When playing baseball, athletes, especially little league players, require protective pieces of equipment. These pieces of little league equipment vary from helmets, gloves, cups, protective eyewear and catcher’s gear. However, an often overlooked piece of equipment is the youth baseball chest protector shirts. These shirts provide extra protection to baseball players as they give their all on the playing field.
Youth baseball chest protector shirts are similar to compression shirts, but it provides upper torso protection against ball impact. As we know, a baseball consists of a cork and rubber core that is wrapped with yarn and horsehide— which makes it durable and solid. If a player makes a mistake and accidentally got hit on the chest by a baseball, this could prove fatal. Therefore, additional protection is needed, especially when playing in the most demanding baseball games.
7 Best Youth Chest Protector Shirts (Quick List)
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The Benefits of Using Youth Baseball Chest Protector Shirts
At a young age, athletes are told to prioritize safety over all things when playing. However, accidents are inevitable during playtime. Therefore, athletes must be well-equipped with protective equipment, such as a baseball chest protector shirt, in anticipation of the worst. With this said, let’s run down the benefits of using youth baseball protector shirts.
It can help prevent fatal injuries
Baseball is a notorious game where balls hit an average fastball speed of 50-60 mph. Considering the speed and construction of a baseball, a direct fastball hit to the chest can prove fatal, especially to younger players.
Even the chances of this type of accident occurring are slim; a direct hit to the chest can lead to commotio cordis, a disruption of the heart’s normal rhythm. Since 1980, commotio cordis has taken the lives of 162 Americans, primarily boys that got directly hit on the chest by a baseball. Although the best solution to this is a defibrillator, a little added protection won’t hurt your child and can come a long way.
Provides comfort
When playing baseball or any other sport, sweat is undeniable everywhere. Furthermore, when sweat mixes with dust in the air, we experience a sticky sensation that is annoying and irritable. With this in light, youth baseball chest protector shirts are great solutions to this problem.
As stated earlier, youth baseball chest protector shirts function similarly to compression shirts. They fit snuggly around the torso of their wearer and help combat sweat to keep their wearer cool and dry. In addition, when moving excessively, the protector shirt will guard the wearer’s body against the friction between their shirt and skin.
Supports upper torso muscle recovery
When using our muscles extensively, they are prone to micro-tears which causes Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, also known as DOMS, when recovering. In addition, the blood pumping excessively causes these micro-tears and promotes muscle growth when they heal. However, you don’t have to endure extreme pain to get those gains. With the use of youth baseball chest protector shirts, the muscle compression it provides can support your muscles during strenuous activities. Furthermore, the additional support it gives will give you a shorter DOMS period after playing.
Improves overall performance
When wearing youth baseball chest protector shirts, the added muscle compression provides enhanced flexibility and improved overall performance. During a game, athletes require their flexibility and muscle condition to be at their peak— that’s why they stretch before tournaments. Added compression provides ample muscle support for strenuous running, jumping, stretching, and more. Furthermore, added support to various muscle groups reduces their likelihood of receiving injuries.
Helps improve posture
The extra pressure that youth baseball chest protector shirts put into our backs helps correct posture. With a better posture, a player can reach farther and perform efficiently in games. In addition, the compression youth baseball chest protector shirts train back muscles to incorporate proper posture. Because of the compression of chest protector shirts, the brain receives this pressure as a reminder to align your body to its mold, adjusting your posture often.
What to look for when buying baseball chest protector shirts?
One should consider a few essential factors when looking for the best youth baseball chest protector shirts. Buying protective gear that suits you well will provide you with optimal protection perfect for your body size. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure that the baseball chest protector shirt you’ll buy fits the following criteria.
Material
When buying the best youth baseball chest protection shirt, it is essential to consider the materials used by the manufacturers. Overall safety and comfort will rely on the product’s materials. Cheaply made baseball chest protection shirts will often feature cheap plastic chest guards that won’t absorb any shock when the ball hits it. This specific type of construction is the one you’d want to avoid buying.
