If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best muay thai shin guards for training are, then I’d recommend the Top King Shin Guard Protector as the best one.
Plenty of gear is available to keep you safe during Muay Thai training, and shin guards may be one of the most important items to wear whether you’re sparring or attacking a bag.
The following guide and gear reviews will help you find the best Muay Thai shin guards for the next time you hit the gym.
Here are the top muay thai shin guards we’ll be reviewing:
- Meister MMA Elastic Cloth Shin and Instep Padded Guards
- Fairtex Competition Muay Thai Shin Guards SP5
- Venum Elite Standup Shin Guards
- RDX Shin Guard MMA Instep Leg Pads
- Top King Shin Guard Protector
Shin Guards for Muay Thai Training – Buyer’s Guide
Because there are so many shin guards on the market, it can be easy to find a pair that’s not right for your needs.
You can check out the five top-rated products we review later on to get some good options, but knowing what features to look for also helps narrow down your choices.
Types of Shin Guards
There are two main types of shin guards for Muay Thai training: strap guards and sock guards. Both provide proper protection, but they differ according to just how much protection you need.
Strap Shin Guards
Shin guards with straps are the most common, traditional shin guards used while training in Muay Thai.
Padding is found throughout the shins and the feet, giving you the most protection possible.
Typically, they’re made from leather or synthetic material.
These can be a good option if you want to avoid swollen or sprained ankles, which is one of the most common injuries you can experience during a sparring session.
Sock Shin Guardsv
Although these are mainly used for MMA purposes, sock-like shin guards can be utilized well for Muay Thai training depending on how you’re going to train.
The socks are made from some kind of stretch material, but they only offer minimum padding compared to the traditional strap shin guards.
They may be best used for light to moderate exercise training bouts.
Material
Some of the most high-quality shin guards for Muay Thai training are constructed with leather material. They may be more expensive, but they also might have greater durability.
You may still find some reliable shin guards made from synthetic leather too.
Sock shin guards feature cotton or some elastic fabric material to allow for comfort and to make it easier for you to pull them on.
Both sock shin guards and strap shin guards may also use nylon in their design.
Regardless of what material you choose, practicing proper maintenance assists in making sure they last you long.
Be sure to clean them after every session no matter how intense or low-impact the workout was, and also dry them completely before storing them away.
Padding
Inadequate padding used can defeat the purpose of wearing shin guards in the first place.
Whichever type of shin guards you choose, be sure the padding is sufficient enough to keep you safe.
There should be quality shock absorption inside.
Also, it may be beneficial to find shin guards that allow for instep protection as well as the shin.
Size and Fit
Beyond protection, one of the main features it helps to consider when shopping for the best Muay Thai shin guards is how well do they fit.
For one thing, you don’t want them to cover the knees.
Doing so can hinder your mobility, which can throw off your kicks.
Next, check out the weight of the shin guards.
Anything too heavy can also restrict mobility and perhaps make training uncomfortable as you’re lugging around too much unneeded weight on your lower body.
You should also ensure you choose the right size to begin with.
Anything too big may cause frequent readjusting as the guards can slip. The bulk can also make it more difficult to kick.
Gear that winds up too small will fit tight and may not provide the right amount of protection you need. You can tell you may have to go up a size if your feet and ankles still wind up swollen after training.
It can help to choose size according to your height and how large or small your calves are.
Best Muay Thai Shin Guards – Top 5 Reviewed
Meister MMA Elastic Cloth Shin and Instep Padded Guards
The Meister MMA Elastic Cloth Shin and Instep Padded Guards may be the best Muay Thai shin guards for those of you who need something minimalist and affordable.
They’re made using a full elastic body that conforms to your legs and feet to combine comfort with support.
Also, if the appearance of your gear matters, the shin guards are available in four different colors.
These shin guards do appear to run on the small side, however.
They may be better suited for those with thinner calves or individuals who are shorter.
As long as they do fit you correctly, they feature a good hook-and-loop closure to secure the top.
These also seem to stay in place well, especially for bag work.
They feel light too so that you may swing without feeling weighed down.
Inside, the impact foam padding offers protection to the shins and the top of the feet.
At times, it can seem to fit awkwardly on the feet. Otherwise, the padding is designed to contour the natural curve of your legs in an effort to make things more comfortable on your shins.
Pros
- Lightweight build to help maintain mobility
- Secure hook-and-loop closure
- Doesn’t shift around
Cons
- Runs small
- Foot pad seems a bit awkward
Fairtex Competition Muay Thai Shin Guards SP5
Available in four colors, the Fairtex Competition Muay Thai Shin Guards SP5 features a quality amount of foot support.
