7 Best Football Girdles: QB, Running Back, Wide Receiver (2024)

Football is a full-contact sport, no two ways about it. Helping to absorb those hits is padding. And on the lower half of the body, those pads are typically worn as a football girdle. No, not the kind that your Aunt Agnes wore. Instead, the best football girdles — sometimes called impact shorts — look a lot like football pants themselves, padding the hips, tailbone, and thighs, and sometimes knees with extra protection. No player can afford to play the game of football without a solid football girdle. Let us introduce you to seven of the very best.

Our Top Picks

Here’s what you need to know about the seven best football girdles we reviewed.

A Closer Look: The Best Football Girdles

As well as what’s been mentioned, here’s a detailed account of each football girdle in our ranking.

Protecting and supporting the hip, thigh, and tailbone area, the TUOY padded compression shorts are the best football girdle in our ranking. They’re made from a breathable polyester and spandex blend with 9 mm professional foam padding. And nicely, they’re available in a broad range of sizes and in a few different color and design combinations.

Feedback says these football girdles are sleek and easy to wear. Or as one “football parent” put it: they’re on par with more expensive girdles from other well-known brands. The waist, specifically, does not roll. And the extra tailbone protection is an especially popular feature, we learned.

Otherwise, these football girdles fit true to size, they’re streamlined, and they’re not too bulky. Most importantly, they offer nice compression where players need it most.

For offensive and defensive linemen, we like the Alleson integrated 7-pad football girdle. Made from a stretch mesh nylon and spandex blend, these compression shorts have vented and molded EVA pads, with nice moisture-management features. The knee pads can also be removed or replaced with thicker cushioning, player’s choice.

Those who’ve tried the compression shorts say they’re comfortable, with great fit, and they’re easy to pull on. Most importantly, though, they provide great protection. The cup holder is sold separately, however, and some do report catching their foot on the pad pocket when inserting their leg, causing a tear. 

Generally, though, feedback reports these are great football girdles, made true-to-size, and worth the money.

When it came time to choose the best football girdle for running backs, we settled on the padded girdle compression shorts from McDavid. These girdles offer low-profile, thigh protection with a cup pocket (cup sold separately.) We learned the seams themselves are especially comfortable and strong, on account of the 6-thread flat-lock technology. Wearing them facilitates blood flow, without restricting a running back’s natural running motion.

Generally speaking, this is a great, sturdy, and well-fitting girdle thay many female football players also like to wear. The hip pads aren’t too big and bulky, making it easier to move, according to feedback, but the padding up front is thick and strong where it matters most. 

The thigh pads hold up well in particular, we learned, and they’re a little bit off to the side, which many players prefer.

Kickers rely on some of the most unique physical motion in the game of football, and they need a specific girdle to support their success. That’s why for kickers and punters, we like the Nike Pro Hyperstrong Core football shorts for men.

Made from stretchy Dri-FIT material with foam and hardplate padding, what makes these girdles great for kickers is the unique ergonomic design. They won’t restrict the kicking motion, while the compression fit provides locked-in support.

Otherwise, they held up well after an entire season of varsity football without any problems, based on reports. They fit great at a price that can’t be beat. They’re also supportive, with just the right amount of padding, according to most.

After careful consideration, the relaxed fit impact shorts from Shock Doctor are the best football firdles for wide receivers. Made from Shockskin integrated fabric with vented foam pads, these Shock Doctor shorts offer good support and padding, with a comfortable cup. Ventilated padding is also on the hips, thighs, and tailbone. But most importantly, these impact shorts move well with the body — exactly what receivers need. They’re so easy to move in, some say, it’s easy to forget you’re wearing them at all.

Young football players — or let’s face it, parents of young football players — shopping for the best football girdles should consider Schutt Protech. With integrated spine, hip, tailbone, and thigh protection, these well-reviewed girdles are made from a polyester and spandex blend. What’s more, there’s an antimicrobial treatment, and they’re known for great airflow and ventilation.

Nicely, these girdles are exactly what many coaches recommend, with great fit despite the fact they do tend to run small. Otherwise, the girdles are made from quality material and well-padded. One parent reported the girdle minimizing their child’s injury as a result of a serious collision on the field, though that player did have the optional back plate for extra protection.

For players after the extra knee protection of a 7-pad girdle, we recommend the Man-Up girdle from CHAMPRO. With tri-flex pads and made from a polyester and spandex blend, these girdles are low profile with hard plastic shock pads in the thigh area. There’s also great cushioning in the hips and knees, while moisture is wicked away for a more comfortable fit.
Overall, these girdles are excellent at a great price. While wearing these compression shorts, mobility is easy and natural, whether running or doing squats. They even fit well under your football pants. The fit is pretty close, according to reports, but some do wish they had better padding in the butt.

Our Process

For this guide on the best football girdles, our team spent 5 hours researching the most popular options from 35 brands and manufacturers big and small. We then read about 175 user reviews (both positive and negative) to discover what shoppers thought about each girdle. After comparing this data, we narrowed our list down to the top 7 football girdles on the market. You can count on this research to guide you to a mindful purchasing decision.

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Further Reading