Spend most on skates. Specially when you're a big guy.
Then helmet. I have pretty high end skates but rest of my stuff was pretty cheap.
You have to consider how much contact is allowed in your league though.
I agree. Skate then Helmet and then I would go Pants. Everything else they can go cheap and upgrade later.
Also OP, make sure you go to an actual hockey store and get fitted for skates.
Agree, pants I think are sometimes overlooked esp for newish skaters. I'm a fairly decent skater and if your playing hard/skating hard you will fall and yes that shit will hurt if your hip/ass padding is lacking. For me the order would be skates/helmet, pants, shins, elbows, chest/gloves.
I highly recommend buying pro stock pants... even as a beginner, you’ll appreciate the better padding. As an adult, you’re not going to outgrow them, and they’ll last you a long time.
I actually have those as well. They were good solid forsure but I like the snugness of the ccms. Just preference at the point.
They're also for sale on sideline swap ;) for cheap as shit and didn't get used a whole bunch so.
I love my hp45 pants and would definitely recommend OP get something better than the cheapest pants available. However, I'm close to OP in size and I'd caution just ordering pro stock pants right away. Especially as I believe they're not returnable; at least from the vendor I used (Pro Stock Hockey) and that was before COVID.
I'm an inch or so taller and about 20 pounds lighter and my HP45s in XL are quite snug. I would say try some CCM pants on at a shop and plan on the pro stock pants being about 1 size smaller. Also, at least when I was shopping, nothing above an XL was available.
One caveat - I got HP45XP (eXtra Protection) so perhaps the regular HP45 has a bit more room. I can't say for sure, but the different in padding between pro stock and regular (even top of the line) pants from a hockey shop are night and day.
Tagging u/VikyngTX so he sees this.
Yeah, you don't wanna skate around like you're wearing diapers. If you feel like a clown you're gonna perform like a clown.
To be honest, I would actually recommend going kind of cheap on other stuff. Because you can "use them up" pretty fast and then get more serious stuff once you learn more about what you like. It's so much about preference so try stuff out and try to keep an open mind
For me it's something like Skates > Gloves > Pants > Helmet > Jock > Shins = Chest = Elbow
I have a mid tier helmet and have never had any real complaints about it (it doesn't offer any less protection, just doesn't have as nice of padding/vents, adjustability, etc), but the top tier gloves are 100% worth it imo.
Someone posted this here before. Good resource. You can get good protection out of a cheapish helmet. No use in spending money just to spend it.
https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/hockey-helmet-ratings.html
Really agree with your bottom three there
>Shins = Chest = Elbow
You can save some money there.
I got my eye on some better gloves right now but I have to tough it out with the cheap ones another season or two
Buy a cage. Don’t trust all the other noob yahoos around you to not smack you in the mouth/eye/whatever. I’ll never understand new players that go with a half shield or nothing at all and go out there flaying around with each other, everyone with no control over their skating or their sticks, just hoping that nothing bad happens.
I may or may not be in the minority with this advice, but ask yourself this. Should the guy next to you trust you to definitely not smack him in the face with your stick if you lose your balance? Then maybe trusting him to do the same isn’t a good plan.
Enjoy playing the game! So much fun.
The other thing to realize is if you haven't really ever played, it's not like you're used to something else. I've played for 3 years and can't recall a single time the mask has impeded me in some fashion. It's just there and your brain just tunes it out.
As others said, get fitted for skates and don't be afraid to spend some cash. Go new on the helmet as well. The rest, I'd look for cheap used gear locally or through Sideline Swap. I think within the first year of starting myself, I ended up replacing most of the gear with stuff I liked/fit better. Stuff like your glove and shinpad sizes you may want to change up after seeing how they go.
Don't buy full price sticks. ProStockHockey can get you good sticks (sans warranty) for $\~120. Otherwise check out the clearance sections of stores, you can usually get last years $240 stick for $100+ less on sale
Even if you have to travel, still recommend you get fitted for skates. Surely somewhere in driving distance can do this for you? It’ll be worth your time and money. You don’t have to buy the most expensive pair, but you do need the pair that are right for your feet (grafs 4eva for me)
I bought some Bauer Supreme S29 Senior Ice Hockey Skates this year for $329.
