What Are Hockey Pads Made Of? [Expert Guide!]

Hockey Pads are special kind of protection gear made from a thick layer of foam that you slip on over your regular pads to keep them from becoming damaged during gameplay. The pads are designed to offer maximum protection while minimizing obstruction of sight and sound.

Key Features

A few of the key features of a quality hockey pad are as follows:

• Thickness: The thicker the pad the more it will absorb the impact of your slap shot or puck swing. A good rule of thumb is that you should never buy a thin pad as it will feel flimsy and almost unresponsive compared to a thick one.
• Foam Type: Most hockey pads are made from a combination of synthetic materials and layers of thick foam that provide you with good protection without being too soft and yielding like real human flesh.
• Cover: The cover will shield you from the elements to keep you warm and dry.
• Durability: The longer the pad can withstand hard impacts the more it will be considered durable and high-quality.
• Feel: The thicker the pad the more it will transmit the feedback of your game play. A good rule of thumb is if you feel like your stick is sinking into the ice a lot then you are most likely pushing it too much during play and should replace it with a thicker one.
• Energy Absorption: The thicker the pad the more it will absorb the initial energy of your slap shot or puck swing to reduce the risk of injury. A good rule of thumb is that the thicker the better. This is especially important if you are using thinner materials to create a lighter pad since the energy will be spread out over a larger area.
• Visibility: If you wear goggles while playing hockey then the last thing you want is to have the pads clouding up the screen because they are thick and dark. Hence, good visibility is both practical and highly desirable.
• Trouble Free: A quality hockey pad should be designed to offer maximum comfort and convenience in handling your hockey equipment. The fewer the restrictions the more beneficial it will be to your gameplay. Therefore, the ideal quality hockey pad should be easy to put on and take off without any fiddling required.
• Warmth: The thicker the padding the better, more heat is always preferable when playing ice hockey. The material used in making the pad should be thin enough to give you that comfy feeling when in contact with your skin but at the same time offer that extra protective cushion against the cold.

Material Considerations

There are numerous considerations to make before deciding which type of material to use in manufacturing your hockey pads. The key factors to take into account are the following:

• Foam Type: The thicker the foam the more it will dampen the sound and the impact. Always choose a thicker foam rather than a thin one to prevent the latter from deteriorating quickly.
• Thickness: The thicker the pad the more it will absorb the energy of your slap shot or puck swing. A good rule of thumb is that you should always go for a thicker pad rather than a thin one.
• Compression: The thicker the pad the more it will compress when pressed against your body. The ideal material for making hockey pads should be soft and yielding but at the same time stiff enough to offer good support for your muscles. Thicker materials will compress more readily than thin ones under the same external pressure, allowing you to rely on the support of the gloves and the helmet to prevent injury.
• Weight: Light materials are desirable in making a quality hockey pad since they make the gadget light and nimble, allowing you to move around quicker during gameplay. Always choose a thinner material for the main portion of the pad and the surrounding the area where your wrist and forearm rest in order to keep that essential connection to the ice as solid as possible.
• Feel: The thicker the padding the more it will transmit the feedback of your game play. Real human flesh is the most common material used to make the main portion of the pad and the surrounding area where your wrist and forearm rest to allow for better dexterity and sensitivity. Never use synthetic materials or layers of plastic or vinyl here as it will drastically reduce the overall thickness and responsiveness of your pad.
• Sustainability: Going green is the new black when it comes to manufacturing products these days. Recycle whatever you can and choose eco-friendly alternatives whenever you can. For a sustainable hockey pad, look out for products made from hemp, bamboo, or synthetic materials derived from fossil fuels.
• Vibration Absorption: Most manufacturers will add thick layers of urethane for added padding and impact protection here. Thicker materials will more readily absorb the vibrations created by your stick or blade hitting the ice, reducing the risk of injury from repeated slashes or chops. Vibration absorption is both important and highly desirable for preventing repetitive strain injuries.
• Environmentally Friendly: Always choose a more sustainable option here even if it means paying a little more for the privilege. Fewer materials disposed of in a green industry means fewer toxins in our water sources and a cleaner planet. You should always opt for a greener version of whatever you buy even if it costs you a little more.

To learn more about the different materials that can be used to make a quality hockey pad, read on!

Foam Type

The first thing you will want to consider when choosing the type of foam in your hockey pad is the thickness. As mentioned above, a good rule of thumb is that you should always go for a thicker foam rather than a thin one to prevent it from deteriorating quickly. When it comes to choosing the right thickness for your foam, you want to go for a soft material that will mold comfortably around your body and will not feel overly restrictive like a thin sheet of styrofoam would. Below you will find a list of the most commonly used types of foam along with their corresponding advantages and disadvantages:

• Thin Foam: Thin foam will not offer much in terms of impact protection and is highly likely to deteriorate quickly compared to other types of foam. A good rule of thumb is that you should never buy a thin foam as it will feel flimsy and almost unresponsive compared to a thick one.
• Medium Foam: Medium foam offers a good middle-ground between thin and thick foams. It is very comfortable to wear and will only become thicker under extreme external pressure. It is widely used in motorcycle jackets and other types of outerwear where impact protection is a primary concern. For instance, construction workers frequently use medium foams as their hard hats because they offer decent protection against falling objects and debris. Thicker medium foams are also frequently used in making safety vests.
• Thick Foam: The thick foam is what we previously mentioned; it is the opposite of the thin foam. Essentially, a thick foam offers the best of both worlds in that it will be thick enough to offer good protection against your opponent’s pucks, sticks, and claws while at the same time being comfortable enough to wear all day long. Naturally, the thicker the better when it comes to this type of foam as it will more readily transmit the energy of your kicks, punches, and shots to the surface you are protecting, reducing the risk of injury. It is also worth mentioning here that thick foams do not retain their shape well once compressed, meaning they will tend to lose their thick and pillowy appearance and become more of a flat, lifeless matter.

Stiffness

Once you have decided on the type of material used in making your hockey pad, the next thing you will want to consider is the stiffness. Always choose a material that is stiff yet comfortable enough to mold to your body shape. In general, you want to go for a thin material here since it will make your hands more agile, enabling you to perform better on the ice. Below you will find a short list of the most desirable stiff materials along with their corresponding advantages and disadvantages: