After your helmet, your football pads are probably your most important piece of gear. After all, pads keep you safe from season-ending injuries, protecting you during contact with other players and the ground.
But let’s face it: Football pads aren’t the most comfortable protective gear in the world. They’re heavy, bulky, and can often cause chafing.1
That’s why choosing what to wear under football pads is just as important as the pads themselves. When you rock the right gear under your shoulder and leg pads, you can stay comfortable, dry, and cool for the whole game.
What to Wear Under Football Shoulder Pads
Whether you’re at practice or on the field for the biggest game of your life, you’ll want to put on the proper gear under your shoulder pads. Here are some of the best options.
Compression Shirts
Most players will tell you that a football compression shirt is the ideal base layer. Sometimes called performance shirts, compression shirts are tight-fitting tops that cling to your body, almost like a second skin.
Most compression shirts are made from high-performance materials like:
- Lycra
- Polyester
- Nylon
- Spandex
These fabrics wick moisture away from your body, keeping you dry throughout the day. Compression shirts are also known for breathability, making them perfect for those summer scrimmages. You’ll never have to worry about overheating again.
If you find that sleeves feel constricting or don’t give you enough ventilation, go for a sleeveless compression shirt instead. Sleeveless shirts offer compression in all the right places while keeping your arms free.
Padded Compression Shirts
For players who feel like they need a little extra protection—we’re looking at you, defensive tackles2—a padded compression shirt makes the most sense. Padded shirts come with all the benefits of a regular compression shirt but with the added bonus of shielding your ribs, shoulders, chest, and underarms with a second layer of foam.
However, there’s a slight tradeoff to consider. All that extra material can make padded compression shirts feel slightly warmer than standard compression shirts. It’s not a huge difference, but on the hottest days, you may find your padded shirt is overkill.
Still, if you take enough hits, the additional padding might be worth it.
T-Shirts (Common, But Not the Best Choice!)
Look around the locker room, and you’ll see teammates throwing shoulder pads over their t-shirts. In fact, tees are probably the most popular base layer option, especially for casual players.
And there’s nothing wrong with wearing an everyday t-shirt under your pads. We’ve all got a million old shirts in our drawers, so it’s easy (not to mention affordable) to grab a clean one and go.
But here’s the problem with t-shirts: They’re not made with football in mind. A loose-fitting shirt will move around under your shoulder pads, causing irritation and distracting you during plays.
Plus, most run-of-the-mill tees are made from cotton blends, so they’ll soak up sweat throughout the game. The last thing you need on that final offensive drive is a soggy shirt weighing you down.
Flak Jackets
Also called rib protectors or rib guards, flak jackets are perfect for—you guessed it—protecting your ribs. This armor-like football equipment safeguards your torso, providing coverage where shoulder pads don’t usually reach. Flak jackets are most popular among quarterbacks since they expose their ribs when throwing, but other players may also find them beneficial.
Some flak jackets are pullover “vests” with padding sewn in, meaning you won’t have to wear a shirt underneath. Others look like belts that attach directly to your shoulder pads; with these, you’ll still need to wear a compression shirt.
Whichever style of flak jacket you choose, you can rest easy knowing your ribs are safe.
What to Wear Under Football Leg Pads
With your upper half covered, it’s time to talk about the legs.
Leg pads are an essential part of football gear. They protect your thighs and knees from injury—no matter which position you play.
So, what should you wear underneath football leg pads? Depending on your needs, you have a few options to choose from.
Compression Shorts or Tights
For many players, compression wear is the go-to for leg coverage. Tight-fitting bottoms are lightweight, sweat-wicking, and keep everything feeling “held in.”
When you’re packing your bag for the game, you really have two choices:
- Compression shorts – Also known as performance shorts, compression shorts sit just above the knee, so your leg pads will cover them completely. Some compression shorts also come with a built-in outer layer that looks like regular shorts, allowing them to double as weekend wear. Others are nothing but a skin-tight pair of shorts. Compression shorts are best for those hot early-season games and summer training camps.
- Compression tights – When you want more coverage, compression tights are the ticket. Tights extend out from under your pads, so you’ll want to choose a color that complements your team uniform. Compression tights are ideal for cold-weather games and practices, though you may need different lengths for different climates. Full-length compression tights will reach your ankles, while 3/4-length football tights will come down to your shins.
