Best Goalkeeper Pants and Padded Shorts in Australia (2026): A Coach's Picks
Coach-selected padded pants and shorts for Australian keepers, chosen by a Masters-qualified coach who kits out keepers from juniors to seniors.
A goalkeeper hits the ground more than anyone else on the pitch, and on baked Australian winter grounds that contact adds up fast. The right bottoms, whether full padded goalkeeper pants, a padded slider short or a plain match short, decide whether a young keeper commits to a diving save or pulls out of it. I have selected these six as a coach who fits out keepers across junior and senior squads, judging them on protection, fit and value at Australian prices rather than on brand noise. For the full picture of what a keeper needs, start with our goalkeeper gear guide.
The Quick Picks at a Glance
🏆 TOP PICK
KELME Soccer Goalkeeper Pants Pro
Best for: Club keepers who want one do-it-all padded pant
Hip, thigh and knee padding, kids to adult sizing, priced for club families.
Check Price on Amazon →💰 BEST VALUE
Topeter Goalkeeper Armor Shorts
Best for: Padded protection on a budget
A padded slider short with hip and thigh protection, worn under match shorts.
Check Price on Amazon →✨ EDITOR'S CHOICE
Unlimit Soccer Goalie Pants
Best for: Maximum coverage on hard grounds
Knee, hip and shin padding in one compression pant for abrasive surfaces.
Check Price on Amazon →What to look for in goalkeeper pants and padded shorts
The first decision is pants, padded shorts or a plain short. A full pant protects the hip, thigh and knee and suits winter and abrasive grounds. A padded slider short protects the hip and thigh only, sits under match shorts, and keeps a keeper cooler for summer and futsal. A plain match short adds no protection and is worn on its own or over a slider. Match the bottom to the surface and the season, not to the brand on the label.
Padding placement matters more than padding thickness. Look for coverage over the point of the hip, the outside of the thigh and, on a full pant, the kneecap. When a keeper crouches into a ready stance, the knee padding should still sit over the kneecap, not ride above it. If it rides up, the pant is too big. A fit that stays put through a dive beats a thicker pad that shifts on landing. If you are also sorting gloves, our goalkeeper gloves guide covers cut and fit the same way.
For a growing junior, buy for a season of growth, but do not size up so far that the padding sits in the wrong place. A junior-specific cut like the JAKO Striker is made for a young keeper’s frame and lands the padding where it belongs. Match the surface too: a slider short is plenty for soft summer grass, while hard or synthetic grounds call for a full pant.
At-a-glance comparison
Best Goalkeeper Pants and Padded Shorts in Australia (2026)
| Product | Best For | Type | Price (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| KELME Goalkeeper Pants Pro | One do-it-all club pant | Full padded pant | $62.25 |
| Unlimit Soccer Goalie Pants | Maximum coverage, hard grounds | Full padded pant | $72.22 |
| JAKO Kids Striker Goalkeeper Pants | Junior keepers | Junior full pant | Check price |
| Topeter Goalkeeper Armor Shorts | Value padded protection | Padded slider short | $43.99 |
| Storelli BodyShield Impact Sliders | Summer and futsal keepers | Padded slider short | Check price |
| Mitre Guard Goalkeeper Shorts | Match-day outer short | Match short | $49.88 |
KELME Soccer Goalkeeper Pants Pro: the do-it-all club pant
KELME Soccer Goalkeeper Pants Pro
Best for: Club keepers who want one do-it-all padded pant
The KELME Goalkeeper Pants Pro is the pant I point most club keepers to first. It carries padding across the hip, thigh and knee, comes in kids through adult sizing, and sits at a price that suits a family kitting out a keeper for the season. Rated 4.3 stars across roughly 450 reviews, it is the safe do-it-all pick for winter grounds.
Pros
- Padding across hip, thigh and knee for full ground contact
- Kids, youth and adult sizing from one range
- Priced for club families, not just premium buyers
- Large review base at 4.3 stars
Cons
- Full-length pant runs warm for summer or futsal
- Fit is generous, size down for a lean junior
$62.25
Check Price on Amazon →
Unlimit Soccer Goalie Pants: most coverage on hard grounds
Unlimit Soccer Goalie Pants
Best for: Maximum coverage on hard or synthetic grounds
The Unlimit Goalie Pants carry the most coverage on this list: knee, hip and shin padding built into a compression pant. For a keeper who trains and plays on the hard, abrasive grounds common through an Australian winter, this is the one that takes the sting out of repeated dives.
