How to Fit Goalie Pant Shells

A goalie pant shell is an abrasion-resistant, unpadded pair of shorts designed to fit over your ice hockey goalie pants. 

If your goalie pant shells are not the perfect fit, they can be seriously uncomfortable and hinder your performance, as well as opening you up for injuries. In this guide, our experts explain exactly how your goalie pant shells should fit, and how to measure to ensure you get the right size.

If you’re wondering what size ice hockey pant shell you need, use our Bauer goalie pant shell size chart to find the right size for you. The Bauer goalie ice hockey pant shell is designed to fit all Bauer goalie pants, and will fit most pants for other brands.

Top tip: we recommend choosing a goalie pant shell size that is one size larger than your goalie pant size. This means they won’t restrict movement and can be slipped on and off more easily during play.

A properly fitting goalie pant shell should provide full coverage over your goalie pants without restricting your movement or interfering with your other protective equipment. A goalie pant shell is designed to be a loose-fitting outer layer that protects the pants from abrasion, and can be switched up to give the team an updated, unified look, without replacing the whole kit.

Your goalie pant shells should give you:

• Coverage - fully covering the goalie pant padding, including the thighs and hips.
• Mobility - you should be able to move freely in all directions without experiencing any bunching or tightness.
• Waist support - Your goalie pant shell waistband should sit comfortably at your waist, without slipping or sagging. You’ll find that most goalie pant shells, like the Bauer pant cover shell for intermediate players, have adjustable straps to help with this fitting.
• Comfortable length - the bottom of the shell should align with your goalie pants, but not extend as far as your leg pads.
• A snug fit - while your shell should fit over your pants, it shouldn’t be excessively baggy or tight. Too tight can restrict movement, but too large can result in movement during play.

If possible, we recommend trying on your chosen goalie pant shells along with your other gear at our ice hockey store to ensure the perfect fit. You'll also have access to our in-house experts – the majority of whom are current or former players, who can give advice and insight no matter your level of knowledge or experience.

Alongside our range of best-selling goalie gear, we also stock a variety of goalie skates, goalie sticks,chest protectors, throat protectorsand more – ensuring you’re fully covered, and able to perform your best between the pipes. Plus, if you’re unsure what else you need as part of your go-to kit, our in-depth ice hockey equipment guide has everything you need to know to get started.