When it comes to combat sports and mixed martial arts, there is very few that match Muay Thai in terms of intensity. Getting good quality fight gear is essential for your safety as well as those around you. One of the essential pieces of gear will be Muay Thai shin guards. Finding the right shin guards is important but can be a bit overwhelming when you look at all the options that are available.
Shin guards come in a variety of diverse offerings that range from genuine leather to synthetic, from pricey to affordable. There are shin guards with reinforced padding that deliver excellent protection and lightweight options that provide unrestricted mobility during combat. To help you find the perfect shin guards, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 best shin guards for Muay Thai that will provide you with the extra protection you need during Muay Thai sparring and training.
Why Muay Thai Shin Guards Are Important
Whether you’re training, sparring, or competing, the intense nature of Muay Thai means that it is essential that you wear proper protective gear such as shin guards to protect yourself and your opponent. One of the common methods of attack in Muay Thai is kicks aimed at an opponent’s thighs using the lower part of your shin. These attacks can be blocked or, to use the more technical term, checked using the point of your knee or upper shin.
While your shins can take some impact, your ankles and feet are much more vulnerable during strikes and when blocking incoming attacks. This is due to the fragile small bones, muscles, and joints located in these areas. Wearing good shin guards is the best way to avoid injury in all these areas. Many Muay Thai training gyms will not allow you to do full-contact training or sparring without adequate protection with gear like shin guards.
How To Choose Muay Thai Shin Guards
There’s so much to consider when choosing a good pair of Muay Thai shin guards. The size of the shin guard is the first thing you need to check. It should properly cover all the vulnerable areas, including your shins, ankles, and feet. It should also fit your legs comfortably, being neither too loose nor too tight. The high-density foam padding should be sufficient to absorb impacts but not so bulky as to restrain your movements so it so not as simple as looking for thicker or thinner shin guards.
There are various types of materials used in the manufacturing of Muay Thai shin guards, such as genuine leather and synthetic leather, which offer their own pros and cons. Real leather has a premium feel, bringing with it unmatched durability and comfort. The synthetic leather shin guards are more affordable in comparison.
Some protective gear, like MMA shin guards, is designed differently from Muay Thai shin guards. MMA training shin guards offer more versatility when it comes to wrestling maneuvers and grapples while compromising on protection, making them less suitable for Muay Thai. Since MMA shin guards and Muay Thai shin guards look very similar to the untrained eye, read the product descriptions carefully to make sure you’re buying the right thing.
Then there are the various options from the Muay Thai brands themselves, some highly regarded with decades of expertise, while others are new to the scene with their own unique features to advance protective gear. Check out our guide on How to Choose the Best Muay Thai Shin Guards for a more in-depth understanding of everything you need to know when making your purchasing decision.
Top 10 Muay Thai Shin Guards
These are our top recommendations for Muay Thai shin guards, based on build quality, the amount of shin protection they provide, and whether they have been embraced by the Muay Thai fighter community. We have included both real leather and synthetic leather shin guard options at various price points so that no matter what your budget is, whether you’re a beginner or a pro, you’ll be able to find one that works for you.
Fairtex Competition Shin Guards
The Fairtex brand has been around since the late 1950s, and the SP5 Competition shin guards are among some of the most popular models on the market right now. They are handmade from synthetic leather and cover all the vulnerable areas of your feet and wrap around your calves for added protection. They contain two layers of impact-absorbing foam and a cotton stretch jean lining to prevent slipping.
These shin guards are designed to be stitch-free with an open system shin and foot protector to avoid injury and discomfort. Two elastic straps and two Velcro straps are used to attach the Fairtex SP5 to your shins for a close, snug fit that ensures they stay secure during training. The shin guards are available in multiple sizes, including for kids, and the lack of metal loops makes them even suitable for competitions.
Top King Shin Guards
Apart from the flashy traditional designs that helped popularize Top King, these shin guards are ultra-light and utilize a raised shin and foot ridge to deliver the maximum protection. Special care has been taken to protect the lower leg muscles and kneecaps as well. While a bit on the pricier end, Top King shin guards are made entirely of real leather, offering greater levels of durability and comfort that few competitors can match.
A hook and loop system are used to fasten these shin guards, and sizes are available from small to extra-large. Finally, the trendsetting Muay Thai-inspired designs and colors of Top King shin guards will turn heads wherever you go.
Yokkao Matrix Shin Guards
The Yokkao Matrix series offers some of the finest shin guards you’ll find using premium cow-hide leather. For such a lightweight set of gear, these shin guards still managed to include three layers of impact-absorbing foam, specially designed stress-resistant straps for a secure fit, and a non-slip interior to prevent them from moving about during a fight.
The Yokkao shin guards cover all the essential areas while extending protection to the knees is an added bonus. The Yokkao Matrix series offers very little choice in terms of attractive designs, besides bright colors like Cerise, Lime, and Mango. However, you will get the best in the business in terms of comfort and durability for the relatively high price you’re paying. Multiple sizes are available, including extra-small for kids that want to pick up Muay Thai.
Twins Shin Guards
The Twin’s Classic is a premium leather product that includes a full in-step and heavy-duty foam padding to absorb the harshest of impacts during sparring. The design may look a bit plain and simple, but make no mistake, these shin guards are made to withstand the most intense workouts of even professional-level fighters. The Velcro straps make it easy to remove it during training when you need to quickly switch between routines, while also providing a comfortable and secure fit.
