When you are just getting started in the world of Hockey, you might not realize the importance of having the best hockey Pants you can get.
After all, they are just pants and not a helmet, right? Wrong.
Hockey pants are an essential piece of hockey gear.
Hockey pants are intended to protect your lower body, including your hips, thighs, and your tailbone. They will protect your kidneys and spine as well from falls, hits, slashes, and even shots.
Because hockey pants are essentially your shield from possible body injury, you have to make sure that you have the best hockey pants for you. This means they need to offer the level of protection that is best for you and fit you well. Some pants will have higher levels of padding than other pants, so what you need will depend on how you play as well as your body type.
This is what you need to know to find the right hockey pants for you.
Hockey Pants Sizing
Your hockey pants need to be the right size and fit or you might run into unexpected issues with them when you are in the rink.
How should they fit
Your hockey pants should be snug around the waist, ensuring that they will not slip down as you move around the ice. If you are not comfortable with a tighter fit or are still concerned, there are suspenders available to keep the pants up. On the upside, your suspenders could be that touch of style ;p
What size do I need
Hockey pants usually range in size from XS all the way up to XXL. Sizes vary greatly between brands, so you cannot just guess your size. Some pants actually come in European sizes, which you might not be used to. You should always use a sizing chart to make sure that the size you are getting is right for you.
How long should they be
The end of your pants should be about to the top of your kneecap when you are standing with your legs straight. You do not want your pants to be too long or your mobility will be limited and let’s face it, you don’t want to trip over them. After all, there is enough on the ice to keep you on your toes. If they are too short, you will not have the right level of protection for your legs.
Best Hockey Pants For 2018 Season
Brand | Skill Level | Quality | Rating | Check Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Warrior Covert QR | Intermediate/Advanced | A+ | 100% | |
2. Bauer Vapor 1X | Advanced | A+ | 99% | |
3. Warrior Covert QRE | Beginner | A | 97% | |
4. CCM Super Tacks | Intermediate/Advanced | A | 98% | |
5. Bauer Nexus 1N | Intermediate/Advanced | A | 95% | |
6. Bauer Vapor X900 | Intermediate/Advanced | A | 96% | |
7. Bauer Nexus N8000 | Beginner | B+ | 93% |
1. Warrior Covert QR Edge Hockey Pants
Best Hockey Pants Overall (Editor's Choice)
For the best hockey pants, you should consider our Editor’s Choice. The Warrior Covert QR Edge pants offer a high level of mobility with a good fit.
The fit of the QR Edge pants is tailored, designed to mimic the fit that pros need and expect from their pants. This design will help your skating posture, making it seem more natural, which will take any unnecessary stress off of your hips and spine.
The QR Edge has a minimalistic form fitting design, which will let you stay mobile and agile on the ice. These pants will not get in your way or bother you during a game or practice. These are a great choice for growing players or anyone who might need an adjustment in the length since they come with a zippered gusset that allows a one-inch leg extension. The gussets are also stretchy that will let you get your skates on before you put your pants on if you need to or take your pants off before you take your skates off.
Protection on the ice matters and the QR Edge will deliver. These pants come with AxyFlex protection, which will protect your kidneys and your spine while still allowing you the ability to move freely. With medium density foam reinforcement, you will also get protection for your tailbone and your hips and thighs.
The outer shell of the QR Edge pants is a mix of premium denier nylon waves, giving you a lightweight pant that is still stretchy and strong. The liner is made from a Polygiene material, keeping your legs cool and dry by reducing sweat and controlling your temperature.
2. Bauer Vapor 1X Lite Ice Hockey Pants
High Performance
If you are looking for a high performance hockey pants, you can’t go wrong with the Bauer Vapor 1X Lite hockey pants. These are part of the Bauer family, which is already well-known for its amazing hockey products.
These pants do a good job of combining comfort and protection, with a Curv composite free flex independent spine. The composite material offers a high level of protection while still giving you a lightweight and free-moving feel to the pants. Both the kidney guards and the lower thigh guards are made up for HyperLite HD foam. The foam works both as protection and as a means to wick water away from your skin, keeping you dry and preventing your pants from developing a smell.
The outer shell of the pants is made from 840 Denier Nylon, which is incredibly durable, giving you the longevity you would hope to get from a Bauer product. There is also a belt adjustment with these pants, allowing you to loosen or tighten them as you might need to in order to get the best fit.
You will also get an even more adjustable fit with these pants due to the skate lace closure and the side release buckle, allowing you to get in and out of them without having to remove your skates.
These pants are meant for advanced or elite players who need something lightweight and agile. You will find that the Aerolite 2.0 hip pads have a specific and tapered design meant to help improve your performance.
3. Warrior Covert QRE Pro Hockey Pants
Budget Friendly
If you are still looking for the best hockey pants, but you are on a budget, the Warrior Cover QRE Pro pants might be a great choice for you.
These pants have a Covert tapered fit, which is designed to give you a tailored fit. They will also follow a natural skating position, keeping them comfortably in place as you skate around a rink. With their minimalist design, you will not be encumbered by them at all. It is safe to say that these pants fall under the minimalist type of hockey pants, meaning they do not have the high level of padding that you might find with other hockey pants out there. The fact that they are light, however, will keep you moving with ease around the rink.
