It doesn’t matter if you’re off by a little bit. Cups are sized to fit a range of waistlines. You can actually do this while wearing your shirt if you want. Jock straps and compression shorts are typically worn over underwear, so the extra fabric won’t change anything.
As an additional guideline, pee wee sizes are usually for boys aged 5-7, youth sizes typically fit boys aged 8-12, teen sizes are for boys aged 13-17, and adult sizes are for men 18 and older. If you’re an adult with a waistline smaller than 28 in (71 cm), start with a teen’s medium. Children older than 5 should wear a protective cup if they’re engaged in contact or physical sports.
You won’t be able to try a cup on over your underwear before buying it, but you can try it on over your shorts in the store. You can always go back and get another one if you don’t like the style you’ve picked. Cups aren’t particularly expensive.
There are foam cups that use a softer material than the traditional hard-shelled plastic. These cups are a great option for children, but don’t offer as much protection. Some cups are machine-washable. If you want an easier time cleaning your cup, read the label carefully to see if it can be cleaned in a washing machine.
Jock straps tend to be cheaper than compression shorts. Don’t use a jock strap that doesn’t hug your waist firmly. You don’t want it falling down as you’re running. If you’re getting a cup for hockey, get a hockey jock. It’s a special type of jock strap designed to fit into hockey pants. Jock straps are great choices for sports where you run or turn a lot because they don’t tend to fall down. Almost every kind of player can wear a jock strap, including baseball, basketball, rugby, lacrosse, and football players. They tend to be a little uncomfortable if you’re sitting down a lot though.
If you have sensitive skin in your inner thighs, opt for compression shorts—they feel like tight boxer shorts and are less likely to cause chafing. Compression shorts are great for sports that involve a lot of running, like basketball, baseball, or football. They’re also excellent for biking. They may fall down if you twist and turn a lot though depending on the shape of your body.
Impact shorts are often called padded shorts or snowboarder shorts. Impact shorts are great for snowboarding, rugby, skating, or boxing, but they’re not great for sports that already have padded uniforms, like football. You also may not like the way they feel if you have to run a lot, which makes them poor choices for sports like baseball or basketball.
The gel lining may make it kind of difficult to push it all the way down. Wiggle the cup back and forth until it slides all the way down if it sticks.
If you’re new to wearing a cup, you’ll probably feel more comfortable if you’re wearing boxer shorts underneath.
If you really want to, you can wear compression shorts without your underwear. Most people wear underwear though.
If you find your cup pinching your skin when you’re wearing it, move up a size.
