Walk into our Edison store on a Saturday morning and ask about keeping pads, and the first thing we'll do is look at what's already in your kit bag. More often than not, a new keeper is planning to squat through forty overs in the same pads they bat in — and that's the most common gear mistake we see behind the stumps. Wicket keeping pads are a different piece of equipment with a different job, and the good news is they're among the cheaper items in a cricket kit: every keeping pad we currently stock sits between $34.99 and $79.99. This guide covers every model on our shelves right now — SS, Moonwalkr, Gray-Nicolls, SG and Raydn — with live prices, the sizes actually in stock, and honest recommendations for adult and junior keepers in the US.
Keeping Pads vs Batting Pads: Why You Need the Right Tool
Batting pads are built around one scenario: a hard ball striking your front leg at pace. Everything about them — the length, the deep knee rolls, the heavy bolstering above the knee — exists to absorb that impact while you stand more or less upright. Wicket keeping pads are built around a completely different day's work: hundreds of squats per innings, lateral pushes to leg side takes, sprints to the stumps for run outs. So they're cut shorter and slimmer, with less bulk above the knee, lighter construction throughout, and straps positioned so nothing digs in when your knees are fully bent.
Put a keeper in full batting pads and two things happen. First, they rise slower out of the crouch, which is exactly the moment keeping is won or lost — a thick edge arrives in a fraction of a second. Second, the long thigh section of a batting pad jams into the hip crease at full squat, which is why keepers in borrowed batting pads spend half the innings tugging their pads back into position. Purpose-built keeping pads fix both problems for less money than most batting pads cost.
What Actually Matters When Choosing Keeping Pads
Cut and length
A keeping pad should end noticeably lower on the thigh than a batting pad, so the top edge clears your hip crease at full squat. The fit test we use in the store: put the pads on, drop into your lowest keeping crouch — as low as you'd go for a delivery that keeps low on leg stump — and hold it. The top edge shouldn't dig in, and the knee roll should stay centered over your kneecap through the whole range of motion. If either fails, try the next size down or a slimmer model.
Front material
Almost everything in this category uses a synthetic facing, and the differences are real. The SS Player Series pads use a Korean PU front; Gray-Nicolls builds the 4 Enforcer from high-grade PU; SG's budget Club junior pads use a tougher, simpler PVC facing; the Gray-Nicolls 1 Superlite goes with an uncovered moulded EVA front to cut weight; and Moonwalkr takes a different route entirely, with a hard composite shell over the shin. PU faces look and flex better; PVC costs less and shrugs off abrasive artificial pitches; a moulded shell spreads impact across the whole pad.
Shin protection
Inside the pad, protection comes from bolsters — the vertical sections running down the shin. The construction details are worth reading before you buy. The Gray-Nicolls 4 Enforcer combines flat 25mm high-density foam bolsters with cane rods and EVA, which is a genuinely traditional cane build in a modern shell. The SS Player Series uses a three-piece shin bolster with mesh trim. SG's pads put a high-density foam insert in the top hat (the section covering the knee) with a broad foam centre strip down the shin. None of these approaches is wrong — cane-and-foam hybrids feel more solid against a hard ball, full-foam builds are lighter and dry faster.
Straps and instep
Keeping pads live and die by their straps, because you're flexing them constantly. The SS Player Series runs broad lower straps that spread pressure across the calf; Gray-Nicolls fits traditional 2.5-inch straps on the 4 Enforcer; Moonwalkr did away with buckles entirely on the 2.0 — the frontal straps have no buckles at all, so there's no hardware pressing into the back of your leg in the crouch. Check the instep too: laminated air mesh (SS) and mesh with hard-wearing piping (SG) both survive seasons of being stood on; cheap uncovered foam insteps do not.