For growing players or players who just need a little extra length, the Covert QRE Pro pants come with a zippered one-inch adjustable leg extension. The shell of the pants is a mix of premium denier nylon weaved together. As a result, the pants are very lightweight and will help keep water off of your skin.
Protection-wise, you will get protection for your hips, waist, and thighs, helping protect you from hits and bumps. The floating internal waist belt will help keep the pants in place as you skate around the ice. The material that they are made from is not the most durable, however, which means that these pants would not be the best hockey pants for an elite player, but would work well for a beginning or recreational hockey player.
4. CCM Super Tacks Hockey Pants
Another great choice in the running for best hockey pants is the CCM Super Tacks hockey pants. These pants are specifically made for elite players who need the best level of protection possible.
Anatomically fitting, you will get both great balance and comfort from the Super Tacks hockey pants. Made with a Pro 400D nylon, these are lightweight while still being durable. The side panel reinforcement will also help ensure their durability as well as your own protection on the ice.
The thigh guard on the Super Tacks pants is molded with HD and PE foam, giving you pro-level protection without the pro-level price to worry about. The spine protection in the back of the pants is also adjustable, allowing customizing your fit as well.
The JDP molded plastic as well as the D30 reinforcements are ideal for impact absorptions, keeping your kidneys and spine as safe as possible. The hip pads are specifically designed to take a beating without you getting hurt. The foam is a medium-density, making it heavier than some, but not necessarily as heavy as you might need. The groin has also been thought of, giving you mid-density flexible foam in a key flex zone.
You will also get some other customization options from these pants, including adding a one-inch extension of the length with a hidden zipper.
5. Bauer Nexus 1N Hockey Pants
Another hit from Bauer, the Bauer Nexus 1N hockey pants are one of the best pairs of hockey pants that you can get.
With the latest technology, the Nexus 1N has a combination of innovation and classic fit. This means that Bauer has added in the SEVEN+ technology on the spine of the pants. This means that there is a new molded foam technology designed to specifically take a heavy hit when you are out on the ice.
There is also an included revamped extension fit system with the Nexus 1N. This has replaced zippers with suspender loops that will let players extend the length of their hockey pants by an inch. This is ideal for growing players or players who have longer legs and who need a little extra length in their pants.
With strategically placed flex zones, you will be able to move easily across the ice with agility. The 840D nylon form of the shell is durable, especially in high traffic areas. You should have all of the flexibility that you need to get from your hockey pants. You do not want to find your stride shortened due to the flexibility of your pants, so thankfully, the Nexus 1N has fixed that for you.
The liner that you will find in the Bauer Nexus 1N is designed to convert your body’s sweat into steam, keeping you dry and as comfortable as possible. Remember, however, that your body, including your spine, require a high level of protection from your hockey pants and you need to make sure these will have just what you need.
6. Bauer Vapor X900 Lite Hockey Pants
The Bauer Vapor X900 Lite hockey pants were made to give you a high performing pant that should meet all of your needs. These are a great choice for elite or advanced players who will be doing a lot of skating.
The X900s have a spine protection that is free flex, built using the Hyperlite HD foam. These pants are specifically designed to give you a high level of protection as well as the comfort and flexibility that you would need to be competitive on the ice.
The kidney protection with the X900 hockey pants is amplified by the free flex independent spine. You can customize the spine so that it goes exactly where you need it to be in order to be both comfortable and protected. The HD foam also has a flared out design, which is meant to make you feel more protected.
The hip pads are made from a molded PE insert with a tapered design. The thigh guards are also well-made, also constructed using the PE. The thigh guards do have a flexible gusset to allow you to stretch the pants over your skates if you need to. The liner inside of the pants is made with Thermomax technology, which will help keep sweat away from your skin.
The dual density cover inner lock belt system on the Bauer Vapor X900 allows you to adjust your hockey pants so you can have the best fit. After all, your hockey pants should be able to stay in place all through your game.
7. Bauer Nexus N8000 Hockey Pants
The final pair of hockey pants we will be looking at is the Bauer Nexus N8000. Another win from Bauer, these pants are one of the best hockey pants pairs that you can buy.
Despite the low price point on the Nexus N8000, these are a high quality pair of hockey skates. You will get the same features for protection that you can get from more expensive models. The spine of the pants is made using molded HD foam, which is the more traditional material that was used in hockey pants.
There is also a revamped extension fit system, replacing zippers with suspender loops, which will let you keep your pants up when they might fall down. There are zippers located on the thigh, but those are designed to allow you to get your pants off over your skates without too much trouble.
The Nexus N8000 comes with the Bauer Thermomax liner. This liner transfers the heat and moisture from the pants, helping keep both them and you as cool as possible on the ice. The shell of the pants is made up of 840D, which is durable kind of nylon, but it might not be durable enough to take on another elite soccer player. The durability is mostly in the high traffic areas, giving you the security of durability with the flexibility level that you need in order to be agile when you are out on the ice. You do not want to find your movements are limited due to a lack of flexibility from your hockey pants.
