Hockey Gear Anonymous

[edzo9 0]

Its been awhile since I have posted, so much so I forgot my login and had to create a new account. Anyway, I visit almost daily and the wealth of knowledge and funny posts on here is limitless. Maybe it is because we all share the same sick addiction? I myself am 32 and play a lot of hockey. Probably 4-5 times a week, between Ice and Roller. From what I read and see on the board most of you share my same passion for hockey and gear. Like I get excited when a tent sale is coming up or pro sale, ect. Its not even that I really need anything replaced, yet I find myself browsing the net for deals, or checking pro stock sales online. I'm just wondering at what lengths do some of us go? its seems most on here are out of school and adults. Does anyone get resistance or grief from friends, relatives, spouses, ect? I mostly keep it under control and would never be irresponsible about my hockey habits, but I'm sure people outside of our wacky culture must think we are nuts. After all, the culture/allure camaraderie of hockey is like no other sport/activity/hobby.

Keep up the good posts!

[sickwilly 37]

It's a problem when I'm looking for a specific item and can't find it. It's also a problem when my wife finds out that I've bought another item that I can't clearly demonstrate a "need" for (unless I've sold something to cover the cost).

[Jarick 5]

Like when I get a wild idea to replace all of my protective gear, hit up 15 shops in a weekend, buy a bunch of stuff, and then two days later start selling and returning it to get different stuff? :p

I'm actually pretty good about these things, I only have one set of hockey gear, one pair of skates, and a few sticks. And before I buy stuff, I sell stuff.

And honest, most of the stuff I'm replacing is 2-3 years old, come on :D

But I'm an adult who pays most of the rent and groceries and bills and medical expenses for my kid, so if I'm going to splurge on Grafs or Tacklas or Eagles, I'm going to do it.

[sickwilly 37]

But I'm an adult who pays most of the rent and groceries and bills and medical expenses for my kid, so if I'm going to splurge on Grafs or Tacklas or Eagles, I'm going to do it.

Amen.

[shifter 0]

Like when I get a wild idea to replace all of my protective gear, hit up 15 shops in a weekend, buy a bunch of stuff, and then two days later start selling and returning it to get different stuff? :p

I'm actually pretty good about these things, I only have one set of hockey gear, one pair of skates, and a few sticks. And before I buy stuff, I sell stuff.

And honest, most of the stuff I'm replacing is 2-3 years old, come on :D

But I'm an adult who pays most of the rent and groceries and bills and medical expenses for my kid, so if I'm going to splurge on Grafs or Tacklas or Eagles, I'm going to do it.

Lol sucks gotta love canadian taxes :P but hate the high prices of gear..

[the_sock 1]

I'm a gear whore. Working in the hockey industry doesn't help either.

Sign me up.

[gxc999 7]

 I'm a recovering addict. I've gone about 4 months without buying any gear. That's the longest for me in several years. Though part of that is probably due to the fact that I twisted up my knee/hip pretty good and was totally off ice for a month. My goal is to go another few months...

[mack 44]

[MyBoxersSayJoe 134]

I don't do any drugs, drink or smoke. So I'll replace stuff when it gets worn with whatever's usually considered top of the line at the time. It's not that I necessarily need whatever's the "best," it's just I don't spend money on anything else. I just replaced my 13 year-old Grafs with X:60 LE's and my Oakley gloves with X:60 Pros. When I first buy them, I feel a mild bit of remorse, then I'll use them and feel satisfied with my decision.

[Chadd 916]

 I'm a recovering addict. I've gone about 4 months without buying any gear. That's the longest for me in several years. Though part of that is probably due to the fact that I twisted up my knee/hip pretty good and was totally off ice for a month. My goal is to go another few months...

I've gotten to the point where I justify every purchase. Not just that I want something or that I buy anything that looks interesting. There has to be a need of some kind, be it matching team colors or replacing broken or worn out gear.

[edzo9 0]

I'm actually pretty good about these things, I only have one set of hockey gear, one pair of skates, and a few sticks. And before I buy stuff, I sell stuff.