Materials like polyester and spandex are excellent when finding a lightweight and comfortable protection for your chest. These materials won’t bother players after hours on end, even providing an unnoticeable feel— preventing players from getting distracted during crucial plays.
Perfect Fit
For the most optimal comfort and performance, players should consider if a chest protection shirt provides a perfect fit. Without having the perfect fit, the chest guard at the front won’t align at the sternum, offering little to no protection to the desired area.
Furthermore, if a shirt is larger than the wearer’s body, the chest guard will sag. In addition, the baseball protection shirt will offer little to no compression— reducing comfort and muscle support. Moreover, an oversized chest guard shirt will become a nuisance as it moves around without ample compression.
Similarly, a smaller-sized baseball chest protection shirt will also provide problems. Youth baseball chest protection shirts that are too tight can cause too much compression and reduce an athlete’s overall mobility. Moreover, the extra compression would restrict breathing, which is essential during games when conserving stamina.
Budget
What is a good baseball chest protection shirt if it breaks the bank, right? When considering what protective shirt to buy, it is essential to consider how much you spend on it. Usually, the big brands that offer excellent protection and quality typically offer their products around 50 dollars. Maybe the price is too much for a baseball chest protection shirt, but considering the amount of security and safety it provides, we deem it as a worthy purchase.
However, we have listed prices from $16 up to $51 to ensure you the best protection in any price range.
Best Youth Baseball Chest Protection Shirts on Amazon
Rawlings Youth Protective Compression Shirt
When looking for youth baseball chest protection shirts, the name Rawlings will indeed appear. Rawlings is one of the top manufacturers of baseball protective baseball gears. With its long line of experience and innovation, the Rawlings Youth Protective Compression shirt is a sure bang for the buck purchase for your protection needs.
Specifications:
- Features a heart guard protector
- Doubles as a compression shirt
- Body material features 885 percent polyester Pro Dri/15 percent spandex.
- Machine washable material
Product Description:
You can never go wrong with Rawlings’ over a century-old tradition of producing high-quality protective apparel for any player level. Since 1887, Rawlings has spent all of their time innovating equipment in the field of baseball; therefore, the Rawlings Youth Protective Compression shirt will never fall short of their long-held tradition.
Gear up for the most challenging baseball game with the Rawlings Youth Protective Compression Shirt! The Rawlings Protective Compression shirt features a heart guard protector that doubles as a compression shirt for an improved and comfortable playtime. In addition, the material of the Rawlings Protective Compression Shirt consists of 885 percent polyester Pro Dri/15 percent spandex for lightweight but durable performance.
Available in different sizes, small, medium, and large, the Rawlings Protective Compression Shirt will surely fit most youth athletes. To top all that, the Rawlings Protective Shirt is easy to clean with a simple machine wash for worry-free maintenance.
You might also want to look at the Rawlings 5150 Baseball Bat: A Budget Ultra-lightweight Contender.
Our Verdict:
The Rawlings Youth Protective Compression Shirt is a branded and budget solution for youth protective equipment. Made with high quality, lightweight, and durable material, the Rawlings Youth Protective Compression is a hard-to-beat competitor in this price range.
Pros and Cons
- Made with Rawling’s century-old experience.
- 2-in-1 compression shirt and heart protection
- Machine washable
- Lacks certain features for its price.
- It only features three different youth sizes.
Exxact Sports Youth Baseball Chest Shield
The Exxact Sports Youth Baseball Chest Shield is currently the #1 Best Seller in Baseball & Softball Catcher Chest Protectors on Amazon. Garnering a total of 4.6 out of 5 stars, this chest protective equipment is genuinely a product to be reckoned with. With this in hand, let’s see why the Exxact Sports Youth Baseball is an excellent addition to your protective gear.
Specifications:
- 4-way stretch microfiber mesh
- Polyester-Spandex materials
- 3D chest guard design.
