Just bought new equipment to get started. How's it look?

[mjpisat 36]

There aren't big stores in the area do I had to go to a rink shop and rely on the kid there. Limited supply to choose from. I previously bought Bauer vapor 4.0 skates which worked out well and a Bauer Reakt. Pricey, but it was the best fit for me.

I'm getting started again after a long layoff. Starting an adult non check instructional league tomorrow. I'm 5'8 197. Sounds like I'd be real round but I'm not. I carry it well. Broad shoulders. This is what I went with. Like I said had to rely on what the kid said fit properly and what felt comfortable to me.

Shoulder pads-Bauer supreme one 40 large

Elbow pads - Easton stealth 65s medium

Pants - Bauer vapor x.30 medium

Shins- Bauer vapor x.30 14

The Easton elbow pads were the most comfortable I tried on. Dude said the shoulders seemed to line up better with the supreme vs vapor 3.0. Shins were straight forward. Pants were the hardest. They only had Bauer vapor not supreme. Had some reebok, ccm and warrior as well. All large pants were too big. In the waist thigh and length. Went with the Bauer vapor. Thigh and length were good. Waist mid section was a tad snug but I've been losing weight. Down 10 so far and am not stopping. Think they 'll be ok?

What is difference between vapor and supreme protective line? Given limited stock I feel I did ok. In addition to what I bought above I also picked up sock tape, skate socks, hockey shin socks, short jock and cup, pants jock and cup, Easton bag with wheels. All together I paid $370. Feel like I'm missing something but I think that's it. Prices were pretty much same as hockey monkey.

[Chadd 916]

It sounds like you focused on fit and not any particular brand or model, that's the best way to start. Unfortunately for your wallet, and if you're like most of us here, you will replace most of that stuff in the next 18-24 months.

[mjpisat 36]

Be cause its the first I bought or because it's lower end? I skated yesterday for the first time in 17 years. I figure I best buy lower end gear until I'm sure it works out. So far I've committed to a 15 week instructional league. This is the only physical hobby I have so I figure if it keeps me happy and fit and that carries over to my kids, family life and job-it's priceless.

[Chadd 916]

I didn't mean it as a bad thing or a knock on you. As you play more most people find things they like and dislike about each piece of gear and eventually purchase something that better fits their newly discovered preferences.

[IPv6Freely 2100]

Chadd is right. I started with about the same stuff as you, price-wise. There's nothing wrong with what you did by any means, you don't wanna run out and buy the top of the line stuff right away. You just kind of get obsessed with new gear and upgrading, always looking for something slightly more comfortable, or more protective, etc. For example, one of my first upgrades was from away from the Bauer x:30 shins I had bought because I found they dug into my legs in an odd way if I fell, but were very comfortable otherwise. Then my next upgrade was my pants because I found I needed better tailbone protection for when I fell (see a pattern here? lol). The last thing I replaced was my shoulders, and it took me ages to find something I liked more than the X:30 shoulders. I now have the CCM Fit:05.

You just develop tastes and preferences and upgrade accordingly :)

[x-axis 44]

I believe there are two "types" of fit which you will understand as you begin playing hockey again. There's the "in-store" fit, which you need to be initially comfortable. Then as you begin actually "playing" hockey, the type of comfort you will need changes, or "game" fit. Certain things you can't be aware of until you are at game speed will make themselves available to you. Such as, " the cuff on this glove is too snug. It gets in the way while I am stickhandling" or "there's not enough or too much padding in the tailbone on my pants."

I do caution you. Just about everyone on here is into gear. To a certain degree, getting new and better gear is a significant portion of this forum.

Focus on fun and not the gear. That's the importance of getting fitted correctly the first time at a store. You have all your gear and you can go out and play and have a great time. You are set, bud.

[mjpisat 36]

Thanks fellas. Believe me I take no offense. I get it. I started playing guitar 14 years ago or so. Started with a Mexico made fender strat and within six years or do I was buying $2k custom made historic Gibson les Paul gold tops. I totally get it and anybody who plays guitar will track. I'm going to try and control myself with the hockey gear. I only have o e stick and dread how much I could spend there.

