The difference between cloth tape and shin pad tape in hockey (2026)

Summary: Cloth tape and shin guard tape look similar in their packaging and are often used interchangeably by players who haven't considered the difference. However, they are designed for completely different stresses, and using the wrong product in the wrong place is one of the most common reasons why taping comes loose early in a game. This guide explains when each product works, where they fail, and how to build a taping routine that lasts from warm-up to the final whistle.

The question arises in locker rooms at all levels: "does it matter what tape I use?" The answer is yes, but not for the reasons one might think. Cloth tape and shin guard tape are not grades of the same product – they solve different problems.

Cloth tape, like CCM Cloth Tape, is a stiff, fabric-based tape with strong adhesive and a robust surface. It is designed to withstand mechanical contact – skate blades, pucks, ice – along the skate. It doesn't bend as easily, provides good structural stability, and maintains its shape even under heavy use. It is a tape optimized for use on a relatively flat and stable surface.

Shin guard tape, and especially Shin Guard Tape PRO, is a flexible tape with an adhesive composition adapted to withstand moisture and movement. It is designed to hold against rounded, dynamic surfaces – the edges of the shin guard, the skate boot, the transition zone to the sock. It must be able to follow movement without the edges lifting, and it must hold even when sweat and meltwater from the ice constantly stress the adhesive.

Using CCM Cloth Tape around the shin guards results in something that holds well for five minutes and then starts to lift along the edges at the first strenuous movement. Using Shin Guard Tape along the skate results in something that cannot withstand contact with the ice and disintegrates prematurely. It's not that the products are bad – it's the mismatch to the task that's wrong.

What cloth tape is designed for and what it cannot handle

CCM Cloth Tape in white or black is one of the most widely used hockey tapes, and for good reason. It is stiff enough to provide structural protection along the blade shaft of the skate, it withstands contact with ice and puck without disintegrating, and the strong adhesive holds against the smooth, hard surface along the skate.

Use CCM Cloth Tape to cover the skate along the blade shaft from the base upwards. Apply in thin, overlapping layers, and lay each layer evenly without air bubbles – air bubbles under the cloth tape are the most common starting point for lifting along the edge. Cover the heel section thoroughly, as this is the zone exposed to the most direct contact with the ice during turns and stops. And add a final covering layer along the top edge so there is no free edge for ice and water to get under.

What CCM Cloth Tape cannot handle well: dynamic, curved surfaces that move during the game. The skate boot above the ankle moves with every stride, and the stiffness of the cloth tape causes it to crack along the fold points. We consistently see that players who tape the skate boot with cloth tape need to re-tape during the break because the tape has cracked along the natural bend line. It's not an application problem – it's a material issue. Cloth tape is not made for that task.

Similarly: along the edges of the shin guard, a problem with cloth tape arises relatively quickly. The shin guard moves against the sock and the skate boot with every movement the player makes. A stiff tape along those edges begins to lift at the transitions where movement is greatest. The result is a shin guard that starts to slip even though the player taped it carefully before the game.

Shin Guard Tape PRO – what makes it different and where it works

Shin Guard Tape PRO is built for a specific task: to keep the shin guard stable against the skate sock during active play. This is a different challenge than covering a skate blade shaft, and it requires a different material construction.

The material is flexible enough to follow the movement of the sock without the edges lifting, and the adhesive is formulated to maintain its grip when moisture – sweat and meltwater – gradually stresses the taped zone. It is primarily this combination that distinguishes the PRO version from standard shin guard tape. The standard tape works excellent for training and lighter loads. The PRO version is built for games and players with high movement intensity.

Use Shin Guard Tape PRO to secure the upper edge of the shin guard to the sock. Apply with even tension around the upper half of the shin guard and create an overlap against the sock of at least 3–4 cm. This creates a zone where the shin guard cannot move up or down without breaking the entire taping – and that taping will stay put throughout the game if applied to a dry sock.

Do the same along the bottom edge of the shin guard against the skate boot. This is the zone that is most often neglected – and it is also the zone where the shin guard most often starts to slip. Use Shin Guard Tape PRO along the bottom edge and overlap a bit down onto the skate boot. This creates a closed taped zone that prevents the shin guard from rotating or sliding down.

One detail that makes a big difference in practice: let the sock sit in place for a couple of minutes before taping, so it has settled against the leg. If you tape immediately after putting on the sock, it may still be loose, and the tension of the taping will be adjusted to the wrong position.

Grip tape and cloth tape on the stick shaft – how they complement each other

Shaft taping is an area where cloth tape and grip tape are sometimes confused. Cloth tape is sometimes used as a base layer on the shaft – and it works technically, but provides a stiffness that not all players like. The most common system for players who want good feel and durability is to use grip tape as the primary layer, with Howies wax as a finish.

Our grip tape is slightly stretchy and conforms to the shaft without feeling thick or stiff. Apply in a spiral pattern upwards with approximately 50% overlap per turn and with moderate tension – not stretched to the maximum. Over-stretched grip tape rolls up faster at the edges and loses its natural feel. Finish with a light layer of Howies wax along the grip zone. Howies wax fills in irregularities in the tape surface, provides extra grip in damp conditions, and helps the grip tape maintain its shape longer during play.

LizardSkins is the alternative for players who want a grip that lasts longer without needing to be replaced during the game. The material construction absorbs sweat better than standard grip tape and retains its surface structure longer under mechanical stress. Use LizardSkins in the same spiral pattern and finish with Howies wax for maximum durability. It is a combination that works all game long without losing grip or needing to be replaced.

