good luck on your hockey journey once all this garbage is over!

 

[sparxx87]

Those fit well, might even be a little too big. There’s almost certainly no body checking in the league you’ll play so you really don’t even need them. Some 35+ rec leagues see several players not wearing them at all. You’ll feel more secure with them but I think you’ll quickly learn they’re the least essential of all your gear.

A few companies have actually started making ‘classic’ pairs for the older rec leagues that require them. With no hitting, the smaller and lighter the better.

You’re really just looking for the cap on your shoulders in case you get bumped into the boards/glass.

Good luck!

 

[HansonBro]

I havnt worn shoulder pads in 20 years. If I was forced to, I'd wear similar to the 3 above. Smaller, lighter and more range of motion over protection IMO

 

[Yukon Joe]

Those fit well, might even be a little too big. There’s almost certainly no body checking in the league you’ll play so you really don’t even need them. Some 35+ rec leagues see several players not wearing them at all. You’ll feel more secure with them but I think you’ll quickly learn they’re the least essential of all your gear.

A few companies have actually started making ‘classic’ pairs for the older rec leagues that require them. With no hitting, the smaller and lighter the better.

Even with no hitting, when you play at an absolute beginner level you have to worry about people not being able to stop, or just tripping and falling over. I'd still prefer to play with shoulder pads.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Those fit well, might even be a little too big. There’s almost certainly no body checking in the league you’ll play so you really don’t even need them. Some 35+ rec leagues see several players not wearing them at all. You’ll feel more secure with them but I think you’ll quickly learn they’re the least essential of all your gear.

A few companies have actually started making ‘classic’ pairs for the older rec leagues that require them. With no hitting, the smaller and lighter the better.

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You’re really just looking for the cap on your shoulders in case you get bumped into the boards/glass.

Good luck!

I agree with this. As a beginner, moving at slow speeds with zero hitting, there's a low likelihood of actually using your shoulder pads for their intended purpose. It would take a really fluke situation for the size of the pads to make any difference, as long as you have basic coverage like the "classic" pads. IMO you're better off with lighter protection and the ability to move with agility and comfort.

I'm not saying go down to zero (I know guys who do that, but they are usually the better skaters and have a history in full-contact play) but there's really not much to be gained from thicker shoulder caps unless you're in a hitting league.

 

[sparxx87]

Even with no hitting, when you play at an absolute beginner level you have to worry about people not being able to stop, or just tripping and falling over. I'd still prefer to play with shoulder pads.

That’s true. I guess I never recall having a fall cushioned by shoulder pads. It always seems to be the lower half or elbow pads that hit the ice, but for the sense of security, I understand.

 

[Toonces]

That’s true. I guess I never recall having a fall cushioned by shoulder pads. It always seems to be the lower half or elbow pads that hit the ice, but for the sense of security, I understand.

Yeah, it's been years since I've worn shoulder pads for beer league and I've never really fallen on my shoulders or chest. I have a pair of 5030's that I used in college and they were great, so if I were to start using them again I'd put those back on in a heartbeat. Now I'm a relatively big guy, 6'3, my playing weight in college was about 225, and I was very comfortable taking and giving hits in those, so I think they would be just great for a beginner playing in a no check league. I wouldn't recommend them for every situation, but for what the OP needs those would be just fine.

 

[kjvelo]

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice!

 

[Deadpool8812]

Being a beginner, I would definitely be wearing shoulder pads

 

[kjvelo]

Hey again everyone,

Hoping to get a bit more advice for shoulder pads and also for hockey pants.

For the shoulder pads, I took a look online to see what I could find that's more low profile, but most of the low profile options are sold out in my size. I ended up ordering the Bauer Supreme S170 shoulder pads to give them a try, since reviewers say they have a lower profile shoulder cap. Got em in both M and L, since they apparently fit a bit small. I tried both on and I definitely like the shoulder caps better than the S150s I posted a pic of before, and they do seem lower profile. On the other hand, the S170s seem to fit a bit looser around the collar bone and the bicep guard leaves a bigger gap with my elbow pad than the S150s (the S170s have an adjustable bicep guard, so I lengthened them as much as possible, but there was still a bigger gap than with the fixed S150 bicep guards). Between the M and L for the S170s, I think (but I’m not sure) that the shoulder caps sit a bit better on the L and there’s a bit less gap between bicep guard and elbow pad, but the M fits better otherwise (around the collarbone and chest).

I’ve added a few more pics. The first two are the S170 in L and the second two are the S170 in M. The last pic is the S150 again, just with my elbow pads on this time for comparison with the S170s. Any advice on the best fit of the three would be great.

For hockey pants, I got the Sherwood Rekker EK40s in S and M. The sizing on the pants say the S is for people up to 5’6”, but I think they actually fit okay lengthwise (and when I put the two sizes back to back, they seem pretty much the same length). They’re a bit snugger than the M, but I think would be okay (kind of hard to tell without skating in them). The M definitely has a bit more room, which might be a good thing for mobility, but I have to cinch the waist belt pretty much all the way for them to stay up properly. Hoping I could get some thoughts on the better fit for those as well, since I’m still not sure after reading/watching a bunch of sizing advice online. They’re in the same pics as the shoulder pads - the first two pics are the M (green) and the second two pics are the S (black).

That’s a lot of questions, so thanks in advance again. Feel like I don’t really know what I’m doing and the advice on this forum has been a big help!

 

[tarheelhockey]

Hey again everyone,

Hoping to get a bit more advice for shoulder pads and also for hockey pants.

