The Ultimate Inline Protective Gear Checklist (2026)

Inline hockey is fast, physical, and played on hard surfaces — which means the right protective gear is essential for staying safe, confident, and comfortable. Whether you’re playing indoors on sport court or outdoors on concrete, proper protection helps prevent injuries and keeps you focused on your game.

At Willies.co.uk, we stock the UK’s best inline protective gear from Bauer, CCM, Mission, Tour, Winnwell, and more — covering everything from padded shirts to girdles, elbow pads, gloves, helmets, and jocks.

This guide breaks down exactly what you need for inline hockey and how to choose the right protection for your level and playing style.

Why Inline Protective Gear Matters

Inline hockey has unique demands compared to ice:

• Harder surfaces
• More falls and slides
• Less body contact but more incidental collisions
• Faster transitions and tighter turns
• Hotter playing environments

The right gear protects you from:

• Impact injuries
• Abrasions
• Falls on concrete or sport court
• Stick and puck/ball contact
• Overheating

Inline protection is designed to be lighter, cooler, and more flexible than ice hockey gear — perfect for the faster, more agile inline game.

Essential Inline Protective Gear

Below is the full breakdown of what every inline player needs, with Willies‑specific product categories.

1. Helmet (Non‑Negotiable)

A helmet is the most important piece of protective gear.

Look for:

• Certified protection
• Good ventilation
• Secure fit
• Optional cage or visor

Willies stocks inline‑ready helmets from Bauer, CCM, Warrior, and more.

Best for beginners: Bauer Re-Akt 55 / CCM Tacks 70
Best for experienced players: Bauer Re‑Akt 70 / Warrior Covert CF100

2. Padded Shirt (Inline‑Specific Upper Body Protection)

Inline hockey uses padded shirts instead of bulky shoulder pads.

Benefits:

• Lightweight
• Breathable
• Flexible
• Designed for inline impacts (falls, bumps, stick contact)

Willies stocks padded shirts from:

• Mission
• Tour
• Winnwell
• Alkali

Perfect for indoor and outdoor inline.

3. Elbow Pads

Elbow pads protect against falls — which happen more often on wheels.

Look for:

• Secure straps
• Full forearm wrap
• Lightweight construction

Willies carries inline‑friendly elbow pads from Bauer, CCM and Warrior.

4. Gloves

Inline gloves prioritise:

• Ventilation
• Flexibility
• Lightweight protection

Inline gloves at Willies include:

• Bauer
• CCM
• Warrior

These keep your hands cool while still protecting against slashes and falls.

5. Girdle or Inline Pants

Inline players typically use:

Inline Girdles

• Lightweight
• Breathable
• Built‑in hip, thigh, and tailbone protection
• Worn under inline pants

Willies stocks girdles from Mission, Tour, Alkali, and Bauer.

Inline Pants

• Durable
• Ventilated
• Designed for movement
• Protect against scrapes and slides

Willies carries inline pants from Bauer and Tour.

6. Shin Guards

Inline shin guards are lighter and slimmer than ice shin guards.

Look for:

• Good knee protection
• Wraparound calf coverage
• Ventilation

Willies stocks shin guards from Bauer, CCM, Warrior, and Winnwell.

7. Jock/Jill (Pelvic Protection)

Required in most leagues.

Options:

• Compression shorts with built‑in cup
• Traditional garter + cup

Willies carries both youth and senior options.

8. Neck Guard

Inline leagues increasingly require neck protection.

Willies stocks:

• Bauer NG
• CCM BNQ‑certified guards
• Bib‑style options for added coverage

9. Optional but Recommended Gear

Mouthguard

Protects teeth and reduces concussion risk.

Base Layers

Keeps you cool and reduces friction.

Wrist Guards

Useful for beginners or outdoor players.

Inline vs Ice Protective Gear: Key Differences

Inline gear is designed to be:

• Lighter
• Cooler
• More flexible
• Less bulky

Because inline has:

• Less body checking
• More falls
• Hotter environments
• Harder surfaces

This is why padded shirts and girdles are so popular — and why Willies stocks a full range of inline‑specific protection.

Beginner Inline Protective Gear Checklist:

• Helmet
• Padded shirt
• Elbow pads
• Gloves
• Girdle
• Inline pants
• Shin guards
• Jock/Jill
• Neck guard

Everything on this list is available at Willies.co.uk in youth, junior, and senior sizes.

Why Buy Inline Protective Gear from Willies?

• UK’s best range of inline gear
• Stock from Bauer, CCM, Mission, Tour, Winnwell
• Inline‑specific padded shirts and girdles
• Indoor and outdoor options
• Expert advice from real players
• Fast delivery + in‑store support

Whether you’re starting out or upgrading your setup, Willies has the right protection for every inline player.