How to choose the right sports tape for hockey

Summary: A hockey player needs three types of tape. Shin guard tape holds the guards in place. Cloth tape belongs on the stick blade and butt. Grip tape or LizardSkins provides grip on the shaft. Each tape has its own job, and none of them can replace another. Sports tape and kinesiology tape are something else: they are used on the body for injuries, and that taping is best done with the help of a physiotherapist. Here we clear up the differences, help you choose, and link to our guides for each part.

Introduction

Standing in front of the tape shelf, or in the hockey bag before a game, it is easy to take the roll that is closest. But tape is not just tape. The roll that is perfect on the stick blade cracks on the shin guard, and the one that sits nicely around the skate boot wears out on the blade after a few shots.

The good thing is that the choice is simpler than it looks. It is about three places on the equipment and one tape for each place. When you know which tape does what, the rest is a matter of taste: color, feel, and how much you play. This article is intended as your map. We go through each tape briefly and then link to the guide where you learn the technique step by step.

Three tapes, three jobs – and when sports tape is needed

This is how the distribution looks:

• Shin guard tape: the legs. It is thin, stretchy, and usually made of PVC. It locks the skate boot and shin guard so that the guard stays in place throughout the game. It follows the leg's movements and withstands sweat, ice, and cold.
• Cloth tape: the stick blade and butt. It is woven and has strong adhesive. It gives the puck grip against the blade, dampens receptions, and protects the blade from wear. On the butt, it gives the top hand a clear grip.
• Grip tape or LizardSkins: the shaft. It sits where the hands work and provides friction against the glove, so that the stick stays steady even with sweaty gloves.

The most common mistake is to use cloth tape on the legs, because it is already in the bag. Cloth tape does not stretch, so it cracks or pinches when the leg moves. The reverse does not work either: shin guard tape on the blade wears out immediately.

And what about the sports tape? By sports tape, many mean the white, non-elastic tape that is used to support ankles and wrists, or kinesiology tape, the elastic tape that is used for muscle issues. That tape sits directly on the body and is used primarily at or after injuries. It requires a different technique and an assessment of the injury itself, so it is best done together with a physiotherapist or the team's chiropractor. StickyTape focuses on the tape that makes the equipment sit and function.

Shin guard tape – choose according to how much you play

All shin guard tapes have the same task, but they differ in wear resistance and use:

• Shin Guard Tape PRO is our first choice for active players. It is made of 0.18 mm PVC film with rubber-based adhesive and is 24 mm wide and 20 m long. It withstands everything from −10 °C to 80 °C and holds even through games with many close encounters.
• Shin Guard Tape is the classic variant for hockey and bandy. It is a good choice for training and for you who tape often and want to keep costs down.
• Advance AT7 Shin Guard Tape is hand-tearable and available in ten colors. It is suitable when the tape should match the team's skate boots.

A simple rule of thumb: if you play many games and want the tape to hold no matter what happens, choose PRO. If you tape mostly before training, or are helping a child, the classic tape works perfectly.

How you apply the tape, how tight it should sit, and what mistakes you should avoid are covered in the guide on taping shin guards.

Cloth tape and grip – choose by feel

Cloth tape for the blade and butt

The difference between the cloth tapes lies in the weave and the adhesive, and it shows in how long the tape holds.

• Howies Cloth Tape is premium tape from the USA with 68 threads per inch. The dense weave makes it wear-resistant, and it holds game after game. It is available in white and black.
• CCM Cloth Tape is 25 mm wide and has 25 m per roll, strong adhesive, and a water-repellent surface. It is suitable for you who tape often and want many applications per roll. It is available in white and black.

Choose Howies if you want the tape to hold as long as possible, and CCM if you want a lot of tape on the roll. Black or white is mostly a matter of taste. Finish the taping with Howies Hockey Stick Wax, which makes the tape water-repellent and prevents ice and snow from sticking to the blade. The technique for the blade and butt is in the guide on taping the hockey stick.

