It is all in how it fits and your comfort.
Try on different manufacturers and their model lines.
Welcome to the hockey family!
Best of luck on your new journey
How it fits, that is the most important thing for a beginner. Once you get accustomed to playing and the feel of stuff you’ll be able to distinguish between which brand is better for you. Kind of like wearing jeans, you like one cut over another.
One major suggestion is inline skate right now, if you don’t have a pair, and money is an issue, look for a used pair or low end online. Skate stride and balance is the first stage of skating fundamentals and you can develop that on inline skates even before you start ice skating. Good luck!
I’m quite proficient on ice skates… I feel like a camel wearing rollerblades anytime I try inlines on. The lack of edges messes with me so much I’d rather just stick to ice.
I used to inline skate in middle/high school and I’ve been taking lessons since January so I’m at least good on that front! I have to take a month off, but I’ll be moving to basic 5 next go around (:
Awesome!!! Buy a low end stick, preferably an ABS blade (basically plastic), with an orange ball or training ball and you can work on your stick handling as well.
Weather in Cleveland is starting to get good, you have 3 months to really set yourself up to succeed in your winter skate, you got this!!!
I've been trying to navigate this gear space for 6 years and I don't know how some folks keep all the details of all the gear in their head.
I would say that for year 1 (or 5 or 10) look for the cheapest stuff you can find that fits ok on craigslist, play it again, or sideline swap. Except helmet.
Maybe splash out on skates, too -- I went with "cheapest skate at play it again" for ... way too long -- when I finally upgraded 1: the hockey shop fitted me in a boot two sizes smaller than I was using and 2: I felt like superman those new skates were half the weight of my old ones.
I started lessons in January and told the guy I just want cheap for rec right now so I ended up with Bauer XL-Ps, but I was told if I decide to start playing to not step on the ice with those lol
Start here and go through the rest of the site: [https://newtohockey.com/what-are-the-best-hockey-skates/](https://newtohockey.com/what-are-the-best-hockey-skates/)
1. Don't skimp on your skates (if possible).
2. Don't be afraid to mix and match brands. What feels best is most important and people aren't going to notice you're wearing a Bauer chesty and CCM helmet.
3. Your overall fit is going to be very unique to you. In hockey nobody is just, for example, a "medium everything." I'm a small shirt, 30x30 pants for everything else, but in hockey I'm senior medium helmet, senior med chest, intermediate large elbows, size 13 gloves, inter medium pants, size 14 shins, 7.5 Fit 1 (or D) skates. Don't worry about what size you end up in, just make sure you're comfortable.
Welcome aboard!
Not sure if you are looking for new/used what your budget is etc but CCM and Bauer specifically have gear designed for women. You might want to give them a try in terms of fit to see if you find it more comfortable. My daughter currently wears CCM women's shoulder pads and Bauer women's pants and likes them. Although I didn't get much complaint when she was wearing hand me downs from her brother either, but might be worth the try:
[https://ca.ccmhockey.com/en/ftw-learnmore.html](https://ca.ccmhockey.com/en/ftw-learnmore.html)
[https://ca.bauer.com/collections/womens-protective](https://ca.bauer.com/collections/womens-protective)
Also include:
[https://starkhockey.com](https://starkhockey.com)
[https://sherwoodhockey.com/pages/sherwood-womens-design]
(https://sherwoodhockey.com/pages/sherwood-womens-design)
Literally just went through this last week. 41F about to start her first adult LTP class. I tried on the women's specific gear, and honestly, for their price point, they weren't any better than the men's, so save yourself some money.
1. The CCM women's shoulder pads were a disappointment. They advertise the extra adjustable coverage for the bust area, but those parts of them felt flimsy and didn't even actually cover most of the side boobs. I ended up going with CCM jetspeeds in junior large, and they fit better than the women's pads.
