Buzz
Over the past eight years, I’ve noticed a persistent lack of hair growth on my shins.
The reason behind this, as you might have figured out, is my consistent deadlifting routine. Deadlifts are my favorite exercise—there’s something deeply satisfying about lifting and lowering heavy weights. However, as the old adage goes, the things we love most often come with a cost, and deadlifting is no different.
As we’ve previously discussed, deadlifts are most effective when the barbell stays close to your body. This can sometimes result in scraping your shins, and in my experience, it has also led to the gradual loss of leg hair over the years.
Knee socks are fantastic, just ask our Vitals editor, Beth. However, even with them, I sometimes end up with cuts on my shins that socks can’t always protect against. To make matters worse, my gym only uses hex plates—yes, I know I should switch gyms, but it’s so affordable and conveniently located. This means that during deadlifts, the bar can roll slightly toward me mid-rep, hitting my shins. That’s why I recently decided to try shinguards, the kind typically used in soccer but specifically designed for lifting.
Let me rave about these for a moment—they’re absolutely perfect for deadlifts. When I tested them last month, I could slide the barbell up my legs without any discomfort or hair being pulled. The padding is soft yet effective, and I still get the sensation of the bar grazing my shins, which is crucial for maintaining form.
The shinguards I use are much slimmer than standard soccer shinguards, as they’re tailored for deadlifts. Mine feature about 5 millimeters of neoprene cushioning at the front and a lightweight nylon sleeve at the back. The front is thicker than a sock but doesn’t interfere with keeping the barbell close to your body. They reach up to the knee, wrap around the ankle, and include a strap at the foot to keep them from sliding up. They feel like a compression sleeve—some brands even advertise them as such—and I often forget I’m wearing them during workouts, except for the fact that they trap heat, warming up my legs quickly.
They’re pricier than regular socks, depending on the brand and style, which initially made me hesitant to invest in them. (Who spends $27 on SOCKS?) But they’re worth every penny, as they allow me to maintain proper form without sacrificing the health of my shins.
Of course, you’ll need to wash them as frequently as any other workout gear since they absorb a lot of sweat—but that’s a small price to pay compared to dealing with bald patches on your legs.
