With so many protective products now available on the market, it can often be confusing to know which one is right for your sport — especially in high-contact environments like AFL, NRL, and Rugby. Here’s a quick look at three widely used options to help you make a more informed choice.
At a glance, all Australian owned brands such as Zena Sports, Boob Armour, Footy Girls, Steeden and Fempro Armour all position themselves as providing protection for the female chest during sport. However, the similarities end there.
Each brand approaches this mission using different materials, designs, and philosophies on what effective protection really means — and the results show in both performance and user experience.
Let’s dive into the key differences.
Zena Sports – Lightweight Soft PE Foam for Light Impact
Zena Sports developed a compression-style vest targeting female athletes, particularly in AFL. Their product uses soft polyethylene (PE) foam, which is injected into molds and heat-sealed onto fabric layers.
🔍 Pros:
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Lightweight and easy to wear under uniforms.
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Offers some compression benefits for muscle support.
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Affordable manufacturing cost.
⚠️ Limitations:
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PE foam is best suited for low-speed impacts. It has low shock absorption and limited durability, especially under repeated high-impact conditions like tackles or crashes.
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The foam can deform or break down after a single significant hit, compromising protection and requiring replacement.
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Protection is limited to soft tissue cushioning and does not adequately protect against fractures or trauma to the ribs or sternum.
Zena Sport is best categorized as a low-impact solution with light protective benefits, most suitable for sports with minimal body contact.
Boob Armour – Rigid PE Foam Shell Inserts for Light Impact
Boob Armour takes a different approach, offering rigid polyethylene (PE) foam inserts — about 2mm thick — that sit inside a sports bra to form a individual protective cup over the breast.
🔍 Pros:
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Provides a hard barrier between the chest and external contact.
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Lightweight and easy to insert into standard bras.
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Helpful for incidental bumps or minor impacts.
⚠️ Limitations:
- Made from rigid PE-based plastic, which can feel restrictive and uncomfortable to wear.
- Energy absorption is low; instead of dispersing the force, the rigid plate transfers some of it to the surrounding tissue.
- Not reusable after a strong impact — the material often cracks or loses integrity.
- Limited adaptability to different breast sizes or shapes.
- Not CE-rated or compliant with protective standards seen in contact-heavy sports.
Boob Armour is a better fit for non-contact or moderate-contact sports, but does not hold up under the demands of rugby, AFL, or NRL.
Footy Girls & Steeden – Lightweight EVA Foam Pads for Soft – Medium Impact
Footy Girls and Steeden are focused specifically on gear for female AFL and NRL players. Their products are designed with female body shapes in mind and use EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) foam — a lightweight and flexible closed-cell foam commonly used in sports padding.
🔍 Pros:
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Female-specific fit: Their gear is designed for the female form, with options like crop-style tops and non-slip strips that help keep padding in place.
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Lightweight: EVA foam is extremely light, which helps with comfort and mobility.
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Moisture-wicking fabrics: Materials like polyester netting material “Footy Girls”, not information on “Steeden”.
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Affordability: Offers an accessible price point for clubs, schools, and grassroots players.
⚠️ Limitations:
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EVA foam offers limited energy absorption, especially under high-speed, high-force collisions common in AFL and Rugby.
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The foam is closed-cell and firm, which can lead to a harder feel on contact and may not offer the same shock dispersion as viscoelastic or smart foams.
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Durability may be limited under repeated impacts; while suitable for moderate-contact situations, the protection may degrade faster in elite or sustained high-impact use.
Footy Girls & Steeden products are a great choice for entry-level to intermediate players, or athletes in community and youth teams seeking female-specific gear that offers comfort, coverage, and movement without the bulk. However, for high-impact or elite-level competition, athletes may need more advanced impact management technology.
Fempro Armour – Smart Shock Absorption Designed for Contact Sports
Fempro Armour stands apart as the only product in this comparison designed using CE-rated, smart viscoelastic memory foam — technology derived from motorsports, defense, and tactical environments.
Rather than just offering a physical barrier, our armour absorbs, disperses, and redirects impact energy, dramatically reducing the risk of fractures, bruising, or soft-tissue trauma.
🔍 Pros:
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Viscoelastic foam adapts to both low- and high-speed impacts, unlike PE foam.
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Impact-responsive: The harder the hit, the firmer and more protective it becomes.
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Open-cell breathable design offers comfort, flexibility, and ventilation.
