Football equipment is mandatory, and it’s sometimes the only thing that prevents serious injuries. The real problem is how to choose the football shoulder pads that will keep you protected and let you move freely at the same time.
Selecting the proper equipment is most often a matter of compromise, and not many manufacturers can provide it. It’s essential to choose the finest quality equipment. If you don’t think that quality matters that much, wait until you’re being chased around the field by a 300-pound offensive tackle player; you’ll be happy you have the best gear on the market.
Our Top 3 Recommendations
1. Schutt Sports XV HD Varsity Pads
Features
- Great protection
- Allows a wide range of motion
- EVA foam for shock absorption
Price: From $229.94
1. Riddell Football Shoulder Pads — Power Amp Junior Varsity
Features
- Brand name product
- Allows a wide range of motion
- Lightweight
Price: From $89.99
1. Douglas CP 24SW Cantilever Shoulder Pads
Features
- Excellent quality
- Modernized old-school cantilever system
- Improves mobility
Price: From $349.99
Best Football Shoulder Pads
Schutt Sports XV HD Varsity Pads
Price from $229.94
Pros
- Great protection
- Allows a wide range of motion
- Pre-drilled accessory holes
- EVA foam for shock absorption
- Effective moisture wicking and ventilation system
Cons
- Pricey
Quality & Design
The first entry on our list comes from a trusted manufacturer, Schutt. These are all-purpose shoulder pads, but the manufacturer offers them in varieties for specific positions.
Also, the pre-drilled holes allow you to attach different accessories and customize them to your needs.
Protection & Mobility
Thanks to the deep cut, these youth football shoulder pads weigh only 3lbs and provide a good range of motion. At the same time, the longcut offers excellent protection. One of the main features is the high-density EVA foam — it has higher impact absorption and creates an efficient protective shell when combined with the raised grooves on the arches.
Ventilation
Even though the pads have a low profile, they still leave enough room for ventilation. The improved moisture and heat management systems help your body stay cool.
What we didn’t like
We don’t have any significant negative remarks about these shoulder pads for football. However, we must mention that some people may be disappointed with the overall look. They are lightweight and low-profile, so don’t expect to look large and intimidating on the field.
Our verdict
This piece of gear isn’t exactly cheap. However, if you consider the high-quality materials, good range of movement, and the protection level it provides, it’s a good buy.
Xenith Shoulder Pads — Velocity All-Purpose Protective Gear
Price from $171.99
Pros
- Brand name product
- Low profile and lightweight
- Customizable
- Great range of motion
Cons
- Costly
Quality & Design
This modern and mean-looking Xenith model has a low profile and low weight, just 3.5 pounds. That makes it suitable for all positions, and you can add front and back pads to it. As for the quality, Xenith lived up to its excellent reputation — no remarks here.
Protection & Mobility
The shoulder pads provide great protection thanks to the air cells, which deflate when under impact and inflate afterward. In addition, there is a flexible cord connecting the plates, which allows them to move independently.
For better safety, Xenith equipped these football shoulder pads with backplate protection and a floating sternum pad. We especially liked that the belt straps have pockets, so the unused part (which can be quite long sometimes) won’t be sticking out as it does on some alternatives.
What we didn’t like
Installing the removable sternum and back protection plate will make the shoulder pads slightly less flexible. It doesn’t reduce the range of motion or the safety level, but it will take you a couple of minutes to get used to it.
Our verdict
It is an excellent piece of equipment from a trusted manufacturer, and the only issue is the slightly higher price. But you do get a lot for your money.
Xtech Shoulder Pads
Pros
- Revolutionary XRD foam
- Trusted by 70% of NFL players
- Anti-microbial
- Low profile and lightweight
- Great range of motion
Cons
- Very expensive
Quality & Design
Xtech is one of the youngest companies in the industry, and in just ten years, it managed to change the market. Now, more than 70% of all NFL players wear these shoulder pads. In addition, more than 200 colleges also chose Xtech NFL shoulder pads for their players. So what makes them that special? It isn’t the appearance — they are plain and certainly not intimidating. It’s the materials that make the difference.
Protection & Mobility
Thanks to the revolutionary XRD foam, Xtech offers unparalleled protection. The foam’s molecules act like water molecules: they float around freely, but when they get hit, they create a solid, pressure-dispersing surface. They also return to the previous state immediately after the pressure is gone.
Football shoulder pads for adults made from XRD foam are very thin. The material has enabled the engineers to produce a light, low-profile protective gear that allows the players to move around like they are wearing nothing at all. It also has anti-microbial properties, which reduce the risk of infections.
