20 Best Youth Football Shoulder Pads (2023 Updated)

My older son wears Velocity 2, and I knew when the time came for my younger son to start playing, it was going to be Xenith shoulder pads. We had to decide between Fly or Flyte; while both are excellent pads, we couldn’t ignore the upgraded protection you get with the Fly, which also fits him better.

He is nine years old and weighs 80lbs. He plays full back and linebacker, and these pads provide the protection we seek in shoulder pads. The low profile, range of motion, and shock absorbers below the ac joint are essential factors in our decision.

I bought these over a year ago for my 11 yr old son playing his first year of these football. He initially used the team issued equipment, which was one of the better youth shoulder pads. In the second game he bruised his clavicle.

After much research I decided on purchasing these. They are lightweight, but the design provides great protection. The front & back extend down further than most so they’re is great coverage the chest and back.

The shoulder is protected well due to coverage of about half of the upper arm. He plays TE/WR and has good range of motion with little restriction. There has been not one complaint from him about pain on impact or anything since he started using these.

He is using them again this season and feels confident playing in them. I feel at peace knowing that he has great protection. Be sure to fit them properly, especially across the back from shoulder to shoulder.

The sizing information they provide is just a guideline. We ended up using a size down from what his measurements indicated. I recommend trying them on before purchasing to ensure the right fit.

Well made, solid protection. Im a youth football coach and my son isna WR. These pads offer solid comfort as well as good protection while being light. The fortified chest breastplate protection is very nice.

Got this to go underneath the “Franklin Sports NFL Deluxe Uniform Set. ” It really helps pull the outfit together by making the jersey top more authentic looking like what a real football player would wear.

It definitely works for its intended purpose which is as a costume filler. The plastic is a little flimsy and its lightness makes it easier for a kid to wear. It definitely will not work as an actual should pad for play/tackle protection.

The laces help adjust size since this is a one size fits all youths. My son is small so we have him wear a thick shirt underneath the foam pads to make it a more comfortable fit. I received this product at a discounted price in return for my unbiased review.

This shoulder pad is an add on to “Franklin Sports NFL Deluxe Uniform Set” and together it works great for your little one. I tried it on my 6 year old son and it fits just fine. The adjustable strings help fit this on the kid as per his comfort level.

The material is ok and for around $5 bucks its a good purchase. Just to remember that this set it not meant for playing actual football. This is just for pretend play or as a halloween costume. My son really loved this combined set from Franklin sports.

I received this product at a discounted price in return for my unbiased review.

This product is not bad at all for the price. It adds a more realistic look to football Halloween costumes and is an excellent prop for imaginative play. It should be very clear that this item is not created nor intended for actual engagement in contact sports as it will provide no protection to the child wearing it.

It is solely meant as a prop for children playing make believe or dressing up for Halloween. It really completes the football look when put under a team uniform. I received this product at a discounted price in return for my unbiased review.

I play hockey and find shoulder pads don’t protect your lower back area very well. I got injured and decided to modify my pads by attaching this back plate in the area that has little protection. I would have bought a set of shoulder pads with better protection but none seem to have as good protection as adding this backplate on does.

As a bonus, whenever I buy new pads, I can just attach this backplate on and continue to be protected in this vulnerable area. Some NHL players modify their equipment like this. Especially shot blockers.

For the price, this does a terrific job. I hope other people find this info useful and maybe it might prevent needless injuries from happening.

It fits nicely and with ease on the Schutt shoulder pads. Together, they offer solid protection.

Pretty solid backplate for the price. it does fit a little funny on the pads due to the placement of the holes. I just used a zip tie to get a little extra room.

I bought these Schutt youth football shoulder pads and they arrived yesterday without strings. Shopping online has its drawbacks and Duck’s just isn’t prepared to avoid them. I won’t be ordering from Dicks online again.

Bought these because finding youth pads was difficult due to supply chain issues. These work well. They are safe, easy to get on and off, easy to tighten.

I purchased these for my son who wants to practice in pads in the off season. He says they are really comfortable and fit great.

My son was boarder line medium and large. After receiving the product by mail we discovered that the fit was to small. If you are in doubt in the size always go larger. After getting the larger size my son was very satisfied with the product.

This was my first time dealing with this company I normal hate shopping for something like this on line , but i need pads for my son before the season started so I took a chance>From beginning to end the experince was great.

I was impressed with how quickly the handle the ordering and the shipping of the product. My son is is 15 he weighs 182 pounds 6ft tall,adult size large fit him perfectly. Pads are very nice looking and are sleek for skill position players.

