What is the fit of 181Keepers? An explanation of the knee and elbow pad fit.
When looking at 181Keepers knee and elbow pads,
some people might wonder,
"How do I choose the right size?"
Basically, 181 pads come in a "one-size-fits-all" format.
They aren't divided into multiple sizes like S, M, or L.
Because of this,
"I have thick legs, will they fit?"
"On the flip side, I'm thin, will they slip down?"
"I have large arms, can I use the elbow pads?"
These are definitely common concerns.
To start off, 181 pads are extremely stretchy, so they are used by athletes of a wide range of builds.
However, the fit feels a bit different between the 181Keepers ORIGINAL and the 181Keepers GRIP.
If you are larger, go for the ORIGINAL.
If you are thinner, go for the GRIP.
...It's not quite that simple, but there are guidelines to help you choose.
In this article, we'll share the measurements taken by Futsal.shop, along with our perspective from daily use.
*This article is presented by Futsal.shop, which carries 181Keepers knee and elbow pads, based on the actual products.
181Keepers knee and elbow pads are basically one-size-fits-all
181Keepers pads are basically one-size-fits-all.
While this is convenient since you don't need to choose between detailed sizes,
you might still worry,
"Will they really fit me?"
Especially when you just look at the product, it doesn't look that big.
But the elastic part of the 181 stretches quite a bit.
When you actually stretch it with your hands, it is much more elastic than it looks.
The ORIGINAL, in particular, stretches quite a lot.
For this reason, they are easy to use even for athletes with sturdy legs or arms.
Many futsal goalkeepers have large thighs and calves.
Even such players use 181 products.
Therefore,
"I have a large build, so 181 probably won't work for me"
there is no need to count them out from the start.
The fit is slightly different between ORIGINAL and GRIP
Both the 181 knee pads and elbow pads come in two models: ORIGINAL and GRIP.
They look very similar, but the feel is slightly different when you actually wear them.
Simply put,
The ORIGINAL stretches more.
The GRIP has a slightly tighter fit.
That is the main difference.
The ORIGINAL has excellent elasticity.
It is easy to pull on over your legs or arms, and it provides a relatively loose, comfortable fit.
On the other hand, the GRIP feels a bit more secure and snug compared to the ORIGINAL.
Furthermore, the GRIP has a silicone grip on the upper inside.
Because of this, the pad is less likely to slip during movement.
Therefore,
If you have thinner legs or arms,
If you are worried about the pad slipping,
Or if you want as snug a fit as possible,
the GRIP is likely easier for you to use.
Is the ORIGINAL recommended for people with a larger build?
For people with larger builds, we tend to recommend the ORIGINAL first.
The reason is simple: it is just very easy to stretch.
Even if your legs or arms are thick, it is less likely to feel constrictive and is easier to put on.
However,
"People with large builds cannot use the GRIP"
is not the case.
Even if you have a larger build, you can certainly use the GRIP.
Even if the fit is a little stronger, if you want to prioritize the pad not slipping during a match, choosing the GRIP is perfectly fine.
So rather than thinking,
Large build
= Must use ORIGINAL
it's better to think of it as:
Large build and prefer a slightly more relaxed fit
= ORIGINAL is an easy choice
Is the GRIP better for thinner people?
Conversely, if your arms or legs are thinner, the GRIP is a very easy choice.
It has a slightly stronger fit, and since it has a silicone grip on the top, it is easier to prevent slippage.
During a match, a goalkeeper:
Gets into position.
Crouches.
Drops to their knees.
Stands.
Runs.
Gets back into position.
They repeat this over and over.
Even if it feels only slightly loose, some people find it annoying when the pad slides down while they are moving.
For those who are bothered by such slippage, the GRIP is recommended.
However,
"Thinner people cannot use the ORIGINAL"
is also not the case.
If you don't like tight fits, or if you want to use them in a softer, more comfortable way, the ORIGINAL is perfectly fine.
Ultimately, it's not just about your build;
how much of a fit you want
is also very important.
Summary of the fit for ORIGINAL and GRIP
| ORIGINAL | GRIP | |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Slightly loose | Slightly tight |
| Stretchability | ◎ | ○ |
| Ease of movement | ◎ | ○ |
| Resistance to slipping | ○ | ◎ |
| Larger build | Easy to fit | Usable |
| Thinner build | Usable | Easy to fit |
If you only look at the sizing, this is the general image.
If you want to know more about the detailed structure and usage experience of the ORIGINAL and GRIP, check out this article.
Click here to learn more about the differences between 181 ORIGINAL and GRIP
Knee pads and elbow pads are not the same size
One other thing you should know is that
the 181 knee pads and elbow pads are different sizes.
