Regarding elbow injuries, we’ve suffered our share due to lousy pads sliding up and providing proper protection when hitting the ice. These pads are integral to any player’s protection kit since we will likely land elbows first when you fall on ice.
Not just for protection from impact, elbow pads are great for protecting against slashes to the lower biceps and forearms. However, the market is filled with many options, making decision-making tricky.
This is where we come in with our list of the best hockey elbow pads. We’ve carefully handpicked some of the best pads out there, offering snug fit without limiting mobility.
Table of Contents
Best Hockey Elbow Pads of 2024 – Top 8 Products on the Market
STX Ice Hockey Stallion HPR 1.2 Elbow Pad
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The STX Ice Hockey Stallion HPR 1.2 Elbow Pad is designed for any player looking to protect their arms while playing this game. It’s available in many sizes, ensuring every player finds a product that fits their arms.
These pads are designed to offer better mobility without compromising comfort and protection against injuries. This unit provides optimal flexibility allowing you to play at your highest potential either aggressively, defensively, or by making shots.
Also, the forearm section comes with a foam that molds to your body, offering a snug and secure fit. The elbow pad protects you from an oncoming stick and other likely blows to your arms. With this product, you should feel more secure and play better knowing you are properly protected.
Although this elbow pad is a one-piece, it does feel like a two-piece design. It comes with a bit of foam over its injected plastic to dissipate that high-impact energy to protect you out there on the rink.
The plastic hinged guard also offers much better mobility and better fit too. Speaking about snug fit, STX uses 360 straps, which are among the adjustable anchor straps offering an extremely tight fit without any hassle of locking it down.
Pros:
- Easy movements
- Allows you to play defensively or aggressively
- The forearm section features a foam
- Offers custom fit
Cons:
- A bit small for large size
JAMM 1001 Soft Elbow Pad
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Next on our list is the best hockey elbow pad – JAMM 1001 Soft Elbow Pad. Besides coming with a reasonable price tag, they offer excellent mobility, comfort, and protection. This model features a deep elbow pocket to keep this unit in place.
These pads are in differing sizes to accommodate any player from small to large size. Also, they come exceptionally lightweight, so you can move easily without trading off their protective capability.
Even better, it features dual-density foam to ensure impressive performance, optimal comfort, and breathability. JAMM 1001 Soft Elbow Pad features three adjustable Velcro straps to provide a secure fit. Also, its segmented design ensures hassle-free movement.
For more protection, it comes with a soft foam padded plastic cap without compromising mobility. Further, it comes with a plastic forearm splash pad and foam fitting on the exterior.
Pros:
- Lightweight design
- Adjustable straps for a snug fit
- Comfort and durable
- Elbow pocket
Cons:
- The size may not work for some youths.
CCM Jetspeed Ft350 Junior Elbow Pads
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The CCM Jetspeed Ft350 Junior Elbow Pads is another popular option on the market and come in many sizes to fit players of any skill level and all ages. This model features reinforced plastic throughout for maximum construction.
This two-piece pad comes with a hinged bicep guard to offer much better protection while offering excellent elbows flexibility and mobility.
CCM Jetspeed Ft350 Junior Elbow Pads feature forearm straps and quick-release bicep tabs for quick coverage and adjustments. Sweating and moisture won’t be an issue with these pads, thanks to the incorporated moisture-wicking system using soft yet durable nylon covering. Also, the thick foam makes these pads feel like a memory.
In short, CCM Jetspeed Ft350 Junior Elbow Pads provide much-needed protection without coming with a salty price tag.
Pros:
- Lightweight design
- Superior protection
- Excellent impact absorption
- Available in multiple sizes and colors
Cons:
- The price isn’t very reasonable
WRSI S-Turn Elbow Pads
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The WRSI S-Turn Elbow Pads offer additional protection to your elbow as you play hard on the water. This unit’s design is to protect your pointy parts ultimately from threats. These pads feature ABS plastic armor shrugging off glides and blows without catching and a 3mm perforated foam padding to absorb any impacts.
The S-Turn Elbow Pads are designed to offer natural flexibility and will work well over drop sleeves and bare arms. It’s available in two sizes which should fit just about any paddler. Further, it is equipped with a mesh elastic sleeve, three hook-and-loop adjustable straps, and a silicone grip to ensure this model offers a snug and secure fit. According to the manufacturer, the WRSI S-Turn Elbow Pads are a good buy for paddlers looking to purchase an excellent weapon for battling against an immovable object.
Pros:
- ABS armor panels
- 3mm neoprene foam padding
- Grippy mesh sleeve
- Three elastic adjustment straps
Cons:
- The inner Velcro sleeve may be uncomfortable for some paddlers
Adams Trace Elbow Guard
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Next on our list is Adams Trace Elbow Guard. These pads feature a ⅜-inch high-density foam that allows users to play hard on the water with incredible flexibility. They feature a keyhole design to increase flexibility.
