With schools starting back up and the National Football League approaching the start of its season, it’s time to prepare for your or your children’s leagues. There is plenty of gear to pick up, but as football is such a contact-heavy sport, it’s wise to focus on protection first. A football girdle, also known as integrated football pants, is the perfect way to protect your legs and buttocks without worrying about your pads shifting around your body. However, there’s more to choosing the right one than just ensuring it fits.
Football girdles come in two basic forms depending on how many pads they have.
Football girdles end in different spots depending on if it’s a five- or seven-pad girdle. Five-pad girdles end just above the knee, while seven-pad girdles can end either just below the knee or around the shin. Typically, you don’t want a girdle longer than your regular pants, but in cases of cold weather, you may want to consider an extra-long seven-pad girdle.
Football girdles should fit tightly against your legs so as not to shift around, but better girdles go a step farther and add some compression. Compression helps to maintain blood flow, which keeps your muscles operating efficiently. It also reduces chafing.
Even in a blizzard, you will get sweaty playing football. As such, most girdles use various techniques to manage all that extra moisture. The best use of mesh is in as many places as possible for maximum breathability. However, even girdles without mesh can still be comfortable if they’re made with moisture-wicking materials.
A. Yes. In fact, it’s quite common to wear a football girdle while playing other high-contact sports, such as basketball or soccer. You can even wear a compression football girdle while cycling for both comfort and protection, or you can also wear one while engaging in noncontact but still aggressive activities, such as paintball.
A. Technically, no. Like most football equipment, nearly all football girdles are designed for men. However, the extent of this male-centric design typically begins and ends with extra space in the crotch for a cup. Considering that women can also wear cups to play sports, though they’re admittedly smaller, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find a girdle that works for you, no matter your body type.
Tuoy Five-Pad Compression Football Girdle
This is an excellent starting point for those needing a girdle for the first time. It has a solid construction, spread-out padding placement and good moisture wicking and overall breathability. It also comes in a large range of sizes and three colors.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Champro Tri-Flex Five Pad Football Girdle
This girdle’s hip pads protrude upward to provide more protection to the hip bone while using mesh covers to promote plenty of airflow to keep you dry and comfortable. The pads also use Champro’s Tri-Flex system to help them conform to your body.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sports Unlimited Adult Five-Pad Integrated Football Girdle 2.0
This girdle uses a compression-based fit to keep the girdle from shifting and help keep the blood flowing to your muscles. This is on top of the large pads, especially the extra-large tailbone pad, that leave little unprotected.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sports Unlimited Adult Seven-Pad Integrated Football Girdle
Football can be a hot, sweaty activity, but this girdle keeps you feeling comfortable and dry by using ventilated mesh around the crouch and backside. Plus, the padding is flexible to avoid limiting your normal movement while covering almost all of your legs.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sports Unlimited Omaha Adult Seven-Pad Integrated Football Girdle
This girdle uses extra-large pads to protect more of your legs and a larger area around your tailbone than most girdles. However, it’s thin enough to remain comfortable when worn underneath regular football pants. There’s also plenty of space to use a cup.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Tuoy Men’s Seven-Pad Compression Football Girdle
This extra-long girdle is perfect for those playing in cold weather. Players still get sweaty, though, and the polyester material tackles this by being highly breathable, moisture wicking and quick drying. For the sweat that doesn’t get wicked, this girdle has an anti-odor feature.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Jordan C. Woikawrites for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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