- Versatile design
- Machine washable
Product Details:
The Exxact Sports Youth Baseball Chest Shield features countless specifications that are unbelievably within this price range. The Exxact Sports Baseball Chest Shield stretchable 4-way microfiber mesh paired with its polyester-spandex construction ensures that this product provides the best comfort and ventilation it can offer. To elaborate, the 4-way microfiber mesh of the shirt enables the body to receive ample ventilation, cooling down the wearer’s body in the process. In addition, the polyester-spandex construction allows a full range of motion and moves with the body while maintaining pressure on crucial muscle groups.
Furthermore, the Exxact Sports Youth Baseball Chest Shield incorporates a 3D chest guard design that cushions impact and trauma. Moreover, the 3D padding provides its user with protection while being unnoticeable under clothing.
The Exxact Sports Baseball Chest Shield comes in x-small, small, medium, large, and x-large sizes for all youth body types. Also, the cloth and shield that this protective shirt is machine washable for convenience.
Our Verdict:
Even though Exxact Sports is not the best in baseball apparel, this product is an excellent purchase. Including countless features within an affordable price range, we recommend the Exxact Sports Baseball Chest Shield for players who require protection for a portion of the price top brands offer.
Pros and Cons:
- Offers a lot of features considering its price range.
- Machine Washable.
- #1 Best Seller in Amazon.
- Comparatively better than the Rawlings Youth Protective Shirt.
- Offers a wide-range of youth sizes.
- The grooves on the padding might be prominent when under clothing.
Markwort Heart-Gard Chest Protection
Featuring as the cheapest offering on this list is the Markwort Heart-Gard Chest Protection. Do not be fooled by its low price because the Markwort Heart-Gard is an excellent choice for youth players who are not comfortable with the feel of a compression shirt. In addition, the Markwort Heart-Gard is a one size fits all product that grows with young players as they progress through their baseball career.
Specifications:
- It features a dome-shaped polyethene heart protector.
- Shock-absorbant
- Features strap for a snug fit.
Product Review:
The Markwort Heart-Gard is a budget offering athletes looking for superb protection on a budget. The high-density dome-shaped polyethene heart guard can absorb impacts— directing it away from the heart. In addition, the Markwort Heart-Gard is a compact product only measuring 6″ x 6″ while providing essential protection at the sternum.
Furthermore, the polyethene construction of the Markwort Heart-Gard enables it to weigh an ultra-lightweight 3oz when attached to its straps— giving its user a breathable room for any movement. Paired with its adjustable elastic straps, the Markwort Heart-Gard will stay in place and protect young players throughout their game and for years to come.
Our Verdict:
The Markwort Heart-Gard is indeed a budget baseball chest offering for a price of $16. The Markwort Heart-Gard is perfect for players looking for a long-term chest guard that is easy to use and maintain. In addition, we recommend the Markwort Heart-Gard for young athletes that prefer breathable clothing over a compression shirt.
Pros and Cons:
- Features an ultra-lightweight dome-shaped heart guard.
- Elastic straps put the product into place.
- Ready to use and easy to maintain.
- Absorbs impact away from the heart.
- It does not benefit from the benefits of using a compression shirt.
- Requires an undershirt when in use to avoid friction burn from the elastic straps.
TUOY Youth Padded Shirt Chest Rib Protector
When looking for youth baseball chest protector shirts, we tend to look for a product with additional features. Therefore, we introduce to you the TUOY Youth Padded Shirt that features a sternum guard, back guard, and two rib guards for unparalleled protection. Made with excellent materials and features a great design, the TUOY Youth Padded Shirt is a versatile protective gear fit for intense baseball plays.
Specifications:
- Made with 90% polyester and 10% spandex.
- The paddings are 10mm thick.
- Integrates the cushions with breathable fabric.
- Features a flexible fabric.
- Moisture-wicking technology.