Adult Wicket Keeping Pads In Stock Right Now
SS Player Series Adult — $59.99
The pad most club keepers walk out of our Edison store with, and the one we have deepest stock of — both Navy and Black are on the shelf right now. The Korean PU front wears well, the quilted side wings wrap the leg rather than sitting flat against it, and the three-piece shin bolster with mesh trim keeps the pad flexing at the right points in the crouch. Broad lower straps and a laminated air-mesh instep finish a build that's hard to fault at this price. If you keep every weekend and want one pair that lasts, start here. SS Player Series Adult Keeping Pads →
Moonwalkr Wicket Keeping Pads 2.0 Adult — $79.99
The most modern design we stock, and the current top of our keeping pad range. Instead of a stitched fabric-and-foam build, Moonwalkr uses a hard composite shell over the shin — the same approach as their well-known batting pads — with terry fabric on the inside for cushioning, sweat absorption and grip against the leg. The frontal straps have no buckles, which sounds like a small thing until you've spent a full T20 with a buckle pressed into your calf. Moonwalkr sizes the adult pad for a 45cm knee-to-ankle measurement, covering keepers roughly 5'4" to 6'6". Blue, White and Black are all in stock. These also double as close-in fielding guards at short leg. Moonwalkr 2.0 Adult Keeping Pads →
Gray-Nicolls 4 Enforcer Adult — $49.99
The traditionalist's pick, and the best value adult pad on our wall right now. The 4 Enforcer is built from high-grade PU with a high-arch cut, and inside it runs flat 25mm high-density foam bolsters combined with cane rods and EVA — a proper cane construction of the kind that's getting rare under $50. The top hat uses foam bolstering under lightweight nylon to keep knee protection up without the weight, the instep is Vapour Foam under a nylon cover, and the traditional 2.5-inch straps hold it all in place. White, ambidextrous, two pairs in stock. Gray-Nicolls 4 Enforcer Keeping Pads →
SS Professional Adult — $59.99
SS's lighter club pad: high-density foam construction, wide velcro straps and a simple, mobile fit that suits keepers who stand up to the stumps a lot. We're down to our last adult pair as this guide goes up, so if it's the one you want, don't sit on it — this line sells through between shipments. SS Professional Adult Keeping Pads →
Junior & Youth Wicket Keeping Pads In Stock Right Now
SS Player Series Junior/Youth — $54.99
The junior version of our best-selling adult pad, and the strongest junior stock position in the store: Junior and Youth sizes in both Navy and Black are all on the shelf. Construction mirrors the adult pad — Korean PU front, quilted side wings, three-piece shin bolster, broad lower straps — scaled down rather than cheapened, which matters because young keepers squat just as many times per innings as adults do. SS Player Series Junior/Youth Keeping Pads →
Moonwalkr Wicket Keeping Pads 2.0 Junior/Youth — $74.99
The same composite-shell build, buckle-free frontal straps and terry lining as the adult Moonwalkr 2.0, sized for a 42cm knee-to-ankle measurement — Moonwalkr's chart puts that at heights from about 4'5" to 5'3". For a serious young keeper playing travel or academy cricket, this is the premium option, and Blue, White and Black are all currently in stock. Moonwalkr 2.0 Junior/Youth Keeping Pads →
SG Hilite Junior/Youth — $49.99
SG's premium keeping pad build in a youth size: imported polyurethane facing, high-density foam insert in the top hat, a broad foam centre strip for extra shin coverage, and a mesh instep with hard-wearing piping. SG lists the youth size at 42–44cm, and we have two pairs in stock. If your junior keeper faces proper hard-ball bowling every weekend, the extra shin coverage over a basic PVC pad is worth the fifteen dollars. SG Hilite Junior/Youth Keeping Pads →
Gray-Nicolls 1 Superlite Junior/Youth — $44.99
Where the 4 Enforcer is Gray-Nicolls' traditional build, the 1 Superlite is the opposite philosophy: an ultra-lightweight moulded foam pad with an uncovered EVA front and a diffuser foam shin bolster, designed so small keepers can move as freely as possible. It's the lightest-feeling junior pad on our wall. One Youth pair in White is in stock; the Junior size is currently sold out. Gray-Nicolls 1 Superlite Keeping Pads →
SS Professional Junior/Youth — $54.99