We added a back plate for extra back protection and that also fits and look great on these pads. If you are like me can look to reviews to help you decision what is best for you then you wont be disappointed with these pads!.

This year we started at Club Football team at the University of South Carolina. We had to buy our own pads, so I was shopping around online looking for the best prices on decent pads. I came across the XV Flex, and they looked decent for the price, so I got them.

I play middle linebacker and tight end, and wanted to make sure I had something that would protect me from hits, but still give me good range of movement for catching. These pads definitely delivered.

I’ve used them in practice and two games so far, and they’re by far the best pads I’ve ever worn. I know a lot of reviews end up sounding like B. S. or like someone from the website wrote it, but honestly, I’m a real person, and these pads are legit.

Great price and quality. My son is four and has been asking for real football pads for over a year so he can dress up. Theses are perfect! Much better than any costume pads I bought in the past.

This purchase was needed to add more pads to our team inventory for our smaller players. Cole took care of the order and we received the pads the next day so they were issued before we started practices in pads.

The price you cant beat it is the same product Some have different name but think about it your child will grow so cant beat the price

These pads are extremely lightweight, but give you all the protection you could want. Very comfortable and breathable. I play semi-pro football and our season goes into July & August. I had some Mr. D pads before, and I couldn’t get throught a game in the heat without taking them off or dousing in ice water.

Wearing these pads I bearly sweat more that in a t-shirt. Makes a big difference for a big offensive lineman! I love the low profile non-epulate style too, I don’t need the wings and gives those D-linemen less to grab on to.

These pads are bulletproof!.

I used these pads a lot because i am currently in high school football and the pads i got from my school were old and low quality so i wanted to upgrade. these pads caught my eye so i looked at the reviews and the only thing that concerned me was the size issue so all i did was ordered one size smaller and they fit perfectly.

So far these pads have been more than worth the low price i bought then for. They provide excellent protection and comfort with the addition of light weight and range of motion. Overall these are the best shoulder pads that i’ve ever had.

For reference I”m about 6”1 190lbs, I got the large and it fits fine. The flexible foam really does bend with you, it”s not rigid at all. The materials and construction seem to be on par with what you would expect from these pads.

They are extremely minimal and lightweight, through they breath poorly like nearly every other pad in my opinion. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars because I feel it”s still a little lacking at it”s current price point.

At the time of this review I paid $159. 99 and for that I want near perfect. I would have preferred to see a little more optional capped shoulder protection. I do like the included bicep protection but I”m not a fan of the spandex-like ‘strap’; It”s about 2in wide and non-adjustable.

I don”t have the biggest biceps on the market and the spandexy strap is still tight on my arm (I push it almost to the top of my muscle making my shooting shirt awkward). The torso straps are okay, they come loose during play through I haven”t had a set I didn”t have to tape up (I prefer my pads a little tighter).

I will point out though the pads don”t ride up on my torso the way many do during play. Overall I”m not by any means disappointed, these aren”t bad. If you were looking for something a bit cheaper, I would look at the Cell III”s, they are just as good.

My son needed a new pair of shoulder pads that are up to the new safety standards. Many of the other new shoulder pads from other companies are too restrictive because the chest pad is too wide. He found the chest pad on these shoulder pads to be the most comfortable and allowed for the greatest range of motion.

The chest pad protrudes significantly at the sternum with the extra heart protection pad inside. Looks ridiculous under a jersey. Without the heart protection the pad provides very little. Very disappointing.

We had 2nd pair shipped and the same problem- so returning. It was suggested to just remove the heart pad- “thats what everyone does- its no big deal”. An adult collegiate player may make that decision, albeit a poor one, but im not going to let my 12 year old go without the required protection.

My son is in 5th grade and this really protects his ribs and back when running the ball, not too bulky either. The hardware that comes with it does not stay on too long. Had to get new screws and lock nuts to keep it on the pads.

For the price this is a well made protector. My boys find them more comfortable and protective than the pads / plates that hang from the shoulder pads. They stay close to the body so an opposing player can’t get their “hands on them” like the plates.

Neither can a hit go under them like the plates. The sizing range is exact. The only negitive is that the velcro could be of higer quality, but if you care for it it will last as long as your boy fits the protector.

It would be easy to replace as well.

I bought this for my son who’s in his 2nd year of peewee football. He seems to like it more then the compression shirts with pads & its half the price! Lightweight & good protection for any age group

Very light and comfortable, with great protection shoulder pads. Adjustable Velcro very helpful. Good combination with CCM AS-V pro pants. Maybe expensive, but so far best shoulder pads and pants I ever had.