Even better, this unit has built-in wings for ultimate elbow protection when playing hockey. Not just that, Adams Trace Elbow Guard comes with polyester/spandex fabric to ensure much better comfort and ease of movement.
Another thing about this elbow pad is its wide range of size options from X-small to large. Also, there are several color options to suit your style.
Pros:
- ⅜-inch high-density foam
- Keyhole design for more flexibility
- optimum elbow protection
- Ease of movement
Cons:
- Sizes are too small
STX 300 Senior Ice Hockey Elbow Pad
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Last on our list of the best hockey pads review is STX 300 Senior Ice Hockey Elbow Pad. This unit focuses on zones of protection and offers more coverage. Also, the EVA foams deliver excellent protection when needed the most.
This traditional two-piece design brings excellent value and performance to the pitch. The STX Stallion 300 Senior Ice Hockey Elbow Pad is a smart buy for beginners who want ultimate coverage in vital areas.
Even better, it features the 360 strap allowing users to customize the pad for a snug and secure fit to the foreman with maximum retention. Equally, both EVA and HD foam are combined to create a hydrophobic barrier. This unique combination helps avoid moisture building up in the pad while reducing the pad’s overall weight.
Pros:
- Lightweight design
- Maximum retention
- Adjustable STX 360 straps
- Dri-lex moisture Wicking liner
Cons:
- Ideal for beginners
Farrell Professional Elbow Pads Set
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The Farrell Professional Elbow Pads Set provides a comfortable fit and superior protection. Despite coming with a lightweight design, it delivers reliable protection thanks to the hollow Compression Block cell construction.
The unique design offers optimal impact absorption by compressing and transferring the energy horizontally, which prevents the impact from getting into your body.
With this unit, you’ll be glad to put them on when the next slash happens. Further, the neoprene construction allows users to put it on without dealing with a slipping pad while playing hard on the ice.
That’s not all: these pads come with a breathable foam to help reduce weight and moisture while playing hard. Unlike most solid foam pads out there, these pads make use of Compression Block cells to offer excellent ventilation.
Pros:
- Sturdy construction
- Incredible flexibility
- Comfortable fit
- Top-level protection
Cons:
- No warranty stated
Bauer Supreme 1S Pro Hockey Elbow Pads
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The Bauer Supreme 1S Pro Hockey Elbow Pads provide a comfortable fit and superior protection. Despite coming with a lightweight design, it delivers reliable protection thanks to the featured Curv Composite material. This protective material is built into the bicep and forearm section of the elbow pad.
With this unit, you’ll be glad to put them on when the next slash happens. Naturally, the composite material is stiff and rigid, but the manufacturer has done a great job in molding it to ensure the perfect arm shape for an utmost comfortable fit.
That’s not all: these pads come with a breathable foam to help reduce weight and moisture while playing hard. The manufacturer also includes a handy feature between the composite padded and foam areas called Active Motion Protection for much better flexibility.
Pros:
- Sturdy construction
- Incredible flexibility
- Comfortable fit
- Top-level protection
What to Look For When Purchasing an Elbow Pad for Your Hockey Games
Designs of Elbow pads
There are three unique types of design, and in this section, we’ll discuss what you should expect from each design.
- One-piece (softshell)
- Two-piece
- Three-piece
Softshell design
The pad comes with a plastic interior and a well-padded exterior. The one-piece pad is a common choice for entry-level players. In terms of protection, these units don’t offer much compared to high-end pads. However, they offer impressive mobility without sticking far off the arm
Two-piece design
Another common elbow pad design with the guard’s core consists of a molded piece of plastic for the forearm guards and elbow. Not just that, this design offers an extra upper piece – the bicep guard.
Three-piece design
I think it’s safe to call the three-piece design premium elbow pads, which offer an additional part between the pad’s bottom and bicep portion. This means you get the same protection as the two-piece design and more to provide excellent mobility, especially when the arm is straightened out.
Forearm Guard Construction
This is one of the most considered factors – forearm protection. You should be aware that different designs offer varying levels of protection. The one-piece is usually formed from single-density foam, which might not wrap up all the way over the forearms.
But for a two-piece design, the plastic inserts offer a bit more protection. The same goes for the three-piece elbow pad design, which comes with additional plastic inserts and high-end foams to offer complete forearm wrap.
Bicep Guard Construction
So let’s consider the bicep guard regarding the three design options. The softshell comes with a single-density foam, but thin plastic inserts featured on the mid-range two-piece design are segmented to deliver adequate protection. Last, the three-piece option is often denser due to the combination of high-end foams and thicker plastics to deliver much better protection.
Conclusion
Obviously, there are a lot of pads on the market. As promised, we reviewed the top 7 best hockey elbow pads in 2020. However, it’s up to you to choose one that would cater to your pointy parts without compromising flexibility and comfort. But, if you are still finding it hard to make a choice, then check our buying guide section to ensure you make an informed decision.