Best ice hockey equipment for beginners

Summary: A beginner in hockey needs a helmet with a cage, neck guard, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, pants, suspenders or a jock, shin guards, socks, skates and a stick. The best thing for a beginner is not the most expensive equipment, but the equipment that is the right size. Skates and helmet are the most important things to get right. Many pieces of protection are fine to buy second-hand, especially for children who grow quickly. Don't forget the little things: tape for the shin guards and stick, laces, water bottle and a bag that lets the equipment dry.

Introduction

The first time you buy hockey equipment can feel like a long list of unknown words. What is the difference between a sock and a sock cover? Is everything really needed? And how do you know what size a growing child should have?

This guide is written for you who are new, either as a parent to a child who is going to start in hockey school or as an adult who wants to start playing. We go through everything that is needed from top to bottom, what is worth spending money on and what is fine to buy second-hand, as well as the small things that many forget until there is a player in the locker room without tape or with a broken lace.

Checklist – all equipment a beginner needs

From top to bottom:

Helmet with cage. The most important part of the equipment. For beginners and children, a full cage is the obvious choice.
Neck guard. Protects the neck from skate blades. In Swedish youth hockey, it is mandatory. Check what applies in your club.
Shoulder pads. Protects shoulders, chest and back during falls and hits.
Elbow pads. Protects elbows during falls on the ice, which beginners do often.
Gloves. Protect fingers and wrists and provide grip on the stick.
Pants. Protect hips, thighs and tailbone. They are thick and padded, not regular pants.
Suspenders or jock. Often forgotten but always needed.
Shin guards. Protect knees and shins.
Socks. The long hockey socks that are pulled over the shin guards. They are held up by sock holders or Velcro on the pants, or by a special undergarment.
Skates. The most important purchase along with the helmet.
Stick. Right length and right grip, left or right.

In addition to the protection, a few things are needed that are often forgotten: tape for the shin guards and stick, extra skate laces, a water bottle and a bag. More about them further down.

How each piece of protection should fit and how you check the fit is covered in the guide on the best protection for hockey players.

Skates, helmet and stick – the most important choices

The skates affect how fun it is to start more than anything else. Skates that chafe, pinch or are too big make it difficult to learn to skate. Always try the skates in the store, preferably late in the day when the feet are at their largest, and with the socks you will play in. The heel should fit tightly and not lift when you bend your knee forward. The toes should just touch the front edge when you stand upright, and pull back when you bend your knees. Do not buy too big so that the skates will last longer, because a too big skate gives poor support. New skates often need to be sharpened before the first practice, so ask the store.

The lacing plays a big role in how the skate feels. Lace moderately tight over the toes, tightest over the instep and a little looser at the top. Waxed Skate Laces hold the tension and do not slide up during the practice. Unwaxed Skate Laces are softer and easier for small hands to lace themselves. The right length according to the skate size is in the guide on skate laces.

The helmet should be approved for ice hockey, fit tightly around the head and not move when you shake your head with the chin strap fastened. The front edge should sit about a finger's width above the eyebrows. Never buy a helmet that is too big so that the child can grow into it. Loose screws on the helmet and cage you can easily replace with Howies Hockey Helmet Repair Kit.

The stick should as a rule reach approximately up to the chin when the player stands in skates with the stick upright in front of them. Beginners often benefit from a slightly shorter stick, because it gives better puck control close to the body. Choose the grip according to what feels natural. The hand that is at the bottom of the stick determines whether it is a left- or right-handed stick. Let the player try both.

New or second-hand?

Hockey equipment can be expensive, especially for children who grow out of it every or every other season. The good thing is that much can be bought second-hand.

Good to buy second-hand:

Shoulder pads, elbow pads, pants and shin guards, as long as the padding is intact and the Velcro and straps work.
Gloves, if the palm is not worn or broken.
Stick, at least in the beginning, before the player knows what length and curve fits.

Better to buy new:

Helmet. You never know if a second-hand helmet has received a hard hit, and injuries are not always visible. If you still buy second-hand, check that the shell is intact and that the helmet is within the manufacturer's recommended lifespan. The date is often on a label inside.
Skates. They mold to the previous owner's foot. Second-hand skates can work for small children, but check that they are not worn down and that the support around the instep remains.
Suspenders and neck guard, for hygienic reasons and because they are cheap.

