Buying Guide The Top Compression and Protection Shorts for Hockey Players
Buying Guide The Top Compression and Protection Shorts for Hockey Players
Comfortable Compression Fit
The best hockey shorts offer a snug yet flexible compression fit. This keeps muscles stable and prevents fatigue. Look for shorts made with stretch fabrics that move with you. Shock Doctor uses four-way stretch fabrics designed for athletic mobility.
Adequate Protection with a Cup
Hockey is a contact sport, so protection is a must. Many shorts come with an integrated cup for shielding the critical pelvic region. Shock Doctor’s BioFlex cups are ventilated for breathability and use flexible polymers that move naturally with your body.
Safety Features
Additional safety features like padded tailbones, reinforced seams, and antimicrobial linings take protection up a notch. Shock Doctor’s BioFlex cups have an ergonomic shape and padded edges for comfort during impacts.
Sizing for Youth
It’s important to get the right fit, especially for young athletes who are still growing. Most brands offer hockey shorts in youth sizes so you can find the ideal compression and coverage as kids develop.
Keeping Muscles Warm
Compression shorts promote circulation and keep muscles warm. This aids performance and reduces injury risk. Materials like spandex and Lycra offer elastic compression. Shock Doctor uses four-way stretch fabrics to wrap muscles during activity.
When you’re gearing up for hockey, compression shorts with integrated protection are essential. Brands like Shock Doctor specialize in innovative athletic support shorts that offer comfort, flexibility, and safety on the ice.
Ensure Adequate Protection with a Cup
When playing a physical, contact-heavy sport like hockey, protecting the pelvic region is critically important. Getting hit with a puck or stick in the wrong area can cause severe pain, injury, or even permanent damage. That’s why wearing shorts with an integrated cup is highly recommended.
Look for shorts that come with a ventilated, breathable cup made from flexible materials that move naturally with your body. The BioFlex cups in Shock Doctor’s hockey shorts use innovative polymers that provide full protection without restricting motion. The ergonomic shape and padded edges shield you from impacts while staying comfortable.
Make sure to get the right size cup that will completely cover and protect the pelvic region. Shock Doctor offers shorts with cups in junior sizes for young athletes as well as adult sizes. Get a snug fit but not so tight that it digs into the skin or limits mobility. With the right shorts and cup, you can play your best game without worrying about taking a painful blow.
Some players opt for stand-alone cups and supporters for customized protection. But integrated shorts with built-in cups offer an all-in-one solution that’s more convenient and just as safe. Brands like Shock Doctor specialize in high-performance athletic shorts with integrated bio-flexible cups designed for rigorous contact sports.
Consider Safety Features like BioFlex Cups
When choosing protective hockey shorts, prioritize additional safety features that provide extra protection. Shock Doctor integrates innovative BioFlex cups into many of their shorts for advanced athletic protection.
BioFlex cups move naturally with your body thanks to flexible polymers that bend and flex with your motions. An ergonomic shape and padded edges shield from impact while maintaining comfort. Strategic ventilation keeps airflow moving to prevent overheating.
Shock Doctor’s BioFlex cups also come in varying levels of protection. Their Ultra Carbon Flex Cup provides maximum impact dispersion with carbon fiber reinforced edges. The Core Flex Cup offers a streamlined profile at a lower price point. Consider your position and risk factors when deciding on the right level of protection.
Other useful safety features include anti-microbial linings to combat odor and prevent infections, reinforced seams for durability, silicone grips that keep the shorts in place, and extra padding or shields for the tailbone and hips.
While standard cups provide basic protection, BioFlex cups and other high-tech safety additions take support and coverage to the next level. Brands like Shock Doctor integrate innovative safety technology into their compression shorts for complete protection.
Choose Youth Sizes for Growing Athletes
When fitting young hockey players for protective shorts and cups, it’s important to choose youth sizes made for their growing bodies. Most brands like Shock Doctor offer shorts and supporters in junior sizes.
Make sure to measure your child’s waist and hip area to find the right fit. The shorts should feel snug but not restrict movement. There should be no gaps in protection around the cup. If it’s too loose, impacts can still cause injury.