[IPv6Freely 2100]

Thanks fellas. Believe me I take no offense. I get it. I started playing guitar 14 years ago or so. Started with a Mexico made fender strat and within six years or do I was buying $2k custom made historic Gibson les Paul gold tops. I totally get it and anybody who plays guitar will track. I'm going to try and control myself with the hockey gear. I only have o e stick and dread how much I could spend there.

Bit of advice there - get a shaft and start experimenting with various blades. Once you find a curve you like, then you can spend the money on a high quality stick with those specs. For ultra-cheap experimentation, use wood blades :)

[goblue9280 33]

Sounds like you did well to me. Good beginner set... and the initial investment wasn't too bad.

I'm going to try and control myself with the hockey gear.

First thing you need to do then is never come on this site again, lol. Like Chadd said, stick around here and you'll be buying new equipment every few months.

[Chadd 916]

Thanks fellas. Believe me I take no offense. I get it. I started playing guitar 14 years ago or so. Started with a Mexico made fender strat and within six years or do I was buying $2k custom made historic Gibson les Paul gold tops. I totally get it and anybody who plays guitar will track. I'm going to try and control myself with the hockey gear. I only have o e stick and dread how much I could spend there.

Ugh, let's not go there. I'm back up to eight guitars, three amps, two 4x12s and I've been looking at 335s again lately.

[mjpisat 36]

What guitars u got? Amps? Boutique? Guessing u found the gear page. I had a 97 cunetto era nocaster type tele that I will always regret selling. Along with my 18 watt Aiken intruder combo. Trying to buy back my old 57 gold top historic as we speak.

[donkers 31]

Music gear whore here as well. Custom built Strat, Gibson LP Std DC, Bogner Shiva, and a ton of pedals. Hockey gear can get expensive but I found I'm more than happy with low end gear when it comes to certain things. Skates and sticks are the two things I spent the most money on.

[Stodgy 8]

Sounds like you did well to me. Good beginner set... and the initial investment wasn't too bad.

First thing you need to do then is never come on this site again, lol. Like Chadd said, stick around here and you'll be buying new equipment every few months.

I have been playing for just short of a year now and after buying mostly low end stuff and seeing if I could hack getting back into hockey after a 32 year hiatus. Well I'm addicted to the game now and have upgraded most of the original equipment based on the comments of the people on this site. Thanks to you all I think.

[jds 20]

I didn't mean it as a bad thing or a knock on you. As you play more most people find things they like and dislike about each piece of gear and eventually purchase something that better fits their newly discovered preferences.

And then those preferences change and then you discover JOFA and high priced sticks and then you watch the guy with the wooden Sherwood and the ancient pants that resemble running shorts more than protective gear light up your goalie over and over again.....

[rightfield 0]

There aren't big stores in the area do I had to go to a rink shop and rely on the kid there. Limited supply to choose from. I previously bought Bauer vapor 4.0 skates which worked out well and a Bauer Reakt. Pricey, but it was the best fit for me.

I'm getting started again after a long layoff. Starting an adult non check instructional league tomorrow. I'm 5'8 197. Sounds like I'd be real round but I'm not. I carry it well. Broad shoulders. This is what I went with. Like I said had to rely on what the kid said fit properly and what felt comfortable to me.

Shoulder pads-Bauer supreme one 40 large

Elbow pads - Easton stealth 65s medium

Pants - Bauer vapor x.30 medium

Shins- Bauer vapor x.30 14

The Easton elbow pads were the most comfortable I tried on. Dude said the shoulders seemed to line up better with the supreme vs vapor 3.0. Shins were straight forward. Pants were the hardest. They only had Bauer vapor not supreme. Had some reebok, ccm and warrior as well. All large pants were too big. In the waist thigh and length. Went with the Bauer vapor. Thigh and length were good. Waist mid section was a tad snug but I've been losing weight. Down 10 so far and am not stopping. Think they 'll be ok?

