FngKestrel

Okay, after much coercion, I'm going to start ice hockey. I've got a pair of skates, but now I need some equipment. So, fine people of TFP, what order should I get the equipment in, what's a reasonable price I can expect to pay for each item of equipment,what brands of equipment do people endorse or avoid, and where are good places to get equipment, locally (San Jose, CA) or online?

Thanks in advance.

Coppertop

http://rivercitysports.com/

Lots of goodies there.

Cowman

buy second hand if you're just doing it for a hobby

__________________
You don't like my point of view..but im insane

Coppertop

Ugh. I couldn't imagine putting on someone else's gear. My funk is bad enough, but another person's? Especially when it comes to gloves. Ick.

canuckguy

the only thing i really notice with the different brands are the level or padding in the equipment and style (how they do up..etc), the jofa shoulder pads are nicer than ccm, imo and for shin and pants i wear ccm. gloves get new though, as they'll wear to your fit after awhile, used gloves would be terrible!
At most sporting goods stores you can get the body type suits that you can wear under your equipment, I swear by mine, seems to absorb most of the sweat keeping it out of my equipment, although any good cotton clothes should do the same.


don't forget the protective cup too!

jhkayakr

There are plenty of professional hockey players that don't need their gear this year. You can probably pic some equipment up real cheap...

__________________
........gotta need for speed....

stevo

The CCM 420 style pants are nice. They have zippers on the inside of the legs so that you can put the pants on last, after you tie your skates. Then you can zip the zippers.

Get a good helmet too, spend an extra $30 or whatever for the more expensive line, Your cranium will thank you. I've had 2 helmets cracked from getting hit.

Shoulder pads aren't that big of deal. I like ones with good protection in the chest, incase you block a slap-shot or get a butt-end from an asshole.

Elbow pads...go for comfort.

shin pads...Personally, I like ones with more shin protection than knee protection. That might sound weird, but you just need padding for the knee when you fall on them, but you better have a lot of padding on the shin if you take a hard shot there.

Gloves...I have the ccm420 gloves too. I like them.

Get a cup.

FngKestrel

Thanks for the info. Now, considering that I want to buy the stuff piecemeal because I'm poor, what order should I buy it in, and how much should I expect to pay? I saw a website that listed gloves for $90. Evidentally, that almost ranks as highway robbery.

tspikes51

I want to start playing club hockey here at UK. I can skate, shoot, pass, and handle the puck pretty well, but I've not actually played on an organized team. How hard is it to pick up the nuances of playing on a team (line changes, on the fly coaching instructions, play style, ect.)? I just want to know if it's worth my while, because I really love the sport.

__________________
"I'm telling you, we need to get rid of a few people or a million."
-Maddox

silent_jay

I honestly have no idea where to get equiptment from ,I got all mine for free when I was playing in the UHL, nice little gift to take back to Canada with me.

Second hand gear is alright I guess but certain things should be new such as gloves, skates, protective cup. Shoulder pads are your call, I haven't worn them in years, (not that I still play anymore), if it's just a rec league no shoulder pads should be great, but if you want them go with the old ones from back in the day, like they wore in the 70's they are light and they don't have the football look of many of todays shoulder pads. Get a good helmet as your head will thank you later for this. Skates don't go nuts and buy the best skates in the world just go with something reasonable and something that feels good.

Good luck in buying your gear, I remember the days of doing this good times.

__________________
Absence makes the heart grow fonder

odu_sonar_AE

Do you have a "play it again sports" in your area? They have new & used equipment there. I got some of my first pieces of equipment from there when I was starting out.

00111000

Hockey Giant was having a nice sale last week. 70% off most gear not sure what is really left but here is the link. Some great deals there, I got myself some new pro goalie pants for $89!! I would recommend not buying skates online before you've tried some on though. Never fun when your skates just dont fit right. If you want to go to a shop to try out gear check out Hockey X-sport in Oakland. It is located within the Dry Ice rink, right by Oakland airport. PM me if you need more info.

Best tip I can offer you starting out in hockey. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP!!

__________________
- And so he says, 'I don't like the cut of your jib.' And I go I says, IT'S THE ONLY JIB I GOT, BABY! -

FngKestrel

Whoops! I picked up 95% of my gear this last weekend. Thanks for the info though.

I'll try to keep my head up, but I remember having bad experiences in basketball where my head would be down looking at the ball...I hope I have enough coordination to not do that with the puck.

Mondak

Send a PM to Fat_Boy and tell him Mondak told you to. I know he doesn't need it anymore and might be able to give you a great deal as long as he knows it is going to a good home.

__________________
All truth passes through three stages:
First it is ridiculed
Second, it is violently opposed and
Third, it is accepted as self-evident.

ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER (1788-1860)

Cowman

I hope you didn't buy all of your gear new..
like someone said, best to buy a large portion of the stuff second hand..helmet and cup are probably the only things that are neccesary to be new..hockey gear is very expensive

__________________
You don't like my point of view..but im insane

dtheriault

i just shattered both bones in my right wrist playing ice hockey... i'm typing this left handed now. took up the sport last year at the age of 37. best team sport i've ever played. i got all my shit cheap and new here's how.
shop online at hockeymonkey, hockeygiant, or totalhockey.net

buy the top of the line stuff that's 2 years old and on close-out.
find a shop near you- try some of the stuff for fit and buy something there so your not abusing them as a personal fitting room.

i got sherwoods best pants for 59.00 and 952 ccm skates for 119.
don't but those stupid 120$ sticks i've had my ccm stick (22$) for a year now. don't buy huge shoulder pads or elbow pads it will hamper your stickwork. wear a wrist guard on your lower hand where you'll get hacked the most- my wrist guard probably kept my bone from worse damage (as if 3 pins and a plate weren't bad enough.)

__________________
"Remember, it takes two to lie. One to lie and one to listen." -Homer

Unless you are the freakin Highlander, what is the point in learning how to fight with a sword?

FngKestrel

Thanks for the info guys. Sucks about your wrist, dtheriault.

First class is this Saturday, can't wait!

FngKestrel

Had my first class. Tons of fun. When this class is over (in 12 weeks), I'll be sure to find a team to join.

dickie

www.hockeygear.com is a very good site for equiptment

__________________
The Beating will continue until moral improves .

Hard8s

Nice to see another one come into the fold! Have fun, hope to see you @ the rink.

__________________
If ignorance is bliss, then wipe this smile off my face!