Fairtex SP5 Review: Competition Style Shin Pads

Fairtex SP5’s are the 5^th version of Fairtex’s Muay Thai Shin Protectors. They have taken over from the basic SP3 design, and become the go-to shinguard model for this brand. Read this complete Fairtex SP5 review to find out why these shin pads are the new Fairtex classic.

These Fairtex SP5 shin guards use their signature Syntek leather. This material is essentially synthetic leather, Syntek is their brand name. Syntek material is just as durable as the genuine leather Fairtex uses.

The pad completely covers your shin with dense foam padding. Padding centered along the shin bone and tapered slightly towards the sides of the pad. This reduces some of the bulk of the pad without sacrificing protection. Meaning, the padding is concentrated where you need it most and thinner along the edges to provide a secure fit. The entire shin pad is rigid and acts similar to a padded splint along your shin bone.

The SP5 model is tallest in the center of the pad. It extends beyond the top of your shin bone to protect the sensitive spot below your knee.

All of the sides and edges use double stitching. A nylon piping along the seams gives these pads a durable finish. Extending from the inside of the shin pad are 2 Velcro straps. These straps are simple, secure straps. They are double stitched to the body of the pad with their seam tucked into the side of the padding. This means they will not rub against your calf muscle. This feature also gives a seamless look from the exterior. The Velcro is super strong and durable. It provides a secure hold during even the toughest of training sessions.

The opening for these Velcro straps is clean cut and bonded to prevent the fabric from fraying. The area around the strap closure is flexible. There are no metal loop or anything hard that may cause injury. Instead, there is lots of padding extending from the area to provide extra protection.

There is a full connection across the front where the shins meet the foot proctor, with small opening to give optimal movement.  A narrow piece of padding extends from the forefoot to above the ankle on either side. It securely attaches behind the ankle with a firm piece of fabric elastic.  There is another thick piece of elastic fabric under the instep of your foot. This keep the foot pad from lifting up during training. There is ample padding along the toe and top of the foot but this model does not provide protection around the side of the foot or ankle.

The interior lining of these kickboxing shins uses a polyester lining. Although it is water resistant, be sure to properly dry and clean your equipment after each use to minimize odor causing bacteria. Stitching along the edges of the lining attaches it directly to the padding. This means that there are no seams along the inside of the shin, so nothing to rub and cause irritation.

These Fairtex Shinguards are suitable for amateur competition. They come in a variety of color: red, black, blue, yellow, and off white. Fairtex calls this color “white” but it does not match the shade of white used for their BGV1 Boxing Gloves. It is, however a perfect match for their BGV16’s in “Khaki”.

Size Guide and Measurements provided by Fairtex for their SP5 Competition Shin Guards:

They also make sizing suggestions dependent on your height:

In complete review of the Fairtex SP5 Shinguards, we found this model to be ideal for rigid and dense padding. Perfect for competition, sparring, and training, the SP5’s are a great choice for any level of athlete.

If you already own a pair, let us know how these shin guards perform for you. If you don’t own a pair yet, use code SP5BLOG to save $5 off a new pair of Fairtex Competition Shin Pads today!