The scaled-down SS Professional: high-density foam, wide velcro straps, light and simple. One Youth pair in stock at the moment (the Junior size is sold out). SS Professional Junior/Youth Keeping Pads →
Raydn Youth — $59.99
Raydn is a newer name in protective gear, and their youth keeping pad is a genuinely modern build: lightweight foam padding combined with gel inserts for shock absorption, a moisture-wicking liner, and velcro straps that adjust over a wide range — useful mid-growth-spurt. One White pair in stock. Raydn Youth Keeping Pads →
SG Club Junior/Youth — $34.99
The cheapest way to get a young keeper out of batting pads, and a perfectly sensible first pair for a beginner. PVC facing, high-density foam insert in the top hat, wrap-around fit, mesh instep. SG makes this pad down to genuinely small sizes — Junior (40–42cm), Small Junior (38–40cm) and Extra Small Junior (36–38cm) — and right now we have Small Junior and XS Junior in stock, which are exactly the sizes most brands don't bother making. For an eight-to-eleven-year-old trying keeping for the first season, start here. SG Club Junior/Youth Keeping Pads →
The Short-Format Alternative: Moulded Shin Guards
One more option worth knowing about. The SS Moulded Fielding Shin Guard ($29.99) is built for forward short leg fielders — an ultra-wrap-around lightweight moulded guard with easy-release straps — and SS themselves note it can be used as a keeping pad in T20 cricket. Plenty of keepers in Sunday tape-ball and short-format leagues around New Jersey do exactly that: maximum mobility, minimum bulk, worn under or over trousers. It is not a substitute for proper keeping pads against a hard ball at club pace, but for softball, tape-ball and casual T20 it's the cheapest functional setup there is, and we have three in stock. SS Moulded Fielding Shin Guard →
Every In-Stock Keeping Pad Compared
| Model | Level | Price | In stock now | Front material | Construction highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS Player Series Adult | Adult | $59.99 | Navy, Black | Korean PU | Quilted side wings, 3-piece shin bolster, broad lower straps |
| Moonwalkr 2.0 Adult | Adult | $79.99 | Blue, White, Black | Composite shell | Buckle-free frontal straps, terry lining, 45cm sizing |
| Gray-Nicolls 4 Enforcer | Adult | $49.99 | White | High-grade PU | 25mm HDF bolsters + cane rods + EVA, 2.5" straps |
| SS Professional Adult | Adult | $59.99 | Last pair | PU over HD foam | Lightweight build, wide velcro straps |
| SS Player Series Jr/Youth | Junior & Youth | $54.99 | Navy, Black — both sizes | Korean PU | Adult build scaled down |
| Moonwalkr 2.0 Jr/Youth | Youth | $74.99 | Blue, White, Black | Composite shell | 42cm sizing, buckle-free straps |
| SG Hilite Jr/Youth | Youth (42–44cm) | $49.99 | Youth | Imported PU | Broad foam centre strip, HD foam top hat |
| Gray-Nicolls 1 Superlite | Youth | $44.99 | Youth, White | Moulded EVA | Diffuser foam shin bolster, lightest junior option |
| SS Professional Jr/Youth | Youth | $54.99 | Youth — last pair | PU over HD foam | Lightweight club build |
| Raydn Youth | Youth | $59.99 | White — last pair | Synthetic | Foam + gel padding, moisture-wicking liner |
| SG Club Jr/Youth | Junior | $34.99 | Small Junior, XS Junior | PVC | HD foam top hat insert, smallest sizes available |
Browse the full ranges any time: Adult Wicket Keeping Leg Guards and Junior/Youth Wicket Keeping Leg Guards.
Wicket Keeping Pad Sizing: Measure Before You Buy
Keeping pad sizes are based on the length of your lower leg. Measure from the centre of the kneecap down to the top of the ankle, where your shoe's tongue sits. Then match against the manufacturer bands — these are the actual figures SG and Moonwalkr publish for the pads above:
- Adult: 44–46cm (SG) / 45cm (Moonwalkr, heights roughly 5'4"–6'6")
- Youth: 42–44cm (SG) / 42cm (Moonwalkr, heights roughly 4'5"–5'3")
- Junior: 40–42cm
- Small Junior: 38–40cm
- Extra Small Junior: 36–38cm
Two practical notes from the shop floor. First, when a young keeper measures on the boundary between two sizes, take the smaller one — a slightly short keeping pad still protects the shin and knee, while a slightly long one digs into the thigh at full squat and gets in the way every single over. Second, sizing runs differently from batting pads, so don't assume your batting pad size carries over; measure again.