Product Review:
The TUOY Youth Padded Shirt provides additional protection for the most demanding players. The TUOY Youth Padded Shirt features a 90% polyester and 10% spandex construction that protects its user’s sternum, lower back, and ribs. Moreover, the compression of the shirt does not affect the overall comfort of all the padding surrounding the product. In addition, the flexible and breathable fabric of the compression shirt incorporates the paddings, enabling maximum flexibility, comfort, and movement.
Furthermore, the fabric TUOY used in this protective gear features a moisture-wicking technology that ensures a cool and dry experience. Play with increased protection and performance with the TUOY Youth Padded Shirt today!
Our Verdict:
The TUOY Youth Padded Shirt is an overall great protective gear. The added protective paddings on the ribs and lower back lessen the impact on the player when accidentally hit with a baseball. Even with all these added paddings, the TUOY Youth Padded Shirt remains lightweight and comfortable to wear, providing its user with enhanced performance in the field.
Pros and Cons:
- Lightweight construction.
- Features additional ribs and lower back padding.
- Great product for its price.
- Provides a cool and dry experience.
- Thick 10mm paddings for an improved protection.
- Does not offer an x-small youth-sized variant.
- Not machine washable.
EvoShield Chest Guard Sleeveless Shirt
EvoShield is an American brand from the Wilson Family of Brands that supplies the world with high-quality and highly durable baseball equipment. Since 2006, EvoShield has specialized in making excellent protective gear, especially heart protectors for baseball. EvoShield is greatly known for its patented Gel-to-Shell technology that enables a soft moldable gel to convert to a durable protective shell.
Specification:
- Features a ¼” gel-to-shell protective paddings.
- Greater absorption compared to traditional materials.
- Features the SwagTech moisture-wicking technology.
- Machine washable fabric.
- Removable protective paddings for hand washing.
Product Review:
When it comes to youth baseball chest protective gear, the bar set by the EvoShield gel-to-shell guard technology is hard to beat. The EvoShield gel-to-shell and fabric can be custom moulded to fit its user’s preference— providing the best balance between comfort and protection. In addition, the lightweight padding that the EvoShield Chest Guard provides has a greater absorption rate than foam and plastic-made shells.
To ensure an incredible and sweat-free experience, the EvoShield Chest Guard features the SwagTech moisture-wicking technology that keeps the player dry even under extreme conditions. The fabric that the EvoShield incorporates within their product is machine washable to make the product more convenient.
Our Verdict:
The EvoShield Chest Guard Sleeveless Shirt is one of the most expensive products on our list. However, the price range that the EvoShield Chest Guard offers is reasonable considering the technologies incorporated within the product. If you are looking for modern and up-to-date technology within a protective shirt, then the EvoShield Chest Guard is perfect for you.
Pros and Cons
- Doubles as a compression shirt.
- Features the Patented EvoShield Gel-to-Shell technology.
- Flexible and breathable fabric.
- Features the SwagTech moisture-wicking technology.
- Machine washable.
- The Gel-to-Shell protective padding requires hand washing.
- Comparatively expensive than other offerings on this list.
ProBay Chest Protector Shirt for Kids
If you are looking for a sternum protector that will fit children, look no further because the ProBay Chest Protector has got you. The technology and features included in this product are safe for kids to use. In addition, ProBay has studied different dimension of children’s body to make this ultimate chest protector shirt for kids.
Specification:
- Features the shock-absorbing QUADImpact protective padding.
- Moisture-wicking fabric.
- Features a blend of 82% polyethene and 18% spandex.
- SilkFeel Thread for a more comfortable movement.
- Available in various sizes from small to xx-large.
- Available in pink, blue, and white colorway.
Product Review:
ProBay knows that children’s bodies are fragile and require intricate attention, especially when making them protective gears. Therefore, ProBay has conducted a study on thousands of different kids, moulding their design on their findings. This method ensures that the ProBay Chest Protector Shirt provides the optimum support and protection a child requires.
