The Best Shinguards for MMA and Kickboxing 2022

Martial arts is a professional sport, complete with protective and comfortable gear for all necessary areas of the body, elbow pads, knee pads, mma gloves.

One of the most important pieces of safety equipment are MMA shin guards. They protect the leg below the knee, which martial artists use to kick or block kicks. Professionals and amateur martial arts athletes use the shin guard to avoid injuries such as shin fractures.

This article will explore the key factors to be considered when choosing a shin guard. 

The Top 10 Properties of MMA Shin Guards

Raw Material

Synthetic leather, sock sleeved and leather are the materials used to make most shin guards. You can choose your desired material from an array of choices, with each material bearing different costs.

However, leather shins guards are long-lasting and are the most expensive compared to others. Leather shin guards are ideal for professional MMA and kickboxing athletes due to their sturdiness.

However, if you have a limited budget, consider synthetic leather. It is also comfortable but relatively cheaper. It serves its purpose well, but don’t expect them to last as long as genuine leather versions. 

Comfort

Martial arts is a combative sport that needs comfortable shin guards. Weight is a factor in manufacturing but you should try not to buy a pair that are too heavy or bulky. If the shin guard carries too much weight, it makes the user uncomfortable, which will impact your training ability. The guard should be comfortable enough to move with ease.

Shin guards come in medium, small and large sizes. Some come with an instep and ankle guard. Select the most comfortable size that can fit your leg and protects your shin.

Quality

Overall quality brings together comfort, material and cost of production. Quality is subjective since different people prefer different materials and comfort. If you are on a shoe-string budget, there are other cost-effective shin guards made from synthetic leather. They do the same work, with the same efficiency, albeit for a shorter period.

However, some materials are expensive and durable, pushing the purchasing cost higher. 

Primary Use

Take note of the use before buying, since shin guards have various uses. There are shin guards for MMA, Muay Thai and kickboxing. However, a good number of shin guards perfectly fits all the sports mentioned above. 

Certified by the MMA Regulatory Body

MMA is a highly regulated sport. The relevant body must approve the design, material and structure before being used in any competition. When you buy shin guards, ensure you check that it’s certified for use by CE and SATR. 

CE and SATRA check the foam, padding and safety of the material for the user and opponent. Shin guards protect the shin and instep against direct injury. It might not save the leg in its entirety but significantly reduces the chances of the leg damage.

Instep and Shin or Shin Only

There are various leg guards in the market. A good number protect both the shin and the instep, while some select others only cover the shin. A good MMA shin guard must cover the whole leg since both the shin and the instep are used during kickboxing. It is worth noting that a martial artist isn’t allowed to wear any shoes to the ring.

A complete instep shin guard can defend against intensify offensive kicks. However, if the athlete requires a shin guard only, many are available on the market.

Flexibility

Most instep shin guards have a soft material around the ankle that allows flexible movement around the ankle joint. Martial arts involve rapid and sudden movement, and any MMA shin guard should allow movement. Before purchase, ensure you test the instep shin guard to see if it is comfortable.

For those who buy online, read commentaries online from verified purchases. 

Cleaning and General Maintenance

The manufacturing material determines how easy and fast it is to clean the shin guards. Cleaning a leather shin guard is easy since you only wipe the surface to give it a clean look. However, do not insert the shin guard in water for a long time if made from synthesis fibre. It soaks in water and increases the wear and tear rate.

Also, ensure you have a good place to hang them for aeration and to prevent physical damage. Only use them when training or fighting, and not any other time. It helps them to maintain shape and appearance.

Colour

You can choose from a range of colours available.  Some martial artists go for bold colours such as red and sky blue. Colours add facial value to the shin guards. They have a sentimental attachment to specific colours as fighters believe that some colours contribute to their look. Others decided to match the shin guard with their pair of shots or gloves.

Brands

Brand recognition is the effort of the marketer, based on penetrability into the market or the quality. Martial artists know some brands that dominate the MMA market. However, more brands are coming up to rattle the market, thanks to their superior properties and user-friendliness.

To get some good MMA shin guards, focus more on the properties rather than the brand name. You can find a good instep shin guard at a reasonable price.