What size kickboxing shin guards should I choose?

You cannot choose the right size of shin guards by copying the letter from your previous pair. An M in one model may fit differently from an M in another. Start with the size chart for the version you want to buy, then check how it fits your shin, calf and instep.

Your height helps you choose an initial size. The fit determines whether that choice works: the guard should stay in place without pressing against your knee or restricting foot movement. Below, you can read how to measure, how to use the model-specific size charts and when a different fit makes more sense than simply going up or down a size.

Measuring your shin: how to start

Use a flexible tape measure along the front of your lower leg, from just below the knee to above the ankle. Keep your foot relaxed and note the distance. Measure both legs the same way. You do not need a complicated calculation; you are looking for a useful starting point for the size chart and the fitting.

Next, check exactly what the size chart for your chosen model shows. Height, shin length and age are different measurements. A chart listing lengths in centimeters is no guarantee that every leg of exactly that length needs the same size. Always follow the measuring instructions for the specific model if they differ from the general method.

Distinguish between the length of your leg and the shape of the guard. The curve, the width around the calf, the position of the belts and the instep section all determine how the model fits. Two guards with a similar length measurement can therefore feel different.

The fit check: shin, knee and instep

Put on both guards and distribute the tension evenly across the fastenings. Center the padding over the front of your shin. On a model with belts, they should fit comfortably around your calf; tightening them more will not fix a model that is too loose or the wrong shape.

Slowly lift your knee, bend your legs and point your foot. Then make a controlled kicking motion without making contact. Does the front stay aligned with your shin? Does the top edge avoid pressing uncomfortably against your knee? Does the foot section stay on your instep without restricting ankle movement? Check the position again after these movements.

On a kickboxing model, the instep section is not a shoe that needs to enclose your toes. Check how much of the instep it covers and how it fits at the ankle, not just how much of your foot remains visible at the front. Stop trying it on or moving around if an edge or strap causes painful pressure.

XPRT: compare the Pro V3 and All-Round separately

With XPRT, start with the correct model line. The pre-shaped Pro V3 and the All-Round V1 each have their own chart. A familiar size letter is no reason to skip the product chart.

The chart for the Pro V3 Midnight also includes an XS. The standard Pro V3 chart starts at S. Check the version you have chosen rather than assuming that all colors and versions offer the same sizes. The chart below shows the Midnight guideline; choose from the available sizes on the product page.

The All-Round has its own height guideline. Compare sizes using the correct chart, then check the fit. Do not automatically choose the same size as the Pro V3.

Twins SGL7: look beyond your height

The Twins SGL7 has its own height and shin measurement chart. The model has a pre-shaped shin section and a separate, movable instep section. When trying it on, pay as much attention to the fit above the ankle and the position of the foot section as to the top edge.

At the boundary between S and M, the shin chart lists both 'up to 33 cm' and '33 cm'. Do not treat this boundary as an exact cutoff for every leg. Check the height guideline too and compare how both sizes actually fit. A loose guard will not fit properly just because the measurement on the chart looks right.

Hayabusa: distinguish the T3 from the Core Sleeve

The classic Hayabusa T3 and the T3 Core Sleeve do not fit the same way. The T3 has separate fastening straps. The Core Sleeve is a sock-like version without separate hook-and-loop fasteners. With the latter, the fit is determined by the size and stretch of the material, not by adjusting the straps differently.

The associated height guidelines also differ. An S from one chart is therefore not automatically the right S in another. The compact charts below deliberately keep these models separate. Always read the additional measuring information for the version you choose.

With the T3, check the tension of the belts and how the elastic sections fit around your foot. With the Core Sleeve, check whether the sleeve slides comfortably over your foot and lower leg and does not pull uncomfortably or sit loosely when you move. Do not choose based only on which fastening seems convenient; the fit needs to be right too.

Rival SH20: combined sizes S/M and L/XL

The Rival SH20 uses two combined sizes. The corresponding chart lists S/M for body heights up to 175 cm and L/XL for heights above that. This is an initial guide, not a complete description of your calf width or how the guard fits around your foot.

For this model, check the fastening behind the lower leg and the elastic strap around the ankle. The guard should stay centered over your shin when you move. Do not expect a combined letter size to fit every leg exactly like a separate M or L from another brand.

King Pro Boxing: compare the SG series and SGL7 separately

For King Pro Boxing, the adult SG models and the SGL7 have separate size charts. The letters look familiar, but the measurements in centimeters are not the same across the board. For example, the SG chart lists a different shin measurement for L than the SGL7 chart.

