Shin guards
- Typical price
- €35–120
Whether you need these at all depends entirely on the code. Under American full-contact rules nothing may be thrown below the waist, so shin guards are irrelevant in competition. Under low-kick, K-1, GLORY and Muay Thai rules they are mandatory in amateur competition and near-universal in sparring.
What to look for
Leather slip-on guards are the Thai standard and give the best feel and the best protection for both parties. Cloth-and-foam guards with straps are cheaper and rotate on the leg, which is worse for everyone. Get the shin-and-instep version rather than shin-only if you kick to the body, because the instep takes an elbow otherwise. Fit matters more than brand — a guard that slides is not protecting anything.
At a glance
- Not used in American full-contact competition — nothing goes below the waist
- Mandatory in WAKO amateur low-kick and K-1 divisions
- Slip-on leather beats strapped foam for stability
- Shin-and-instep if you kick to the body