Shinguards: Vapor Lite vs. J-Guard

[quattrosystem]

Anybody have any experience with Nike Vapor Lites or J-Guards (do they have straps, bc I hate taping my socks)? I'm looking to switch to slip-ins, or just an altogether lighter guard. I'm also interested in OSI Lite's and the Mercurials. The only good experience with Adidas guards so far, are the Top Carbons, or Carbon whatever they're called, but I can't find them anywhere except for Eurosport, but the shipping's a rip if I'm just ordering shinguards.

Any input would be appreciated. :D

[CPFitz14]

I have the nike OSI lites, and they're very nice. They stay up fairly well with the strap provided, but I picked up some OSI sleeves just for some added stability. I still find myself pulling up my socks/shinguards a few times a game, but I think thats acceptable.

I have no real complaints, and their some of the most comfortable shiguards i've worn, because they form right to your shins. I can't tell you the last time i've come home with a hurting shin either, and I'm a defender.


-CPFitz-

[Anarchist]

Feh. I use cardboard.

[riphamilton]

i used osi guards for the last few years, but i bought the vapor lite's last year and used them for an entire season. i absolutley love them. no need to worry about tape, because they come with dri-fit sleeves that keep them on, and also keep compression on your calves. if you need extra ankle protection, i pair them with a pair of the nike ankle shields (about $6 from eurosport). extremely light setup, and it works very, very well.

[neilgrossman]

I have Adidas OSI (also called Orthofit) and I love them. Because they are light and molded, you really forget about them when you are running.

They have straps on the top and bottom, so they stay in place pretty well. I often have to adjust them after a kick to the shins, but they don't bounce or shift while I'm running.

[ADIKeeper]

there is a new shinguard on the market now. Many of the pros are using it and it has the basic design of the smaller guards. Exept, it has a titanium rod going through it surrounded by crack-proof, high wear plastic encased in anti-bacterial foam. The guard has a lifetime warrenty (exept for the foam). You can hit it with a bat, run over it with a truck, do anything to it and it will not break. In fact, it's so strong, if you were to slide tackle someone wearing a plastic-shelled shinguard, you would shatter their guard with yours (trust me, I've done it before). It's rather pricy ($45) but, it comes with a pair of sleeves, a bag and the lifetime warrenty. I'm not sure what brand makes it. But if you get your hands on them, I highly reccomend it. :D.

[quattrosystem]

Originally posted by ADIKeeper
there is a new shinguard on the market now. Many of the pros are using it and it has the basic design of the smaller guards. Exept, it has a titanium rod going through it surrounded by crack-proof, high wear plastic encased in anti-bacterial foam. The guard has a lifetime warrenty (exept for the foam). You can hit it with a bat, run over it with a truck, do anything to it and it will not break. In fact, it's so strong, if you were to slide tackle someone wearing a plastic-shelled shinguard, you would shatter their guard with yours (trust me, I've done it before). It's rather pricy ($45) but, it comes with a pair of sleeves, a bag and the lifetime warrenty. I'm not sure what brand makes it. But if you get your hands on them, I highly reccomend it. :D.

what the....?

[neilgrossman]

Originally posted by ADIKeeper
In fact, it's so strong, if you were to slide tackle someone wearing a plastic-shelled shinguard, you would shatter their guard with yours (trust me, I've done it before).... I'm not sure what brand makes it.

If you own a pair, why don't you know what brand they are?

[ADIKeeper]

The guard it'self does not have any branding on it. Neither do the bag or the sleeves. The shop I got them from says the company who makes them is small and they are not selling them online, as of yet. Good luck finding them....

[Becks7]

you must tackle like a mofo if your snapping other peoples guards :O

quattrosystem: have you thought about Nike Contour BPS. I bought a pair in Victoria last weekend, so i assume that you should be able to get them in Toronto. Bit pricey @ $60 CND but great protection and fit. It can be pretty chunky if you get a large, but you can get by with a size small if size is a concern.

[quattrosystem]

Originally posted by Becks7
you must tackle like a mofo if your snapping other peoples guards :O

quattrosystem: have you thought about Nike Contour BPS. I bought a pair in Victoria last weekend, so i assume that you should be able to get them in Toronto. Bit pricey @ $60 CND but great protection and fit. It can be pretty chunky if you get a large, but you can get by with a size small if size is a concern.

hey Becks, congrats on your recent 1000th post :D
thanks for the suggestion, i'll look into the BPS. i know the wand down the middle is plastic, or at least it looks like it, but is there an outer plastic shell of some sort? or is it just some kinda of high impact absorbing synthetic padding? a weird observation of mine, but whenever i see pics of those pads, i get the impression that it's a large piece of thick rubber :D

[Becks7]

Originally posted by quattrosystem
hey Becks, congrats on your recent 1000th post :D
thanks for the suggestion, i'll look into the BPS. i know the wand down the middle is plastic, or at least it looks like it, but is there an outer plastic shell of some sort? or is it just some kinda of high impact absorbing synthetic padding? a weird observation of mine, but whenever i see pics of those pads, i get the impression that it's a large piece of thick rubber :D

i didn't even notice i was @ 1000... but if you look at when i joined BS it took A LONG TIME.

The piece of plastic (black part) is extremely rigid. Only time it flex's is to mould around your leg. If you look closely enough, the plastic looks like carbon fiber(doub it is CF though) The orange foam portion is a somewhat of a high impact foam i guess you could say. If you push down on the foam, it will leave a slight indent and then "rebound" back. The foam is pretty thick...prob between 1/8 and 2/8 of an inch.

[ADIKeeper]

Just found a website for the shinguards; http://www.on-sides.com

I reccomend the small size because I wore the medium size for a while and it does not fit as snugly as the smaller ones.

And, yes, I do tackle like a mofo....heh. I have a reputation for it. :D.