IF YOU’VE NEVER PLAYED HOCKEY, ALL THE GEAR IS A MYSTERY. And even if you have, it’s still easy to forget or lose something, particularly in the chaos of a crowded locker room. A glove goes home in another player’s bag, Mom puts your sibling’s breezers in your bag, your Under Armour top is still in the dryer, the tape rolled under the car seat. Whether you’re shopping for new gear for a new player or packing for a tournament, use this handy hockey gear checklist.
On the Body
- Helmet with mask
- Mouth guard in a box or baggie
- Neck guard
- Water bottle
- Moisture-wicking top with long sleeves (optional)
- Shoulder pads
- Practice or game jerseys (both home and away)
- Elbow pads
- Gloves
- Moisture-wicking pants (optional)
- Hockey jock with Velcro and/or tape for socks
- Hockey pants (also called breezers)
- Suspenders (optional)
- Shin guards
- Hockey socks (with tape if used)
- Skating socks
- Skates
In the Bag
- Stick (plus backup stick)
- Tape (for sticks and socks)
- Skate guards
- Skate towel
- Optional: extra mouth guard, extra skate laces, skate tool, stick wax, “emergency” snack
Goalie Extras
Goalies need everything above except for the helmet, gloves, and shin guards—plus, they also need:
- Mask
- Throat protector
- Chest/arm protector
- Catcher
- Blocker
- Leg pads
- Goalie skates (for older goalies)
- Goalie stick