Many clubs have equipment exchange days or storage with lendable protection for hockey school. Ask the coach before you buy anything.

The little things that are often forgotten

These are the things that make it work in the locker room, and that make a beginner not feel left out:

Shin guard tape. The shin guards are taped to the sock so that they do not slide. Apply 2–3 turns under the knee and 2–3 turns above the skate, not too tight. The shin guard tape is a good choice for beginners. The technique is in the guide on taping shin guards.
Cloth tape and grip tape for the stick. Cloth tape on the blade gives better puck control and protects the blade. Grip tape on the shaft gives a steady grip. That is how you do it in the guide on taping the hockey stick.
Extra skate laces. A lace that breaks in the middle of the practice is more common than you think.
Water bottle. Water bottle 760 ml is BPA-free and easy to grip with gloves. With Nozzle for water bottle the player can drink through the cage without taking off the helmet.
A bag that lets the equipment dry. Hockeyback 2.0 has large ventilation holes and is available with or without wheels.
Labeling. All helmets and bags look the same in a locker room. Sticker letters and numbers make it easy to mark the equipment.

The easiest way to get most of it is Start kit – New player. It gathers cloth tape, grip tape and waxed skate laces in a kit, and you choose the color and lace length. If you also want a water bottle and accessory bag, there is Complete Player Kit. For training at home, Hockey Puck Light 125 g is designed for younger players and beginners. It is lighter than a regular puck and gives better control and feel.

Common questions about hockey equipment for beginners

1. What equipment does a beginner need in hockey?

A beginner needs a helmet with a cage, neck guard, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, pants, suspenders or a jock, shin guards, socks, skates and a stick. It sounds like a lot, but everything is needed so that the player is protected during falls, which there are many of in the beginning. In addition to the protection, a few things are needed that are often forgotten. Shin guard tape keeps the shin guards in place against the sock. Cloth tape and grip tape are needed for the stick. Extra skate laces, a water bottle and a bag that lets the equipment dry also belong. The easiest way to get tape and laces is Start kit – New player, which gathers cloth tape, grip tape and waxed skate laces in a kit. If you also want a water bottle and accessory bag, there is Complete Player Kit. Before you buy protection, ask the club. Many have lendable protection for hockey school or arrange days where families can exchange second-hand equipment. It can save a lot of money the first year, before you know if the child wants to continue. How each piece of protection should fit is covered in the guide on the best protection for hockey players.

2. Which equipment is most important to get right?

The helmet and the skates. The helmet is the most important protection, because it protects the head. It should be approved for ice hockey, have a cage and fit tightly without pressing. Test by shaking your head with the chin strap fastened. The helmet should follow along and not slide. Never buy a helmet that is too big so that the child can grow into it. The skates are most important for how fun it is to start. A skate that chafes, pinches or is too big makes it difficult to learn to skate, and then many lose interest. Always try the skates in the store with the socks the player will use. The heel should fit tightly and not lift when the knee is bent forward. The lacing also makes a big difference. Waxed Skate Laces hold the tension the whole practice, and Unwaxed Skate Laces are easier for small hands to lace themselves. The neck guard is also important and is mandatory in Swedish youth hockey. The other protection needs to have the right size but is often fine to buy second-hand, so rather spend the money on helmet and skates.

3. Do you need expensive skates as a beginner?

No. For a beginner, the fit is much more important than the price. The most expensive skates are often stiffer and made for players who already can skate and want to have maximum power transfer. For a beginner, such a skate can feel hard and uncomfortable. A skate in the mid-range that fits well is a better choice. Try several models in the store, because different brands fit different foot shapes: some are narrower and others wider. Try late in the day, when the feet are as large, and with the socks that are to be used. The heel should fit tightly and not lift when you bend the knee. Do not buy too big so that the skates will last longer. A too big skate gives poor support around the instep and makes it harder to learn to skate. New skates often need to be sharpened before the first practice, so ask the store. Spend a few cents on good laces. Waxed Skate Laces hold the lacing in place and make even a cheaper skate fit firmly. The right length is in the guide on skate laces.