You actually bring a great point. I thought I was cheap, cause I am the exact same way! haha...almost every purchase, especially a major purchase will result in some sort of selling prior equipment.

[twolinepass 0]

I hate it when other people call you out on it...My roommate makes comments every time I get new gloves :(

[17D1998 1]

I hate it when other people call you out on it...My roommate makes comments every time I get new gloves :(

So what, they'll never understand us!

[bostonjuniorblackhawks 1]

So what, they'll never understand us!

Exactly.

[Jarick 5]

With my latest purchases, I'm buying "lifetime" equipment, high end stuff that should last years and years. So I'll probably not buy new protective gear for at least three years unless it breaks.

My big problem is sticks/shafts/blades...I'm constantly searching for the "perfect" stick or combo. Probably been through 30-40 of them the last few years. I don't stockpile them, but it's annoying. I'll buy something on sale which isn't exactly what I want, then use it for a bit, and sell it and take a small hit. The trick is, I can't find a stick that flexes how I want, but the One95 77 is pretty close. Except I have no idea what curve I should use...

[Scoobersti 0]

A few of my teammates calls me out on it everytime. My wife can now also detect new hockey gear if she sees it in our garage or in the house (I have other unused gear so she's not only able to tell because it looks new and unused but, because of the colors or the shape).

I go through phases of buying gear I think. There will be times when I don't buy new gear for half a year and then all the sudden I buy a pair of pants and 2 pairs of gloves in one month.

[Drewhunz 3]

Problem? What problem? I can quit anytime I want.

[theflash0000 0]

A few of my teammates calls me out on it everytime. My wife can now also detect new hockey gear if she sees it in our garage or in the house (I have other unused gear so she's not only able to tell because it looks new and unused but, because of the colors or the shape).

I go through phases of buying gear I think. There will be times when I don't buy new gear for half a year and then all the sudden I buy a pair of pants and 2 pairs of gloves in one month.

My wife, too, presents a constant obstacle :) The key is--stick with one color scheme, if you can. I can have as many pairs of black gloves as I want, as long as two pairs are not seen in the same place at the same time. Like Clark Kent and Superman...

[uclahockey707 1]

The worst is my buddies and all the chirping I used to get every time I use to bring out a new pair of gloves to try out, but then I started to show them around the web and all the cool hockey stuff, now one of them has 12 sticks and the other two have 4 or more pairs of gloves...I hear no chirping anymore :)

[Brian Harte 1]

I feel the same as Scoobersti. I go through phases. Right now I'm in a "not buying" phase. I have been trying to sell a lot of my extra stuff actually. Sold some extra gloves and sticks that I just simply don't need.

Then there are times where I see cool stuff and just HAVE to buy it. I'm not sure which phase I like better. lol

[jimmy 194]

My wife busted me on the store security camera "stealing" a new set of pads at 5:30am. Seems I forgot the security system tells her when there is an alert outside of store hours.

[sickwilly 37]

My wife busted me on the store security camera "stealing" a new set of pads at 5:30am. Seems I forgot the security system tells her when there is an alert outside of store hours.

That's too funny. I can only imagine what happened next.

[twolinepass 0]

Man I feel for the married people here.. my girlfriend gives me crap now but I can still hide stuff from her but its going to be a lot harder when we live together.

Anyone else buy tons of one type of gear but not the other? I get a new helment every few years, sticks all the time but I have owned two roller girdles ever and have had the same elbow pads for a very long time. I just bought ice skates a few months ago but I think I want new ones already.

[DolomaticDangles 13]

Yeah Ive had the same elbow pads since peewee hockey haha, also my pants I had for a long time, but I grew 6 inches this year so I think Im gonna have to replace some stuff

[jimmy 194]

Wives are difficult to deal with in regards to getting new equipment when you don't need it. If you want to make it easier, what you have to do is prime them, first let them buy a pair of shoes the day before. Then, make sure you have a "bruise" near the location of the new gear you want to buy. This gets the sympathy and nurturing vote of approval. :-) Bruises work every time.