So use the chart for the series you have. A wider or narrower calf can also affect the fit, even when the length is about right. With both models, check how the top edge, the belts and the instep section work together when you bend your legs.

The kids' Hexagon model is not included in these adult charts. The letters M and L have their own meaning there. The size guidelines for kids appear side by side below, so you do not accidentally compare them with adult sizes.

Booster V3: the same letter, its own measurement in centimeters

The Booster V3 has its own chart for body height and shin measurements. Especially if you are switching from another brand, it is worth checking it again. An M here is not simply the same as the M you already know.

After choosing a size, check whether the pre-shaped sections fit comfortably around your lower leg. Fasten the belts without pulling any one section extremely tight, and move your ankle. If the length fits but you can only get the guard around your calf by stretching it a lot, its shape may not be right for your leg.

Shin guards for kids: age is a starting point

An age chart can help you narrow down the options, but children of the same age don't necessarily have the same leg length. Measure the lower leg too, and have your child put on both guards and move around. How they fit now matters more than extra room to grow.

The XPRT Competitor V1 is a sleeve-style model with its own shin-size chart and age guidance. Don't use those figures in place of the Pro V3 chart for the adult branded models above.

Children's sizes vary considerably by model. For example, the XPRT Competitor ranges from XXS to L, Booster Combat uses XS and S, and King Hexagon for children uses M and L. A children's M is therefore not automatically the same as an adult M, or even the M in another children's model.

Alongside age, the King Hexagon chart also gives measurements in centimetres. The linked guideline for Booster Combat is based on age. We don't fill in the missing centimetre column with figures from another Booster model: a similar name or appearance doesn't mean the fit is identical.

Have your child raise their knee, bend their legs and point their foot. A guard that twists with every movement or presses against the knee isn't suitable to wear while waiting to grow into it.

Between two sizes: don't automatically size down or up

Does your height point to one size and your shin length to another? Compare the sizes using the full fit check. There's no general rule that says you should always size down or size up with every brand.

A larger size may give you more room around the calf, but it may also be longer and press against your knee. A smaller size may fit more snugly, but it may be too short or too tight. If neither size feels comfortable, a different model is often a better choice than pulling the fastening even tighter.

Don't treat an old size as a fixed starting point, either. A worn pair can feel different from a new pair, and another model line may fasten around your leg differently. Compare how the pairs you're trying on fit now, not just the letter on the old label.

Muscular calves, slim legs and a high instep

Length alone doesn't tell you how much room there is around your calf. If you have muscular calves, the fastening should close without pinching in one spot. If you have slim legs, the guard should fit snugly without having to tighten all the belts to their limit.

The transition to the foot also deserves attention. An instep section that sits well when you're standing relaxed may press or shift when you point your foot. So test more than one position. If you keep feeling the same hard edge, or the foot section pulls the shin guard out of position, try a different size or shape.

This isn't about choosing a separate women's or men's size letter. It's about your leg length, calf shape, foot and the construction of the model you choose. The colour or intended audience doesn't replace checking the fit.

Belts or sleeve-style model: what can you adjust?

Separate hook-and-loop straps let you adjust the tension at different points around your calf. That's useful when trying them on, but there's a limit to how much you can adjust them. Pulling them extra tight won't fix the wrong length or shape.

With a sleeve-style model, the size and material together determine how it fits around your leg. You can't tighten a sleeve that's too loose with a separate strap. When comparing models, also look at the coverage and construction of the foot section; not every sleeve-style model is intended for the same type of training.

If you also want to compare different types of shin guards, use the accompanying buying guide. This page mainly helps you find a suitable model and use the size chart correctly, not rank brands.

Your choice at a glance

Follow this order: choose a model that suits your training, open its size chart, use the measurements it asks for and check the fit with both shin guards on. The compact overview table below helps you distinguish between the different sizing systems.

Compare products using their own size charts and fastenings. The examples aren't a ranking: the aim is to find the right design and size without treating a size letter or a general height chart as a fixed rule.

Conclusion: the right size stays in place when you move

A well-fitting shin guard fits comfortably around your lower leg and instep, stays in front of your shin as you move and doesn't get in the way of your knee or ankle. The size chart gives you a starting point; trying it on tells you whether the model works for you.

Compare the sizing guidelines for XPRT, Twins, Hayabusa, Rival, King and Booster. If you're unsure, don't automatically size up or down. If the length, calf fit and instep fit don't all work together, try a different shape. That way, you can make an informed choice instead of guessing between S, M and L.