4. Can you buy second-hand hockey equipment?

Yes, and for children it is often a smart choice, because they grow out of the equipment quickly. Shoulder pads, elbow pads, pants, shin guards and gloves are generally fine to buy second-hand. Check that the padding is intact and not flat, that there are no cracks in hard parts and that Velcro and straps work. On gloves, look extra closely at the palm, which wears out fastest. The helmet you should preferably buy new. You never know if a second-hand helmet has received a hard hit, and such injuries are not always visible on the outside. If you still buy second-hand, check that the shell is intact and that the helmet is within the manufacturer's recommended lifespan. The date is often on a label inside. Skates work second-hand for small children, but check that they are not worn down and that the support around the instep remains. Suspenders and neck guards are cheap and should be bought new for hygienic reasons. Loose screws on a second-hand helmet you can easily replace with Howies Hockey Helmet Repair Kit. Also ask the club if they have equipment exchange days or lendable protection for hockey school.

5. How long should a hockey stick be for a beginner?

As a rule of thumb, the stick should reach approximately up to the chin when the player stands in skates with the stick upright in front of them and the blade against the ice. Without skates it should reach slightly higher, approximately to the nose. It is a starting point. Beginners often benefit from a stick that is slightly shorter than the rule of thumb, because it gives better puck control close to the body and is easier to handle. A stick that is too long makes the player stand too upright and lose control over the puck. Test in playing position: with bent knees the blade should lie flat against the ice without the player needing to reach. Choose the grip according to what feels natural. The hand that is at the bottom of the stick determines whether it is a left- or right-handed stick. Let the player try both, because it does not always follow whether one is right- or left-handed. Junior sticks can be shortened, but keep in mind that they become stiffer when they are shortened. Tape the blade with cloth tape for better puck control. Start kit – New player contains CCM Cloth Tape and grip tape. The technique is in the guide on taping the hockey stick.

6. What tape does a beginner need?

A beginner needs three types of tape, one for each job. Shin guard tape keeps the shin guards in place against the skate. It is thin and stretchy and follows the leg's movements. Shin guard tape is a good choice for beginners and for practice. Apply 2–3 wraps just below the knee and 2–3 wraps just above the skate, around the skate and guard. Do not pull tighter than a finger can fit under the tape. Cloth tape is used on the stick's blade and knob. It provides better puck control and protects the blade. Grip tape is used on the shaft, where the hands rest, and provides a secure grip even with sweaty gloves. Grip tape comes in seven colors. Do not mix them up, because cloth tape on the legs cracks or pinches when the leg moves. The easiest way to get started is Starter Kit – New Player, which includes cloth tape, grip tape and waxed skate laces in one kit. How to tape is explained in the guides on how to tape shin guards and tape a hockey stick. It is a good idea to teach the child to tape themselves over time. It will become a natural part of the preparation and make the player more independent in the locker room.

7. How often should hockey equipment be replaced?

For children, size is usually the deciding factor. Children grow out of skates, gloves, and guards every or every other season, so check the fit before each season, and preferably also in the middle of the season. A guard that has become too small will not cover where it should, and skates that have become too small will chafe and hurt. For adults and teenagers who have stopped growing, it depends on how much the equipment is used and how it is cared for. Replace the helmet if the shell has cracked, if it has taken a heavy hit, or if the padding has become flat. Follow the manufacturer's recommendation for lifespan. Replace the other guards when the padding has lost its shape, when there are cracks in hard parts, or when the straps have broken. Consumables are replaced significantly more often. Shin guard tape is re-taped before every practice, cloth tape on the stick when it is worn, and skate laces when they become frayed. Proper care ensures that the equipment lasts longer. Take everything out of the bag after every practice and let it dry. Hockeyback 2.0 has large ventilation holes that allow the equipment to dry faster.

8. How can a beginner practice at home?

Much of what makes a hockey player better can be practiced off the ice, and for a beginner, it is a good way to become comfortable with a stick and puck. The easiest way is to practice puck control and stickhandling on a smooth floor, in the garage, or on a driveway. A regular puck is heavy and bouncy on hard surfaces, so for younger players, the Hockey Puck Light 125 g is a better choice. It is lighter than a regular puck and designed to give younger players and beginners better control and feel. For practice on asphalt and concrete, there is the Street Hockey Puck, which glides smoothly and provides a realistic puck feel. The Technique Puck Hockey is good for fast hands and works on all flat surfaces. Start with simple exercises: pull the puck forward and back in front of the body, to the sides, and around obstacles. A few minutes a day will yield clear progress. The most important thing is that it is fun, so that the player keeps going.