Novice Hockey

[capcity 0]

I'm just starting out with hockey, I'm on a couple of beer league teams. I love it. I've been using my cousins hand me down equipment, and now that I know this is something I will be in for the long term I want to upgrade my equipment. So I am posting to see what more experienced hockey goers think.

I don't want bottom of the line equipment, and I don't feel that I need the top of the line. Help me out!!! The only thing I did purchase were my NIKE BAUER XXV's, the fit is great I had the pro shop bake them for me too and I have never had a blister. However what should I be looking for in the rest of my equipment?

[althoma1 575]

Set aside a good chunk of time and go to a hockey store with a big selection and try on as much equipment as you can. Bring your skates with you as that'll make it easier to buy the right size shin pads. When you're trying on the pads pay attention to how comfortable they are on your body and move around a bit to see if they twist and move or if they stay in place well.

In the end the bottom line is you want something that fits well and is comfortable. The best balance of price, protection and features is usually one down from the top or closeout models from the previous year. Don't pay too much attention to brand as not all of the equipment has to match (it can, but doesn't have to). Just buy what fits your body and budget. Certain pads will fit some people better than others so you won't know until you try the stuff on.

[Jordan 13]

Spend on:

Skates - they are your connection to the ice.

Helmet - if you value your brain

Cheap out on the rest and then slowly upgrade as you see fit over time.

[capcity 0]

I'm with you on that go for comfort and leave brand names out of it. Thanks for the good advice. How about stick flex. I have a guy on one of my teams that goes through a lot of sticks and is always willing to sell them to us after he's ready to try something else but most of his sticks run from 90 to 110 flex is that something I should worry about.

P.S. Wish I had the back pocket like him to try different stuff until I found out what works.

[Jarick 5]

Definitely try on as much as you can before buying. Skates and helmet are not places to skimp, and the XXV's are fantastic skates. Look for a helmet that fits properly (bonus for occipital lock) and wear a full cage.

If you're prone to falling down, check out some nicer pants with more padding so it hurts less. Used gear places will often have older Tacklas for cheap that are very good quality if they aren't too worn down. The other piece of gear that should be higher quality would be the elbow pads; make sure they don't slide around when on your arm (straps across the elbow are great) and have plenty of protection so you won't bust an elbow falling down.

For the rest of the gear, you can actually kind of cheap out if you're a forward. So long as the shin pads cover your leg and don't slide around, and if the shoulder pads fit well, you probably won't need to spend a ton on them. If you're going to block shots as a defenseman, you would want better and more protective gear that will disperse impact. For gloves, middle of the road models are fine unless you either plan on blocking shots or taking draws, where I'd look at a more high end glove with inserts on the fingers and higher density foam.

On stick flex, you want to be able to flex it an inch without much effort after it's been cut down to your preferred length. If you're very strong or very tall, 100 flex or higher, and if you're not as strong or shorter, 75 flex or lower. 85 flex seems to be the preferred average for the average build/strength/height player.

[sarmalidu 1]

Like motorcycle helmets, I have not seen any evidence that higher-end helmets provide better protection. In the case of motorcycle helmets, the reverse is actually often true as the high-end helmets focus on lightweight rather than protection. Many of the best motorcycle helmets are sub $100. If anybody has evidence to the contrary let me know.

Personally, I much prefer the mid-end helmets (NBH 4500, RBK 4K, Easton S9) compared to the high-end helmets with the silly little gel pads.

If you are playing at a low level then you don't need to spend much on anything but skates and possibly stick/gloves if you have the money. Of course, those items are definitely not critical and can always be upgraded later.

Moral of the story - choose the helmet that is snug, doesn't move around, and fits best. You can't get good protection without a good, snug fit. I wouldn't worry too much about price. I simply don't see anything in the construction of higher end helmets that would indicate they offer better protection.

[interpathway 9]

This article should help

puckmugger was my introduction to hockey equipment. He makes a ton of sense and I recommend anyone to check his reviews out.

[Chadd 916]

This article should help

puckmugger was my introduction to hockey equipment. He makes a ton of sense and I recommend anyone to check his reviews out.

I disagree strongly. Many of his reviews are factually incorrect and he passes of personal preferences as facts.

[interpathway 9]

Well, good thing I came to MSH after my introduction through him.

[Jarick 5]

I didn't think that equipment article was too bad. I read the same thing before I bought my first set of gear.

Mostly what I did was buy a really nice helmet and the rest of the gear got cheap stuff that fit me well. As I got more and more serious, I replaced the items with quality pieces. Now, I'm really happy with all my gear and it's all top of the line or next model down.

[interpathway 9]

He has done considerable reviews on skates as well though that I assume are the ones not so well received. He does reviews on all equipment actually IIRC. puckmugger has actually published a book, "Hockey for Weekend Warriors" or something like that.

[TBLfan 25]

This article should help

puckmugger was my introduction to hockey equipment. He makes a ton of sense and I recommend anyone to check his reviews out.

I disagree strongly. Many of his reviews are factually incorrect and he passes of personal preferences as facts.

I agree. He also likes to review equipment that hasn't come out, stuff he's never seen.

[Chadd 916]

He has done considerable reviews on skates as well though that I assume are the ones not so well received. He does reviews on all equipment actually IIRC. puckmugger has actually published a book, "Hockey for Weekend Warriors" or something like that.

Quantity does not equal quality. Spewing a lot of BS doesn't make it true. I recall him trying to defend reviewing equipment based on seeing someone else use it and reading the catalog description. He makes money off of his reviews, that's why he does so many. It's all about making money and telling people what to do for him, he told me as much in one of our more unpleasant exchanges.

[Leafsrule16 5]

Like motorcycle helmets, I have not seen any evidence that higher-end helmets provide better protection. In the case of motorcycle helmets, the reverse is actually often true as the high-end helmets focus on lightweight rather than protection. Many of the best motorcycle helmets are sub $100. If anybody has evidence to the contrary let me know.

Try racing your atv only to be thrown off and projected approximately 10 feet away from the point where i was hit. I'm convinced the fact that i had a top of the line shoei on is the reason that i got away with just a mild concussion and a cracked helmet.

Its simply logic that a more reactive foam such as epp would in fact protect you better, ask Eric Lindros. I bet if he wore a cascade he wouldn't have had so many concussions .. or just kept his head up. I just feel as someone who has had a helmet save him more then once that its something you cant skimp out on, the 4500 isnt a bad helmet by any means however, I just think that for the most part you get what you pay for and if you cheap out on a helmet you might or might not experience the consequences, its your risk.

[TBLfan 25]

The argument about EPP/VN, isn't over the initial hit. It's the protection after the foam absorbs the impact and cracks... and at what point does that happen? If the EPP fractures, it can become much less protective than VN. So if the foam fractures, obviously you should replace it... Now what if the foam fractures when you take a shoulder to the head or maybe your head gets nailed to the boards... then your head hits the ice? What would be more protective? We really just don't know... so I personally go with comfort and what has been plenty protective for me. Dual density, VN.

[chk hrd 164]

a lighter, top of the line, motorcycle helmet is safer because it is lighter and has less mass to stop.