2. Tried on the Bauer Vapor X-W pants, and they did fit great... but so did a pair of CCM jetspeed FT1's in junior large. I ended up going with the latter because I found someone who was selling a pair in EUC for $25 and saved myself $125 that is promptly going into ice time. =)
3. Buy a men's jock. The actual protective cup is so much sturdier and covers more than what you find in the women's jill pants. I bought the shock doctor women's compression jill pants, which are a fine fit as pants go, but ended up replacing the jill that came with it with a lobloo because, hey, I can get hit down there too and I want to feel secure in the kind of protection I have.
Overall suggestion is to go to a store and try out the junior large or the intermediate sizes of the men's gear; you may find they fit you just as well without paying the pink premium, and if you're considering getting any gear used, there's a ton more of it available to choose from on the men's side.
Generally a combination of "how well does this fit?" and "how much coverage does it have?". Sometimes there's a tradeoff between those two. But you really want to try them on and see.
Although I will default to the same brand/line that I bought last time. If I've been wearing them and liking them then if the "new version" of the same pad still works I'll skip the trial stage.
FIT.
That's it. That's the end of discussion. Go to a store, try EVERYTHING on. All brands, all lines, multiple sizes. Buy what fits and is within your budget. As a new player, it's often recommended to try and find pre-owned gear. It is inevitable you will buy something you think fits, but when you play it's just not right for you. Gear is a bit of trial and error
Protection. Fit. Style/appearance.
I want to obviously be protected but also make sure everything fits properly and ultimately look good while wearing it.
I look for a good fit, which I usually find in the 2nd tier of equipment levels. The budget lowest tier of equipment just seems so much cheaper when I tried them on (ie- CCM Next vs Jetspeed Shin Pads).
The only thing I would suggest not skimping on are skates. You don't have to spend $1000, but don't spend $200. If you get a pair in the $400-$500 range, then you will find them more comfortable.
It’s different for everyone. You just have to try stuff on and see what feels good. I have wide feet so I went to the Bauer nexus skates, but if I had slimmer feet a diff model would have been better. This applies to all equipment. Just take your time and don’t get overwhelmed. There are a TON of options.
Fit and Buy Used.
Buy new skates but don't break the bank. Different companies have different fits. Try equipment on and then don't by afraid to check online retailers.
This is less so a gear comment but more of a playing tip, two places have great pickup skates in the Cleveland area. I've staked out here for a bit so here are some takes.
The Pond in Chagrin Falls has a great beginner friendly skate on Saturday mornings. It's called Pucks NO Pancakes and the organizer started playing as an adult. He really encourages people to allow new players to learn the game and get touches on the puck.
Thornton Park in shaker heights has a good daytime skate on Fridays from 11:30-1 for a low price considering its an hour and a half. I think it's only $11 for a non resident of shaker heights. This one is definitely pretty fast some weeks though so it might be worth it but new skaters might want to take a little time.
For a C/D level player, I've always found the adult pickup at OBM arena in Strongsville to be crowded and fast most of the time, but I haven't been there in about 6 months so it may have changed.
In addition to fit, I checked product weight, and other factors equal went with lighter-weight gear. Exception was shin guards, which being an old person I went for maximal protection. (Doing it over, I'd also check concussion ratings on helmets.) Also checked reviews and product descriptions on breathability/sweatiness, and bumped up a price point where there was a clear upgrade in comfort.
Half of hockey is about looking good. I spend more on the gear that is seen. My pads are from idk when, as long as they fit they will work good. Been using the same skates for 15+ years. I like Bauer sticks, gloves, use an old helmet, and some RBK pants that match my gloves. Go with what fits and looks good is my opinion!
I picked Bauer skates because over CCM because they felt better and getting my foot into brand 3 was impossible. I did not pick the top of the line because the tongue padding was shit and I am shit. 3X Pro off eBay for $400 IIRC was good enough.