Allow room for growth when selecting youth sizes. Don’t buy a size too large just to get an extra season’s use. An oversized cup won’t properly shield the pelvic region. Buy the size that fits now for optimal protection.
It may be necessary to buy new shorts or a larger cup supporter every year or two as kids grow. Proper fit is essential, especially for young players still developing. Investing in well-fitting youth sizes will keep them safe as they improve their skills.
With Shock Doctor and other leading brands, you can find junior hockey shorts with integrated cup supporters designed to fit and protect young athletes at every stage.
Compression Keeps Muscles Warm and Supported
One of the key benefits of compression shorts is keeping muscles stable, supported, and warm during intense activity. Materials like spandex and Lycra offer elastic compression that wraps muscles.
This compression stimulates blood flow and circulation, bringing more oxygen to working muscles. It also keeps muscles warm by trapping body heat close to the skin. Warm, oxygenated muscles perform better and are less prone to strains or tears.
Four-way stretch fabrics used in Shock Doctor compression shorts move with you as you skate, stride, and deke on the ice. This dynamic compression continues to support and stabilize muscles through your full range of motion.
By keeping muscles wrapped tightly, compression shorts can also accelerate recovery. Enhanced circulation flushes out lactic acid, reducing post-workout soreness. Less muscle vibration results in less muscle fatigue as well.
Compression shorts help you push your limits on the ice by keeping your muscles energized and protected shift after shift. Brands like Shock Doctor use advanced stretch materials to provide consistent, active compression.
Shock Doctor Offers Top Hockey Gear
When looking for high-performance protective hockey gear, Shock Doctor is a top brand trusted by pros and amateur players alike. They offer a wide selection of compression shorts, supporters, and protective cups.
Shock Doctor uses innovative technologies like flexible BioFlex cups, breathable Aeron mesh fabrics, and four-way stretch materials that move with you. Features like integrated cups, padded tailbones, anti-odor linings, and non-slip waistbands take their shorts to the next level.
They have options for all positions and skill levels. The Core Compression Hockey Short provides essential protection and support at an affordable price point. For maximum coverage, the Ultra Pro Short offers an adjustable inner belt and High Impact Bio-Shape cup.
Shock Doctor has a sizing chart to help you find the right fit. They offer hockey shorts for adults and youth so all players are protected. Founded in 1990, their decades of experience designing athletic performance gear makes them a go-to brand for hockey players.
With their focus on innovative technology and athlete-driven design, Shock Doctor dominates the market in high-performance protective hockey shorts and gear.
Core Compression for Vital Muscle Groups
Hockey requires tremendous core strength for power, balance, and injury prevention. That’s why compression shorts providing targeted core support can give a performance edge.
Shock Doctor’s Core Compression shorts wrap the core with firm, stabilizing compression. This keeps the abdominals, obliques, lower back, and pelvic muscles supported during explosive movements.
Compression around the core also improves posture and alignment. Less energy is wasted overcompensating for weak or fatigued muscles. More power can be transferred from the core to the hips, legs, and stick.
The Core Compression Short’s four-way stretch fabric continues compressing muscles even when stretched and twisted. The compression integrates with the body’s biomechanics for an imperceptible feel.
With stronger core engagement, players can maintain better balance and form when controlling the puck, absorbing body checks, or taking shots on goal. Targeted core compression shorts enhance performance while preventing injuries.
Stay Cool and Mobile in Shorts, Not Bulky Pants
Hockey players exert a ton of energy skating up and down the ice. Shorts are a better choice than pants for staying cool and mobile.
Full hockey pants can get hot and lead to overheating, especially in warm rinks. Their bulkier padding also restricts mobility for some players.
Lightweight, breathable shorts allow better airflow to keep players cooler. Less coverage means fewer layers and more freedom of movement to maximize your athletic performance.
Most brands now make hockey shorts with ample padding and protection to substitute for full pants. Features like built-in cups, padded hips and tailbone, ventilation, and anti-odor technology make today’s shorts ultra-functional.