CCM Cloth Tape is sometimes used along the upper part of the shaft as a stiffer finish – a clear stop for the grip zone and protection for the end of the shaft. This is an aesthetic and functional preference, and it works well for that purpose. Cloth tape along the lower part of the shaft is less often justified – it is the grip zone that requires the right material, and there, grip tape and LizardSkins are superior.

How to put together a taping routine that lasts game after game

The most common reason for taping lasting shorter than it should is not product quality – it's that the taping is done in stress, on the wrong surface, in the wrong order. A routine followed consistently solves these problems.

Start with the shin guards. Dry sock, shin guard in place and well adjusted. Apply Shin Guard Tape PRO along the upper edge with a clear overlap onto the sock, around the entire width of the shin guard. Finish along the bottom edge against the skate boot. Check that the shin guard does not move in any direction – if it does, add an extra layer until it is stable.

Then the skate. CCM Cloth Tape along the blade shaft and heel section, in thin, even layers without air bubbles. Finish the top edge properly. Check that there are no free edges for ice and water to get under.

Last, the shaft. Grip tape or LizardSkins in a spiral pattern with 50% overlap. Howies wax along the entire grip zone. This step takes 2–3 minutes but affects the feel of the stick throughout the game.

Total time for a complete taping routine: 10–15 minutes. This time is repaid immediately by not having to re-tape during the break, by the shin guards sitting stably, and by the grip lasting from warm-up to the final whistle. Waxed skate laces or unwaxed skate laces are the last link – choose waxed if you regularly tape your laces to keep them in place, as waxed laces themselves sit more securely in the eyelets and reduce the need.

FAQ – Cloth tape and shin guard tape in hockey

1. Can you use CCM Cloth Tape to tape shin guards?

Technically, it adheres initially, but in practice, cloth tape starts to lift relatively quickly along the zones where the shin guard moves against the sock. Cloth tape is stiff and cannot handle dynamic surfaces that bend with every stride the player takes. For shin guards, Shin Guard Tape PRO is the right product – the adhesive is formulated to maintain its grip on moving, soft surfaces and in moist conditions. CCM Cloth Tape belongs along the skate, not around the shin guard.

2. Why does my shin guard tape start to lift at the edges halfway through the game?

The most common reason is that the tape was applied to a sock that hadn't properly settled, or that the tape was applied with too little overlap against the sock. Another common reason is that the surface was moist during application – sweat during warm-up can make the sock fabric slightly damp, and adhesive on moist surfaces adheres less well initially. Practical solution: always tape indoors in the locker room, not by the ice. Use Shin Guard Tape PRO and apply with at least 3–4 cm overlap against the sock along both the upper and lower edges of the shin guard.

3. Is it okay to mix cloth tape and shin guard tape on the same equipment?

Yes, and it is actually the correct system. They are optimized for different tasks and work best when used separately. CCM Cloth Tape along the skate and blade shaft, Shin Guard Tape PRO around the shin guard. Trying to use one tape for everything is a compromise that reduces durability in both areas. The systemic thinking is: the right product for the right surface.

4. How long do LizardSkins last compared to regular grip tape during a game?

LizardSkins consistently lasts longer during a game without needing to be replaced – that's the primary reason many players prefer it. Standard grip tape gradually loses its surface structure and feel during the game, especially in combination with sweat and glove friction. LizardSkins absorbs sweat better and maintains grip longer. Combined with Howies wax applied after LizardSkins, it is a construction that lasts from warm-up to the final whistle for most players, without the grip needing to be replaced during intermissions.

5. What does Howies wax actually do and is it necessary?

Howies wax is applied on top of grip tape or LizardSkins and serves three purposes. It fills in irregularities in the tape surface, creating a more uniform grip surface. It adds an extra layer of friction resistance against the inside of the gloves, providing better feel and control. And it offers some moisture protection that helps the tape maintain its shape longer in damp conditions. It is not technically necessary but noticeably improves feel and durability – most players who try it stick with it.

6. Should you tape your laces, and if so, with what tape?

Lace taping is used to keep laces in the eyelets during intense play. The most common practice is to apply a layer of shin guard tape along the uppermost lace eyelets. If laces regularly come loose despite taping, switching to waxed skate laces is often a more lasting solution – waxed skate laces sit more securely in the eyelets on their own and reduce the need for extra taping. Unwaxed skate laces have a softer feel and classic lace experience, but require more tape to stay equally secure.

7. Why does cloth tape crack along the skate boot?

The skate boot bends with every stride, and cloth tape is not designed to withstand that bending motion without cracking along the fold line. It's a material issue, not an application problem. Solution: never use cloth tape along the skate boot above the ankle. That area requires Shin Guard Tape PRO or a flexible tape that can handle dynamic stress. CCM Cloth Tape belongs along the rigid part of the skate, where movement is minimal.

8. How do you store tape to maintain its quality?

Store tape at room temperature, dry, and protected from direct sunlight. The most common mistakes: tape is stored in the hockey bag for long periods, where temperature varies and moisture accumulates. Adhesive is sensitive to temperature fluctuations – tape that has been frozen and thawed repeatedly loses adhesive quality prematurely and lasts for a shorter time. Remove tape rolls from the bag after each practice and store them separately. It's a small routine that noticeably extends the effective life of the tape.