What we didn’t like
Xtech has an exclusive contract with the XRD foam manufacturer, and you can’t find protective gear with this material anywhere else. Moreover, the production is still low since the company currently supplies its NFL football shoulder pads to professional and college teams. As a result, the prices are remarkably high — up to three times more than the competitors.
Our verdict
It is a high-tech revolutionary product, trusted by 70% of professional NFL players and more than 200 colleges in the US. The only issue is the high price. If you can afford it, don’t give it a second thought.
Riddell Football Shoulder Pads — Power Amp Junior Varsity
Price from $89.99
Pros
- Brand name product
- Lightweight
- Great range of motion
Cons
- Pricey
Quality & Design
Riddell is one of the most famous names in the business. It’s been keeping athletes safe for decades, and these all-purpose varsity shoulder pads honor that tradition. The design is medium profile, with belt-like straps and epaulets for additional protection.
Protection & Mobility
Since it’s intended for young athletes, the gear comes with an additional backplate and extra cushions. However, this doesn’t reduce moisture-wicking capabilities, thanks to the Air Management Liner System.
What we didn’t like
It would have been nice to see some removable sternum protection with these kid football shoulder pads.
Our verdict
These shoulder pads come from a trusted manufacturer and have decades of experience built into them. So even though the price isn’t entry-level at all, we believe that the pros justify it more than enough.
Douglas CP 24SW Cantilever Shoulder Pads
Price from $349.99
Pros
- Excellent quality
- Modernized old-school cantilever system
- Improves mobility
Cons
- Very pricey
Quality & Design
This Douglas’s top-of-the-line product is intended for Quarterbacks, Running Backs, and Linebackers. It has a lowered cantilever to allow the same visibility as a flat pad. The slick design, low weight, and great visibility make it one of the best football shoulder pads for a linebacker.
Protection & Mobility
The cut-away shell design allows increased flexibility and range of movement while offering superb protection. Douglas took the old-school cantilever impact absorption system and modernized it. It effectively takes the impact energy away from the shoulders and redistributes it throughout the shell.
What we didn’t like
The shoulder pads come with a high price — two or three times higher than the competition.
Our verdict
It’s a great product, packed with modernized, battle-proven features, and every product evolution comes at a price.
Schutt Sports AiR MAXX Hybrid Varsity Football Shoulder Pads
Price from $335.99
Pros
- Brand name product
- Hybrid Air-TPU cushioning
- Allows a great range of movement
Cons
- You have to wear it a couple of times before the padding adjusts to the body.
Quality & Design
These shoulder pads are ideal for Quarterback and Wide Receiver positions. They offer a tight fit and low profile, enabling the skill players to move freely.
Protection & Mobility
The pads offer better mobility thanks to the small arch cut and swivel front connection. In addition, the stitching enables them to fit tight to the body and maintain a low profile, making them one of the best shoulder pads for quarterbacks and other skill players. You don’t have to worry about safety either — the backplate and the TPU and Air hybrid padding give the athlete the highest protection level.
What we didn’t like
They provide a snuggly fit, but only after you spend some time breaking them in.
Our verdict
This model is one of the best sellers, and that isn’t a fluke — it offers excellent protection. Although the price is a little steep, it’s still a good deal.
Gear Pro-Tec Razor RZ15 Football Shoulder Pads
Price from $454.99
Pros
- Excellent mobility
- Superb protection and comfort
- Good ventilation
Cons
- Pricey
Quality & Design
These shoulder pads have a futuristic and even a slightly intimidating look, but most importantly, they are high-tech pieces of equipment. The lightweight and smooth Razor line is suitable for all positions, but the central focus is on runners. That’s why they are made to be as lightweight and comfortable as possible and also give its user maximum protection. It makes them the best football shoulder pads for defensive backs.
Protection & Mobility
When it comes to protection, the main feature is the all-mighty SAS-TEC Visco Elastic Foam, with its superior impact absorption properties. Moreover, since it’s thinner and lighter than traditional foams, the shoulder pads design can be smaller and provide a tighter fit.
A tight fit doesn’t mean you’ll be sweaty all the time because the fabrics have excellent moisture-wicking capabilities. In addition to that, this shoulder pad for football even has HEX foam which absorbs moisture and allows air to flow freely around the body.
As far as mobility is concerned, the stretch zone fabric and exterior arches give these pads up to 12 degrees wider range of motion than those the competition offers.
What we didn’t like
Again, it’s the pricing — it’s much higher than the competition. However, even though these adult football shoulder pads are pricey, they are still cheaper than the board’s leaders.