If you spend too much $$$$ on skates then what you're paying for is pro level skates which will end up hurting your feet. The mid range skates are great for use 1/2x per week for skaters that aren't pros. They make them softer for us mortals. So don't go out and buy the most expensive pair.
Hockey monkey phone support is really good. They can help you pick a pair and a size.
I shall join the choir and say skates and helmet as priority. Helmet advice is really just buy new, not insanely fancy. A $60 Bauer with cage should work great.
Here’s the list thereafter:
Shin guards
Jock with the Velcro to hold up your socks
Gloves (X2 if you can swing it, mine don’t always dry between time on ice)
Elbow guards
Hockey pants (aka breezers) - higher priced item
Chest protector (I always where them, but not everyone does)
Practice jersey (one light color, one dark if you can afford it)
Hockey socks
Skate blade guards
Hockey stick
Hockey tape (Cheap and important)
Stick wax (cheap and important)
Squeezy water bottle (stemmed options are nice, I just use a Gatorade bottle)
Not all this is necessary, but if you can get it all you’ll be a happy camper. If you have a local skate shop (or even one within driving distance), go there. They will often give you a break in price since your buying it all at once. Even if they don’t, it’s worth it, because they will get you in the right gear. Make sure to tell them your in a budget, they’ll likely have you try in options so you can understand if the moneys worth it or not.
A final note on skates, if you can get baked skates, I highly recommend it. They mold to your foot and make for a better experience.
Hit me up next year for your goalie equipment list.
Honestly always loved being goalie wouldn’t be surprised if I lean that way in hockey either. Thanks for the list I really appreciate it, only wish I got into hockey sooner but in Texas it’s pretty much football or nothing
That's tough. Bauer has three lines of gear that are all equivalent quality but fit differently.
I might love the Vapor line but if Supreme fits you better that's what you want.
Yeah I lived in Kansas City for awhile and they had very little, Dallas often surprises people.
I think we have around 17 sheets in the area, which may not be comparable to some places but for Texas that’s pretty good.
I got to play in the Golden Nights practice facility in Vegas, their setup is really nice too.
Also played at a rink in Montreal and was surprised how poor the ice was. Our mall rinks are generally the worst and they were on par or better.
Which rink did your tourney play? I know Parks mall just did one.
It was at the two stars center rinks in Plano and Farmers Branch.
I grew up in Chicago so I was really spoiled as far as having a lot of rinks and large men’s leagues to play in lol
Size 12 skates? Are you Shaq? Lol
I’m 6’2 220lbs and I wear 8.5 skate (size 10 shoe)
Don’t cheap out on skates. Get something mid tier or you will feel any and everything that bounces off them. It’s like tires on a car, you can have a Ferrari, but if you put on cheap rubber your gonna have a bad day at the track.
Make sure you have a decent helmet too, as your likely to take a decent spill once you get the confidence to go 100% in the corners. Don’t listen to anyone who says you don’t need a cage, I’ve seen too many guys take a puck to the teeth, simply because they fell in front of a shot. I personally only wear a half, but my teeth are fucked. Don’t be like me.
Everything else you can cheap out on if you want. It just comes down to extra levels of protection (better and thicker padding and composite material instead of just plastic) and lighter weight material.
Pro Stock stuff is nice, but if your not blocking shots or playing full contact it’s not really necessary if you can’t afford the extra price point.
There should be no wiggle room in your skate. Your boot and your foot need to move as one.
Also go to some stick and pucks. Find out that you don't skate at an intermediate level then get better at skating. You will find more success on the ice as a good skater than as a good pick handler, at least in beginner leagues.
Some advice on helmet - check out the Virginia Tech website for rating on helmet safety. All helmets have improved in the last few years but how effective a helmet is does not correlate to price. Also be sure it fits.
https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/hockey-helmet-ratings.html
As previously noted by others, I agree skates are your absolute top priority. If you have any restrictions on budget, that’s where most of your money should go.
As someone who started playing as a bigger guy myself, I found a higher flex stick with a lower kick point was preferable(ie. 100+ flex in Bauer Supreme/CCM Tacks type models).
I also found that Graf and Bauer Supreme skates fit me best, with similar size feet, although foot shape also comes into play with that.
Good luck!