Grip for the shaft

Here, it is the feel that decides:

• Grip tape is stretchy and made of cotton and spandex. It gives a soft, textile feel and can be built up in layers for a thicker grip. It is available in seven colors.
• LizardSkins is an NHL-licensed grip tape in polymer, 0.5 mm thick, with a self-adhesive backing. The surface is thin, even, and non-slip and feels the same every time.

If you want to customize the grip yourself, choose grip tape. If you want the stick to always feel the same, choose LizardSkins. Unsure? Grip & Stick Kit contains both, plus stick wax, so you can test it on your own stick. The differences and wrapping technique are in the guide Grip tape or LizardSkins?.

All our tape guides gathered

Here you will find the right guide for what you are going to do:

• Tape shin guards: where the tape should sit, how tight you should pull, and how you tape in hockey, bandy, and football.
• Tape the hockey stick: how you tape the blade and build the butt, and why the wax makes a difference.
• Grip tape or LizardSkins?: differences in feel and durability, and how you wrap the grip.
• Tape in bandy: blade, grip, and shin guards when you play outdoors in cold and snow.
• Skate laces – right length, waxed or unwaxed: size guide and lacing for the best fit.
• How to tape your skates for the best fit: from the knee down to the skate, and tips for figure skating.

For teams and clubs: Do you want to equip the whole team at the same time as you earn money for the team fund? Read about how the team earns money for the team fund with a team link and 20 % back on every sold Team Package.

Frequently asked questions about hockey tape

1. What tape does a hockey player need?

A hockey player needs three types of tape, one for each part of the equipment. Shin guard tape holds the shin guards in place against the skate boot. It is thin and stretchy and follows the leg's movements without cracking. Our first choice is Shin Guard Tape PRO, which withstands everything from −10 °C to 80 °C. Cloth tape is used on the stick blade and butt, provides puck control, and protects the blade. Howies Cloth Tape is a safe choice that holds game after game. Grip tape or a grip tape is used on the shaft, where the hands sit, and provides friction against the glove. Grip tape gives a soft, textile feel and can be built up in layers. Feel free to complement with stick wax for the blade, so the cloth tape holds longer. If you are going to get started from scratch, or buy for a new player, Start Kit – New Player gathers the most important in a kit: cloth tape, grip tape, and waxed skate laces. Then you have everything before the first training and can then refill what runs out fastest. For most players, it is the shin guard tape.

2. What is the difference between sports tape and hockey tape?

Hockey tape sits on the equipment and sports tape sits on the body. By hockey tape, many mean the cloth tape on the stick, but the term also includes shin guard tape and grip tape. All three are made to make the equipment sit and function: guards that stay still, a stick that does not slip, and a blade that gives the puck grip. Sports tape is usually a white, non-elastic tape that is used to support joints, for example an ankle or wrist, at or after an injury. Kinesiology tape is an elastic variant that is used for muscle issues. Both are applied directly to the skin and require a different technique, often with an assessment of the injury itself. That taping is therefore best done together with a physiotherapist or the team's chiropractor. Do not use sports tape for the shin guards. It does not stretch, and it cracks or pinches when the leg moves. For the guards, a real shin guard tape like Shin Guard Tape PRO is used, and for the stick, a cloth tape like CCM Cloth Tape. The right tape in the right place is the foundation for the equipment to function.

3. Should you choose black or white cloth tape?

There is no right answer. It is mostly about taste, habit, and the team's colors. Many players say that black tape makes the puck harder for the goalie to see on the blade, and it hides wear and dirt better. Others prefer white tape because it is clearly visible and looks clean. White tape also has a practical advantage: it turns gray and worn, so you see immediately when it is time to retape. Performance is not affected by the color. What matters is the weave and the adhesive, and that is where the difference between the brands lies. Howies Cloth Tape has a dense weave with 68 threads per inch and holds for a long time. CCM Cloth Tape has 25 m per roll and a water-repellent surface. Both are available in black and white. If you want the whole stick to go in the team's colors, you can combine the cloth tape on the blade with Grip Tape in one of seven colors on the shaft. Read more about the technique in the guide on taping the hockey stick.

