So you want to get the best Muay Thai shin guard that’ll be (1) suitable to your preferences and (2) will serve all your needs. Well, you came to the right place. What we’ll cover in this article is the five best shin guards for Muay Thai.
If you don’t know, Muay Thai is one of the most dangerous sports globally. As a result, you must ensure you do everything to step out of your martial arts gym without any severe injuries. While face lacerations and bruises are unavoidable, you definitely want to avoid more severe injuries, such as hurting your shin in the long term.
Shin guards help us not hurt one of the most important parts of our body, our legs. Whenever you get kicked powerfully anywhere on your lower body, you’ll be at great risk of hurting your legs in the long term, making it much more difficult to continue your training.
It’s important to note that professional Muay Thai fighters don’t wear shin guards in competitions. But it’s more than recommended you wear them during all your training and sparring sessions, as they’ll help you avoid leg injuries, which can be devastating.
Let’s now delve into the top contenders, exploring their unique features, materials, and design, to help you make an informed choice. Let’s gear up and ensure your shins are safeguarded without compromising on performance!
Best Overall
YOKKAO Matrix Muay Thai Shin Guards with Knee Guards
| Colors/Designs | Benefits |
|---|---|
| White | Premium |
| Mango | Exceptional Durability and Protection |
| Orchid Bloom | Premium Company |
| 6+ Colors | Best Overall |
My definite choice for the overall best Muay Thai shin guards is made by Yokkao. If you’re unfamiliar with them and are training in Muay Thai, you should familiarize yourself with them. I, as with the next one we’ll review, recommend them in all my product recommendations. So I’m confident in Yokkao’s abilities to outperform their competition.
These shin guards are exceptional. They’re of high quality and will provide you with anything you’ll ever need from your Muay Thai training. They’re a premium company, which might mean that you’ll be unwilling to spend as much on shin guards.
However, and I absolutely mean it, if you’re serious about protecting your shins in your Muay Thai training, these are the ones I’m most confident in, which is why I’ve listed them as the overall best ones.
Yokkao also did a flawless job with the design, making them that much more attractive to buy and wear in your training. They’re the most reliable Muay Thai brand I’m aware of, and I’ve been in this game for a long time. That’s why I feel very safe recommending them to you.
Lastly, if you worry about durability, don’t be. These will last a long time, as Yokkao constructed them to be as durable as they come. Indeed, all the qualities you’d expect from shin guards, but premium.
Best Budget
Sanabul Essential Hybrid Shin Guards
| Colors/Designs | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Black | Durable |
| Blue | Affordable |
| Copper | Reliable Company |
| 3+ Colors | Best Budget Pads |
The next shin guards we’ll review are my choice for the best budget shin guards. The reason for that is that they don’t jeopardize quality for affordability. Therefore, unlike many cheap Muay Thai shin guards, these provide enough protection for me to be as confident as I am when recommending them.
Sanabul is truly one of the best martial arts protective gear companies. I always end up recommending them when doing product recommendations, as they also beat their competition. And the case is the same with Muay Thai shin guards. Indeed, their listing is much more attractive than others.
The first and primary reason for that is because of price compared to quality. It’s quite easy to find expensive and high-quality shin guards. However, it’s much more challenging to find affordable and high-quality ones, which is precisely what Sanabul was able to create with this one.
These shin guards actually have many benefits to them, such as not having to adjust them once you adjust them for the first time. Likewise, they’re comfortable and durable, which increases their value by a lot.
Overall, I really have nothing bad to say about Sanabul’s product here. They’re able to outperform their competition time and time again, which makes it super easy to recommend their products to you. Oh, by the way, these also include knee guards, providing extra protection.
Best for Small Legs
RDX Shin Guards
| Colors/Designs | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Blue | Affordable |
| Black | Durable and Protective |
| Red | Reliable Company |
| Suitable for Small Legs |
The first thing that attracted me to further research these shin guards is the number of positive reviews it has. On Amazon, it has 4.9/5 stars with 2100 reviews at the time of writing this. This is incredible!
RDX is one of the leading companies in the protective gear realm. They provide a whole lot of martial arts protective equipment, which allows me to trust them even further.
Let’s talk about these shin guards specifically.
They’re made from Maya Hide Leather, which makes this product exceptionally durable and protective. They also provide instep protection, which is definitely important. Therefore, they’ll provide you with anything you need for your Muay Thai training while remaining affordable. These are so attractive to me because they’re cost-effective.
They’re also suitable for small legs, as they come in different sizes. You’ll be able to choose the most suitable size for you because RDX included a size chart, which makes it super easy and quick to measure yourself and choose the best size. You’ll be able to fit them even to small legs, which can be exciting if you find it difficult to investigate a pair of your own.
