Newbie Equipment ?'s

[Bimmer 0]

Can anyone recommend a good stick for starting out? Have not played in over 20 years and have no idea where to even start..

Also, what do you guys wear under your hockey pants/girdle? Obviously a protective cup, but any type of pants or long johns?? Just curious..

[goblue9280 33]

Can anyone recommend a good stick for starting out? Have not played in over 20 years and have no idea where to even start..

Also, what do you guys wear under your hockey pants/girdle? Obviously a protective cup, but any type of pants or long johns?? Just curious..

I would start with a shaft/replaceable blade combo until you figure out what lie/pattern you like. I'd probably start with a traditional shaft (rather than a tapered)... maybe a RBK 6k, Bauer X20, Warrior Bandito... something that won't break the bank until you figure out what you like. Same with the blade... no need to buy a $50-60 blade when you don't know what lie/pattern you prefer.

What you wear under your pants is personal preference. I recently started playing again after about a 9-year hiatus, and went with what I had used in the past... i.e. a cup and garter belt over whatever boxers I happen to be wearing. But a lot of people today opt for the compression short/jock combo, or the compression pant/jock combo. The only time I'd consider long johns is if I were playing outdoors... but I doubt I'd wear them even then.

But really, you're asking general questions about things that are heavily dependent on personal preference... I don't think there is a wrong answer.

[wrangler 157]

I've been wearing the compression shorts, with velcro and integral cup. I'll probably return to the jock for protection, as I'm underwhelmed with the cup. It's a bit narrow, and moves around too much. I used to wear long johns to play outside, but never for inside.

In the dressing room, I see some long compression type pants, and a lot of loose shorts with velcro.

[s_franchise 5]

i say either a mid level shaft/high end blade combo, or maybe a mid level one piece ie bauer x40, easton eq30.. something like that with the better performance, but not the top of the line. as far as underneath stuff, i guess its all what you want to wear and/or how things feel on you. i personally wear underarmour leggings, with the sock patched on em. i love em! but like the previous guy said, its all what you like, trial and error.

[heybrady 0]

Goto Play It Again and find an older shaft for cheap (Z Bubble, Ultralite, etc) then goto a LHS and find a curve you think you can get along with. This should set you back 50-70 bucks total and you will have a perfectly good starter stick. For beginners you probably wont notice a difference between a 2 piece and an OPS. Plus if it has been 20 yeas, anything halfway recent will amaze you.

I recently started up after a long hiatus and went wiht RBK compression/jock combo and am happy with it.

[puckhoggy 0]

I wear UA compression shorts under my jock shorts. It is indeed personal preference since I never tried any other way really.

I also started with a 2piece combo. I'm sure you can find a used shaft on kijiji for dirt cheap during your experimentation.

[Bimmer 0]

Ok, stupid question...what do you use to keep your socks up? Does the velcro on some of the shorts I have been seeing work? Garter?

I wish we had a Play It Again that had Ice Hockey stuff..In Alabama, within a 75 mile radius of me the only place you can obtain any type of ice hockey equipment is the shop in my local rink...None of the major chains carry even a stick or puck...

[pby 0]

Ok, stupid question...what do you use to keep your socks up? Does the velcro on some of the shorts I have been seeing work? Garter?

I wish we had a Play It Again that had Ice Hockey stuff..In Alabama, within a 75 mile radius of me the only place you can obtain any type of ice hockey equipment is the shop in my local rink...None of the major chains carry even a stick or puck...

The velcro only works on specific socks like the retail rbk edge socks or easton ones. Garter and sock tape will work for everything.

[mac53 0]

I use the compression shorts and the velcro works great to hold up socks. i have never had a problem with my socks falling down.

[Bimmer 0]

Thanks for all the feedback guys!

[number21 3]

Velcro shorts work on all socks.

Starting out with a mid-level shaft/blade combo isn't a bad idea. I still use my white Easton UL I bought when I started playing 5-6 years ago. You could also just get a few wood sticks with different curves for the same price as a combo and upgrade once you find what you like.

[Anjin-san 29]

I use the Shock Doctor compression shorts with velcro tabs. Regular knit hockey socks stick really well to velcro. However I've also seen some of the newer style Reebok Edge socks that have velcro tabs sewn in so those too would work.

[wrangler 157]

Velcro works very well on my 30-year-old socks, and my cheap CCM and Trenway socks.

In the dressing room I haven't noticed any socks it doesn't work on, or heard any complaints about that.

[Bimmer 0]

Ok, one last question. When trying on my shin pads, the upper velcro band is about 2" too short for comfort. Any suggestion on how to remedy this?

[stick9 905]

Ok, one last question. When trying on my shin pads, the upper velcro band is about 2" too short for comfort. Any suggestion on how to remedy this?

Don't use it, put your sock on then tape them in place. There was a time not too long ago where shins had no straps.

If that doesn't do it for you. You can purchase elastic velcro straps.

http://www.hockeymonkey.com/rsrshinstraps2.html

or

http://www.hockeymonkey.com/vicshintigno.html

[mac53 0]

Ok, one last question. When trying on my shin pads, the upper velcro band is about 2" too short for comfort. Any suggestion on how to remedy this?

If its too short then dont use it and use shin gaurd tape instead. I took the upper velcro band off my shin gaurds and they work fine