HOW TO FIT CHEST & ARM PROTECTORS
More than any other piece of goalie equipment, the chest & arm protector is solely for protection. When
considering a new purchase, style, design or color should be low on the priority list as the unit is always
covered by the jersey. Comfort is key. The perfect chest & arm protector provides maximum protection as well
as the greatest mobility and flexibility, allowing the goalie to easily react to shots.
Highly skilled goalies should look for top-of-the-line chest & arm protection to ensure that the most
innovative protective materials are used in its construction. This guarantees that the most technologically
advanced materials are used in the protection aspect as well as in the weight of the pad. Lighter pads provide
the goalie with more agility. However, a high-end chest & arm protector will not serve its purpose if it is
not fitted properly. Chest & arm pads that are too small do not provide enough protection to the
goalie’s body, while pads that are too large hinder the goalie’s movement and overall mobility.
Sizing Guide
Sizing for chest & arm pads is determined using arm span (fingertip to fingertip) and height measurements.
To help determine your size, take a cloth tape measurer and hold the end of the tape in one hand. Stretch your
arms out to the side as far as you can, then grab the other end of the tape measure between your thumb and
forefinger at the farthest point that you can reach. Next, determine the goalie’s height by having the
goalie stand with his or her back against a wall. Measure from the floor to the highest point of the head, and
note this measurement.
Once you have determined these two measurements, consult the sizing chart below to determine the proper size.
Though oftentimes the wing span and the height measurements are the same, it is important to confirm both
measurements as different manufacturers use different sizing criteria when determining size.
NOTE: Use this chart as a guide only, as all brands are not sized alike.
INTERMEDIATE / ADULT
SIZING |
SIZE | HEIGHT | ARM SPAN (cm) | HEIGHT ARM SPAN (cm) |
Extra Small | 5'0 - 5'2" | 60 - 62 | 152 - 158 |
Small | 5'3" - 5'5" | 63 - 65 | 159 - 166 |
Medium | 5'6" - 5'9" | 66 - 69 | 167 - 176 |
Large | 5'10" - 6'0" | 70 - 72 | 177 - 184 |
X-Large | 6'1" - 6'5" | 73 - 77 | 185 - 196 |
YOUTH / JUNIOR
SIZING |
SIZE | HEIGHT | ARM SPAN (cm) | HEIGHT & ARM SPAN (cm) |
Small | 4'0" - 4'3" | 48 - 51 | 122 - 130 |
Medium | 4'4" - 4'7" | 52 - 55 | 131 - 140 |
Large | 4'8" - 4'11" | 56 - 59 | 141 - 149 |
X-Large | 4'11" - 5'1" | 59 - 61 | 150 - 155 |
XX-Large | 5'1" - 5'4" | 61 - 64 | 155 - 163 |
Proper Fitting
For proper protection, please follow the guide below.
Shoulders & Neck
The shoulders should fit comfortably under both shoulder caps, and the unit should sit squarely on the
goalie’s shoulders. There should be enough space around the neck to allow the unit to move somewhat, but
not enough so that that the unit slips forward or to either side easily.
NOTE:All Chest & Arm protectors have a neck guard style pad that sits at the base of the
neck. This pad is meant to help protect the neck area, but it is not a neck guard. A common misconception among
new goalies (and their parents) is that this pad should sit against the goalie‘s neck, which is not true.
This pad should actually sit a few inches below the neck, so that it rises up to the neck area as the goalie
bends over in his "stance" position. It is common, and recommended, that a separate, snug fitting neck guard is
worn underneath the chest & arm pad to protect both the clavicle and the neck itself.
Elbows
Elbows should fit squarely into the elbow padding. Most units feature adjustment lacing in the elbow pads which
allow for micro-adjustments to be made for a proper fit.
Chest & Belly
Chest & Belly Pad should extend to the waist or belt line. This will insure that the goalie has adequate
coverage, and that the unit will allow the goalie to bend freely at the waist.
Arms
The arm pad should terminate approximately 1 inch behind your wrist bone (around the area where a watch is
worn). Arm pads extending past your wrist will not allow your wrist to flex properly, and pads that are too
short will open up gaps in protection between the arm and glove padding. In some units, the arms are laced into
the chest pad of the unit, directly below the large shoulder floaters. This lacing allows the goalie to extend
or shorten the length of the arms somewhat to achieve a custom fit.
Wear Your Goalie Mask and Pants When Confirming the Fit
Goalie Mask
Due to the height and size variations of the shoulder floaters and neck protection on different units,
it’s a good idea to wear your goalie mask or helmet when confirming your fit. Turn your head from side to
side and move your head up and down - while in a stance position - to make sure that the chin of the mask/helmet
does not get hung up on the padding of the chest & arm protector.
Pants
Chest & arm protectors are worn in one of two ways – inside of the pants, or outside of the pants.
Regardless of how the goalie prefers to wear them, it is a good idea to try both pieces on together to make sure
that the protection is adequate, that there are no mobility issues, etc.