For the shoulder pads, I took a look online to see what I could find that's more low profile, but most of the low profile options are sold out in my size. I ended up ordering the Bauer Supreme S170 shoulder pads to give them a try, since reviewers say they have a lower profile shoulder cap. Got em in both M and L, since they apparently fit a bit small. I tried both on and I definitely like the shoulder caps better than the S150s I posted a pic of before, and they do seem lower profile. On the other hand, the S170s seem to fit a bit looser around the collar bone and the bicep guard leaves a bigger gap with my elbow pad than the S150s (the S170s have an adjustable bicep guard, so I lengthened them as much as possible, but there was still a bigger gap than with the fixed S150 bicep guards). Between the M and L for the S170s, I think (but I’m not sure) that the shoulder caps sit a bit better on the L and there’s a bit less gap between bicep guard and elbow pad, but the M fits better otherwise (around the collarbone and chest).

I’ve added a few more pics. The first two are the S170 in L and the second two are the S170 in M. The last pic is the S150 again, just with my elbow pads on this time for comparison with the S170s. Any advice on the best fit of the three would be great.

For hockey pants, I got the Sherwood Rekker EK40s in S and M. The sizing on the pants say the S is for people up to 5’6”, but I think they actually fit okay lengthwise (and when I put the two sizes back to back, they seem pretty much the same length). They’re a bit snugger than the M, but I think would be okay (kind of hard to tell without skating in them). The M definitely has a bit more room, which might be a good thing for mobility, but I have to cinch the waist belt pretty much all the way for them to stay up properly. Hoping I could get some thoughts on the better fit for those as well, since I’m still not sure after reading/watching a bunch of sizing advice online. They’re in the same pics as the shoulder pads - the first two pics are the M (green) and the second two pics are the S (black).

That’s a lot of questions, so thanks in advance again. Feel like I don’t really know what I’m doing and the advice on this forum has been a big help!

Nothing in those pics looks "off" to me, so I think you're really down to which ones give you a comfortable range of motion and feel like they're snug where they're supposed to be. One thing to consider for the shoulder pads is whether you're planning to wear a regular cotton tshirt, an athletic shirt, or nothing underneath. I find that thicker shirts tend to make the fit more snug by filling small gaps, while going bare-chested leaves extra space where the shirt would be. There are obvious trade-offs for heat and sweat-stickiness.

As far as pants, I would be a wary of a pair that really slips when you move around, but as long as they're staying in place when the belt is cinched then it will be fine. If you can run back and forth across the room a couple of times without having to pull them up, then they aren't going anywhere when you're crouched down skating. In a pinch you can always wear a pair of mesh shorts to add snugness, or add suspenders for the old-school look.

In general, as they aren't actively bouncing around, falling off, or causing chafe marks on your skin, I think any of the above will be OK. You've narrowed it into the right range of options where it's more about your body profile than about the equipment sizing.

 

[kjvelo]

Great - thanks so much! That’s really helpful advice and reassuring to know. Appreciate it!

 

[kjvelo]

Hey everyone,

I've got one last question before I'm all set with my gear.

Figured out which shoulder pads to go with, but still having trouble deciding on the hockey pants (whether to go with small or medium for the Sherwood Rekker EK40s). They both felt good trying them on in the house with my shin guards and shoulder pads, so I decided to throw on my old rollerblades and take a skate around the block with each of them on along with the shin guards and shoulder pads. Even after that, I didn't really notice much of a difference (the mediums had a bit more room in the thighs and the smalls were snugger, but mobility was good for both and neither felt like they were slipping down. They're the exact same length, so no difference there).

So, just wondering if people think it's generally better to go with the bigger or smaller size of hockey pants, when both feel pretty good.

Thanks for the help!

 

[BruinDust]

Hey everyone,

I've got one last question before I'm all set with my gear.

Figured out which shoulder pads to go with, but still having trouble deciding on the hockey pants (whether to go with small or medium for the Sherwood Rekker EK40s). They both felt good trying them on in the house with my shin guards and shoulder pads, so I decided to throw on my old rollerblades and take a skate around the block with each of them on along with the shin guards and shoulder pads. Even after that, I didn't really notice much of a difference (the mediums had a bit more room in the thighs and the smalls were snugger, but mobility was good for both and neither felt like they were slipping down. They're the exact same length, so no difference there).

So, just wondering if people think it's generally better to go with the bigger or smaller size of hockey pants, when both feel pretty good.

Thanks for the help!

Keep in mind your probably going to see the pants stretch a bit once you start wearing them. If you wear suspenders, you can likely get away with wearing the bigger size (Medium) without an issue. As far as room in the thighs, for me it was personal preference. I picked up new pants a couple years back, was down to a model of Bauer Vapors vs. CCM Quicklites. I went with the Quicklites as they had more room in the thigh area for me.

 

[kjvelo]

Oh right, hadn't thought about them stretching after use. That's helpful, thanks!

 

[Toonces]

Oh right, hadn't thought about them stretching after use. That's helpful, thanks!

Yeah, they definitely do stretch out a bit, not a ton, but enough so it's worth keeping in mind. A lot of this is personal preference, but I like them very snug at the waist but loose in the legs, and I've been known to cut the bottom of my legs open if they're too tight after they break in. My current pair have zippers on the bottom so this isn't an issue any more.

You'll develop your own preferences after a while, so try not to overthink this all too much. You seem all set to play so keep us posted when you finally can!

 

[kjvelo]

Great, thanks so much guys. Really helpful as a newbie to be able to get some advice!

These have the zippers on the inside of the legs too, so sounds like I might be better off with the smalls, since I can always open up the legs if I decide I need more room.

Thanks!