We all know what hockey pads are: protective gear worn by ice hockey players to prevent injuries to their head and torso in ice hockey games. Despite their obvious purpose, a lot of people still don’t know how to properly wear them. Below you’ll find information on what to wear under your hockey pads based on how you plan on using them. Take a few minutes to read and get ready to protect yourself better than anyone else on the ice.
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Hockey Pads For Puck Fighting
When playing football or baseball, you would never put on your hockey pads. These are designed for preventing injuries from getting hit by a puck or any other object (e.g., a ball or a stick). The reason is that pucks are typically carried in the gloves of the player handling them, and therefore are not dangerous if not protected by a glove. There are, however, situations where you would want to protect yourself from a puck without using a glove. For example, when blocking a shot or throwing a pass and getting hit by the puck.
Hockey Pads For Sliding
If you’re a fast skater, you don’t need to protect your head from injuries in case you hit it on a wall or a truck. You also don’t need to protect your head from injuries while performing a spin move or any other sliding move. The reason is that while sliding, your head is naturally protected by the friction of the ice and the cushioning of your helmet. If you do get injured while sliding, you’ll be wearing your helmet. This won’t affect your peripheral vision at all since helmets have transparent visors.
Hockey Pads For Protection In General
If you play hockey professionally, you’ll be wearing your hockey pads all the time. Even when not playing, you’ll want to wear them during practices and games for safety reasons. If you play in a cold climate, you’ll need to be extra careful not to overheat and sustain an injury. When you play in a hot climate, you’ll need to make sure your body remains hydrated and protected from overheating. The general rule is that you should always wear your hockey pads when playing sports on any surface (ice, turf, etc.).
When Is It Time To Take Off Your Pads?
If you’re playing hockey outdoors in the summertime, it is not necessary to wear your protective gear. Instead, choose lightweight gear that will keep you cool and comfortable while reducing your chances of getting injured. During the summer months, the only situation where you would need to remove your hockey pads is if you’re playing in a pool or lake. If not, you can let them dry naturally after each use.
Wash Your Gear Regularly
Just like your underwear, your hockey gear needs to be washed often. This will keep the germs at bay and make sure everything remains safe and clean for play. Many teams and leagues have washing machines set up in the locker rooms, so you don’t have to worry about doing it yourself. After each game or practice, throw your pads in with the washing machine along with some soap and water. Keep an eye out for dryer sheets, which you can put in with your pads to make sure they get washed thoroughly and don’t become wet or frayed in the dryer (this can lead to fires and explosions).
How Many Pads Should You Wear?
The number of hockey pads you need depends on how you plan on using them. If you’re playing hockey outdoors in the summertime and not in a pool or lake, you would only need two pads: one for practicing and one for playing. If you do play in a pool or lake, you’ll need at least four pads: two for practicing and two for playing. For additional safety, you might also want to consider getting a third pair for practicing. Most people who play sports professionally wear three pads: one for practicing, one for playing, and one for getting hit by a puck. This is to prevent injuries to your head, neck, and upper back since these are the areas where most of the injuries occur. Depending on the brand and the model of your helmet, there may be other places on your body that need additional protection as well. For example, some people get hit in the kidneys by a puck, so they need a guard to protect them there as well.
Keep in mind that none of this information is meant to replace proper training and education on how to play hockey. Instead, this is simply meant to help you have fun while playing the game you love without being injured.