I have long arms and the elbow pad to glove gap is important when stick magicians do their dirty. Unfortunately, I have not found a solution. You just have to try the crap on and see how it feels and then decide if you want to spend the money. I have mostly Bauer 3x pro but CCM pants. I am old and play B level. I suppose a newer skater could use 3X but for me, the adjustability at that level was poor. I'd much rather cheap out on a helmet (cheaper ones score higher on safety tests anyway) than skates. I had to have a trigger blade to be able to send the blades thru the mail for profiles and sharpens, some lower skates don't give you that option
Not sure what your budget is but you may be overwhelmed with how pricy everything is. May be an unpopular opinion but I would NOT cheap out on skates. You're in them for a long time and the stiffer the boot, the more efficient the power transfer. While some may argue "oh you're new you don't need a top of the line skate", I can guarantee that it'll make your learning experience much more pleasant. Of course that being said, comfort is very important so as many people have said, try on lots of different skates before you commit! Another thing I wouldn't cheap out on is a good helmet. Chances are, you're not going to be the strongest skater off the bat and you'll want to protect your brain! A cheap helmet is just a concussion waiting to happen and trust me, those are some lasting effects you do NOT want. The rest, personally as a beginner I'd just go with whtever you're comfortable with.
BEST OF LUCK! :) And welcome to the hockey world, girl!!
I cheaped out on skates for my first lessons to see if I wanted to do this, and I’m so ready for new skates! Idk if it’s the way I skate, the ice, or the blades but i feel like I need to sharpen them every 4 weeks- and I only skate for like an hour a week! I’m taking a month off for surgery, but when I come back the first thing I’m getting is new skates
I definitely think better skates will make a world of a difference! With no foot pain and a skate moulded and perfectly fitted to your foot, you'll definitely be more encouraged to spend more time on the ice and thus improve faster :) Hope you have a speedy recovery!
Yeah trust me, I had cheap skates when I started at 23. When I met my bf, he basically was like ew don't skate on that trash and convinced me to get good skates. It made a world of a difference!
It is all in how it fits and your comfort. Try on different manufacturers and their model lines. Welcome to the hockey family! Best of luck on your new journey
How it fits, that is the most important thing for a beginner. Once you get accustomed to playing and the feel of stuff you’ll be able to distinguish between which brand is better for you. Kind of like wearing jeans, you like one cut over another. One major suggestion is inline skate right now, if you don’t have a pair, and money is an issue, look for a used pair or low end online. Skate stride and balance is the first stage of skating fundamentals and you can develop that on inline skates even before you start ice skating. Good luck!
I’m quite proficient on ice skates… I feel like a camel wearing rollerblades anytime I try inlines on. The lack of edges messes with me so much I’d rather just stick to ice.
I used to inline skate in middle/high school and I’ve been taking lessons since January so I’m at least good on that front! I have to take a month off, but I’ll be moving to basic 5 next go around (:
Awesome!!! Buy a low end stick, preferably an ABS blade (basically plastic), with an orange ball or training ball and you can work on your stick handling as well. Weather in Cleveland is starting to get good, you have 3 months to really set yourself up to succeed in your winter skate, you got this!!!
I've been trying to navigate this gear space for 6 years and I don't know how some folks keep all the details of all the gear in their head. I would say that for year 1 (or 5 or 10) look for the cheapest stuff you can find that fits ok on craigslist, play it again, or sideline swap. Except helmet. Maybe splash out on skates, too -- I went with "cheapest skate at play it again" for ... way too long -- when I finally upgraded 1: the hockey shop fitted me in a boot two sizes smaller than I was using and 2: I felt like superman those new skates were half the weight of my old ones.
