What are Soccer Pinnies?
Soccer pinnies – also known as scrimmage vests or soccer pennies – are colorful, loose-fitting practice shirts that players will typically wear over their clothes when they need to be broken up into different teams.
Soccer pinnies are meant to define a team and limit having to remember who is playing on which side – key for both coaches and players. They are typically worn over clothes and are meant to be loose-fitting to allow for maximum movement during gameplay. Soccer pinnies also tend to be brightly colored to be distinguishable on the field and teams typically use at least two different colors to set each team apart from one another.
Soccer pinnies come in a variety of colors, and are typically colorful to allow for high visibility. Some soccer pinnies are also reversible with one light and one dark color on each side.
They are typically made from lightweight, fitted mesh. This is to ensure the player has a full range of motion during training.
The lightweight material is meant to dry quickly and keep players from overheating.
In a hurry? Jump straight to our reviews of the best soccer pinnies
Umm, I Thought They Were Called Soccer Pennies…
First – you’re not alone! Until I wrote this article, I thought they were pennies too!
The word pinny comes from the British word pinafore, which is an apron or sleeveless garment that used to be worn by women over the front of their dresses. Though pinnies are used around the world in sports such as basketball, lacrosse, and soccer, the British term stuck. (Nice bit of trivia to keep in your back pocket, eh?)
The correct term, therefore, is a soccer pinny. However, the pronunciation can sometimes make it sound like a soccer penny.
How to Wash Soccer Pinnies
Washing a soccer pinnie is a simple task, but some caution should be considered.
Make sure to machine wash in cold water, without any other clothes or fabric softener. As most pinnies are made of polyester mesh, they can attract cotton strands from other clothes. Using cold water will help to keep the colors bright and will limit any dye that comes off the pinnie as well.
Additionally, you should line or air dry them. Fabric softener and dryer heat can ruin the material or any silk screening on the pinnie. Drying them can also cause them to shrink, which is undesirable. And of course, check the individual soccer pinnie to see if they have details on the recommended cleaning method.
How do I get rid of stains on soccer pinnies?
If stains appear on your athletic pinnies, do not worry as they are likely to come out. Once you are home, use a utility sink or hose to remove any dirt from the pinnie’s surface. This is especially important if the soccer pinnie is full of mud. Applying cold water all over the mesh will help to stop the stain from setting in.
Next, make sure to pre-soak the pinnie. This can be done by filling a sink or bucket with water that is lukewarm. Then, add a bit of laundry detergent and approximately one cup + two tablespoons of baking soda.
If you have hard water, some water softener may be needed to allow for the laundry detergent to work. The pinnie should then soak at least an hour if not overnight. Avoid soaking the different colored pinnies together to limit dye transfer.
Finally, the best soccer pinnies are machine washable in cold water. Just be sure to wash them without any other clothes and air dry them. If necessary, repeat the process if the stain persists.
Reviews of the Best Soccer Pinnies
Finding the best soccer pinnies for your needs is hard when there are so many options on the market. Here are three of our picks for the best soccer pinnies, and details on what makes each one unique.
Our Pick
SportsRepublik Pinnies Scrimmage Vests - 12 Pack
These pinnies come in several colors, as well as color combo packs meant for defined team play.
Flexible side straps make sure they fit well on each player and have stronger stitching to make them more durable.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
These pinnies come in several colors, as well as color combo packs meant for defined team play.
Flexible side straps make sure they fit well on each player and have stronger stitching to make them more durable.
More Details about the SportsRepublik Soccer Pinnies
These soccer pinnies come in packs of twelve and come in both youth and adult sizes.
The pinnies come in several colors – 14 actually! – and also have a couple of color combo packs meant for defined team play.
Flexible side straps make sure they fit well on each player and have stronger stitching to make them more durable.
It’s worth noting that these pinnies are meant to be more form-fitting, but still have good ventilation due to the open sides.
They are also machine-washable for easy maintenance.
Additionally, they come with a free carrying bag to keep them organized when not in use.
-
Pros
- Durable
- Good quality
- Machine-washable
- Good customer service
-
Cons
- Side-fastening design allows the bottom to move around more than traditional scrimmage vests
- Heavier than other scrimmage vests
Unlimited Potential Nylon Mesh Scrimmage Team Practice Vests - 12 pack
Sold in packs of twelve, these soccer pinnies come in a variety of colors, which helps to easily divide your team for a quick practice scrimmage.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Sold in packs of twelve, these soccer pinnies come in a variety of colors, which helps to easily divide your team for a quick practice scrimmage.
More Details about the Unlimited Potential Soccer Pinnies
More Details about the Unlimited Potential Soccer PinniesUnlimited Potential soccer pinnies come in packs of twelve. They come in a variety of colors and also come in combo packs. This is meant for easy dividing up of teams for practice scrimmages and easy visibility on the field.
These scrimmage vests come in three sizes: child size (which measures 21.5” long and 18” wide); youth size (23.5” long and 19.5” wide), and adult size (27.5” long and 23.5” wide). This makes a great option to ensure you’ll have the right size on hand.
Made out of a mesh polyester fabric, these pinnies provide good ventilation.
The vests are meant to be worn over clothing and are supposed to have a loose fit for a full range of motion.
The seams also feature high-quality stitching, so they can be used in all types of weather and for added durability for both play and washing.
-
Pros
- Combo color packs are available
- Available in child, youth and adult sizing
- Some color combinations are reversible, which helps your money go even further
- Machine washable
- High visibility coloring
- Some options are numbered, which is great for keeping track of players
-
Cons
- Not the most stretchable of pinnies, so they may not be a good choice for players near the max sizes
BlueDot Trading Adult Sports Pinnies
Different quantities let you order just what you need - whether it's a one-off for a goalie or you need to outfit a whole team.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Different quantities let you order just what you need - whether it's a one-off for a goalie or you need to outfit a whole team.
More Details about the Blue Dot Soccer Pinnies
More Details about the Blue Dot Soccer PinniesThese soccer pinnies come in a variety of quantities – which makes them a great option if you need to purchase 1 or 2 to double as a goalie top or you’re looking for one or two dozen to outfit your entire team.
We also love that some are already made combinations, so you can immediately start your scrimmage as soon as you open the bag.
These pinnies are lightweight and made out of 100% polyester mesh.
The brand carries both youth and adult sizes in ten colors. They are also machine washable.
-
Pros
- Different quantities let you order just what you need
- Ability to order two colors in one pack
- Durable
- Fit a variety of player sizes
- Lightweight
-
Cons
- Color may not be as seen in the image
- Sizing may be inaccurate on the chart
- The cut may be small for adult men
Final Thoughts on the Best Soccer Pinnies
Soccer pinnies are a great resource for teams during both practice and scrimmages. They can be used by players at every level and come in a variety of colors. They are meant to be loose-fitting and fit over clothes.
While there are many options on the market today, this guide for the best soccer pinnies was intended to help you understand which option fits your specific needs and provides the features you need at a price you can afford.
In my opinion, the best soccer pinnies are the Sports Republik soccer pinnies.
Their unique strap design ensures the pinnies will fit a greater number of players and also allows for the fabric to breathe more than other designs.
And while they may be slightly heavier, they are also more durable than other pinnies.
Investing in a quality set of pinnies is worth the price to help keep you sane during scrimmages.