Pros
- Knee, hip and shin padding in one pant
- Compression fit stays in place through dives
- Strong choice for hard or synthetic surfaces
- Rated 4.4 stars
Cons
- Most expensive pant here
- Heavier and warmer than a slider short
$72.22
Check Price on Amazon →
JAKO Kids Striker Goalkeeper Pants: the junior pick
JAKO Kids Striker Goalkeeper Pants
Best for: Junior keepers who dive in training and matches
For a junior keeper, the JAKO Kids Striker Pants is a clean, well-made full pant from a brand that kits out clubs across Europe. It is padded where a young keeper lands and cut for a growing frame. With 4.6 stars across roughly 260 reviews, it is the junior pick I trust most.
Pros
- Made for a junior keeper's frame
- Padded landing zones without bulk
- Trusted club-kit brand
- Rated 4.6 stars across roughly 260 reviews
Cons
- Check the current price before buying, it moves
- Junior sizing only, not for seniors
Topeter Goalkeeper Armor Shorts: value padded protection
Topeter Goalkeeper Armor Shorts
Best for: Padded protection without full pants
If you want padded protection without committing to full pants, the Topeter Armor Shorts is the value way in. It is a compression slider short with hip and thigh padding, made to wear under match shorts, and it holds up for training loads. At around $44 it is the cheapest genuine protection on this list.
Pros
- Padded hip and thigh in a low-profile slider
- Wears under match shorts and keeps the keeper cool
- Cheapest real protection here
- Rated 4.3 stars across 50 reviews
Cons
- No knee protection, pair with sleeves or pants on hard grounds
- Sizing runs snug, check the chart before buying
$43.99
Check Price on Amazon →
Storelli BodyShield Impact Sliders: the premium slider
Storelli BodyShield Impact Sliders
Best for: Summer and futsal keepers who want premium slider protection
Storelli is the name Australian keepers keep coming back to for protection, and the BodyShield Impact Sliders are the padded undershort in that range. Sweat-wicking, UV-resistant and built for high-impact landings, they suit a keeper who wants premium slider protection for summer or futsal without a full pant.
Pros
- High-impact hip and thigh padding in a slider
- Sweat-wicking and UV-resistant for the Aussie summer
- Specialist keeper brand
- Rated 4.4 stars across roughly 120 reviews
Cons
- Priced above the value sliders
- Hip and thigh only, no knee cover
Mitre Guard Goalkeeper Shorts: the match-day short
Mitre Guard Goalkeeper Shorts
Best for: A match-day outer short over a padded slider
Not every keeper wants padding. The Mitre Guard Goalkeeper Shorts are a straight match-day outer short from a brand Australian clubs know well. Wear them over a padded slider, or on their own in warmer weather when a keeper wants freedom over protection.
Pros
- Simple, durable match-day short
- Trusted Australian club brand
- Pairs over a padded slider
- Fair price at around $50
Cons
- No padding, this is an outer short only
- Fewer reviews than the padded picks
$49.88
Check Price on Amazon →
How a coach chooses goalkeeper bottoms
I fit out keepers the same way every season: match the protection to the surface, the season and the keeper’s willingness to commit to the ground. A keeper who hesitates on diving saves is often under-protected, and the right padded pant or slider fixes the confidence before it fixes the technique. I do not chase the thickest pad or the loudest brand; I look for padding that sits in the right place and a fit that holds through a dive. For the outfield side of a club’s kit, our guide to soccer jerseys and training kit covers what Australian players should check before they buy. If you are building out a keeper’s full kit, our goalkeeper training equipment guide covers the deflectors and reflex gear, and our guide to glove cuts helps you match gloves to the same keeper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should goalkeepers wear leggings or padded pants?
Padded pants beat plain leggings for any keeper who dives on hard ground. Leggings only cover warmth and abrasion; padded pants add impact protection at the hip, thigh and knee, which is where a keeper lands. On soft grass in summer, a padded slider short under match shorts is usually enough.
What do goalkeepers wear under their shorts?
Most keepers wear a padded compression slider short, like the Topeter Armor or Storelli BodyShield, under their match shorts. It adds hip and thigh protection without the heat of full pants, and it stays put through dives. Some keepers add padded sleeves for the elbows as well.
Do goalkeepers need padded shorts, or are pants enough?
It depends on the surface and the season. Full padded pants give the most coverage for hard winter grounds. Padded shorts or sliders are lighter and cooler for summer, futsal and keepers who want freedom of movement. Plenty of keepers own one of each and pick by conditions.
Are goalkeeper pants worth it for junior keepers?
Yes, if the junior is diving in training and matches. A padded pant like the JAKO Striker builds a young keeper’s confidence to commit to saves rather than pull out of them. Buy for a season of growth, and check the knee padding sits over the kneecap when the keeper crouches.
Can you wear goalkeeper pants on hard or synthetic Australian grounds?
Hard and synthetic grounds are exactly where padded pants earn their place. The abrasive surface and firm ground make dives punishing, so knee and hip padding matters most here. A full pant like the Unlimit or KELME is the safer pick on these surfaces than a slider short.