Best for Big Calves
Fairtex SP5 Muay Thai Shin Guards
| Colors/Designs | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Blue | Premium Quality |
| Black | Durable and Protective |
| White | Reliable Company |
| 2+ Colors | Lightweight and Comfortable |
The Fairtex SP5 shin guards are designed to provide excellent protection for the shins, instep, and lower leg. They feature thick padding that absorbs impact well, reducing the risk of injuries during training and sparring.
So that’s protection-wise. When reviewing Fairtex as a company, they’re, once again, a leading and reliable brand you can trust. All the shin guards I chose to include in this article are constructed by awesome brands that you can definitely trust buying from.
These shin guards are lightweight and comfortable, so you wouldn’t want to avoid wearing them in spars and competitions. It’s somewhat common for Muay Thai trainees to want to avoid wearing protective gear. However, that’s a massive mistake; having high-quality protective equipment will be incredibly effective in preventing that from happening.
Fairtex products are known for their durability, and the SP5 shin guards are no exception. They are built to withstand the demands of frequent training and sparring, making them a reliable investment.
All in all, a fantastic pair of Shin Guards it’ll be worth investing in.
Hayabusa T3 Full-Back Shin Guards
| Colors/Designs | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Black | Premium Quality |
| Durable and Protective | |
| Reliable Company | |
| Lightweight and Comfortable |
Hayabusa is generally considered a reputable and high-quality martial arts brand. They are known for producing a wide range of martial arts equipment, including gloves, shin guards, shorts, and other training gear. Many martial artists, both beginners, and professionals, have praised the brand for the performance, durability, and comfort of their products.
This pair of shin guards is as excellent as it is because it provides full protection while being lightweight and of premium quality. As a result, I’m confident in what Hayabusa was able to construct and design here.
If you’re serious about your Muay Thai training, you’ll have no issues investing in a premium pair of shin guards like these. Overall, Hayabusa has done a fantastic job with this one, as it provides anything you’ll ever need and much more!
Should I Buy a Muay Thai Shin Guard?
Buying a high-quality Muay Thai shin guard will ensure your shin area is completely protected, both when throwing and receiving a kick there. It’ll absorb a lot of the force, which will ensure you won’t get hurt throughout your Muay Thai training. If you’re serious about your Muay Thai training, make sure to buy shin guards.
How Do I Choose a Muay Thai Shin Guard?
Now that you know which shin guards are the best, I want to review some additional factors you want to consider before you decide which one you’ll buy. Understanding these factors and examining them is critical, so pay attention.
- Size and Fit: Ensure the shin guards fit snugly and comfortably around your shins. They should provide adequate coverage from just below the knee to the top of your foot without obstructing your movement or causing discomfort.
- Type of Shin Guards: Muay Thai shin guards come in different styles. Some cover only the front of the shin, while others also protect the sides and instep. Decide based on your training needs and personal preference. Full-coverage shin guards offer more protection, but they might be bulkier and limit mobility slightly.
- Material and Durability: Look for shin guards made from high-quality materials that can withstand rigorous training. Common materials include synthetic leather, genuine leather, and various types of foam padding. Durable shin guards ensure longevity and effective protection.
- Closure System: Check the closure system of the shin guards. Most models use hook-and-loop (Velcro) straps, while others may have additional elastic straps or neoprene sleeves. The closure should hold the shin guards securely in place during training.
- Comfort and Breathability: Opt for shin guards with good ventilation to prevent excessive sweating and discomfort during long training sessions. Adequate breathability will keep your shins cool and reduce the risk of skin irritation.
- Protection and Padding: The padding thickness and quality will determine the level of protection offered. Look for shin guards with sufficient padding to absorb impact from kicks and blocks effectively. The ones on our list provide sufficient protection.
- Weight: Strike a balance between protection and weight. Bulky shin guards might slow down your movements, while extremely lightweight options might compromise on protection. Find a suitable compromise based on your training intensity and style.
- Brand and Reviews: Research reputable brands known for producing high-quality Muay Thai equipment. Read customer reviews and seek recommendations from experienced practitioners to get insights into the best options.
- Budget: Determine your budget range and explore shin guards that offer the best value for money without compromising on quality and protection. All the ones on this list are of high quality, so you don’t have to worry about quality!
- Try Before Buying: If possible, try on the shin guards before purchasing them. Check how they feel on your shins and assess the comfort and fit in person.
Final Words
And this is everything you need to know about the best Muay Thai shin guards for your money. These are the absolute best ones, so there’ll be no chance of you getting disappointed from there. I’m confident in that, which is why I’ve listed them on my website.
So now, I want you to prioritize protection over anything else. I’ve experienced a severe neck injury from martial arts training, and trust me, it makes the entire training session not worth it. Avoid injuries at all costs!
If you want to get all the necessary equipment to ensure your Muay Thai training is as safe as possible, I wrote an ultimate guide to all the necessary protective equipment in Muay Thai; you definitely want to read it.
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