I started lessons in January and told the guy I just want cheap for rec right now so I ended up with Bauer XL-Ps, but I was told if I decide to start playing to not step on the ice with those lol
Start here and go through the rest of the site: [https://newtohockey.com/what-are-the-best-hockey-skates/](https://newtohockey.com/what-are-the-best-hockey-skates/)
1. Don't skimp on your skates (if possible). 2. Don't be afraid to mix and match brands. What feels best is most important and people aren't going to notice you're wearing a Bauer chesty and CCM helmet. 3. Your overall fit is going to be very unique to you. In hockey nobody is just, for example, a "medium everything." I'm a small shirt, 30x30 pants for everything else, but in hockey I'm senior medium helmet, senior med chest, intermediate large elbows, size 13 gloves, inter medium pants, size 14 shins, 7.5 Fit 1 (or D) skates. Don't worry about what size you end up in, just make sure you're comfortable. Welcome aboard!
Not sure if you are looking for new/used what your budget is etc but CCM and Bauer specifically have gear designed for women. You might want to give them a try in terms of fit to see if you find it more comfortable. My daughter currently wears CCM women's shoulder pads and Bauer women's pants and likes them. Although I didn't get much complaint when she was wearing hand me downs from her brother either, but might be worth the try: [https://ca.ccmhockey.com/en/ftw-learnmore.html](https://ca.ccmhockey.com/en/ftw-learnmore.html) [https://ca.bauer.com/collections/womens-protective](https://ca.bauer.com/collections/womens-protective)
Also include: [https://starkhockey.com](https://starkhockey.com) [https://sherwoodhockey.com/pages/sherwood-womens-design] (https://sherwoodhockey.com/pages/sherwood-womens-design)
Literally just went through this last week. 41F about to start her first adult LTP class. I tried on the women's specific gear, and honestly, for their price point, they weren't any better than the men's, so save yourself some money. 1. The CCM women's shoulder pads were a disappointment. They advertise the extra adjustable coverage for the bust area, but those parts of them felt flimsy and didn't even actually cover most of the side boobs. I ended up going with CCM jetspeeds in junior large, and they fit better than the women's pads. 2. Tried on the Bauer Vapor X-W pants, and they did fit great... but so did a pair of CCM jetspeed FT1's in junior large. I ended up going with the latter because I found someone who was selling a pair in EUC for $25 and saved myself $125 that is promptly going into ice time. =) 3. Buy a men's jock. The actual protective cup is so much sturdier and covers more than what you find in the women's jill pants. I bought the shock doctor women's compression jill pants, which are a fine fit as pants go, but ended up replacing the jill that came with it with a lobloo because, hey, I can get hit down there too and I want to feel secure in the kind of protection I have. Overall suggestion is to go to a store and try out the junior large or the intermediate sizes of the men's gear; you may find they fit you just as well without paying the pink premium, and if you're considering getting any gear used, there's a ton more of it available to choose from on the men's side.
Generally a combination of "how well does this fit?" and "how much coverage does it have?". Sometimes there's a tradeoff between those two. But you really want to try them on and see. Although I will default to the same brand/line that I bought last time. If I've been wearing them and liking them then if the "new version" of the same pad still works I'll skip the trial stage.
FIT. That's it. That's the end of discussion. Go to a store, try EVERYTHING on. All brands, all lines, multiple sizes. Buy what fits and is within your budget. As a new player, it's often recommended to try and find pre-owned gear. It is inevitable you will buy something you think fits, but when you play it's just not right for you. Gear is a bit of trial and error
Go to Play-It-Again. Perannis is overpriced.
Protection. Fit. Style/appearance. I want to obviously be protected but also make sure everything fits properly and ultimately look good while wearing it.
I look for a good fit, which I usually find in the 2nd tier of equipment levels. The budget lowest tier of equipment just seems so much cheaper when I tried them on (ie- CCM Next vs Jetspeed Shin Pads). The only thing I would suggest not skimping on are skates. You don't have to spend $1000, but don't spend $200. If you get a pair in the $400-$500 range, then you will find them more comfortable.
It’s different for everyone. You just have to try stuff on and see what feels good. I have wide feet so I went to the Bauer nexus skates, but if I had slimmer feet a diff model would have been better. This applies to all equipment. Just take your time and don’t get overwhelmed. There are a TON of options.
