Any sport is associated with injury. Despite the fact that the rules of almost every sport prohibit striking in places “below the belt”, there is a so-called “human factor” when strikes can be delivered unconsciously, accidentally. It is good if the injury is minor and goes without consequences.
It is worse when vital organs are injured, especially the reproductive organs. In order to protect athletes from injuries to the groin area, special protective bandages are made. Now the entry of athletes of any sport into the ring without the use of a groin bandage is prohibited, therefore, before training, you must take care of purchasing this element of sports equipment in advance. In order not to make a mistake when choosing a protective lining for the groin, we will compile a rating of the best protective bandages for the groin in 2024.
Content
Before starting an overview of the inguinal pads, let's figure out what they are by the way of execution. There are only three types of groin protection:
The most popular model of groin protection is the shell (shield). They are made for both adults and children. Shells are female and male. According to buyers, the shell is a budgetary means of protection and is suitable for almost all sports: boxing, martial arts (taekwondo, Thai boxing, etc.), rugby, hockey, handball.The best shells are sealed along the contour with a silicone (rubber) damper pad, which absorbs shock to prevent injury to the groin area.
The professional shin guards are made with ventilation holes to allow the skin to breathe. It is most convenient to use leather or cotton-coated pads. You should not choose products with a dense coating, as they do not "breathe" well. Shells are generally the most inexpensive of all types of groin protective equipment.
A more reinforced type of shell is the groin brace. The bandage is worn over the legs, like underpants, while the shell is most often attached with elastic bands. The protective bandage has great functionality due to the fact that it covers a large area of the athlete's body. It is the same shell, only supplemented with special reinforcing inserts that allow protecting not only the genitals, but also the area of the lymph nodes, partly the abdomen and kidneys. For boxers, a special wide belt is made, which not only protects the genitals, but also has a torso protection function.
Before choosing a protective pad or bandage, you need to pay attention not only to the color and appearance of the product, but also to the material of manufacture. Since they release protection for fighters of different levels, it is important to consider the following recommendations:
It is very important to choose protection for the groin, taking into account the characteristics and parameters of a particular person. Since such products come in different sizes, they can be for children and adults (men, women, unisex), let's find out the standard sizes of protective equipment:
Some athletes mistakenly believe that groin protection is not required for women, but this is not the case. For women, protective equipment is also produced, while it has some differences from men:
For the convenience of buyers, some manufacturers of protective bandages, in addition to the letter designation of the size of the product, indicate the waist circumference. In order to correctly measure it, it is necessary to take measurements 3 cm above the hips.
One of the criteria for choosing protective equipment for the groin is the purpose and functionality of the purchased product. The models of protective bandages in the form of shells have won the greatest popularity among boxers. This protection is a mandatory minimum requirement for admission to the ring.
Since the boxer works more with his hands, and his legs make minimal movements, there is practically no chance that the shell will move or slide. Nevertheless, due to the fact that in this sport there is a high probability of getting punches in the stomach or kidney area, a special wide belt to which a shell is attached has become widespread. This bandage protects the kidneys, intestines, liver, pancreas and muscles of the athlete's abdominal wall.
In taekwondo, the main tactic is kicking specific areas. In this case, the mobility of the legs is very important, which should not be limited. That is why protection in the form of a shell will not work, since it will shift from active movements. A wide belt, which will hinder the movements of the karateka, will not work either. The best choice in this case would be compression shorts with a sewn-in shell. Such shorts will not restrict the movement of the athlete and will not allow the shell to move and move freely. In addition, the compression shorts support the thigh muscles so that the fighter's punches can be delivered with more force and precision.
Karate is characterized by precise strikes that are aimed at hitting specific points. At the same time, the force of the karateka's blow is so great that it can cause serious damage. The best choice for a karateka would be a protection like a boxing bandage that covers a large area. If the athlete is uncomfortable to move in such protection, you can opt for a shell, while choosing a product with a filler that dissipates the force of the impact and protects against serious damage.
In order to determine which bandage is better, we will make a rating of the highest quality and most purchased models of protective equipment.
The Jabb JE-2126 model tops the rating. Country of origin - Pakistan. The manufacturer's description indicates that this protection is used for boxing and other types of martial arts. It is intended for men, the depth of the item is 4 cm. The bandage is made of plastic and textiles, it is offered only in white.
Another popular groin brace is the Indigo PS-1033. It is also produced in Pakistan. It is used in boxing and other types of martial arts. According to its characteristics, it is similar to the Jabb JE-2126 model, but slightly surpasses it in price (299 rubles). The product is fixed on the athlete's body with special elastic bands.
The German manufacturer adidas is well known among sporting goods buyers. This brand is distinguished by high quality and the use of the latest technologies in the manufacture of products. The Training Groin Guard adiBP06 is in demand among athletes, and many of them are ready to buy a product of this particular brand, regardless of how much it costs. At the same time, a large number of positive customer reviews indicate that adidas protective equipment corresponds to its value (the average price is about 1,300 rubles). The product is suitable for active sparring fights.
This protective bandage is used in hockey.Designed for men, it is made of a special breathable Thermo-Max material, due to which moisture is transferred from the body to the surface of the product and evaporates. This material is elastic and allows the skin to breathe. Due to the fact that sweat is directed away from the body, there is no overheating effect.
This protection comes in the form of compression shorts. It is designed for MMA, taekwondo and boxing. In addition to martial arts, shorts are widely used in American football, rugby, basketball and baseball. Since the shorts are made of nylon and spandex, they fit snugly around the athlete's thighs and prevent the shell from slipping. This protection is free to move with flat seams and gel edging. Dry Grip technology effectively wicks moisture away from the body and avoids overheating. For washing, the sink is taken out of a special pocket.
This protection is specially designed for children. Applicable only in hockey. It is made in the form of shorts, which have special Velcro for gaiters. The Russian manufacturer MadGuy has established itself as excellent quality. Due to the fact that a wide elastic is sewn into the belt, the shorts hold well and do not move during active movements. In areas with high perspiration, a special fabric is used to wick moisture away and ventilate.
This groin protector is designed for women and is a high pressure foam shell bandage. It is used in WKF karate and other types of martial arts. Available in four sizes - XS, S, M, L. Manufacturing material - polyurethane and EVA.
This groin protector is designed for MMA, Boxing, Muay Thai, Taekwondo. It is made of foam covered with artificial leather. The foam filling has good shock absorption, which effectively absorbs the force of impact. The product has a high belt that protects the belly of the fighter.
Compression shorts by the American manufacturer SHOCK DOCTOR are made with special foam inserts, which are located both on the inside and on the outside. In addition to the panels, in the groin there is a special pocket for the shell, which is securely fixed. The shell for these shorts can be made from different materials, including carbon and titanium.For sewing these shorts, we used a stretch material that stretches very well in different directions and effectively removes moisture. The use of antibacterial impregnation prevents unpleasant odors and bacteria growth.
When choosing protection for the groin, 3 important components must be taken into account: aesthetic appearance (if it is important), the type of protection (selected based on the sport for which protection is required) and size (important so that the chosen protection does not cause discomfort and correctly performs its protective functions). In no case should you save on such an element of protective equipment, since the possible costs of treatment and restoration can far exceed the cost of a protective bandage. When buying, it is advisable to focus on reviews of buyers who have already purchased a similar product.