The 9 Best Youth Shoulder Pads

The Xenith Flyte 2 (around $119) is a light, low-profile youth pad made for every position. It comes in four sizes measured across the shoulders, from extra small (11 to 12 inches) to large (14 to 15 inches), and Xenith's chart pairs those with players from about 35 to 105 pounds. Parents choose stretch belts (SF) or traditional buckles (TD). The arches are injection-molded, the sternum plate is slim, and the shoulder caps come off. The listing gives a weight of about 2.4 pounds without naming the size. It carries a two-year warranty, long for this category. Xenith paused operations in early 2025 and Riddell bought its assets, so it's unclear who handles warranty claims now. The size run also stops at a 15-inch shoulder.

The Champro Scorpion (around $62) is a low-cost cantilever pad, meaning its arches bridge over the shoulder to spread the force of a hit, and it has one of the biggest owner bases among youth pads. The arches are high-impact polyethylene. One-inch elastic straps slide to tighten, and a release system lets a player unhook the pads without help, which saves time before and after practice. Pre-drilled holes accept a back plate or neck collar, sold separately. Champro makes seven sizes for players up to 180 pounds, and the listing gives about 2 pounds for one size. No warranty is stated, and the price shifts with the size and color you pick.

The Schutt XV Flux Youth (about $89) brings the cushioning from Schutt's varsity XV Flux pads down to youth and middle school sizes. It uses an all-purpose arch, so it suits linemen and ball carriers alike, and the two arch halves move independently to free up arm swing. Swivel belts and buckles make the fit simpler to adjust, and Schutt backs it with a one-year warranty. Retailers present it as the successor to Schutt's Y-Flex youth line. Because it's new, the owner track record is short. We also couldn't find a published weight or a size chart for this model, so check Schutt's chart or ask a team dealer before ordering.

The Schutt Y-Flex (appx. $59) starts smaller than most youth pads. Schutt's chart, as printed by retailers, begins at 2XS for a 10- to 11-inch shoulder and runs to XL at 15 to 16 inches, so it covers the smallest first-year tackle players as well as bigger preteens. It weighs 3 pounds. A slimmer arch leaves room for arm movement, and a wide neck opening lets a lineman get low in a stance and a quarterback turn to call plays. A T-hook strap holds it snug, and Schutt gives it a one-year warranty. The listing calls it a prior model, which helps explain the low price, and sizes may thin out as Schutt moves to newer pads.

The Battle Sports Phantom (around $129) is built for kids in their first seasons of tackle football. Its most visible feature is a wide foam neck roll built into the collar, a piece many pads sell separately. A raised, molded chest plate sits over a sternum protector that can't be removed, and Battle describes its cushioning as a leaf-spring design meant to absorb hits from any direction. The belts have a slot for tucking loose strap ends, a small help for parents and coaches fitting a whole team. Battle's chart lists four sizes, extra small to large, for roughly ages 5 to 12, and it suggests sizing down for a snug fit. The warranty lasts only 90 days.

The Riddell Surge (around $129) comes with a back plate built in, so the lower back gets coverage without a separate purchase. The pad sits flat and low on the shoulders, which Riddell says keeps it out of the way when the helmet turns. PVC belts adjust the fit, the collar is lined with soft velvet, and the pad bodies can be removed and repositioned. Riddell has made football gear since the 1920s. On the downside, the listing gives no weight or youth size chart, so confirm the size with Riddell's chart or a team dealer. The warranty is described only as limited.

The VICIS ARC_V1 Youth (appx. $149) is the youth shoulder pad from VICIS, a brand better known for its helmets and now owned by the same company as Schutt. It weighs 3.25 pounds, uses rigid HDPE plastic for the arches, and has its sternum plate molded in rather than strapped on. A back plate comes in the box. The all-purpose arch and a wider neck opening suit any position, and VICIS gives it a one-year warranty. It costs more than most youth pads, few families have owned it long enough to report on durability, and only a couple were in stock when we checked.

The Riddell Pursuit (appx. $93) is a plain, flat youth pad that sits low across the shoulders so it doesn't push into the helmet when a player turns. The shoulder caps are built in rather than bolted on, so there's nothing to lose or reattach. Its belts fasten with strong nylon clips, which Riddell says make the pad quicker to put on and secure than threaded buckles. A European retailer lists sizes from XS to 3XL. It's an older design sold as a factory part, with no stated weight or warranty, and only one unit was listed when we checked, so it may take some hunting.

The Douglas JP24 (about $129) is the junior version of a pad from Douglas, a maker best known for its high school and college pads. Douglas' junior chart runs from small, for a 12- to 13-inch shoulder and a 26- to 28-inch chest, to 2XL at 16 to 17 inches and 34 to 36 inches, so it suits bigger middle schoolers who outgrow many youth pads. It's an all-purpose hard-shell design for any position. Douglas says its cushion foam pushes trapped air outward on impact to spread the force. At 3.5 pounds it's on the heavy side for youth, the listing says little else, and few owners have reviewed it.