Wilson Soccer Shin Guards: Basic yet Affordable Protection for Young Athletes

Wilson Soccer gear has released their WSP 2000 model shin guards, selling for as low as $4 online. With Nike and Adidas shin guards retailing for as high as $99, it is a relief to see other sports companies offering more affordable protection. I picked up a pair of the WSP2000s and was pleased with their performance.

The WSP 2000 shin guards by Wilson come with a white trim around a thick, reinforced, pre-curved plastic front guard. They can be found at many sporting goods stores, online stores, and, of course, at Wal-Mart. They really are very affordable and are the cheapest shin guards sold by Wal-Mart. I needed a new pair of shin guards so I picked up the WSP 2000 models and tried them out in outdoor and indoor soccer.

The shin guards stayed on very nicely and didn't slip, like other shin guards I have tried. They attach around the back of the leg with a Velcro strap, making them easy to remove but potentially more breakable in the long run.

I am not the tallest person, so I tried out the Youth version of these shin guards. They were still a little too short for my legs, but offered decent protection. In impacts with other players on the field, both in outdoor and indoor soccer, I definitely felt protected and came out fine. Of course, I would recommend buying the appropriate size shin guards, but it was interesting just how much protection the WSP 2000 offered for even more intense contact in adult soccer.

Any serious soccer player will tell you how very important shin guards are for the sport. Most have the bumps and nicks that come from non-protected soccer games and practice on their tibia bone, easily felt under the skin. While that certainly sounds weird, I can feel the notches on my tibia quite obviously. I have talked with other players that have noticed the same thing on their shins. This could have easily been prevented had I worn shin guards at all my soccer games as child. Of course, almost all youth soccer leagues require their players to wear such equipment, but shin guards were still often lacking at pickup games and backyard scrimmages.

For those looking for a bargain priced pair of shin guards for their children or for themselves, consider the WSP 2000 shin guards by Wilson Sporting Goods. While they may not be as fancy as some of the Nike or Puma shin guards, they offer needed protection, from my experiences, on the soccer pitch.