List Of The Full Set For Ice Hockey Gear

Since hockey contains so much contact, you want to protect yourself with the proper equipment before participating. Players must gain awareness of the necessary pieces of equipment and maintain this equipment throughout the season. Failure to protect yourself can lead to serious injury.

Skates

Since hockey takes place on ice, you will need skates to participate. Remember that skates generally fit about one-half size smaller than your shoes. Make sure you properly maintain your skates by sharpening them and checking for cracks in the blades and blade holders.

Helmet

Your helmet must protect you from sticks, the boards and the ice, so it remains an essential piece of equipment. Most helmets come with ear guards and a chin strap, which you should tighten. Check your helmet for damage before every game, as cracks in the outer shell could compromise its structure. You should also check the inside padding for damage. Breaks in the padding mean you should replace the helmet.

Stick

Sticks have changed more than other pieces of equipment over the years, as you can now find them in a variety of materials. Previously, all sticks were made from wood, but you can now find aluminum, Kevlar, graphite and titanium sticks at nearly every hockey retailer. Consider the degree of flex of a stick, which comes in medium, stick and extra stiff. Stronger players should use a stiffer flex because it allows them to get more of a whipping action on a slap shot.

Upper-Body Protection

On your upper body, you wear shoulder pads, elbow pads and gloves for protection. Your shoulder pads should cover your shoulders, upper back, upper arms and chest. Your elbow pads cover the joint of your elbow and reach up your arm to the bottom of your shoulder pads and down your arm to the top of your gloves. Your gloves should fit loosely over your fingers, while protecting your hands and wrists.

Lower-Body Protection

Lower-body equipment starts with an athletic support, which both males and females should wear. You need shin pads to protect your legs from pucks and sticks. Your shin guard should cover your knees and shins, while resting about 1 inch from the top of your foot. Your pants will overlap for about 2 inches with your shin guards. The pants contain padding to protect your ribs, hips, thighs, kidneys and tailbone.