Where Are the SG Adult Keeping Pads?
Regulars will notice SG's adult line — the Hilite, Nylite and Super Test — missing from the picks above. We stock all three, but every adult SG keeping pad is sold out at the time of writing, as are the New Balance DC 580 and the Gray-Nicolls 2 Smash youth pad. Rather than recommend something you can't buy, we've limited this guide to what's physically on the shelf. If you're set on an SG adult pad, check the adult keeping pads collection for current availability or call the Edison store — restocks land regularly during the season.
Completing the Keeper's Kit
Pads are one of four pieces a keeper needs. Keeping gloves are the big one — our wicket keeping gloves guide compares every in-stock pair from SG, SS, Gray-Nicolls, EM and Kookaburra. Under those go inner gloves, covered in our keeping inners guide. For standing up to the stumps, a proper keeping helmet matters: the Shrey Pro Guard — the only specialized wicket keeping helmet on the market, with a shortened peak for visibility and a cut-out back for the crouch — is in stock in Small at $99.99. And for the full picture, position by position, see our complete wicket keeper's gear guide.
Wicket Keeping Pads: FAQ
Can you use batting pads for wicket keeping?
You can, but you shouldn't for anything beyond a one-off fill-in. Batting pads are longer, heavier and bulkier above the knee, so they slow your rise from the crouch and jam into your hip crease at full squat. Purpose-built keeping pads are cut shorter and lighter specifically for that movement — and at $34.99 to $79.99, they cost less than most batting pads.
What is the difference between wicket keeping pads and batting pads?
Length, weight and cut. Keeping pads end lower on the thigh, carry less bolstering above the knee, and use lighter construction so you can squat and dive freely. Batting pads prioritize impact protection for a mostly upright player facing the bowling. The protective materials overlap — PU or PVC facings over high-density foam, sometimes with cane — but the shape and weight distribution are different.
What size wicket keeping pads do I need?
Measure from the centre of your kneecap to the top of your ankle. Adult pads run 44–46cm on that measurement, Youth 42–44cm, Junior 40–42cm, Small Junior 38–40cm and Extra Small Junior 36–38cm. If you land between sizes, size down — mobility beats an inch of extra thigh coverage in keeping.
Are wicket keeping pads mandatory?
No law of cricket forces a keeper to wear pads, and in casual softball or tape-ball games many keepers wear moulded shin guards or nothing at all. Against a hard cricket ball, though, keeping pads are as non-negotiable as gloves — a top edge or a throw arriving on the half-volley finds your shin sooner or later.
Do junior keepers need special keeping pads?
Yes. Adult pads on a junior keeper restrict knee bend enough to change how they move, and a pad that's too long catches the thigh in the crouch. Proper junior sizes exist down to a 36cm leg measurement — the SG Club line goes to Extra Small Junior — so there's no age at which batting-pad hand-me-downs are the only option.
How do you look after wicket keeping pads?
Never machine-wash them — water breaks down foam and rots cane. Wipe the facing with a damp cloth after play, air the pads out of direct sun, and store them unstrapped and out of the kit bag between weekends so the foam and straps dry fully. Sweat left in a zipped bag is what kills keeping pads early, not ball impacts.
Try Them On in Edison, or Ship Free Over $100
Keeping pads are fit-sensitive, and the squat test takes thirty seconds in person — visit us at 37 Meridian Rd, Edison, NJ (Mon–Sat 11AM–9PM, Sun 11AM–8PM) and try every model in this guide on the shop floor. We'll measure your knee-to-ankle length, watch you crouch, and tell you straight which pad fits your leg and your league. Ordering online? Shipping is free across the US on orders over $100 — pair your pads with keeping gloves and you're there — and everything ships from New Jersey with 7-day returns. Questions about stock or restock dates? Call the store and ask for the gear team.