CK’s Product Review: Century Shin/Instep Guards

The nice part about owning a karate shop is I get to try out different martial arts products and as a result allows me let you guys know what is a good deal and what is a bad deal. For this review I am going to talk about the century brand of shin/instep guards available at most places online and in most local martial arts shops. I’ll talk about the pros and the cons of the product as well as give information on how much it costs and where you can order it.

THE PROS – The most obvious pro of the cloth shin guard is that it’s cheap. However don’t let the idea creep into your head that just because it’s a cheap product it’s not good. The instep guard provides ample protection and it’s ability to absorb blows works just as well as any of the more elaborate shin/instep guards that you see. They are also wicked light. You’ll feel like you aren’t wearing anything at all when you wear these instep guards. This is good for sparring because it allows you to keep your kicks swift and quick while at the same time providing you and your sparring partner solid protection.

THE CONS – Because of the cloth based design, the wear and tear on the shin guards is greater than other shin guards where the pads are exposed. There is a higher chance that the cloth will rip and you will either have to sew it up or buy new ones. Also unlike the more advanced pads the fit is not as snug. This may result in the pads sliding a little bit within the contour of your shin and instep. Also with the cloth base it leads to cleaning issues but the pads are machine washable.

MY 2 CENTS – Given the price you are for sure getting your money’s worth. It is a great piece of gear to have when you are just starting out sparring. This is especially true if you are still experimenting with martial arts and don’t want to invest too heavily into gear that you may never use again. Once you get more serious I would recommend upgrading to a new set of shin/instep guards. Until then these are a great buy that definitely gets the job done.

PRICE – $15.99

WHERE CAN I GET IT? – I would recommend HERE

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