FAQs

Do Muay Thai fighters wear shin guards?

Muay Thai boxing is a high-impact martial art where your legs can take a lot of damage from opponents’ kicks. For Muay Thai training and sparring, Muay Thai athletes do wear shin guards.

Muay Thai involves a lot of kicking to the opponents’ legs, and using your legs to block incoming kicks.

During Muay Thai training and sparring it’s important to wear shin guards to protect your shins, ankles, and feet. If you are new to the sport and your body is still adapting to training this is even more important – you’ll want to wear shin guards to protect against injury.

In professional competition, Muay Thai fighters usually don’t wear shin guards. But during training and sparring, it is the norm rather than the exception to use shin guards.

How much do Muay Thai shin guards cost?

Muay Thai shin guards cost from as little as 500 baht (~$15USD) ranging up to 5,000 baht (~$150USD) and upwards for something more ‘Gucci’.

Higher-priced Muay Thai shin guards will often feature more robust construction, last longer, be more lightweight or comfortable, made from premium materials.

However, be aware that with some higher-priced shin guard options you are often paying for aesthetics and brand name. Often mid-range priced shin guards offer the best value balance of function and price.

How do you choose the right size Muay Thai shin guards?

The best way to choose the right size of Muay Thai shin guard is to try a range of different-sized shin guards on and see which fits, ideally with someone who knows what they are doing!

You should make sure the shin guard properly covers your foot, ankle, and shin to protect against impacts.
In Muay Thai, the shin is one of our biggest weapons so it’s important that you have good padding along the length of your shin. But the shin guard shouldn’t extend beyond the knee, as this would make the pad unnecessarily bulky.
Shin guards are secured using two straps at the rear of the leg. One strap should sit above your ankle and the other at the top of your calf to hold the shin guard securely in place and prevent slipping.
Another way to check that you are wearing the correct size is to make sure the shin guard allows full mobility of your ankle and doesn’t restrict your range of foot motion.
Finally, the shin guard should feel comfortable and not restrict blood circulation.

How do you clean Muay Thai shin guards?

Keeping your Muay Thai shin guard clean is quick and easy so long as you are proactive.

After each Muay Thai training or sparring session, get in the habit of giving your shin guards a quick wipe down before letting them dry. This keeps them clean and hygienic plus reduces the probability of staining or discoloration.

Wiping them down using a mild disinfectant mixed in water will prevent bacteria build-up and keep your shin guards looking (and smelling) nice. A quick, convenient option is to buy wet wipes which contain disinfectant (for example from brands such as Dettol).

Avoid using any heavy solvents as these may damage the surface of your shin guards.

How long do Muay Thai shinguards last?

The longevity of Muay Thai shin guards depends on a bunch of factors. How often do you train? How hard are you impacting the shin guards? Did you purchase a good-quality shin guard to start with? Do you take care of them properly?

There is no definitive answer. But, if you purchase decent quality shin guards, take care of them and perform Muay Thai training at a typical intensity, you should get a few years out of your shin guards.

Shin guards aren’t especially expensive and offer important protection for your shins, ankles, and feet, so you should inspect your shin guards periodically to make sure they are not damaged. If the protection of your shin guards does become compromised, replace them immediately.