4. How often should you change the tape on the stick?

It depends on how much you play and how the tape looks. Change when the tape is worn, broken, or has absorbed water. For active players, it is often before every game and a few times a week during training. The one who plays less often can often manage two to three games on the same taping. New tape gives the same puck feel every time, and therefore many have re-taping as a fixed part of the match preparations. Always remove the old tape before you put new, because tape on top of tape adheres worse and makes the blade heavier. Let the blade dry properly before you tape, and finish with Howies Hockey Stick Wax, so the tape holds longer. A lot of tape is used during a season. With a subscription like Howies Cloth Tape (3-pack) you get tape delivered every other week, every month, or every third month. If you prefer CCM, there is CCM Cloth Tape (3-pack) with the same setup. Then you never stand without tape before a game.

5. Can tape cause skin irritation?

Shin guard tape and cloth tape should not sit against the skin at all, and then skin irritation is rarely a problem. The shin guard tape is applied around the skate boot and the guard, never directly against the leg. Against the skin, it also adheres worse, because the skin sweats, and it hurts to remove. The cloth tape and grip tape sit on the stick and come into contact with the glove, not with the skin. If you still get irritation at the legs, it is more often due to the guard chafing than the tape. A guard that slides or twists rubs against the skin or the skate, and that is exactly what the taping is supposed to prevent. Make sure the skate boot lies flat without wrinkles, and tape so that the guard sits still. With a pliable tape like Shin Guard Tape PRO, it is easy to get the right tension. Sports tape and kinesiology tape are applied directly to the skin, however. If you have sensitive skin and need that kind of taping, talk to a physiotherapist about which material is suitable. The whole technique for the legs is in the guide on taping shin guards.

6. Is expensive tape better than cheap?

Not always, but the difference in quality is noticeable. What sets tapes apart is above all the adhesive and the material. Cheap tape, especially electrical tape and household tape that is used in lack of other, often loses its grip in cold and moisture and lets go in the middle of the session. Then the tape has not done its job, and you have to retape or play with a guard that moves. For cloth tape, the difference is in the weave. A denser weave, like the 68 threads per inch in Howies Cloth Tape, makes the tape hold more games, which often evens out the price difference per taping. For shin guard tape, it is about the tape withstanding cold and sweat without cracking. Shin Guard Tape PRO has rubber-based adhesive and withstands from −10 °C to 80 °C. The smartest way to keep costs down is not to buy cheaper tape, but to buy the right tape in larger quantities. Kits like Monthly Kit gather Shin Guard Tape PRO, Howies cloth tape, and grip tape at a lower price than if you buy the parts individually.

7. How do you store tape best?

Store the tape dry and at room temperature. Cold tape becomes stiffer and adheres worse, so do not let the rolls lie in a cold car or an unheated storage room between sessions. Take the tape into the locker room a while before you tape, if it has been cold. Moisture is the tape's other enemy. A roll that has become damp can get worse grip, and the edges can start to let go. Keep the tape away from wet towels and equipment in the hockey bag. A separate compartment or a small bag for tape and accessories makes a big difference. Howies Hockey Accessory Bag is made for exactly that. It is made of durable nylon and has two compartments and a transparent name pocket, so that tape, laces, and wax are kept dry and easy to find. Use the rolls you have opened first, so no tape lies around for too long. Cut or tear the tape with clean and dry hands, because dirt and moisture on the edge worsens the grip.

8. What tape is suitable for a whole team?

For teams, the choice is mostly about volume and simplicity. The tape is the same as for an individual player. If the team wants a common supply in the equipment room, buy in bulk. Howies Cloth Tape – Carton covers the club tape. Unite Hockey Grip Tape – Carton contains 160 rolls of stretchy grip tape in six colors, so the whole team can have grip in the club color. The shin guard tape runs out fastest, and Shin Guard Tape PRO (10-pack) can be delivered as a subscription, so that the supply never runs out. Does the team prefer to earn money rather than buy in? Then the team link is suitable. Players and families buy Team Packages via the team's own link, and 20 % of the sales go to the team fund. Read more about how the team earns money for the team fund.