A well fitting and adjustable pair of hockey pants is not only important for weight and mobility – but also provides comfort and protection in the event of falls, hits by pucks or sticks (to say nothing of players). There are some important things to consider before you pick up your next pair of pants from a practical perspective and even style to some degree.
1. Fit
There are three components to keep in mind when considering the fit of your pants. The waistline, the length and how adjustable. By adjustments, I am not just referring to the straps and tie strings on the front, but any zippers, snaps or other clasps that allow you to expand the cuffs or waist. You will also want to consider suspenders depending on your build, weight and the type of pants you purchase.
The waist size of hockey pants does not correlate 1:1 with your clothing size. Most hockey pants ride a little bigger than what they are marked as so whenever possible, you will want to try them on – preferably without Jeans on or thick pants and see how they fit. In most stores you can buy pants that range in size from youth small to adult 2x. Although in a retail sense, it is harder to find things as they get larger in size due to demand. Most stores will not have adult 3x on their showroom floor and those have to be purchased online or from the manufacturer. When I was 320 pounds, I needed a 3x and had to order directly from CCM and have them delivered. Thankfully, I no longer need that size pant!
Most people know their waist size from their street clothes, so definitely use that as a guide, knowing that the pants ride a little bigger. Most hockey pant sizing charts are not wholly accurate. For example, many manufacturers list adult (sr) hockey pants at a 2x for those with waist sizes up to 40-42 inches. From experience I can tell you that I use a 3x which is up to 44 inches and my pants size is 46-50 (currently) depending on the cut of the pants I am wearing. In this example, my 3x pants are held up with suspenders and – if I am being honest – not very well. When I was in a 3x, I was having to pull up my pants even while skating while wearing suspenders. Not a good look.
The length is another attribute. Because everyone has a different torso to leg height ratio, it’s best to find pants that cover your upper thighs but are also above the kneecap. You do NOT want pants that inhibit your ability to bend your knees as it will severely restrict your movement. They should cover your legs to a point where your shin panda and pants are protecting your legs almost while sitting. We will cover shin pad sizing in another article.
For men, making sure there is adequate crotch space so that skating comfortably while having athletic support is also key. You don’t want there to be too much movement so that equipment shifts all around, but you also don’t want it to be tight and uncomfortable and thereby making you not want to move. Few things are as uncomfortable as a cup that goes sideways or digs into your thighs. Many pants in this area are elastic and are designed to expand depending on the size of the protection used.
2. Protection
It goes without saying really that your pants are critical not only for protecting from flying projectiles, but more relevantly from falls. One of the most painful ways you can fall is to fall backwards, land on your ass and have your head snap back and hit the ice. Not only does this give you a headache and possible concussion, but hitting the ice hard can also impact your lower back, spine and tailbone. It is imperative that your pants absorb the impact from these hits as best as possible.
As a skater who has fallen backwards many times, and sometimes more than once in a game, ensuring that the seat of the pants has a high quality impact pad. Typically the bigger the pant, the more robust the padding is in the rear. Go figure right?
The spine guard is the piece of the pants that extends up from the waist in the back. These come in different profiles so you will want one that protects and isn’t too low. Again, Juniors and Seniors have different size protectors given the different body compositions, but even in the adult sizes, these protectors can be larger or smaller. My current pants are a little higher in this regard than is comfortable, but they are designed for someone with a larger torso than I have. Because I ordered them online, I was unable to try them on, but that 3x experiment I am hoping is no longer needed as I work my way back into shape.
When looking at used gear, be sure to look for rips, tears and wear marks no matter how small as these can affect the long term use. Also be sure all of the pads are in place especially in the thighs and tailbone.
Also as mentioned, make sure they are not too tight so you have room for your sensitive bits. Taking a puck, stick or anything else is a lot of un-fun when talking about your privates. Even with it, taking hits there isn’t great. But absent proper protection could lead to serious pain and injury.
3. Mobility
You will want to make sure you have a good range of motion, especially in the knees. This allows for maximum mobility. Most pants have stretch zones, snaps or zippers that can be done or undone depending on your size and range needs. Depending on how you put your gear on, you will want to make sure the cuff of the pants is large enough and watch for elastic lining within the cuff that is designed to keep ice from going up your inner leg where there is little covering and could be VERY cold under the wrong circumstances.
As an example, I wear my skates with the tongue in, so the hockey socks and skates are the first two pieces of gear I put on. This means my skate, with the blade guard on, needs to fit through the cuff and the elastic liner. Everyone puts their gear on in different ways so make sure you are optimizing for your personal needs, tastes and routines.
4. Ventilation
As alluded to above, you will want pants with a liner to keep you dry in that it keeps ice from going up them when you are skating, falling or any myriad of things that could happen while playing the game. Some pants are breathable, but I have found breathability can be a hindrance to some degree. You will sweat and your pants will get wet either from that or from ice. Heat and sweat are not bad things, but they can weigh you down as the game goes on. Proper ventilation can help with moisture, but the reality is that this is a part of the life of the game and you will need to press on from it.
Have you ever wondered why your gear is so much heavier post game than pre game? Yeah it is most likely because of the pants and shoulder pads since those are the most absorbent and closest to the skin. In this regard, the lighter weight you can tolerate and start with, the more it remains so throughout the course of the game. That said, do not compromise the material or its protection value for the sake of being lightweight.
5. Brand and Model
Brand matters – to a point. Higher end, more recognizable brands are typically better. Brands such as Bauer, CCM and Sherwood are very reputable manufacturers who have been around for a long time. The price difference between these and discount brands does not really make it worth the $10-$30 savings you may achieve. Cost is more of a factor at the Mite and Jr. level because those skaters are still growing. The only growth most of us adult players achieve is an expanding waistline. So invest in a good pair of pants and they can last you almost your entire playing time.
6. Cleaning and Maintenance
The subject of washing and otherwise sanitizing gear is a topic unto itself, but for the sake of this topic, you may want to find some hockey pants that have removable pads. This is a double edged sword. While it is great to be able to remove pads for the purposes of putting in a top loading washing machine, the difficulty of getting the pads back into the pants can make this unappealing. However, being able to throw items such as gloves, pants, shin pad liners, and shoulder pads in the wash for the purposes of getting the filth out is very appealing. In a realistic sense, I have a front-loading machine which means I wash my pants with the pads in. This takes up more space in the machine, but can always do more than one load.
How can you tell if your pants need cleaning? Well, aside from the stench that will eventually emanate from them, you can do an eye test.
If you can stand your pants up and they stay stiff without holding them up – then it’s time to go into the wash. You’ll be surprised how much less they weigh – even dry – when cleaned.
