New Shin Guard technology appeals to the swift

Rahoul Ghose
ACFC Web Producer

While boot technology has yielded some interesting innovations over the past few years – Nike’s ultralight Vapor chassis and upper, adidas’ build it yourself Tunit system of uppers, soles and studs, and Lotto’s pivoting stud technology – shin guard design has for the most part stayed the same.

In the past year however, both nike and adidas have come up with a few new varieties worthy of note.

Adidas took a page from its compression wear line in creating the ForMotion F50 shin guard, an extremely lightweight offering, featuring a compression sleeve and protective air-filled front shield. For players whose main complaint with shin guards is loss of speed – mostly strikers – this guard simply feels like an extra sock. And for mild collisions it offers more than enough protection. Having worn them as a defender, though, I can definitely say they do not hold up under heavy tackles, and I have the bumps and bruises to show for it.

This may be why adidas introduced a newer version recently, featuring both removable ankle supports and a thicker – though still flexible and comfortable – front shield. Both versions support your muscles and encourage blood flow for reduced muscle fatigue. And the ClimaCool® material offers the user both heat and moisture control. Those lucky enough to locate the original F50s will find them heavily discounted (under $20) while the newer version retails for about $40. Both are washable and dry quickly when laid out. (Do not put them in the dryer).

Nike, on the other hand, has adapted some snowboard boot technology with its Total 90 EXP Shinguard. While expensive at $50, this top of the line product features custom moldable guards and a padded inner shield for the shin and the calf, as well as washable sleeves and ankle guards. Guards are boiled in water until they soften. Then they are placed in the sleeves to conform to the shape of your shin while they cool. This is similar to the inners for snowboard boots, which are warmed in a microwave oven so they will conform to the users’ foot. The shin guard molding process, which only has to be performed before first use, definitely makes the wear more comfortable. The entire guard setup is lightweight and breathable.

While both the adidas and nike options are a little more expensive than the average shin guard fare, they both feature excellent construction. With care they will last one and possibly two seasons of wear. All of them can be found on soccer.com.