If you’re looking to buy and fit goalie leg pads, we’ve got you covered with our expert guide on all things hockey goalie leg pads. The bulky protective gear goalies wear from their thighs to their skates, called goalie leg pads, make up an essential part of a goalie’s protective and strategic tool kit. These leg pads may look bulky and awkward, but their wide surface area offers advantages critical to a goalie’s defensive strategy. Even small variations between pad structures can make a huge difference on the ice, so it’s important for parents and goalies to be informed on how to choose the best hockey leg pads. We’ve broken down all the details you need to know about goalie leg pads to help you make the right choice in protective gear for yourself or your child.

Everything You Need To Know About Hockey Goalie Leg Pads

Our comprehensive hockey goalie leg pad guide features all the info you need to buy and size goalie leg pads like a pro.

• Anatomy of Hockey Goalie Leg Pads
• How To Choose Goalie Leg Pads
• Goaltending Styles
• Goalie Leg Pad Sizing
• Goalie Leg Pad Fit
• How To Put On Goalie Leg Pads
• Hockey Goalie Leg Pad Care

Anatomy of Hockey Goalie Leg Pads

Hockey goalie leg pads are highly specialized equipment engineered for protection and performance. Each part of a goalie’s leg pads offers a different benefit that skilled players use to their advantage in the crease. The only way to determine the best goalie leg pads for your goaltending style is to learn the ins and outs of these protective pieces. Once you know what you’re looking at, you’ll know what to look for when buying goalie leg pads.

Leg Pad Exterior

• Outer Roll: The outer roll is the stuffed roll that surrounds the edge of hockey leg pads. The raised edge keeps the puck contained upon impact, preventing it from rebounding into the net. The outer roll is also where you’ll find pad breaks.
• Pad Break: The pad breaks on an outer roll determine the leg pad’s flexibility. The more pad breaks you see on the outer roll, the more flexible the pad will be. “No break” pads feature a stiff pad face for more responsive rebounds, ideal for the goalie with a wide butterfly stance. “Single break” pads feature one break below the knee, optimal for the goalie with a moderately wide butterfly stance, who needs a little extra flexibility to close the five-hole; the single break pad still offers active puck deflection. “Double break” pads are custom-made and feature one break above and one below the knee. Double breaks are ideal for the goalie with a narrow butterfly stance who needs flexible pads to close the five-hole.
• Pad Face: The face on hockey goalie leg pads makes up the front exterior. The face features HD foams and other composite materials that protect the goalie from hard-hitting pucks and wicked slashes. These foams and composite materials also impact puck rebound. Softer pad faces with shredded foams help deaden the puck on impact. Stiff composite face pads offer plenty of pop to send the puck far from the crease.
• Thigh Rise: The thigh rise is the portion of a pad face that extends above the knee roll or knee area.
• Knee Area/Knee Rolls: The knee area refers to the leg pad section that bends with and protects the joint. Goalies choose between a flat knee area and knee rolls. A flat knee area features a piece of high-density foam resulting in a rigid pad that offers enhanced predictability of puck rebounds. Leg pads with knee rolls usually feature three flat or rounded rolls at the knee area for enhanced flexibility at the joint. Rounded knee rolls help deaden puck impact and flat knee rolls offer rebound predictability. Regardless of the style, all knee areas feature high-tech materials engineered to boost a goalie’s slide on the knee block and calf plate.
• Toe Tie/Sliding Toe Bridge: Toe ties and sliding toe bridges are used to attach the bottom of the goalie leg pads to the player’s boots. A toe tie keeps the skate close to the leg pad and centered when shifting stances. A sliding toe bridge is a custom option that secures the pad to the boot but lets the skate move along the bridge channel for added support and stability in the butterfly stance.