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Highly durable: Maintains protective qualities even after multiple impacts.
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Biobased certified and designed for high-performance contact sports.
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Custom-engineered to fit female anatomy — from A to D+ cup sizes — with flexibility that doesn’t compromise safety.
⚠️ Limitations:
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Slightly heavier in weight, however un-noticable when wearing it.
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More premium in price compared to PE-foam alternatives, but the longevity, effectiveness, and safety far outweigh the cost difference.
Whether you’re training at grassroot or competing at elite levels, Fempro Armour is built to withstand the hits — and keep athletes safe season after season, with our 10-year warranty for all of our armour.
⚖️ Head-to-Head Comparison Table
| Feature / Brand | Zena Sports | Boob Armour | Footy Girls & Steeden | Fempro Armour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material Type | Soft PE Foam | Rigid PE Shell | EVA Foam | Viscoelastic PU Foam |
| Impact Protection | Low | Low | Moderate | High – Multi-impact capable |
| Comfort | Moderate | Low | Moderate to High | High – Adapts to body |
| Durability | Low – Single impact | Low – Cracks on hit | Moderate | High – Multi-use |
| Flexibility & Fit | Moderate to Hight | Low | High – Female-fit | Excellent |
| CE-Rated Protection | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Designed for Contact Sports | Questionable | Questionable | 🟡 Limited use | ✅ |
Why Materials Matter: PE Foam vs. EVA vs Viscoelastic PU (Memory) Foam
| Feature | PE Foam | EVA Foam | Viscoelastic PU Memory Foam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Used By | Zena Sports, Boob Armour | Footy Girls & Steeden | Fempro Armour |
| Impact Absorption | ❌ Low – Compresses easily, minimal shock absorption | ⚠️ Moderate – Disperses impact but reflects force | ✅ High – Absorbs and disperses energy across all speeds |
| Response to High-Speed ImpactLimit | Limited – Less effective under high-speed force | Limited – Less effective under high-speed force | Excellent – Becomes firmer and more protective on harder hits |
| Recovery After Impact | Low to Medium – Deforms | High – Springs back quickly | High – Maintains integrity after multiple impacts |
| Comfort & Flexibility | Moderate – Molded fit, but can feel hard | Moderate – Light and flexible but can feel rigid | Excellent – Molds to body, breathable, soft feel |
| Moisture Resistance | Moderate | ✅ High | ✅ High |
| Durability | ❌ Single-impact use | ⚠️ Moderate – Durable under light/moderate use | ✅ High – Built for multi-impact, long-term use |
| Certifications | ❌ None | ❌ None | ✅ CE-rated |
| Common Use | Basic coverage, light impact sports | Grassroots, youth, and moderate-contact sports | Elite-level AFL, NRL, Rugby, motorsports, tactical environments |
| Price Point | 💲💲Moderate | 💲💲 Moderate | 💲💲💲 Premium – but longer lasting |
It’s the same principle behind gear used in motorcycle racing, military armor, and elite-level sport science. When female athletes are colliding at full speed — this is the technology that makes a difference. When lives, careers, and confidence are on the line, material choice isn’t just a design decision — it’s a safety decision.
In Conclusion: Choosing the Right Protection for Your Needs
It’s encouraging to see multiple companies stepping up to address the long-overlooked need for female-specific protective equipment. Zena Sports, Boob Armour, Footy Girls and Fempro Armour each bring something unique to the table — and all of them have a place in the market depending on the sport you’re playing, your level of contact, personal comfort preferences, and budget.
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Zena Sports is a great entry-level option for those looking for light compression and basic coverage in non-contact or light-contact sports.
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Boob Armour is suitable for players wanting a simple, insert-based solution that adds a hard barrier against incidental bumps — often at an accessible price point.
- Footy Girls & Steeden: Offers lightweight, affordable, female-specific gear for moderate contact and grassroots athletes.
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Fempro Armour, while slightly more premium, is specifically designed for high-impact sports where protection, reusability, and comfort are essential — offering elite-level safety backed by CE certification and advanced material science.
Ultimately, the right choice depends on the level of protection you need, the frequency of impact in your sport, and how much confidence you want from your gear.
If you’re playing hard, tackling head-on, or already nursing bruises from the last game — Fempro Armour gives you the protection that goes the distance.
Want to learn more about how Fempro Armour is leading the charge in female athlete protection? Contact us or explore our latest products designed for female and male athletes.