Our verdict
With these shoulder pads, you get 100% of the protection the most expensive competitors offer, but for a 30% lower price. That’s a bargain.
Xenith Element Hybrid Shoulder Pads
Price from $248.99
Pros
- Excellent protection
- Modern materials
- Moisture-wicking
- Good airflow for cooling effect
Cons
- No pocket for strapping belts that stick out
Quality & Design
These are all-purpose shoulder pads but with an emphasis on speed. They have a low profile and medium-long chest plate. They are built with the modern, positionless player in mind, making them the best shoulder pads for tight end players.
Protection & Mobility
You will be well-protected with the impact-reducing technology. You can even customize your protective gear by adding or removing deltoid and clavicle pads, depending on whether you need more protection or comfort.
Speaking of comfort, Xenith invested a lot of time in finding the best solution to keep athletes cool. Thanks to the X-CAMO open-cell foam and its selective geometry, these top-rated shoulder pads allow excellent airflow, which improves temperature regulation.
What we didn’t like
There is no pocket to tuck in the strap parts sticking out of the pad. It won’t be a problem if you have a bigger chest, but if you need to tighten those belts, the excess can look like two horns coming out from the sides.
Our verdict
These are great all-purpose shoulder pads that allow a wide range of customizations. All in all, it’s a good buy.
How to Choose the Best Football Shoulder Pads?
These are the factors you should consider when choosing:
Protection
This is the reason we are buying pads in the first place. Good shoulder pads should be made from durable materials that withstand lots of physical force without losing their protective qualities.
Sadly, some cheaper gear is full of foam that becomes flat and rigid after some time. When looking for shoulder pads, football players should search for those fitted with modern foams like X-CAMO and XRD.
Since those also come at a high price, another good solution is the air cells. They release air upon impact and take it in again immediately after. This simple principle provides excellent protection as well.
Ability to customize
Most players want the ability to customize their shoulder pads depending on the situation. That means adding extra cushioning, back or sternum plates, etc. Why not place them permanently? Well, sometimes you need to sacrifice a little bit of protection to gain mobility and vice-versa. Every piece added to the shoulder pads reduces their flexibility.
Overall size and weight
The best QB shoulder pads are not going to work for a lineman. Static position players feel more comfortable in their large shoulder pads that provide excellent protection and make them look even bigger. On the other hand, running players need lightweight and low-profile gear that won’t limit their movement. Moreover, additional weight can wear them out quicker.
Freedom of movement
Whatever your position is, you need mobility. You would better go for the best shoulder pads that won’t limit your range of motion. Keeping a good line of sight is also important — you want to be protected, not blind. Many pads have high arches that block the player’s vision. You should avoid them if you want to see the ball or a 300-pound opponent running toward you.
Comfort and temperature regulation
These shoulder pads should provide a tight fit but still be comfortable. Most of them need time to break in and for the foam to conform to your body. However, that doesn’t mean you should suffocate; the best football pads should still have breathing room, adequate ventilation, and moisture-wicking capabilities to keep your body temperature optimal.
Summary
Shoulder pads have a difficult task to complete: they have to protect the player, provide a tight fit, but still allow them to move and be comfortable to wear. It’s hard to achieve that kind of compromise. A company can excel in one department (protection, for instance) and be bad at another (comfort). Think about your priorities and buy accordingly.
People Also Ask
There are plenty of good pads on the market, but the best ones for each player usually depend on their position. You can always rely on those made by Xtech since they provide both mobility and unparalleled protection. Other viable options are Xenith Element Hybrid Shoulder Pads, Gear Pro-Tec Razor RZ15 Adult, Schutt Sports AiR MAXX Hybrid Varsity, Schutt Sports XV HD Varsity, Xenith Velocity All-Purpose Protective Gear, etc.
More than 70% of professional NFL players wear Xtech pads. The former Riddell engineer and sports agent created them in 2012. The cutting-edge design and the revolutionary XRD foam are why many users appreciate them. The pads offer the best protection and mobility, which is why most NFL players and hundreds of schools and colleges across the US prefer them over more famous brands.
The regulations say that shoulder pads and helmets need an inspection for defects every year and that helmets require a change every ten years. However, there are no decommissioning guidelines for shoulder pads, and many football coaches believe they don’t need to replace them unless there is a defect during the annual inspection.However, shoulder pads have to be replaced if the cushioning becomes too firm and starts to decay. That period is around two years with usual foams, but the high-quality football shoulder pads usually last much longer.
