Compression fit or loose mesh
Jock pants serve as your primary protective base layer on the ice. Snug compression shorts sit tight against the skin, carry sweat away from it and leave little loose fabric to rub. Loose mesh shorts leave more air around the legs and rely on an internal suspension brief to hold the cup. Sock tabs are worth checking, because a pair with hook-and-loop patches on the front and back of each thigh holds your hockey socks, and a pair without them leaves that job to a garter belt or sock tape.
Coverage from mid-thigh shorts to full pants
Players choose between mid-thigh shorts and full-length pants based on personal layering habits. Mid-thigh jock shorts give you minimal fabric under your hockey pants, making them ideal if you prefer bare lower legs under your shin guards. Full-length jock pants extend down to the ankles, absorbing sweat beneath your shin guards and creating a uniform layer. Cut-resistant panels at the calf are a separate decision, because the knit resists a blade only where it is built into the leg.
Distinct protection in jocks and jills
Pelvic base layers are built in two shapes. Jock shorts and pants for men have a reinforced pocket shaped for a rigid, contoured cup. Jill pants use a pocket cut for a flat, low-profile pelvic protector instead. The flat shield spreads across the pelvic bone rather than sitting domed over the groin, which is why it takes up less room under a hockey girdle or pants.
Waist measurements and garment care
Base layers come in youth, junior, intermediate, and senior sizes. To pick the correct size, measure your waist circumference just above the hips and compare the number to the size chart for your chosen model. The waistband should fit securely without pinching or slipping so the protective insert stays over the groin during rapid strides. For cleaning, remove the protective cup or pelvic insert before washing, and follow the garment care instructions on the product label.