How to Choose the Best Soccer Shin Guards for Kids and Adults

Soccer is not a dangerous sport but of course, sometimes injuries happen. It is no surprise that legs and especially shinbones are prone to injury. Therefore it is very important to protect them as much as possible. Shin guards are a must in professional soccer, but they are used also in recreational play and training. Here is our guide on how to choose the best soccer shin guards for kids and adults.

Content:

Top 3 Soccer Shin Guards

Soccer Shin Guards – Material used
Position requirements for Soccer Shin Guards
Soccer Shin Guards Sizes
— KIDS Soccer Shin Guards Sizes
— ADULTS Soccer Shin Guards Sizes

3 Best Soccer Shin Guards

VIZARI MALAGA Kids Soccer Shin Guards

“Great quality for a great price”

Vizari is not so known brand in the world of soccer like Nike, Adidas or Puma. However, this California based company makes a pretty good job in manufacturing soccer equipment.

At a reasonable price, you will get all the protection your kid need. Vizari Malaga Shin Guards have the lightweight plastic used for the front shell and foam padded backing for comfort.

Shin guards will stay as glued during the match or practice thanks to the upper and ankle straps.

Moreover, Malaga Vizari guards are produced in 10 different color combination and pricing is very friendly.

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NIKE MERCURIAL LITE Shin Guards

“Professional lightweight solution for offensive players”

Light soccer shin guards are suitable for offensive players. Nike Mercurial Lite shin guards are almost unnoticeable on your leg. They have negligible weight but provide a high level of protection.

They are strapless and the fit is ensured by compression sleeve. This solution was developed for the best soccer players who do not like any additional straps.

Nike Mercurial Lite shin guards are available in 18 different colors and 5 adult sizes.

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ADIDAS PERFORMANCE GHOST Youth Shin Guards

“Maximum comfort and protection”

Adidas Ghost shin guards collection is aimed at the youth soccer players. It provides the maximum possible comfort and increased protection.

The protection is secured by a hard front shield made. The comfort is provided by EVA cushioning foam.

Adidas Performance Ghost has an adjustable strap closure at the top of the guards. In combination with the ankle strap, the shin guards will stay at its position for all practice or game.

Adidas Performance Ghost guards are produced in 6 different colors and 5 different youth sizes.

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Soccer Shin Guards – What material is used

Soccer Shin Guards consist of three parts. Front Part (or Shield), Closure, and Backing

Front part/Shield

Shield or front is the main part which provides the shin protection. It can be made from Foam Rubber, Hard Plastic, Polyurethane or Carbon Fiber.

The best soccer shin guards are made with Carbon Fiber shield. On the other hand, shin guards with Polyurethane shield have good quality to price ratio.

Closure

The best soccer shin guards are made with Carbon Fiber shield. On the other hand, shin guards with Polyurethane shield have good quality to price ratio.

Players like when their shin guards stay at the right place during the match. Shin guards should not move during running and should be like glued to the shinbones.

There are two different closures used in shin guards. One is sock-like (or sleeve), where the shin guard is embedded in the sock(sleeve). The second way of closure is the strap. There are usually two adjustable straps on the shin guard. One is at the top, the second one on the ankle. Moreover, the stirrup can be used to keep the shin guard attached to your leg. Some branded shin guards use also hook-and-loop top straps.

Backing

Cushioning EVA foam is used as the lining of a shield to absorb the impact of any kick. Cushioning should be also soft and pleasant to touch as it rests on your skin during the game.

Soccer Shin Guards – Position matters

Different types of shin guards are needed depending on the player position. It is obvious that goalkeeper needs different protection on shine bones than defender or forward. The amount of ball fights and risk of receiving kicks to your shines is higher when you play in defense. The necessity to move quickly and to protect your ankles are high when you are forward. Check our recommendations for the best soccer shin guards for different positions in our table below:

Soccer Shin Guards Sizes

Choosing the right size of shin guards is the most important for the comfort and protection of soccer players. You have to be aware that sizing can be different for each brand and that is different from jersey sizing. The larger sizes of shin guards are longer and wider to accommodate larger leg diameters.

The best way how to choose the right shin guard size is to measure shin-length of player (from below kneecap to just above the bend of your ankle)

If you do not know the shin-length than the height of the player is the most important parameter. If you are not sure about the height then you can use age as a rough guideline for your decision.

How to choose the best soccer cleats for you or your kid? Check our guide to sizes and all you need to know about soccer cleats.

Look at our Shin Guard Size Tables for Kids and Adults

Kids Soccer Shin Guard Sizes

Keep goalkeepers hands safe and choose the right goalkeeper gloves.

General Kids Soccer Shin Guard Sizes

NIKE Youth Soccer Shin Guard Sizes

Adidas Youth Soccer Shin Guard Sizes

PUMA Youth Soccer Shin Guard Sizes

Adult Soccer Shin Guard Sizes

General Adults Soccer Shin Guard Sizes

NIKE Adult Soccer Shin Guard Sizes

Adidas Adult Soccer Shin Guard Sizes

PUMA Adult Soccer Shin Guard Sizes