Leg Pad Interior

• Knee Lock: Knee locks are made up of two padded foam sheets that sit on either side of the goalie’s knees and thighs. A strap behind the knee lock is used to secure the player’s knee to the pad and maintain the correct position.
• Knee Stack/Knee Rise: Knee stacks or knee rises are strips or blocks of protective foam that flank the player’s leg just behind the edge of the knee locks. These optional protective pieces offer added support to prevent future knee and hip problems. Knee stacks can typically be added or removed from any knee lock.
• Leg Channel: The leg channel refers to the inside of the goalie’s leg pad from the knee lock to the toe area. The goalie who prefers gear stability will appreciate a deep and narrow leg channel that keeps their leg pads centered. The goalie who shifts between stances frequently will appreciate the mobility afforded by wide and shallow leg channels.
• Knee Cradle: The knee cradle is a portion of the leg channel made to hold the knee. The cradle features cushioning that surrounds the knee for added protection at the joint. A goalie’s knee should fit comfortably within the knee cradle.
• Calf Lock: Calf locks are made up of two padded foam sheets that sit on either side of the goalie’s calf. A strap is used to secure the goalie’s shin within the leg channel. A calf lock offers added protection but isn’t included on every pair of hockey goalie leg pads.
• Boot Channel: The boot channel is the portion of the leg pad that sits above the skate. Similar to leg channels, a boot channel can be narrow or wide.
• Medial Edge: The medial edge is the inside portion of a goalie’s leg pad that touches the ice when in the butterfly position.

If you’re a hockey veteran, you might be asking yourself, “What about the thigh guards?” Today’s hockey leg pads don’t need them. With the addition of protective channels, locks, and stacks, thigh guards became obsolete. Goalies who prefer extra protection in the crease wear goalie knee guards between their leg pads and pants. Even though knee guards aren’t required by most leagues, we recommend these added cushions and protections for every goalie.

How To Choose Goalie Leg Pads

Selecting goalie leg pads seems daunting given how many models you’ll find on the market, but the process is fairly simple. A goalie needs to know only two things to choose hockey leg pads: their goaltending style and their size. Goalie gear manufacturers simplify the shopping process with leg pad designs to suit common goaltending styles, and offer leg pads in sizes organized by age.

Goaltending Styles

Before you skate too far down the hockey leg pads buying and fitting straightaway, it's important to know the goalie's preferred style of play. Generally speaking, today's goalies play one of two styles: reaction/hybrid or blocking/butterfly. Each goaltending style demands different features in goalie leg pads.

Reaction/Hybrid Style

Goalies who play using a hybrid style rely on their reactions to make quick saves. These goalies demand maximum mobility from their pads and prefer to catch or trap most shots. Typically, a reaction/hybrid goalie wants rebounds to stay close to their pads.

Since mobility and dampened shot rebounds are important, hybrid/reaction goalies generally prefer hockey leg pads with:

• Breaks above and below the knee
• A tapered boot and/or offset boot channel
• Knee rolls
• A "softer" pad stuffed with both rigid and shredded foams for dampened rebounds

Blocking/Butterfly Style

Goalies who play in the blocking/butterfly style move less in the crease and rely on positioning, patience, and size to make saves. They often move laterally on their knees and prefer to block or deflect shots rather than catch and control them. The blocking/butterfly goalie wants rebounds to pop off of their pads and travel as far as possible from the crease.

Since positioning and blocking are important, butterfly goalies generally prefer hockey leg pads with:

• Either one break below the knee or no breaks at all
• A squared boot section
• Flat-faced fronts with no knee rolls for more directional rebound control
• A stiff pad stuffed with mostly rigid foams that propel rebounds from the crease

Goalie Leg Pad Sizing

Once you know your goaltending style, it’s time to determine your size. Wearing poorly fitted goalie leg pads can result in game-losing or season-ending consequences. Too-small pads will limit the goalie’s range of motion and increase the risk of a pulled muscle or strained joint. If the pads are too big, the goalie won’t have enough stability for smooth, speedy movement and could face direct contact with hard-hitting pucks. Dodge these embarrassing and painful moments with properly fitted hockey leg pads.