Padded Undergarments
Just like with shirts, there’s an option to add extra padding below your leg pads. Padded undergarments—also called girdles—come with lightweight foam panels that protect your:
- Hips
- Thighs
- Tailbone
A padded compression girdle is thin and tight-fitting enough to fit comfortably under your leg pads, yet padded enough to make all the difference when you’re getting tackled. Players who tend to take a beating will appreciate the added cushioning.
Best Fabrics for Football Undergarments
Once you start shopping for the best gear to wear under football pads, you’ll see all kinds of different materials. How do you choose the right one?
While it all comes down to personal preference, the truth is that some undergarments are just better. When you opt for high-performance fabrics specifically designed for sports, you unleash your full potential—because your clothes are no longer holding you back.
Oh, and you look better too.
With that in mind, let’s look at the best fabrics for football undergarments.
Moisture-Wicking Materials
As you know, football is a sweaty game. After a few plays, your drip starts to… well, drip. And nothing is more distracting than a bead of sweat rolling down your back as you stare down your opponent.
That’s why it’s essential to choose gear made from moisture-wicking materials. Moisture-wicking fabrics transfer sweat to the outside surface so it doesn’t stay trapped in your clothes. They also dry faster, ensuring your sweat never builds up enough to leave the fabric feeling damp.
The result? Pure comfort—even on the hottest days.
The following fabrics are best for keeping you dry and cool:
- Polyester
- Nylon
- Spandex
Compression Clothing
It’s not just about the material. Whenever possible, look for compression shirts, shorts, and tights. Compression wear is the ideal choice for football because it’s:
- Skin-tight – Compression clothing is tight enough to feel like a second skin, so you won’t even notice it under your pads. Plus, the fit ensures there’s no air between your skin and the material, which helps you regulate your body temperature. Finally, since it hugs your skin, compression gear protects you from chafing.
- Lightweight – Unlike loose-fitting clothes, compression shirts and tights won’t slow you down or interfere with your movement. Thanks to the materials normally used in compression clothing, they’re also breathable.
- Performance-enhancing – Best of all, compression wear can actually boost your performance on the field. The ultra-tight materials support your muscles and help pump blood back to your heart, improving your circulation.3 In other words, if you’re not wearing compression shorts or shirts, you’re missing out on the benefits (that your opponents are definitely taking advantage of).
Avoiding Cotton
The number one rule when shopping for what to wear under football pads is to avoid cotton.
To be clear, cotton is an excellent fabric for most clothes. It’s comfortable, breathable, and easy to wash. From the pre-game fits to the post-game sweatpants, cotton is your best friend—most of the time.
Cotton’s weakness is that it’s absorbent. When you sweat, cotton soaks it all up instead of wicking it away. That means your sweat won’t evaporate—and that means your body can’t cool down.4
So, as tempting as it is to wear a cotton t-shirt under your pads, resist the urge. You’ll be way more comfortable in moisture-wicking compression gear. And when you feel better, you play better.
Shop Battle Sports Football Undergarments Today
Ultimately, there are three things to think about when buying gear to wear under football pads: protection, comfort, and quality. You want something that will keep you safe, keep you dry, and last season after season.
At Battle Sports, you’ll find football gear that meets all these criteria and more. Our football compression shirts, shorts, and tights are designed to provide maximum comfort and support—on and off the field. With several colors and sizes available, you’re sure to find the option that suits your style. And if you need lightweight football shoulder pads to toss over your undergarments, we’ve got those, too.
Shop the Battle Sports collection today for the best in football gear.
Sources:
- Medical News Today. What causes chafing rash? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/chafing-rash
- Live Science. The Science of Football: Which Positions Take the Hardest Hits? https://www.livescience.com/54972-which-football-positions-take-hardest-hits.html
- Men’s Health. Your Ultimate Guide to Compression Wearables. https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a19536211/compression-shorts-guide/
- ISSA. Cotton vs. Synthetic: What's Best for Workout Gear? https://www.issaonline.com/blog/post/cotton-vs-synthetics-why-the-natural-choice-may-not-be-cotton