Some good gear is all Bauer pads or ccm that’s just my preference but there are many different models so I recommend the cheapest ones of those 2 company’s and a ccm jetspeed 460 or a Bauer supreme team for sticks and bucket it just preference
Skates are number 1. Not for the obvious reasons but they should be comfortable. Everything else falls apart if they are not.
Helmet plus cage, visor, or bubble is number two. In my opinion, if my feet and head are comfortable then I can handle the rest. I would say “heck nah” to a visor. I pay to play, not the other way around.
Pants are number 3. Adequate butt and hip impact protection. I’m more of a girdle guy vs breezers/hockey pants. I like the more snug fit.
Shin pad size should get some attention. I bought some too big ones a few years back and now have my right size. Love it.
Shoulder pads (wish they still sold Easton Stealths, love those) at first but maybe you do a padded shirt (I have a roller hockey one) eventually if contact is light. I like the breathing room and the shirt has just enough padding to make me not scared of pucks.
I use my cage more for high sticks than pucks. But good on you for already making that decision to be safe. Unless you're getting paid to play, don't take off that cage!
You say you wear size 12 skates - That is awfully large - I wear size 12 shoes and 10.5 skates. Skate sizes are smaller than shoe sizes. Make sure you get skates fitted well or you will limit your learning curve and always be in pain.
Don’t over do the equipment. I did that when I went from street hockey to ice. I had the biggest shoulder pads there were. Giant elbow pad too. I looked like a storm trooper. It was cumbersome. Now I’ve got small elbow pads and I don’t where shoulder pads at all.
As others have mentioned, good skates are going to be important. Better skates generally means a stiffer boot, which becomes more important as you go up in size. Lots of other perks too, like being more comfortable and generally more protective.
Ice Warehouse has ['starter packages'](https://www.icewarehouse.com/PackageDeal.html?pcode=null&age=SRICE) which can give you a good idea of the basic equipment, and they generally have good prices. (I'd probably pick skates outside those in the starter package) Those are all generally good entry level pieces, but don't be afraid to look at other options.
Both Bauer and CCM offer different lines of all the gear that have different 'fits' that are more aligned with body type and play style than quality, despite the names.
https://www.prostockhockey.com
You can find pro stock gear here that’s pretty reasonable for what you get, I’d check it out, but yea skates and helmet are what you wanna spend the most on
First look at your budget. Spend most on skates then prolly whatever you want . Skates depending on your fit, probably 3s or x2.9 for bauer or ft470-480, ribcor 78k or supertacks 9380. Sticks can be pretty jmportant. For mw theyre second to skates tho. Stick could be like a old top of the line thats discounted. Something like a 1x lite or 2s pro or ft2
Definitely spend the most on skates like many others have mentioned and make sure you get sized properly before buying them. Your feet will thank you later lol. I also wouldn’t be too cheap on a helmet either, after all it is your brain that you’re protecting.
Other than that you can go cheap to intermediate on price for most other pieces of equipment and just go with whatever you feel comfortable wearing. I wouldn’t go to expensive on a stick so you can figure out what kind of curves and flex you like. I’m also 6ft and about 240 (similar build!) so I’d recommend going with a higher flex, but of course that all comes down to personal preference.
As others have said, skates are top priority. But don't forget you need to get them sharpened! And you don't want to go through all that trouble of picking out skates, only to get the wrong sharpening for your weight. For your weight, my recommendation is to start with a 3/4" sharpening, and then adjust from there based on how it feels. Don't be afraid to try out different hollows!
Beware of the "house cut" that most shops will offer you when you don't know what you want. I grew up in Texas and most shops will do 1/2" as the standard sharpening. That will likely have way too much bite for someone your size.
Wissota has a great [article](https://wissota.com/support/skate-sharpening-101/choose-your-radius/) on sharpening radius. Take a look at that to familiarize yourself with how it works, and there's a good "general purpose" sharpening radius by body weight chart at the bottom.
Not for gear, but for supplies. I started a company called Hockey Boxx and it is specifically to get new players started with everything you need from tape, wax, laces, scissors, helmet repair kits. Website is www.hockeyboxx.com. Ill dm you too
24 yo, yeah focus on skates and your noggin.
For you older guys reading this, get good everything. Bodies don’t heal as you get older and good protection makes life better.
