Buying Guide: Football

Wilson NCAA 1004 GST
$70, Wilson.com
Used in over 180 NCAA programs and 26 high-school football state associations, the GST is the only football to offer patented laid-in stripes and ACL composite leather laces. “The Wilson GST is a good ball,” says Matt Watson of Texas A&M. “You definitely want to stick with leather.”

Nerf Weather Blitz Football
$11, Amazon.com
Vince Lombardi may roll over in his grave if he sees you shopping in the Nerf aisle, but he doesn't have to worry about ruining his favorite ball in a rain-soaked game. When the elements take a turn for the worse, turn to the Nerf Weather Blitz, a football that actually thrives in the wet, muddy conditions because of a weather-resistant surface and finger grips.

Grantie Gear Stuff Football
$12, ExtremeOutfitters.com
For your next camping trip, this football-shaped stuff sack will do double duty as a small zippered bag for your sundries and — when appropriately stuffed — a toss-around bean for a game of touch.

Nike Superbad Men's Football Gloves
$45, Eastbay.com
Designed for that diva wide receiver who demands the ball on every down, the Superbad features a durable grip that works in all weather conditions, and an articulated thumb for dexterity.

Shock Doctor Double STC Mouthguard
$25, Amazon.com
“Shock Doctor mouth guards are more protective and comfortable than basic mouth guards that cost a few bucks,” says Justin Heap of Play It Again Sports. In fact, the company is so confident that the supertight compression gel liner will mold to teeth and prevent injury that each one comes with a $12,500 dental warranty. Keep it clean and safe with a ventilated Shock Doctor Anti-Microbial Mouthguard Case ($7, ShockDoctor.com).

Under Armour Men's UA Nitro III Mid MC Football Cleat
$89, DicksSportingGoods.com
The edge molding along the mudguard of the Under Armour’s Nitro III keeps your foot directly over the cleat plate even during abrupt changes of direction, a must if you’re looking to prevent ankle injury. Plus, these molded cleats feature tiny secondary cleats that add just a little bit extra on those sharp cuts. Not bad for a shoe that weighs a measly 10.2 ounces. Underneath, try Under Armour Men's Football Sock
($9, UnderArmour.com).

Mueller No Glare Glare-Reducing Strips
$4, MuellerSportsMed.com
“Historically you used that kind of lipstick tube with the eye-black,” says Heap. “Now Mueller has stickers available that do the same thing that are a lot less messy.” Indeed, these glare-reducing strips — sold in nine sheets of four each — are twice as effective as paste and won’t sweat off or stain your uniform. And let’s be honest: They look badass.

Mueller FlexShield Protective Cup with Supporter
$10, MuellerSportsMed.com
As the name implies, the FlexShield has some give to it to allow maximum mobility while also protecting your sensitive areas, while the soft rubber edges are nice and comfortable. The 3-inch waistband of the supporter can hold up to repeated washings (which we highly recommend).

Flag-A-Tag Sonic Boom Flag Belts
$68/dozen, ESportsOnline.com
We’ve all been there before. You’re playing a game of flag football when the argument begins of where a player’s flag was pulled. Flag-A-Tag changes that. Its patented release system emits a boom sound to let you know precisely where and when a play is dead.

Pro-Down Flag Football Sideline Markers
$200, SportsAuthority.com
You can pick up some small ground cones for a few bucks in any sporting-goods store, but you won’t even notice those measly things sitting in the grass. These tough 13” vinyl sideline markers have a pyramid shape to keep them upright. To take your temporary gridiron to the next level, use Missouri Field Marking Paint ($68 for 5 gallons, MissouriTurfPant.com) to create sidelines. It’ll wash away after a few heavy rains (or with urging from a garden hose).

Riddell Revolution Speed Helmet
$244, Riddell.com
The polycarbonate shell on the Riddell Revolution comes with two things every football player should love: a five-year warranty and CRT (concussion reduction technology). That means it sports an increased shell offset, energy-managing liner extensions, extended mandibles and inflatable back, neck and side liners. If that sounds like gibberish, just know that it took four years to develop using NFL research. For extra protection, add an Adams Adult Gel 4-Point Hard Cup Chin Strap ($15, BowenSports.com).

Schutt XL Equipment Bag
$90, SchuttSports.com
The rugged Schutt XL can fit a helmet, shoulder pads, pants, cleats and just about any other apparel you have, with interior structure sidewalls and climate protection. (It even has two slider storage slots for bats if you want to use it during softball season.)

Rawlings AIMS Series A3 Shoulder Pads
$260, RawlingsGear.com
The core technology of the AIMS series uses extreme foam protection within an airtight nylon shell for maximum impact dispersion, while their low profile offers terrific arm motion and field vision. But sometimes it’s the little things in life, like the fact that these Rawlings pads give you a tight fit sans annoying laces.

HexPad HexMesh 6-Pad Short Sleeve Body Shirt
$60, Amazon.com
“Nowadays you can buy compression shirts that have padding built into them from companies like McDavid,” says Watson. “You can get a little more of a tighter fit with that because the foam is built in.” The result is a lightweight, streamlined feel that still has padding on your shoulders, sternum, ribs and spine and keeps you warm, reducing the risk of muscle pulls.

Nike Destroyer Game Men's Football Pants
$65, EastBay.com
The machine-washable Destroyer features a non-elastic waistband and pad pocket system in case you want to add any extra protective pads to an area of your body that’s already sore.

McDavid HexPad Girdle Pro Model
$50, McDavidUSA.com
“One of the biggest things that has happened in football over the last three or four years is integrated pads,” says Heap. “These girdles have those and are a dry fit material.” On the field, a pair replaces the old-fashioned hip and tail pads that have slowed down many a football player; off the field, they are much easier to wash and dry.

Riddell Biolite Vent Air Thigh Pads
$12, Riddell.com
Whatever girdle you choose, chances are it will include tail and hip pads, but not thigh pads. Riddell’s new Biolite Vent line of pads offers extra protection while fitting to your leg ergonomically, offering impact dispersion and weighing 35-percent less than the regular Biolite version.

HexPad Impact Knee Pad
$30/pair, McDavidUSA.com
Made up of individual hexagon-shaped pads, the HexPad stays formfitted to your knee to absorb any kind of impact. It also boasts moisture management to keep you cool and dry and a tapered cut behind the knee to allow for a great range of motion. Plus, they double as elbow pads.

Buying Guide: Football — Products