Get them before they sold out.

The size youth large is a good fit for my 9 year old. The age based size guide suggested he wear a junior size, but those are too big across his slim chest yet. My kid also has a big head for his age.

This shoulder pad fits easily over his head (other brands have been tight or impossible to get on).

Great protection across the collar bone and bicep areas. Excellent spine and sternum protection as well. The fit is snug which is super helpful with physical play. A great set of pads for my 16 yr old defenseman!.

I’ve had these for a few weeks now and have had no problems so far. Protects well against checking. The straps don’t give you much room to adjust (if you’re looking for a snug fit), but then again it also depends on body proportions.

Highly recommend.

Ordered next size up for son having previously had ccm. Fit was as expected and product quality is excellent. Great experience using ******* every time.

Bought two of the Nike deals Dick’s had, have two kids playing first year lacrosse. Issues getting the deals due to lack of items in store, got the run around. Gloves they shipped were a return with someone’s name on the tag.

Not Impressed.

Very lightweight shoulder pads. My son loves these as the other ones are so big and bulky. Easy to run and play in.

These pads are nice for the price but much bulkier than the non-cardiac pads my kids are used too. These also run small so you may need to go up a size from other brands but overall nice pads.

Was looking for a lower-end shoulder pads with less bulky padding so they would be less restrictive to movement. My son is not playing checking hockey yet, so the less expensive shoulder pads are better as they are naturally less restrictive.

These were perfect.

Had to let my husband open it and try it on as it was a birthday present for him and an early one at that. Fits beautifully and lots of protection as his previous one is fit for the museum!!!

Protects well. Shoulder caps a little bulky. Overall comfortable and light weight.

Background: 5’7 135lbs. I ordered a size M. I’m coming from 10 year old Top of the line mens Vapor X60’s (Jr. L) which I like a lot but they just don’t come down low enough on the belly. I ordered these along with the other competing brand of women’s shoulder pads that Pure Hockey sells and those felt stiff and scratchy out of the box so I returned the other brand.

They are the same price so if you are trying to decide between the two, I would advise to go with the CCM’s. I still don’t feel like women’s shoulder pads get the love that top tier mens shoulder pads do in terms of comfort, but these are very lightweight and mobile.

Very adjustable which makes them great for all shapes and sizes. I’m about a C cup so I thought these would fit better than the guys, and they do provide more coverage, but if you are smaller chested, the men’s shoulder pads could work just as well and there are way more options and price points to choose from.

But so far these have been great without any break-in period. I feel like they will only get more comfortable as I wear them in. Haven’t taken any shots off them or shoulder contact but they feel protective enough for non-contact and my style of play.

I am very disappointed with pro hockey life , I received the shoulder pads with 3 different price tags on them ranging from 218. 00 what they cost me down to $130. 00 a sale price was on the tag. With that being said my wife phoned pro hockey to be on hold for 25 min then to have no satisfaction, then I phoned a week later to wait almost 30 min to be told I will receive a email from management and to this date I received nothing.

Now I receive an email asking me about the service , unreal. At least I should be reimbursed the difference in price tags and a credit for my troubles , what ever I buy at pro hockey life is for my sons hockey and that’s allot.

I told my wife to put our story on face book to let other parents that are buying for their kids on line to beware of paying top dollar for items that are obviously on sale. Very disappointed like I mentioned that a store of this size would do something so petty.

Yours truly Donald A Mac Donald.

I went from old Easton Stealth to these pads. Much more mobility, without compromising on protection. There are multiple adjustments available on the shoulder caps. I’m someone who hates to change gear, but I’m glad i decided to.

After years in CCM shoulders, my bantam daughter moved to the Bauer 3S. She tried several CCMs, a few Vapors and the Supreme 3S Pro and decided on these. Fit and mobility are critical and the 3S was perfect for her.

The Pro has an extra bicep piece that adds bulk she couldn’t get past. Protection down the spine and back is extensive but not intrusive. The caps are not bulky and have excellent mobility. These are also extremely light weight especially given the level of protection.

Bauer did a really nice job here.

On my second pair, first pair was unraveling on the biceps protector, second pair is already starting to tear where the arm guard attached to the shoulder cap. Never worn. They seem like good pads if you get a decent pair.

Probably will just return these and look elsewhere though.

These are really nice pads with good stretch and maneuverability. That said, I really could use an XXL or XXXL, but as with other shoulder pads, they just are not available in bigger sizes. Thankfully there is enough stretch in the straps that I can manage to get them on and strapped.

For reference, I have a 54in chest and 20in arms.