Shop Football Protective Clothing
All-in-One Gamepants, Padded Shirts & Football Girdles
Football protective clothing combines functional sportswear with integrated padding zones. Depending on where you want additional protection and how you prefer to build your equipment setup, you can choose between padded shirts for the upper body, football girdles worn as a padded underlayer, or All-in-One Gamepants with integrated pads.
Choose your protective clothing:
All-in-One Gamepants · Padded Football Shirts · Football Girdles
Looking for regular football pants without permanently integrated padding?
Find them separately under American Football Pants & Gamepants.
Note: Below the offers you’ll find more information, tips & FAQs about this category – ideal if you’re still unsure which option to choose.
Which Football Protective Clothing Do You Need?
Football protective clothing can provide additional padding for different areas of the body. The first question is therefore which area you want to pad and whether you prefer an integrated or modular equipment system.
| Product Category | Body Area | Basic Concept | Shop Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-in-One Gamepants | Lower body | Football pants with multiple integrated pads | Shop All-in-One |
| Padded Shirts | Upper body | Close-fitting shirt with integrated padding zones | Shop Padded Shirts |
| Football Girdles | Lower body | Padded underlayer worn beneath separate gamepants | Shop Girdles |
All-in-One Gamepants – Football Pants & Pads in One System
All-in-One Gamepants combine the outer football pants with several integrated padding zones.
Many models use a 7-pad configuration with padding around:
- hips
- thighs
- knees
- tailbone
The exact construction can vary depending on the manufacturer and model.
All-in-One Gamepants are particularly useful for players who prefer fewer separate equipment components and want an integrated lower-body setup.
Find all models under All-in-One Football Pants & 7-Pad Gamepants.
Padded Football Shirts – Additional Upper-Body Padding
Padded football shirts are worn close to the body and include integrated padding zones that may cover areas such as the ribs, back, chest or shoulders depending on the model.
Common designs include:
- 3-Pad Shirts
- 4-Pad Shirts
- 5-Pad Shirts
- Padded Compression Shirts
- Rib Shirts
The number of pads alone does not tell you which body areas are actually covered. One 5-Pad Shirt can have a completely different pad layout from another 5-Pad model.
Always compare the actual location of the integrated padding.
Browse the category under Padded Football Shirts.
Football Girdles – Padded Compression Underlayers
A football girdle is worn close to the body underneath a separate pair of gamepants. Depending on the model, several pads are integrated into or positioned within the padded underlayer.
Common versions include:
- 5-Pad Girdles
- 7-Pad Girdles
- short padded compression shorts
- longer padded tights
A girdle is particularly useful for players who want to select their lower-body protection separately from their outer football pants.
Find the complete selection under Football Girdles & Padded Compression Pants.
Football Girdle or All-in-One Gamepants?
Both systems can provide padding around the hips, thighs, tailbone and, depending on the model, the knees. The main difference is the construction.
| Feature | Football Girdle | All-in-One Gamepants |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Separate padded underlayer | Outer football pants with integrated pads |
| Additional Gamepants | Normally required | Not required |
| Flexibility | Girdle and gamepants can be selected separately | Compact integrated system |
| Changing Outer Pants | Girdle can be reused | Protection remains part of the pants |
| Pad Layout | Depends on the individual girdle | Depends on the individual All-in-One model |
Gamepants without Pads + Football Girdle
If you choose a girdle, you will normally also need a suitable pair of outer football pants.
This is why the pants category is separated into a different equipment system:
Football Pants & Gamepants without Integrated Pads can be combined with a padded girdle or, depending on the model, separate football pads.
This keeps the two systems clearly separated:
- Gamepants + Girdle: modular setup
- All-in-One Gamepants: integrated setup
Padded Shirt or Shoulder Pads?
A padded shirt is not the same as football shoulder pads.
Padded shirts can provide additional padding around selected areas of the upper body, but they do not automatically replace required shoulder pads or other mandatory football protective equipment.
When wearing a padded shirt under shoulder pads, make sure:
- the shoulder pads still sit correctly
- arm and shoulder movement remains unrestricted
- the additional padding is not compressed uncomfortably
- the shirt does not shift excessively
What Does 3-Pad, 5-Pad or 7-Pad Mean?
The numbers generally describe the amount or arrangement of padding zones in the individual garment.
They should not be interpreted as a universal measurement of protection.
For example:
- A 5-Pad Shirt has five padding zones around the upper body.
- A typical 5-Pad Girdle has five padding zones around the lower body.
- A typical 7-Pad Girdle often adds two knee pads.
- A typical 7-Pad Gamepant integrates several padding zones directly into the outer football pants.
The exact construction can vary from model to model.
Is More Padding Automatically Better?
