Help a noob pick out some gear

[Loony 0]

Well, I wanted to start playing inline hockey again but wanted to try being the goalie this time around. I played defense for a couple years in a rec league about 9 years ago.

So, I need every piece of equipment needed to be goalie, but I don't know what companies are good, and if a $200 set of leg pads is good enough to play with, etc.

[supahdon 0]

Used might be the way to go if you're just trying it out for the first time. I went through about three sets of used leg pads before figuring out what suited my style of play.

If you want cheaper new stuff, the clearance page at GoalieMonkey.com has some nice deals if you're not picky about your color scheme.

[CH Goalie 39 0]

eBay my friend...

Or maybe go for one of the package deals on goalimemonkey like supahdon said.

[Law Goalie 147]

To make it brief...

Used pro-level gear will always outlast new senior-level price-point gear. Used pro stuff will also hold its resale value much better.

The one place you cannot skimp is on a helmet. Get something good, or don't even bother. Sportmask is always a good option, but there are some good deals on Sherwood masks made by Cohen, and Hackva is a really strong new option.

The next most important parts are the skates, pants, and chest-arm protector (aka C/A). In skates, the RBK 5K's and CCM Vector 6's are really good buys, if they fit you. McKenney is a very good, inexpensive option for pants and C/A; they're nearly as good as Brown for a fraction of the price.

Your next priority is you gonads. A pair of jock shorts with a goalie cup over the top is always better than a 'double cup' jock.

There isn't really a way to explain the difference in glove models out there. Basically, either buy a pair on spec and live with them, or try everything you can get your hands on. You'll either feel a difference or you won't; some guys are picky, some aren't.

Even the cheapest (leg) pads will protect you: your only concerns between brands/models are durability and performance. They are, bar none, the LEAST important piece of gear you'll buy. If there's one place to cheap out, it's here.

Also, PM sent.

[Bravada 442 0]

Well, I wanted to start playing inline hockey again but wanted to try being the goalie this time around. I played defense for a couple years in a rec league about 9 years ago.

So, I need every piece of equipment needed to be goalie, but I don't know what companies are good, and if a $200 set of leg pads is good enough to play with, etc.

Are you looking to play ball or puck? That could influence the level of equipment you have to buy as well.

[Loony 0]

Are you looking to play ball or puck? That could influence the level of equipment you have to buy as well.

Puck.

So the leg pads aren't that important huh? I would have thought they would be 2nd or 3rd around the helmet and skates. Lol, shows how much I know. Are there certain brands that have the best durability on the cheap? I will cheap out on these if possible, I'm pretty budget oriented.

What do you think is a good budget to have for buying used high end stuff and going pretty cheap on the legs? I'm looking for a number.

Thanks guys!

EDIT: Also, the only two e-tailers I know of are GoalieMonkey and HockeyGiant. Are there any others, besides EBay, that I should be looking at? I also have a play it again sports by me which I will check out.

[Law Goalie 147]

There's a lot of play in the prices, especially if you're buying used.

Mask: $100-$400 -- this is the one thing you probably should buy new, unless it's a phenomenally tough used mask, like a Badger or a Cubberly or something).

Skates: probably $50-$150 used for top-of-the-line stuff, a little more for the RBK 5K/CCM V6.0 new online. Buy what fits, try to buy used local if you can.

Pants: $50-$150 will get you anything from a solid, used pro pant to a basically new pair of pro-returns.

C/A: $75-$200 will score you a damn good used one, or possibly even a new one. I got my Brown C/A new for about $110, but that was utter luck.

Goalie Jock: $20-$50 used, $60-$90 new -- frankly, since you're wearing a base layer and a cup under the goalie jock anyway, you can buy used. It's not that gruesome, usually.

Gloves: $150-$250. Used pro-grade gloves aren't cheap (especially in matched sets), so I'd advise buying the trapper and blocker separately to keep costs down.

Pads: $150-$300. That's all. You can find Koho 580s in great shape these days for well under $300, and they may be one of the best pads ever made.

So if you take your time, buy things one by one at a time as cheaply as possible, you should be able to do it for under $600. If you go for stuff in slightly better condition, or that comes in pretty matching packages, it could easily run over $1000.

When I've advised guys with this stuff before, I always told them to go as cheap as possible at first. You don't know how much you're going to play, so why invest more than you need to? Getting good used pro-level stuff really cheaply also means that if you decide not to continue, you'll easily be able to sell it for what you paid. Likewise, if you get serious and want to upgrade, that $600 investment piece-by-piece is likely still worth $600 on the used market.

[Bender 0]

If your just playing a rec legue then you won't need anything too extravigent, but definatly make sure you get a good helmet.

Just about any skate should really do, especially while you just start playing...

try not to skimp to much on chest protection, its amazing how often pucks will find that tiny gap of padding on your arm otherwise....

Good luck

[TBLfan 25]

For skaters the most important piece of equipment is skates. Goalies aren't that much different, get some comfy skates... But don't skimp on a cup, I told my beginner goalie that, he ignored it because "they don't have hard shots" and he knew that I'd never take a cup shot at him warming him up... about 3 games in, he took a stick to the cup and asked me what he should buy after the game.

If you're on a budget I'd get three pieces new and use most of my budget on those. Mask, skates, jock.

Everything else can be found used and you'll get MUCH better deals.