how to measure for goalie leg pads?
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how to measure for goalie leg pads?
There are three different measurements that when added together allow you to find the proper leg pad size.
Step 1. The first measurement is the goalie’s skate size. Example – Size 8 skates.
Step 2. In inches, measure from the ankle to the middle of the kneecap. Example – 15”
Step 3. The third measurement is from the center of the kneecap to the center of your thigh. The center of your thigh is where the thigh rise will come up to. Example – 10”
Step 4. Add all three measurements to find your leg pad size. Example: skate size + ankle to knee + knee to thigh (8 + 15 + 10) = 33” leg pad.
Sizing Goalie Leg Pads
For sizing leg pads, the best method is to try on a new set of leg pads with skates, goal pants and knee pads if the goalie prefers them. If a goalie cannot make it to one of our MonkeySports Superstores, I would suggest to use your Ankle to Knee Measurement (ATK) and multiply it by 2 to find your overall pad size. While sitting, a goalie should measure from the outside of their ankle bone to the middle front of their knee cap. For example, if a goalie measures their ATK and it comes to 17.5”they should fit well in a 35” overall pad. This number can be relative to what the goalie is currently wearing, the additional thigh rise of their preference, volume of pants in the butterfly and how tight/loose the goalie like to wear their pads.
The thigh rise addition is the extra amount of inches added onto the top portion of the pad. The stock size of the thigh rise is different per manufacturer and the plus sizing is dependent upon the goalies size and preference. A larger thigh rise is not always necessarily better. Sometimes a larger thigh rise can close the five-hole a little bit better but it can always effect a goalies recovery time and technique, skating and even shooting the puck.
Fitting goalie skates
CHART
| PREMIER (BOX style)GOAL PAD SIZING CHART | ||
|
GOAL PAD SIZE |
SHIN MEASUREMENT |
THIGH MEASUREMENT |
|
32” |
15 ½” |
7 inches = 2 inches off the top |
|
33” |
16 ½” |
8 inches = 1 inch off the top |
|
34” |
17 ½” |
9 inches = 0 inches off the top |
|
35” |
18 ½” |
10 inches = 1 inch added to the top |
|
36” |
19 ½” |
11 inches = 2 inches added to the top |
|
37” |
20 ½” |
|
|
38” |
21 ½” |
|
|
PREDATOR (conventional) GOAL PAD SIZING CHART |
||
|
GOAL PAD SIZE |
SHIN MEASUREMENT |
THIGH MEASUREMENT |
|
32” |
15 ½” |
7 inches = 2 inches off the top |
|
33” |
16 ½” |
8 inches = 1 inch off the top |
|
34” |
17 ½” |
9 inches = 0 inches off the top |
|
35” |
18 ½” |
10 inches = 1 inch added to the top |
|
36” |
19 ½” |
11 inches = 2 inches added to the top |
|
37” |
20 ½” |
|
|
38” |
21 ½” |
|
Goalie Pad Fitting
Goal pads are sized numerically rather than by standard “Small, Medium, Large, etc.”. This number is the measurement from the toe of the pads to the top of the thigh, in inches. However, nearly all pads for the past decade come with a standard +1 or +2 sizing. This refers to the additional height added to the top of the thigh on the pad. For example, a 34+1, 34+2, and 34+3 will all have the identical shin length and knee placement, but the thigh length above the knee increases. This allows for a more personalized fit for goaltenders with different leg shapes and sizes.
The 2 major keys when fitting a goal pad are as follows:
Knee placement. The modern goaltender is taught the butterfly save and style from early on. Because of this, the goaltender will spend a lot of time on their knees, and ensuring their knee is properly placed in the cradle will reduce the risk of a goaltender injuring their knees when dropping to the ice.
To test sizing, have the goaltender do up all the straps on the pads, exactly how they would in a game. Have the goaltender drop to a butterfly, and hold the position. While they are still, ask them to gently click their heels together, to allow for a better view of the knee placement. The middle of the goaltender’s knees should land in the middle of the knee cradle, allowing for optimal fit and weight distribution. If the goaltender’s knees are towards the top of the knee cradle, they will outgrow the pads in a short period of time.
To allow for growth room, the goaltender’s knees should land in the bottom 1/3 of the cradle, no lower. If the knee is too low, it will slide out of the cradle and slam against the ice.
Goalie Pad Sizing Measurement
Our goalie pad sizing spreadsheet is based off where your ankle bone would fit in each pad, therefore where that would put the center of your knee in the knee cradle on the corresponding pad.
How to precisely measure your leg.
The key measurement in fitting any goalie pad is the center of the ankle bone to center of the knee cap. This should be done by using a tape measure with the goalie’s legs shoulder-width apart and slightly bent. This measurement should be taken on the outside of the leg. With this measurement, you can compare your number (in inches) against our sizing spreadsheet below to see what size pad would be an ideal fit.
If your ankle bone to knee cap measurement is correct, we have found that you have a very high chance the pad will be a great fit.If your ankle bone to knee cap does not fit the goalie pad, your knee will either be above or below the knee cradle, meaning the pad and goalie can not properly function together.
How to Strap Goalie Leg Pads?
Strapping tends to be extremely preferential among goalies. Every strap on goalie pads do serve a purpose and will help the goalie in their on ice performance. Through the years, goaltenders have begun to wear their pads tighter at the bottom and a bit looser towards the top. Trends have shown that goalies now are wearing their pads looser on the bottom and even looser towards the top to allow the pad to hang off the leg which aids in a faster five-hole closure.
Tighter strapping tends to fight the natural rotation pads are now designed to have, but some goaltenders still prefer that feel. Tight versus loose strapping styles will also directly affect the width of a goaltender’s butterfly. For example, when a goalie’s pads are strapped more on the looser side, their legs tend to come away from the pads and the pads tend to show wider than the actual shape of the goalies legs. Adversely when the pads are pulled tight, they tend to lose this view and become narrower in their butterfly.
Where to Buy Goalie Equipment?
If you’re in the “just browsing” phase of shopping check out Goalie Monkey for a massive selection of gear. You can get an idea of pricing, styles, and brands available. Once you have an idea of what you like, it’s a good idea to head to a store and try the gear on. If you’re REALLY set on equipment, call ahead to see if it’s in stock in your size. And If you’re looking for a deal on gear try the Goalie Monkey clearance section or local classifieds.
So, If you’re in the Edmonton Alberta area you can visit our friends at United Cycle (they wrote this guide). Otherwise look for a hockey store that specializes in goalie equipment nearby. For Canadians Pro Hockey Life is a good option both online and in stores and Hockey Monkey also has some retail locations in Canada and the USA.
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