Not necessarily. The number of pads is only one factor.
Also consider:
- pad positioning
- fit
- freedom of movement
- compatibility with the rest of your football equipment
- intended use
- team and competition requirements
A targeted 5-pad setup may suit one player better than another garment with more padding zones.
How Should Football Protective Clothing Fit?
Clothing with integrated pads is often designed for a close fit so the padding can remain as stable as possible in its intended position.
However, the fit should not be so tight that:
- movement is restricted
- breathing feels uncomfortable
- pads are pulled out of position
- the garment cuts into the body excessively
Protective clothing that is significantly too large can instead allow integrated pads to shift more during movement.
What Size Padded Football Clothing Do You Need?
Always use the size chart for the specific manufacturer and product.
Depending on the garment, important measurements can include:
- chest measurement for padded shirts
- waist and hip measurements for girdles and gamepants
- body height
- garment length
- position of the integrated pads
- fit with the rest of your football equipment
One general sizing rule cannot reliably be applied to every brand and model.
Football Protective Clothing for Different Positions
Football positions differ in movement patterns, contact and personal equipment preferences. However, there is no universal rule stating that quarterbacks, receivers, running backs, linebackers or linemen must use a specific number of pads.
Instead, consider:
- where you want additional padding
- how much freedom of movement you need
- which protection you already use
- how the individual pieces of equipment work together
Football Protective Clothing for Kids & Youth Players
Padded shirts, football girdles and All-in-One Football Pants are also available for youth players.
For kids and youth players, it is especially important that protective clothing fits correctly at the player's current size.
If a garment is significantly too large, integrated padding around the knees, hips, thighs or upper body may no longer sit in its intended position.
Protective Clothing for Practice & Game Day
Whether a specific garment can be used for practice, games or both depends on the individual product and the applicable requirements.
Terms such as 5-Pad, 7-Pad, Padded Shirt or All-in-One do not automatically mean that a product meets the equipment requirements of every football competition.
For official games, always consider the equipment and uniform rules of your team and competition.
How to Care for Football Protective Clothing
Integrated pads, different foams, stretch fabrics and garment constructions mean that care instructions can vary considerably between products.
Always follow:
- the care label of the specific product
- manufacturer instructions regarding washing temperature
- information about integrated or removable pads
- drying instructions
- any recommendations regarding detergent or fabric softener
After practice or games, damp football clothing should be removed from a closed equipment bag as soon as practical and dried according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Which Football Protective Clothing Fits Your Setup?
| You Are Looking For … | Suitable Category |
|---|---|
| additional padding around the upper body | Padded Football Shirts |
| a padded underlayer beneath your gamepants | Football Girdles |
| football pants and multiple pads in one garment | All-in-One Gamepants |
| outer football pants without permanently integrated padding | Football Pants & Gamepants |
FAQ – Football Protective Clothing
What is included in football protective clothing?
Our football protective clothing category mainly includes All-in-One Gamepants with integrated padding, padded football shirts and football girdles or padded compression pants.
What is the difference between a football girdle and All-in-One Gamepants?
A girdle is a separate padded underlayer worn underneath outer gamepants. With All-in-One Gamepants, multiple pads are already integrated directly into the outer football pants.
What is a padded football shirt?
A padded football shirt is a close-fitting top with integrated padding zones. Depending on the model, areas such as the ribs, back, chest or shoulders can be padded.
What is a 5-Pad Girdle?
A typical 5-Pad Girdle includes padding around the hips, thighs and tailbone. The exact construction can vary depending on the model.
What is a 7-Pad Girdle?
Many 7-Pad Girdles add two knee pads to hip, thigh and tailbone padding. Always check the actual pad layout of the individual model.
Does a padded shirt replace shoulder pads?
No. A padded shirt provides additional or complementary padding and does not automatically replace required shoulder pads.
Which is better – a football girdle or All-in-One Football Pants?
That depends on your preferred setup. A girdle creates a modular system with separate outer gamepants, while All-in-One Football Pants combine the pants and multiple pads in one garment.
Does 7-Pad automatically mean it is allowed in every football game?
No. The number of pads alone does not determine whether a particular product meets all requirements of a competition. The applicable equipment rules are what matter.
How tight should football protective clothing fit?
Many products are designed for a close fit so integrated pads remain securely positioned. The garment should still allow comfortable movement and should not unnecessarily restrict the player.
How do I wash padded football clothing?
Always follow the care instructions for the specific manufacturer and product. Materials and padding constructions vary, so there is no single washing method suitable for every model.
Shop Football Protective Clothing
Whether you want additional upper-body padding, a separate padded lower-body layer or complete football pants with integrated pads, choose the product category that best matches your equipment system.
Shop the right protective clothing:
