Best Football Rib Protector Reviews 2019

Football rib protectors retail at different prices, mostly based on the features they come with. A rib protector with features such as good padding, comfort and breathability, among others, will definitely cost more than one without such features. Cheap rib protectors on the market might not be sufficiently effective in keeping your rib cage safe during play. Therefore, avoid them at all costs.

Since your health comes first, go for high-quality rib protectors from popular brands known to be effective. Rib protectors made of strong, durable and comfortable materials can also cost you more. You’ll find a good rib protector in the price range of about $10 to $100, or more. You should be able to merge your budget with good rib protection.

The most important feature of football rib protectors is the padding that’s meant to protect the ribs. Ask yourself a number of questions before opting for any given protector. For instance, is the padding adequate to offer protection to the ribs from high impact? Is it comfortable? Does it have the capability to absorb your body sweat to keep you cool while playing?

Here are some of the features that’ll go a long way in enhancing your safety and performance during play:

• Ability to use the rib protector with shoulder pads
• Moisture and sweat-absorbing fabric
• Breathability of the material
• High ventilation for proper flow of air
• Straps and harnesses, for traditional-style rib protectors
• Ergonomic design for easy movement
• Durable material for long-term use
• Adequate padding for comfort and protection
• Shock-absorbing pads

With the right football rib protector, you won’t just protect yourself from possible injuries to your vital body parts and organs, but also gain the confidence you need to play well.

When it comes to the construction and design of your football rib protector, there's a few main things to consider. Let's take a look at what they are...

Type:

There are several types of rib protectors available on the market. There are those built with harnesses or straps, vest types and integrated shirt types. The harnesses and straps are used to hold the rib protecting plates and pads in place during play. The vest type comes as a vest that the player puts on, just like a normal vest.

The top of the vest doesn’t offer protection for the shoulders, calling for shoulder pads to be used for complete protection. The integrated shirt types are made as complete T-shirts with pads at designated areas. The pads could be at the shoulders, back and the sides, or on all those places.

Style:

There are two styles of football rib protectors you can find on the market. There’s the compression shirt style and the traditional style. The compression shirt rib protectors are designed as shirts with or without sleeves. The shirts are padded with two, three, four or five pads. The more pads a shirt has, the greater the protection offered.

Rib protectors with four pads usually feature two on the sides, at the ribs, and two on the shoulders. Those with five have an extra pad placed on the back to protect the spine. Those with two pads protect only the ribs but not the shoulders, while those with three protect the ribs and the back. Compression shirts are easy to wear and take off. They also come with materials that wick sweat away, keeping you cool.

Another type of football rib protector is the traditional style. These have pads around the ribcage, held in place using harnesses and straps. The straps allow the rib protector to be attached to the shoulder protectors. These kinds of protectors don’t have protection for the shoulders, but are easy to attach to the shoulder protectors with the straps.

They are worn under football jerseys and offer protection starting from the end of the shoulder pads. The padding used on these rib protectors is usually thicker than that used on compression variants.

Sizes:

Rib protectors come in different sizes to cater to different body sizes and heights. The sizes might be labeled as small, medium, large, XL, 2XL and 3XL. The suitable size for you depends on your body size, especially your torso and chest area.

Materials:

Rib protectors should be made of materials that can withstand rugged use. Besides being durable, the materials used should also be kind to the skin without causing irritation. The material should be breathable and able to absorb moisture, to keep you cool during intense football play.

Colors:

Rib protectors come in various colors, with the most common being black, grey, white and camouflage. The color choice depends largely on personal preference, but black and camouflage are easy to wash and won’t get easily stained whenever you play.

Traditional-style rib protectors come with harnesses and straps to make it easy for you to attach the protectors to shoulder pads. They should also have hooks and loops to give a customizable fit. The compression types are easy to use because they are worn just as a normal shirt. Football rib protectors need to be washed just like any other apparel, using machines.

Most have ventilation to allow you to have air circulation, so you can stay cool during play. Also make sure the material your rib protector is made of is strong and durable enough to last you years of safe play.