Shoulder pads are a piece of protective equipment used in many contact sports such as American football, lacrosse and hockey. Most modern shoulder pads consist of a shock absorbing foam material with a hard plastic outer covering. The pieces are usually secured by rivets or strings that the user can tie to adjust the size.

In fashion, shoulder pads are a type of padding that's usually tucked inside clothing to make the wearer appear more broad shouldered. These came into popular use during the 1930s.

Not to be confused with shoulder guards, which are shoulder protection explicitly made for combat usage.

See also:

• sportswear
• Tag Group: Sports - Equipment

External:

• Wikipedia Articles:
• Shoulder pads
• Shoulder pad (fashion).