When they say ‘classic’, they really mean it. You won’t get the latest advancements in ergonomics or eye-catching designs, but the Twins Special Classic shin guards will last much longer than most other brands. Sizes are available from small to extra-large.
Hayabusa T3 Striking Shin Guards
You might look at the price of the T3 and wonder why a synthetic leather shin guard costs almost as much as a premium leather one. This is because, in addition to the great level of protection it provides, Hayabusa has included multiple innovations that allow the T3 to give other high-end leather shin guards a run for their money.
The multi-layered padding is contoured to fit your shins better, and the two customizable straps are lined with silicone beads to prevent slipping. Elastic support is added to the heel and instep. All of this is added while keeping the shin guards lightweight using Hayabusa’s synthetic Vylar material. This allows the T3 to provide mobility without sacrificing protection. The Hayabusa T3 shin guards are ideal for beginners and advanced fighters if they don’t mind the high price tag.
Venum Elite Shin Guards
Made from Skintex leather, Venum shin guards are incredibly lightweight, giving you a great boost in mobility during a fight. High-density foam padding designed with pro-anatomical reinforcement provides excellent impact absorption for the shin bone and in-step. Velcro straps and elastic bands are used to keep the shin guards securely fit during training.
The Venum Elite shin guards are among the most affordable for a beginner when you consider the durability and comfort of their Skintex leather construction. From standard black and gray to bright Neon Orange, there’s a variety of designs to choose from. Venum partners with professional Muay Thai and kickboxing fighters to design their gear, so you can be sure that the Venum Elite will be of high quality.
Raja Shin Guards
Raja Boxing has been in the Muay Thai game for a long time and makes some of the most affordable premium leather gear you can find. The Raja RSP-ET shin guards use cow skin leather construction and include an extra padding strip and curved top to maximize the protection of your shins.
The high-density foam padding is specially designed to have the correct balance between hardness and rebound for each layer. This ensures that during a strike, the impacts are neither too soft nor too hard. Raja shin guards come in multiple sizes and are perfect for use in training. There are also more lightweight options made from semi-leather and a wide range of eye-catching designs.
Windy Proline Shin Guards
These Windy Proline shin guards may not look as fancy as the Venum Elite or Top King shin guards, but they provide the goods where it counts. These Muay Thai shin guards are made in Thailand from high-quality synthetic leather and are extensively tested to ensure the highest European safety standards. Windy Fight Gear has included double-filled padding to maximize shin protection with Velcro closure to allow the shin guards to fit comfortably without shifting during combat.
Windy Proline shin guards are built to last using double stitching on all surfaces. They are a no-frills pair of shin guards that are ideal for training and sparring for fighters at any skill level. Sizes are available from small to extra-large.
Sandee Sport Shin Guards
Sandee was one of the earliest to start making professional grade Muay Thai gear as far back as 1977 and has years of experience under their belt. While they do have premium leather shin guards for advanced fighters, those new to Muay Thai will be more interested in their synthetic leather offering in the Sandee Sports series. The protection comes from three layers of high-density latex foam that are contoured to fit comfortably on your shins. You’ll also be able to stay quick on your feet with the lightweight design.
The double Velcro backstrap with elastic support for the ankles and underfoot will prevent the shin guards from sliding off. The stretch canvas lining is water repellent, allowing you to keep them dry. There are only two size offerings, each flexible enough to accommodate a range of shin sizes. The lower price tag of the Sandee Sport shin guards compared to other shin guards makes them ideal for students. Shin guards are available for kids as well.
Sanabul Essential Shin Guards
While relatively a new brand, Sanabul has been quickly garnering attention for fight gear and works closely with many professional UFC fighters to develop their products. Made from high-quality synthetic leather, Sanabul has managed to keep the costs down on their Essential line to deliver one of the most affordable pairs of Muay Thai shin guards you’ll ever find.
There’s a hook and loop design that, once securely fastened, you won’t have to worry about your shin guards moving around during a sparring session. They will stay in place. The Durasoft foam can take quite a beating, while the triple stitching adds durability. The Sanabul Essential shin guards come in black with bright color options for the outlines. Multiple size options are available, and at this price, this is some of the best value for money a beginner can get.
Time To Gear Up
Wearing Muay Thai shin guards with excellent protection could mean the difference between having a fun sparring session and a trip to the hospital followed by weeks of recovery for you or your training buddy. Out of the many combat sports and mixed martial arts forms, the Art of Eight Limbs is one that does not go easy on you.
So, check out our top 10 recommendations, talk to your buddies at the training gym, pay a visit to your local Muay Thai gear shop, and figure out which shin guards work best for you in training or sparring. Don’t forget to gear up before you enter the ring!
If you’re just getting started with your Muay Thai journey, you’ll need more than just shin guards for training and sparring. Learn more about Muay Thai gear like boxing gloves, hand wraps, and ankle guards, at Muay Thai Gear That Every Beginner Should Have.
FAQs
Yes. Whether it’s light sparring at the gym, or in a professional match, Muay Thai fighters need shin guards to protect their shins, ankles, and feet.
In Muay Thai, the striking zone for a kick is the mid to lower part of your shin. Shin guards protect the shins, plus your feet, and ankles during striking and blocking.
No. MMA shin guards are designed with less foam padding to make them more usable for grappling. They do not offer sufficient protection for the type of striking techniques found in Muay Thai.
When you strap on the shin guards, they should not cover the knees at the top when you bend your knees, and not cover the toes at the bottom. You should also have full mobility of your ankles while wearing the shin guards.