The ProBay Chest Protector Shirt ensures that children get ample protection with the thick QUADImpact Composition padding, redirecting force away from the sternum. In addition, the fabric that ProBay incorporates in the shirt consists of 82% polyethene and 18% spandex, ensuring an outstanding balance between compression and comfort. To ensure optimum performance, the ProBay Chest Protector Shirt features a moisture-wicking technology that enables children to cool down even when in the heat of a game.
The ProBay will surely fit every child with its various sizes from small to xx-large and different colourways.
Our Verdict:
With all the included technology and features within the ProBay Chest Protector Shirt, we recommend the product to young players under 12. Ensuring utmost comfort and protection children’s body requires, the ProBay Chest Protector Shirt will not disappoint.
Pros and Cons:
- Includes a lot of features considering its price range.
- Features a moisture-wicking fabric for a cool and dry experience.
- Specifically made for kids.
- Scientifically proven design.
- Return or Replace guarantee.
- Does not feature an x-small size.
G-Form Baseball Pro Sternum Shirt
G-Form is one of the leading brands when it comes to youth baseball chest protector shirts. It is safe to say that their G-Form Baseball Pro Sternum Shirt is the current face of baseball chest protective shirts. Made with a modern and eye-catching design, let’s look at why the G-Form Baseball Pro Sternum Shirt is an excellent choice for you.
Specifications:
- Features the SmartFlex pads.
- Low profile design.
- 82% Nylon and 18% Spandex construction.
- Incorporates flexible and breathable fabric.
- Made in USA.
Product Review:
The G-Form Baseball Pro Sternum Shirt features both the newest and innovative protective technology available in today’s market.
Incorporating its streamlined and impact-absorbing SmartFlex pads, the low profile design of the G-Form Baseball Pro Sternum Shirt provides outstanding comfort and protection against rogue balls and fastballs. The SmartFlex pads protect its user’s sternum, redirecting the force efficiently away from the body. In addition, the flexible fabric offers a breathable design that follows the movement of its player while ensuring that the pad stays aligned on the sternum.
The G-Form Baseball Pro Sternum Shirt is machine washable every use, providing convenient and hassle-free maintenance. The G-Form Baseball Pro Sternum Shirt delivers the highest quality assurance with all-American construction and technologies jampacked into one product.
Our Verdict:
The G-Form Baseball Pro Sternum Shirt is what innovation and technological advancement combined looks like. Offering great features such as body-mapped SmartFlex pads that never leaves the sternum gives players peace of mind when playing, even in the most challenging games. If you want recent technology and innovation in your chest protector shirt but you’re on a tight budget, then the G-Form Baseball Pro Sternum Shirt is perfect for you.
Pros and Cons:
- The flexible shirt follows the body of its user for a more comfortable experience.
- SmartFlex pads offer excellent impact absorption.
- Machine Washable
- SmartFlex pads stay in line with the user’s sternum.
- Great value for its price.
- Comparatively underperforms than the EvoShield Chest Guard.
- Limited sizes compared to other offerings on this list.
Frequently Asked Questions about Baseball Chest Protector Shirts
Q: Do baseball chest protectors work?
A: Yes, baseball chest protectors work when it comes to deflecting the impact of trauma-inducing fastballs and rogue balls. Even though there are no sufficient evidence of it preventing commotio cordis, a little more protection may go a long way.
Q: What is a heart guard for baseball?
A: A heart guard is a piece of protective equipment located on the sternum of a player. This guard is an extra measure of protection against fastballs, rogue balls, and bad pitches.
Q: Do MLB players wear heart guards?
A: In MLB, heart guards are not required. However, some professional athletes opt for wearing one in anticipation of a ball hitting their chest. As stated, a little extra protection may come a long way.
Q: Can your heart stop if you get hit in the chest?
A: When you get hit by a baseball in the chest, commotio cordis may occur. This condition makes the heart beat in an irregular rhythm, causing cardiac arrest.
Q: What is the treatment for commotio cordis?
A: The excellent treatments for commotio cordis are CPR and defibrillators. A heart guard should only come as an option when it comes to preventive measures against commotio cordis.