What is difference between vapor and supreme protective line? Given limited stock I feel I did ok. In addition to what I bought above I also picked up sock tape, skate socks, hockey shin socks, short jock and cup, pants jock and cup, Easton bag with wheels. All together I paid $370. Feel like I'm missing something but I think that's it. Prices were pretty much same as hockey monkey.

Supreme line is a bit beefer, vapor line is suppoused to be lighter.

I like your setup. No need to go all out on protective equipement. Hell if I started out all over again I would of just bought Sherwood 5030 shoulder and shins, jofa elbow pads, 4500 helmet and Tackla pants.

[hunt3rsean 44]

I think the OP did great on finding gear from a limited quantity situation. The total price tag doesn't seem bad and if you're going to end up upgrading gear in the next 1-2 years....why not start out on the cheap end? I did the same thing and actually didn't start upgrading gear (sticks and gloves being the exception) until about 3 years later.

Living in Oregon I run into a similar situation. The guys who run the local shop are 110% awesome. They are full of knowledge and superb on the customer service. But, due to many reasons, don't have the ability to stock a huge variety of product. So it makes it tough at times to test fit, quality, and price.

And then those preferences change and then you discover JOFA and high priced sticks and then you watch the guy with the wooden Sherwood and the ancient pants that resemble running shorts more than protective gear light up your goalie over and over again.....

I see this happen during pick-up all the time and I love it. I'm a medium-level equipment guy so seeing the dude with the old gear light everyone up is priceless.

[Hockeydog 8]

Thanks fellas. Believe me I take no offense. I get it. I started playing guitar 14 years ago or so. Started with a Mexico made fender strat and within six years or do I was buying $2k custom made historic Gibson les Paul gold tops. I totally get it and anybody who plays guitar will track. I'm going to try and control myself with the hockey gear. I only have o e stick and dread how much I could spend there.

Yeah as a hockey player and guitar player I can relate on both ends. The nice think about the guitar equipment is that a lot of times you can recover more of your original purchase price than with selling of hockey gear if you chose to sell in order to upgrade, change, etc. You will likely replace most of your gear, as everyone says, once you get into playing.

Ugh, let's not go there. I'm back up to eight guitars, three amps, two 4x12s and I've been looking at 335s again lately.

I am at 7 guitars, 2 amps, an 1x12 extension, and of course the usual effects, tuners, etc. Still no 335 for me either and I have been hot for one for a while, as well as a Resonator guitar that has been on my wish list. And still need a pair of skates that fit right !!

[mjpisat 36]

After 5 hours on my new skates I'm a little worried I went with the wrong size. My dress shoe size is an 8 and I went with a 6.5 I originally went with a 7 but returned for the 6.5

when I first go them my toes felt like they were barely touching the front, ankle good and locked in. they almost felt a tad uncomfortable. My ankle is still locked in pretty good, but the front of my foot feels like there is a lot of room up there. that's not my concern though. when I take a few strides and then glide my skates feel like their wobbly. my feet just don't stay straight and not move. hard to explain. maybe this is normal for a newbie when getting balance, but it doesn't seem right. i didn't notice this the first two times I went out, but I did last night. i'll see how it goes today.

[AIREAYE 248]

Does your ankle bend? Or is it your foot moving side to side inside the boot?

[mjpisat 36]

Not my foot so much. More like my shins. The lowest part by my foot.

[Chadd 916]

It could be your foot position relative to your direction of travel, it could be a sharpening issue, it could be a blade alignment issue.... really, too many variables to know for sure

[hunt3rsean 44]

Not my foot so much. More like my shins. The lowest part by my foot.

Could be a lot of things. Could be that you have a very skinny ankle and have wiggle space in the upper boot (like me). Or you just have weak ankles from not skating for so long. Or you didn't tighten your boot down as much as you did the previous times you skated? These are just some of the more obvious things that I ran into when I started playing hockey again a number of years ago.