For comfort, range of motion, and effective cooling during intense competition, compression shorts are the ideal alternative to wearing full hockey pants.
Look for Moisture Wicking Fabrics That Keep You Dry
Hockey is fast-paced and rigorous, leading to heavy sweating. Look for shorts made with moisture-wicking fabrics that keep you dry for optimal comfort.
Synthetic moisture-wicking materials like polyester or spandex pull sweat away from the skin. This prevents the wet, clammy feeling of sweat-soaked shorts.
Dry compression shorts also reduce chafing and friction that can occur when wet fabrics rub together. Irritation and skin abrasions are prevented.
Shock Doctor uses quick-drying Aeron mesh in many shorts for breathability and moisture management. Other useful features are anti-odor technologies and ventilated cup systems that promote airflow.
Staying dry allows players to maintain focus on the game, not uncomfortable moisture buildup. Advanced moisture-wicking shorts keep you cool, comfortable and performing at your best.
Pick the Right Shorts for Your Position
Hockey players in different positions have varied needs from protective gear. Forwards want maximum maneuverability while goalies need more coverage. Choose shorts based on your position and role on the ice.
Forwards and midfielders should optimize mobility and cooling with lightweight shorts. Extra padding along the hips, thighs and tailbone provides protection without compromising range of motion.
Defensemen benefit from slightly more padding since they handle more physical contact. Compression through the quadriceps and glutes can prevent muscle strains when starting and stopping.
Goalies need the most protection from direct puck impacts. Look for shorts with shirts featuring chest padding and abdominal protection built in.
Shock Doctor offers shorts for all positions, like the Ultra Pro Short for goalies and Core Compression Short for unrestricted mobility. Match your gear to your position and playing style.
Compression Improves Circulation and Recovery
The compressive fit of hockey shorts doesn’t just support muscles – it improves circulation to boost performance and recovery.
Compression shorts apply gentle pressure to the skin, stimulating blood flow through the muscles. More circulation delivers extra oxygen and nutrients that muscles need to operate at high intensities.
Enhanced blood flow also removes metabolic waste like lactic acid more efficiently. This allows muscles to bounce back faster after intense exertion on the ice.
Materials like spandex and nylon offer stretch compression that moves with you. Shock Doctor uses four-way stretch fabrics in shorts that maintain compression while flexing and bending.
Players report higher energy levels, reduced muscle soreness, and quicker recovery times when wearing compressive shorts. Improved circulation is the key to optimized performance and faster healing.
BioFlex Cups Move Naturally With Your Body
A key benefit of Shock Doctor’s BioFlex cups is how naturally they move with your body. Advanced polymers make the cup flexible, bending and flexing with your motions.
The ventilated cup design improves breathability and airflow. Strategic flexibility zones mimic the biomechanics of hip and leg muscles, virtually disappearing during activity.
Unlike traditional rigid cups, BioFlex cups won’t shift, rotate or bend you into unnatural postures. The dynamic flex zone and padded edges stay comfortably in place even during hard impacts.
Shock Doctor uses medical-grade polymers and innovative shaping for ergonomic BioFlex cups engineered specifically for athletic performance. You get full protection without compromising natural movement.
BioFlex cups move seamlessly with your body’s motions for unhindered performance and complete confidence on the ice.
Proper Fit Allows Full Range of Motion
Protective hockey shorts should fit snugly but not restrict your range of motion. A proper compression fit supports muscles while allowing a full stride length.
The shorts shouldn’t pinch or bind. Make sure to order the right size based on your waist, hip, and thigh measurements. Brands like Shock Doctor offer sizing charts.
Allow some stretch in the waistband and leg openings so the shorts move naturally with your body. The leg bands shouldn’t dig into the thighs. Built-in cups should fit flush against the pelvic area.
Test the range of motion by simulating skating and shooting motions. Make sure the shorts don’t ride up or shift out of place. If needed, adjust the internal belt or hip pad placements.
With a proper athletic fit, compression shorts boost performance by stabilizing muscles while allowing your full, natural mobility on the ice.