There are four categories of goalie leg pad sizes. Each category features the sizes most common for a particular age range. Here are the four leg pad size categories:

• Youth (ages 4–6): sizes 22”–24”; width 8.5”–9”
• Junior (ages 6–10): sizes 25”–30”; width 9.5”–10”
• Intermediate (ages 11–13): sizes 29”–31”; width 10”–10.75”
• Senior (ages 14+): sizes 32”–38”; width 11”

Pad width is the biggest difference between categories beyond age and size. For example, intermediate hockey leg pads fit goalies between sizes 29” and 31” and offer widths between 10” and 10.75”, while senior leg pads fit goalies between sizes 32” and 38” and feature an 11” width. Some ranges overlap in sizes and width to accommodate player preferences. A goalie with a leg pad size of 30” can choose between junior and intermediate leg pads for their ideal width.

These categories are general guidelines and not every goalie will fit into “their” range. What matters is that each goalie wears their proper size based on personal measurements.

What Size Goalie Leg Pad Do I Need?

To figure out your perfect size for hockey leg pads, you’ll need a tape measure and your current skate size. Bend your knee slightly and measure the length of your shin in inches, from the center of your kneecap to your ankle. Then, obtain the length from the center of the kneecap to the mid-thigh. Add these two measurements together, along with your skate size, and an additional inch or two for extra padding. The resulting number should allow you to find leg pads that will fit properly.

Here’s an example goalie leg pad size calculation:

• Skate size: 10
• Ankle-to-knee: 18"
• Knee-to-thigh: 7"
• Extra padding: 1"
• Approx. pad size: 10 + 18 + 7 + 1 = 36"

The 1" of extra padding helps goalies with their butterfly position and offers extra five-hole coverage. More experienced goalies often add 2" to their measurements, so the calculation above may vary. Most modern goalie leg pads come with a +1" or +2” size, meaning the pad extends an extra inch or two at the thigh rise for added five-hole protection in the butterfly position.

Some hockey goalie leg pad manufacturers recommend using a "floor to knee" measurement formula for their leg pads. This process involves measuring the distance from the floor to the center of the kneecap in a sitting position, and then comparing this measurement to their goalie pad sizing chart.

Goalie Leg Pad Fit

Goalie leg pads don’t fit quite like other hockey equipment. Whereas a goalie’s chest protector should be snug and shouldn’t shift when the player is moving, hockey leg pads should offer a secure yet loose fit and shift fairly easily into and out of the butterfly position. The goalie's knee should fit securely in the leg pad's knee cradle at all times, even when sliding across the crease. The goalie’s skate should also remain centered on the toe tie when standing and move only along the sliding toe bridge. If the goalie’s knee and boot are loose and off-center, either tighten the straps or double-check their size. We recommend goalies try on hockey leg pads while wearing their pants and skates to make sure they have the right size and fit before hitting the locker room.

Goalie preferences also come into play when determining the right hockey leg pad fit. Some goalies enjoy a loose fit for a better range of motion. These goalies usually leave some slack on their leg pad straps. Other goalies prefer a snug fit that allows for more control. These goalies typically use goalie leg pad accessories to achieve a tight fit. A removable knee wing attaches to the back of the knee lock and allows the goalie to fine-tune their fit. Secure the knee wing just behind the goalie’s knee for a snug fit. Or, attach the knee wing below the knee along the calf lock for a looser, more open knee cradle.

If you’re shopping for a child, pay extra attention to their knee placement before sending them onto the ice. To make sure the hockey leg pads fit properly, have your child try on their pads while wearing skates and see where the knee lands in the cradle. To accommodate growing goalies, we recommend that the center of the goalie's knee is no lower than 1" from the exact center of the knee lock and that the inside of the knee touches the knee riser.