This is due to the extended instep.
The guards also wrap well around the shins and the sides to offer a wider area of protection.
Putting the guards on and taking them off can be easy enough even if you’re unused to wearing shin guards.
They’re light in weight, and they feature a synthetic leather shell that’s known to be rather durable and simple to maintain.
The hook-and-loop closure seems high in quality, but the ankle strap may rub against the skin and cause some irritation.
In addition, there’s a chance that the shin guards may shift slightly under heavy use with a partner or with a training bag.
Even so, the guards are quick to readjust.
They feature a high-density foam core that does a good job at absorbing shock.
They are built to protect you as well as make things feel less intense on any training partner you use.
Pros
- Absorbs impact well
- Guards wrap around for more protection
- Easy to put on and take off
Cons
- Ankle strap can feel uncomfortable
- Chance for the guards to move a bit
Venum Elite Standup Shin Guards
The Venum Elite Standup Shin Guards are made from a premium Skintex leather construction that holds up well to frequent use.
They’re made lightweight, and they feature a conforming design with large Velcro straps to keep from slipping or moving around.
There’s a good amount of snugness to it without it constricting your own mobility, and the straps offer a custom fit to suit your individual needs.
The top strap on the shin guards seems to sit rather high, however.
When you bend, there’s a chance for it to ride up behind the knee and cause some discomfort. There may be an issue with the length of the foot pad too for some of you.
Even so, when it comes to protection, these shin guards from Venum can do the job well.
There is a wide coverage of padding from the shinbone to the instep.
With the quality high-density foam, you should experience some enhanced shock absorption.
Other than choosing from a variety of sizes, you can also select from more than 10 different color design options.
Pros
- Fits snug without stopping mobility
- Plenty of padding coverage
- Conform well to prevent the guards from moving around
Cons
- Foot pad seems too long
- Top strap might sit uncomfortably high
RDX Shin Guard MMA Instep Leg Pads
With the RDX Shin Guard Instep Leg Pads, you can wear gear that features a molded design to help you feel comfortable and at ease wearing.
It utilizes dual-padding which uses Supremo-Shock foam and Shell-Shock gel.
It may feel thin compared to other shin guards, but there’s just enough padding to provide protection during light and moderate training.
The entire design is non-bulky and lightweight so you may still keep some good mobility.
It may be more helpful if the guards were built with longer straps to better accommodate more people.
Also, they might slide around, going down or to the sides off your shins, but this may occur more with heavy training.
When it fits, the dual cross straps can provide ideal security.
These shin guards should last you some time.
They’re made using a Nylastic outer cover that should be reliable through several bouts of training and cleaning.
On the topic of maintenance, these shin guards have little upkeep thanks to the QD-1 sweat absorbing technology. They seem to dry fast as well.
Pros
- Padding feels comfortable
- Made from durable material
- Don’t retain sweat
Cons
- May slide around too much
- Could benefit from having longer straps
Top King Shin Guard Protector
The Top King Shin Guard Protector are some of the best Muay Thai shin guards for training considering their coverage goes completely around the shins. Unlike some other similar shin guards, these are made out of premium leather.
This material should withstand frequent abuse, more so if you take proper care of them.
It contours and hugs your legs well in an effort to make things more comfortable as you workout or spar.
With the amount of padding, you should be safe. Emphasis is placed on the lower leg muscles as well as under the kneecaps for well-rounded protection.
However, this padding may cause the shin guards to have some bulk in spite of their sleek design.
It may be heavy on some wearers too, and this might also remove any breathability the shin guards could have.
Nonetheless, the shin guards shouldn’t get in the way of your movement so that you can maintain proper kicking technique.
Pros
- Hugs your legs well
- Durable, genuine leather construction
- Wide leg coverage
Cons
- Seem to be a bit bulky
- Lack any sort of breathability
Final Thoughts
Training in Muay Thai doesn’t have to cause pointless injuries to your shins and feet as long as you have proper shin guards.
Out of the gear we reviewed, the Top King Shin Guard Protector stands out as the best Muay Thai shin guards for training purposes.
It may not be the most inexpensive option, but the quality, genuine leather construction may more than make up for it.
This allows it to be more reliable than other type of shin guards, and it can also make for good maintenance so that you can keep the shin guards for a long time.
There’s more than enough padding built in too. It all contours and wraps around the shins wider than some other guards so that you have greater protection overall.
