Chest Protector Size Chart | Measure Right, Fit Snug

Buying a chest protector without measuring is a gamble. A catcher’s protector measures from the neck to the navel, while a goalie’s unit may depend on height and arm span. This is the chest protector size chart question answered plainly: the sizing method changes with the sport, so the reliable approach is to find the measurement your brand asks for, take it, and compare it to the manufacturer’s chart.

How To Measure For A Chest Protector: The Core Method

Most brands size protectors by the area the gear is meant to cover. The most common landmarks are the chest circumference, the distance from the bottom of the neck to the navel, or the sternum-to-waist length.

For chest circumference, EvoShield’s official guidance says to “place tape measure under your arms at the fullest part of your chest while in a neutral breathing position,” then wrap it until your fingers meet. This is the go-to method for motocross and impact gear, where the tape should stay parallel to the ground. For baseball and umpire protectors, you’ll more often measure length: Rawlings instructs users to “measure from top of breast plate to waist,” while EvoShield uses “bottom of your neck to the middle of your navel.”

Sizing By Sport: Baseball, Umpire, Goalie, And Moto

Each sport anchors sizing to different body points, so one set of measurements won’t transfer across equipment.

• Baseball and fastpitch: Length-based, from the sternum or neck down to the waist or navel. All-Star’s fastpitch line even pairs sizes with height, like a 14.5″ medium fitting 5’3″–5’8″ players.
• Umpire and referee: Length from the neck down to where you want the bottom edge, usually near the belly button. Wilson’s Pro Gold™ 2 system ties size to height: 11″ for 5’8″ and under, 12″ for 5’8″–6’0″, and 13″ for 6’0″ and above.
• Goalie and ice hockey: Height and arm span dominate. Bauer’s guide says to measure the “circumference around the widest part of the chest,” while other guides rely on wrist-to-wrist arm span matched to brand charts.
• Motorcycle and motocross: Chest circumference measured about 1 inch below the armpits across the breastbone, with the tape parallel to the ground for accuracy.

When a measurement falls between two sizes, the official play is to size down. EvoShield states that “if between sizes, select the smaller size for a snug fit.” A loose protector slides and leaves the collar bone and ribs exposed.

Reading The Brand’s Chart: What The Numbers Mean

Charts differ not just by sport but by model line, so always match your measurement to the specific product’s table. Here’s a snapshot of how major brands lay it out:

Note that a chart might express size as the protector’s length (like 15.5″) or as a body measurement (like 36″–40″ chest). Knowing which one you’re looking at is half the battle. For a closer look at the top models available for young players, check our recommended youth chest protectors.

Common Fit Mistakes To Skip

Choosing by your T-shirt size is a rough shortcut, not a reliable method, since chest protector coverage varies wildly by brand. The other frequent miss is ignoring the brand’s sizing-down rule when you’re between numbers — a snug fit is what keeps the unit in place during play. Also remember that goalie gear can require both height and arm-span checks, so two players of the same height may still land on different sizes.