How To Put On Goalie Leg Pads

Once you’ve got the appropriate pad style, size, and preferred fit, the next step is to gear up. Start attaching hockey leg pads with the straps, and then lace your toe ties after the straps are secured.

Most hockey goalie leg pad straps should be worn loosely, especially above the knee lock. If the straps are too tight, you won’t be able to shift into butterfly position. Your straps should be just loose enough to let you shift easily into the butterfly position.

1. Attach the toe ties to the pad.
2. Run the bootstrap through the back hole of the skate cowling, keeping the strap approximately one to two holes outside of snug.
3. If the pad has a calf-wrap strap, attach this to your desired level of tightness. Attach the calf straps from the top of the boot to the bottom of the knee approximately two to three strap holes outside of snug.
4. Attach the knee and/or thigh straps. These can be worn the most loosely of all the straps. We recommend attaching them approximately four to five holes from snug.

Modern hockey leg pads come with bungee toe ties that Velcro together, allowing the goalie to customize the slack between their toe bridge and skate and thus adjust the tension on hips and knees. This feature also helps the goalie lock into their post in the crease. If you’re in a pinch and don’t have any replacement bungee toe ties, use spare skate laces to adjust the slack.

To lace toe ties, make a knot ¾" to 1" from the toe bridge of the pad. The knot lets you tie the laces tightly but still allows the pad to shift enough when using the inside edges for lateral movement. Without this knot, the pad will be too snug and may grip the ice instead of the skate blade, causing the foot to slip out from under the pad. There are several ways to lace toe ties, but here’s the most common and easiest method:

1. Align the knot of the toe tie to the toe of the skate. Take one lace to the right side of the skate and the other to the left and then loop both through the first hole of the skate holder.
2. Pull the laces tightly and repeat step 1 through the second hole of the skate holder.
3. Pull tightly and lift both laces over the top of the skate and tie them tightly.

The slack between a skate and toe bridge can add or relieve tension on the goalie’s hips and knees. Comfort is key for toe tie slack, so every goalie will have different preferences.

Hockey Goalie Leg Pad Care

Think of your goalie leg pads as an investment. The more care you put into them, the more you’ll get out of them. If you notice that your leg pads aren’t performing like they used to, there’s likely a simple fix that will save you from having to buy new pads. Stock your kit with goalie leg pad accessories, including replacement thigh straps and toe ties. If your pads feel loose or shift during play, it’s probably time to replace a strap.

The easiest way to maintain the quality of your leg pads is to wear the proper undergarments. Goalie baselayer apparel is mutually beneficial for the player and their gear. Most goalies wear moisture-wicking, sleek compression pants below their leg pads for added support and less friction. Hockey goalie leg pads glide across smooth compression materials without snags, reducing the risk of player rashes and gear wear and tear. Moisture-wicking fabrics keep players cool and comfortable while preventing excessive sweat from soaking the leg pads.

While wearing base layers is the easiest way to care for goalie leg pads, regular cleaning is the most important method. Properly washing your leg pads prolongs the life of the high-tech materials, prevents a buildup of gear-deteriorating bacteria, and reduces the risk of painful player rashes. Every goalie should wash their leg pads, but not in the washing machine. To clean hockey goalie leg pads, wipe down the pads’ interior and exterior using a warm, damp cloth. Aim to clean your pads as often as possible. You can occasionally mix a small amount of goalie gear detergent into the water used to dampen the cloth for less odor, but we don’t recommend it for each wash. Never submerge or soak hockey goalie leg pads. The soaked padding won’t fully dry, causing bacteria growth and material separation.

That’s everything you need to know about hockey goalie leg pads, from their construction and styles to wear and care tips. Become an expert on each piece of gear in your kit using our comprehensive goalie equipment guides. Now that you’re a goalie leg pad pro, the only thing left to do is buy the perfect pair of pads. Shop online or head to your nearest Pure Goalie store for the best goalie leg pad deals, thanks to our Low-Price Guarantee.