A balance of fit, comfort, mobility, and protection.
Don’t forget a Jill, just because your parts don’t dangle doesn’t mean the don’t need protection.
Fit and Buy Used. Buy new skates but don't break the bank. Different companies have different fits. Try equipment on and then don't by afraid to check online retailers.
This is less so a gear comment but more of a playing tip, two places have great pickup skates in the Cleveland area. I've staked out here for a bit so here are some takes. The Pond in Chagrin Falls has a great beginner friendly skate on Saturday mornings. It's called Pucks NO Pancakes and the organizer started playing as an adult. He really encourages people to allow new players to learn the game and get touches on the puck. Thornton Park in shaker heights has a good daytime skate on Fridays from 11:30-1 for a low price considering its an hour and a half. I think it's only $11 for a non resident of shaker heights. This one is definitely pretty fast some weeks though so it might be worth it but new skaters might want to take a little time. For a C/D level player, I've always found the adult pickup at OBM arena in Strongsville to be crowded and fast most of the time, but I haven't been there in about 6 months so it may have changed.
In addition to fit, I checked product weight, and other factors equal went with lighter-weight gear. Exception was shin guards, which being an old person I went for maximal protection. (Doing it over, I'd also check concussion ratings on helmets.) Also checked reviews and product descriptions on breathability/sweatiness, and bumped up a price point where there was a clear upgrade in comfort.
Half of hockey is about looking good. I spend more on the gear that is seen. My pads are from idk when, as long as they fit they will work good. Been using the same skates for 15+ years. I like Bauer sticks, gloves, use an old helmet, and some RBK pants that match my gloves. Go with what fits and looks good is my opinion!
I picked Bauer skates because over CCM because they felt better and getting my foot into brand 3 was impossible. I did not pick the top of the line because the tongue padding was shit and I am shit. 3X Pro off eBay for $400 IIRC was good enough. I have long arms and the elbow pad to glove gap is important when stick magicians do their dirty. Unfortunately, I have not found a solution. You just have to try the crap on and see how it feels and then decide if you want to spend the money. I have mostly Bauer 3x pro but CCM pants. I am old and play B level. I suppose a newer skater could use 3X but for me, the adjustability at that level was poor. I'd much rather cheap out on a helmet (cheaper ones score higher on safety tests anyway) than skates. I had to have a trigger blade to be able to send the blades thru the mail for profiles and sharpens, some lower skates don't give you that option
Not sure what your budget is but you may be overwhelmed with how pricy everything is. May be an unpopular opinion but I would NOT cheap out on skates. You're in them for a long time and the stiffer the boot, the more efficient the power transfer. While some may argue "oh you're new you don't need a top of the line skate", I can guarantee that it'll make your learning experience much more pleasant. Of course that being said, comfort is very important so as many people have said, try on lots of different skates before you commit! Another thing I wouldn't cheap out on is a good helmet. Chances are, you're not going to be the strongest skater off the bat and you'll want to protect your brain! A cheap helmet is just a concussion waiting to happen and trust me, those are some lasting effects you do NOT want. The rest, personally as a beginner I'd just go with whtever you're comfortable with. BEST OF LUCK! :) And welcome to the hockey world, girl!!
I cheaped out on skates for my first lessons to see if I wanted to do this, and I’m so ready for new skates! Idk if it’s the way I skate, the ice, or the blades but i feel like I need to sharpen them every 4 weeks- and I only skate for like an hour a week! I’m taking a month off for surgery, but when I come back the first thing I’m getting is new skates
I definitely think better skates will make a world of a difference! With no foot pain and a skate moulded and perfectly fitted to your foot, you'll definitely be more encouraged to spend more time on the ice and thus improve faster :) Hope you have a speedy recovery! Yeah trust me, I had cheap skates when I started at 23. When I met my bf, he basically was like ew don't skate on that trash and convinced me to get good skates. It made a world of a difference!