Looking for the top Muay Thai shin guards? There are many brands of Muay Thai shin guards out there– and each promising to deliver the best protection. While many believed that the pricey brands are the better ones, there are actually budget-friendly choices out there that can work wonders to your game. To jumpstart your search, here are the three top Muay Thai shin guards highly recommended by pro fighters over the years.
Source: fightland.vice.com
1. Strap-On Shin Guards
When it comes to strap-on shin guards in Muay Thai, this Pro Style shin guards from Fairtex are built to impress. Many traditional fighters make good use of this type of shin guards for the adequate protection each pair brings to the wearer. Made with high quality synthetic-leather shell and shock-absorbent high-density foam core, these shin guards are built to withstand being kicked at during sparring. The hook-and-loop pull-strap ensures of a secured and comfortable fit while the raised shin ridge guarantees extra protection. It also features an extended in-step to provide better protection for the feet.
Handmade in Thailand, it is important to know the right fit when you buy from any of its black, blue or red pair. Sizes are pegged according to height and weight. Hence, SMALL is for 4’11” to 5’4” fighter weighing up to 135lbs, MEDIUM for 5’4” to 5’8” with a weight of 136lbs to 160lbs; LARGE for 5’8” to 6’1” weighing 161lbs to 225lbs; and XL for 6’1” to 6’4” weighing over 225lbs. Check out for discounts and review from Amazon.
2. Washable Sock-In Shin Guards
Another type of shin guards used frequently by amateur Muay Thai fighters during sparring and drills are the “sock-style” padded shin guards like the Combat Sports Washable Slip-On Shin Instep Guards. Made with form-fitting polyester blend material, these effortlessly slip and snugly fit into your legs where they remained secured to protect your shins from an incoming kicking attack. Its lightweight construction material also helps to optimize maximum mobility to aid in better performance while the secure-fit style is designed to make minimal movement even when moving around while providing needed compression to the leg area.
The coolest thing about these Combat Sports Washable Slip-On Shin Instep Guards is that they can be machine-washed leaving your protective pair fresh-smelling all the time. Sold in Amazon with the following sizes: SMALL (11” to 13”); MEDIUM (12” to 15”); LARGE (15” to 17”) and XL (16” to 19”)– colors are in RED, BLUE, GREY and BLACK. Check out for discounts and shipping perks from Amazon.
3. Stylish Comfort Shin Guards
Another top Muay Thai shin guards loved by many fighters on and off the ring is the Top King brand. The Top King Shin Guards are lightweight in design with adequate padding to enhance mobility while ensuring protection to the lower leg muscles. This pair also provides more protection to the knee caps as the hook-and-loop closure provides snug-fit comfort even when moving around.
The Top King Shin Guards are also slimmer than other brands. But what makes the brand truly famous is its astounding creativeness with the variety of designs and colors available for a fighter to choose from. Sizes are SMALL (15.5”), MEDIUM (16.5”); LARGE (17”) and XL (17.5”) — length featured in all these excludes the feet area. You can also choose from its stylish varieties ranging from black-on-black, black/white, empower black, empower white, red/black, superstar gold, and snake or black/gold. For discounts check on Amazon here.
The Verdict
Kicks to the shin can happen anytime in Muay Thai. When sparring partners scramble for fight control, it cannot be helped that an attack to the lower leg can lead to a painful blow to the shin– and this is where the top Muay Thai shin guards featured above come in. When choosing, it is essential to get the right size to ensure a secured fit without sacrificing mobility. So, choose well and make sure that the size fits.