It is natural, but the knee version is larger.
I think it is quite easy to tell when you put them side by side.
(From left: GRIP knee, ORIGINAL knee, GRIP elbow, ORIGINAL elbow)
The elbow version is made narrower to fit the arm.
The knee version is made to fit the leg, and the opening is larger overall.
There is also a way to use this size difference to your advantage based on your build.
We actually measured the 181 sizes
To make the sizing a bit easier to understand, we measured the actual products at Futsal.shop.
This time, we measured:
"Normal": When it is not pulled at all.
"Maximum": When the elastic is stretched by hand.
We measured these two states.
| Model | Part | Top Normal | Top Maximum | Bottom Normal | Bottom Maximum |
| ORIGINAL | Knee Pad | 30cm | 57cm | 25cm | 49cm |
| ORIGINAL | Elbow Pad | 23cm | 41cm | 22cm | 37cm |
| GRIP | Knee Pad | 31cm | 50cm | 24.6cm | 48cm |
| GRIP | Elbow Pad | 23cm | 32cm | 22cm | 29cm |
Looking at these figures, you can see how much the ORIGINAL stretches.
For example, the ORIGINAL knee pad.
The top is about 30cm normally, but it stretches to about 57cm when you pull it by hand.
The elbow pad also stretches from about 23cm normally to a maximum of about 41cm.
On the other hand, the GRIP has a slightly smaller width when stretched to the maximum compared to the ORIGINAL.
The elbow pad is particularly noticeable.
Normally:
ORIGINAL is 23cm.
GRIP is also 23cm.
They are almost identical.
But when you stretch them to the maximum:
ORIGINAL is about 41cm.
GRIP is about 32cm.
There is quite a difference.
The difference in how they stretch is also related to why the GRIP feels tighter when you actually wear it.
However, please be a little careful with this maximum value.
This is a value measured by stretching the elastic by hand.
For example, just because the top is 57cm,
that does not mean,
"It can be used comfortably for a leg circumference of up to 57cm."
How one feels constriction varies greatly by person.
Basically,
please use this as a guideline to compare how much the ORIGINAL and GRIP stretch.
Actually, the person behind Futsal.shop uses knee pads on their elbows
This is an actual usage example.
The person behind Futsal.shop has larger arms.
When they use a normal 181 elbow pad, it feels quite tight.
So,
they use the knee pads on their elbows.
Of course, they are originally for knees.
However, when you actually put them on, there is more room around the arm, and in my case, this size feels easier to use.
Since 181 is one-size-fits-all,
you don't have to overthink it and believe,
"Knee pads can absolutely only be used on knees."
Conversely, for someone with very thin legs, there are cases where wearing the elbow pads on the knees might provide a better fit.
I don't recommend this usage for everyone.
If standard knee pads fit on your knees and elbow pads fit on your elbows, that is the most straightforward way.
However,
"Normal elbow pads are a bit too tight"
"Knee pads are a bit too big"
in such cases, this is an option for how to choose.
In the end, which one should you choose?
To summarize quite simply…
If you have an average build
Knee pads for knees.
Elbow pads for elbows.
Start by using this standard method.
If your legs or arms are on the thicker side
We recommend the ORIGINAL, which is easy to stretch and relatively easy to wear with some room.
If your legs or arms are on the thinner side
We recommend the GRIP, which is easier to fit and less likely to slip.
If your arms are quite thick
If the normal elbow pads feel cramped, there is also the option of using knee pads on your elbows.
If your legs are quite thin
If the normal knee pads feel loose, there is also the option of using elbow pads on your knees.
That’s the gist of it.
However, this is not set in stone.
Finally,
Do you prioritize stretchability?
Do you prioritize resistance to slipping?
Do you prefer a tighter fit?
Do you prefer a slightly more relaxed fit?
I think it is best to choose based on this.
Don't write off 181 just because it's "one-size-fits-all"
181 does not have size ranges like S, M, or L.
Looking at just that,
you might wonder,
"Does it really fit various builds?"
But when you actually measure it, the ORIGINAL stretches quite a bit.
The GRIP is a bit tighter than the ORIGINAL, but it is easier to get a good fit and it is less likely to slip.
There is also a difference in size between the knee and elbow versions.
Therefore, you can change how you choose based on your build and preferred fit.
It's too big so it won't work.
It's too thin so it will slip.
Don't worry about counting 181 out of your options from the start.
Personally,
If you are unsure, if you want a slightly more relaxed fit, go with the ORIGINAL.
If you want a solid fit, go with the GRIP.
I think starting from there is the easiest way to choose.