Being a hockey goalie is a lot of fun. It’s exciting to know you’re one of the most important players in the rink. It gets the adrenaline flowing to know that your performance could be the difference in whether your team wins or loses the game. This pressure to perform is why so many thrill chasers love playing goalie. There’s simply nothing else that can provide the same high as stopping a one-on-one breakaway against the other team’s best forward.
Unfortunately, being a goalie has some downsides as well. There’s a lot of potential injuries that can occur from having a dozen slapshots coming your way each game.
Groin, hip, and knee injuries are very common among hockey goalies. The bad news is that these injuries will never go away. The good news is that you can greatly minimize these injuries by wearing the proper protective gear. Purchasing good hockey knee pads and thigh guards can go a long way towards injury prevention.
Yet, it can be difficult for you to find a good pair of the best goalie knee guards. Players love talking about their new hockey stick and skates.
Every hockey player knows that, but when was the last time you heard another hockey player talk about their amazing knee thigh guards? Exactly. This is why searching for goalie protective gear can be more difficult than shopping for other hockey equipment. We recognize this, and for that reason, we’ve put together a list of the best goalie knee pads and thigh guards. Making sure you’re protected isn’t exciting, but it’s important.
That’s why we wanted to make it as easy as possible for you to find reliable protective equipment. We hope our list helps you do just that. This list represents some of the best goalie knee-thigh guards available today.
SHORT ON TIME? Here are our picks.
BAUER PRO
We chose the Bauer Pro as the best OVERALL goalie knee guards. Very popular with competitive goalies. Extremely comfortable and great protection for thighs and knees.
BAUER GSX
The Bauer GSX knee goalie knee guards are the best BUDGET FRIENDLY choice. They don't come every feature available, but they get the job done while keeping your knees and thighs safe,
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Table of Contents
1) Bauer Pro Knee Guards
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Overview
The Bauer Pro three-piece knee guards provide the protection competitive goalies depend upon game after game. They come with strong Poron XRD foam and Curv Composite materials for top-grade impact protection as well as molded plastic reinforcements for the toughest shots and impacts. The pads are kept securely in place via an adjustable three-strap elastic system with an extra grip at the thigh.
The guards are made with Ripstop polyester and synthetic leather while the soft internal antimicrobial Thermo Max+ liners quickly repel moisture and sweat while helping to eliminate odour-causing bacteria. They also help reduce drying time after use.
The Bauer Pro knee guards with graphics in different sizes with the senior model weighing 470 grams each. They provide great protection and can usually be bought in the higher price bracket.
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2) Warrior Ritual X3 E+ Knee Guards
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Overview
The three-piece, narrow-profile Ritual X3 E+ knee guards by Warrior offer plenty of protection and mobility for competitive netminders. They feature a no-slip design with tough and durable nylon exteriors and high-density foams in the knees. The soft liners are outfitted with a shock-absorbing landing area and the pads are secured with three adjustable Velcro straps.
These Warrior knee guards can be laced into any brand of goalie pants which come with an attachment for lacing in knee pads. They’re kept cool and dry thanks to the antimicrobial liners which eliminate moisture, sweat, germs and odours.
The Warrior Ritual X3 E+ knee guards are available in several sizes for players of all ages and can usually be found in the mid to high price bracket.
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3) Bauer GSX Knee Guards
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Overview
The Bauer GSX goalie knee guards are new to the market and provide lightweight protection for recreational goalies of all ages. They boast high-density foam protection for crucial coverage against impacts. These Ripstop polyester pads come with a hinge at the knees to keep them close to your body and provide optimal mobility.
They’re kept firmly in place with two elastic straps which are located below and above the knee while the soft internal antimicrobial Thermo Max+ liners quickly repel moisture and sweat while helping to eliminate odour-causing bacteria.
The popular two-piece GSX knee guards with graphics by Bauer come in several sizes with the senior model weighing just 199 grams. They offer plenty of value as they can usually be found in the lower price range.
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4) CCM 1.9 Knee Guards
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The CCM 1.9 Goalie Knee Guards provide considerable protection for those who are aiming to supplement their goalie leg pads. These protectors disperse high-energy impacts via the hard moulded-plastic knee caps and high-density foams. The thighs are also well protected and the pads are held in place with additional grip strips which can be found on then interior of the elastic straps.
The lightweight pads have a two-piece design with nylon outer shells for comfort and durability with reinforced foam for added protection. The adjustable strapping system comes with four elastic Velcro straps in total with three at the knee and one for the lower thigh. The guards don’t restrict mobility or interfere with your leg pads.
The 1.9 Knee pads by CCM are also available in an intermediate model with the senior size weighing just 477 grams. The guards are perfect for intermediate and higher level goalies and are a great deal in the mid-price range.
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5) CCM KP Pro Knee Guards
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Overview
The CCM KP Pro knee guards are the company’s top-of-the-line model. They’re made with thick low-density foams for comfort along with thick mid-density foams for impact absorption and tough plastic inserts for to disperse impacts. This model comes with a unique articulating hinge method which features two screws on each side of the knees for an ergonomic fit and added protection.
The pads are kept in place with three convenient and adjustable elastic Velcro straps and the outer shells are made with durable nylon and they boast injection-molded protection in the knees. The soft and comfortable antimicrobial liners are made to keep you cool, dry and refreshed at all times by wicking away moisture, bacteria and odours while speeding up the drying time.
The top-rated CCM KP Pro knee guards come in a one-size-fits-all senior model which weighs 459 grams. They provide top-level performance and can typically be found in the higher price range.
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Conclusion
Being an ice hockey goalie requires you to be a little crazy. Why in the world would you volunteer to have angry competitors use a large fiberglass stick to hit hard pucks at you? Yet, there’s a certain thrill many individuals get from stepping into the net.
Hockey goalies do what they do because they love it. They’re passionate about the adrenaline rush they feel when stepping into the net. They love testing themselves when the opposing striker rushes at them on a breakaway. If you play goalie you already know that knocking down shots and dishing out crisp passes in the rink can give you a feeling unlike anything else.
Yet, it’s also important to recognize the risks that come from playing this dangerous position. Injuries can’t be eliminated, but they can be greatly reduced by having good protective gear.
That’s why choosing the right ice hockey goalie knee & thigh guard is so important. They can make the difference between a shot that merely stings, and one that takes you (or your child) out of the game.
We hope our list has been helpful to you in finding hockey goalie equipment that will keep you safe. If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them below. We love hearing from you, and we always respond as quickly as possible.
So your knees and thighs are protected… but what about your throat! That would suck to get hit there! Click here to see our list of the best throat protectors on the market!
