Abstract: An article of protective gear (e.g., shoulder pads) for protecting an upper body of a wearer (e.g., a hockey, lacrosse, football, or other contact-sport player), in which the article of protective gear is configured to protect a thorax of the wearer and arms of the wearer against impacts (e.g., with other players, boards, pucks, balls, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, etc., which may be encountered during hockey, lacrosse, football or another contact sport), efficiently and conveniently, such as by integrating thorax (e.g., chest and shoulder) protection and arm protection into a unitary protective garment (e.g., which may be donned, doffed, and carried as a one-piece garment) while remaining lightweight and providing ventilation (e.g., for enhanced heat management, drying, etc.).