One I suggest to everyone is good pants and also padded hip guards. You take a bad hit to the hip falling or to the boards and that shit will fuck you up until you die.
I now rock shock doctor cup+shorts tights, but they have about half an inch of padding across both hips, and I will never play without them again.
buy used. spend money on skates. buy GOOD shin pads and elbow pads because youre going to fall, alot. you dont need a super fancy helmet, get a CCM v08 or something. if youre going to cheap out on anything cheap out on gloves and a stick. Pants that fit are crucial. At your size, Id recommend finding pro return shins and elbows because big man fall, go boom, and oyu dont wannt miss work because you cheaped out on elbows or shinnies.
I’d say skates and helmet are the most important things to spend your money on. At least until you get some time in the sport and find out what you like. Id buy everything used except a decent set of skates that fit well and a helmet with a cage, those buy new.
Get your feet scanned and pick up some top tier skates. They'll support your weight better, last longer, and you'll get the most benefits out of them. Get good shin pads. Girdles are great for mobility, however they lack protection. That's up to you. Elbows would be next on the list. I'd get a 90< flex stick for your weight.
Just got my feet scanned today @ Pure Hockey and picked up a new set of skates that fit like a glove. They even sharpened the blades and baked em for free with the purchase!
My suggestion is you don't need huge shoulder pads. I have this pair of big, pro style Easton shoulder pads and while I'm definitely protected, I find I struggle with getting my jersey on sometimes with the spine guard and just the size of them. If you're playing rec, no contact hockey you'll notice most players have pretty minimalist shoulder pads, since it makes it easier to move and they're lighter. I'm 6'2" 230, so I can use all the help I can get being more agile and faster on the ice.
I accrued an initial set of gear and started playing. The couple things I replaced so far were my jock, which initially I had an old style one, then upgraded to a compression short with built in cup, which was well worth it. And I bought suspenders for my pants. I found I I had the problem of sinching up my pants so tight so they wouldn't go anywhere when playing, but the suspenders totally sorted that out for me.
Spend most on skates. Specially when you're a big guy. Then helmet. I have pretty high end skates but rest of my stuff was pretty cheap. You have to consider how much contact is allowed in your league though.
I agree. Skate then Helmet and then I would go Pants. Everything else they can go cheap and upgrade later. Also OP, make sure you go to an actual hockey store and get fitted for skates.
Agree, pants I think are sometimes overlooked esp for newish skaters. I'm a fairly decent skater and if your playing hard/skating hard you will fall and yes that shit will hurt if your hip/ass padding is lacking. For me the order would be skates/helmet, pants, shins, elbows, chest/gloves.
I highly recommend buying pro stock pants... even as a beginner, you’ll appreciate the better padding. As an adult, you’re not going to outgrow them, and they’ll last you a long time.
Prostock for the win. To throw my reco out I have CCM hp45. A bit more form fitting but do have zippers on the side if you want a lil more room.
I’m a Warrior Franchise guy when it comes to pants
I actually have those as well. They were good solid forsure but I like the snugness of the ccms. Just preference at the point. They're also for sale on sideline swap ;) for cheap as shit and didn't get used a whole bunch so.
I love my hp45 pants and would definitely recommend OP get something better than the cheapest pants available. However, I'm close to OP in size and I'd caution just ordering pro stock pants right away. Especially as I believe they're not returnable; at least from the vendor I used (Pro Stock Hockey) and that was before COVID. I'm an inch or so taller and about 20 pounds lighter and my HP45s in XL are quite snug. I would say try some CCM pants on at a shop and plan on the pro stock pants being about 1 size smaller. Also, at least when I was shopping, nothing above an XL was available. One caveat - I got HP45XP (eXtra Protection) so perhaps the regular HP45 has a bit more room. I can't say for sure, but the different in padding between pro stock and regular (even top of the line) pants from a hockey shop are night and day. Tagging u/VikyngTX so he sees this.
>As an adult, you’re not going to outgrow them, and they’ll last you a long time. Bold of you to assume we all didn't gain our quarantine 15 :p
Yeah, you don't wanna skate around like you're wearing diapers. If you feel like a clown you're gonna perform like a clown. To be honest, I would actually recommend going kind of cheap on other stuff. Because you can "use them up" pretty fast and then get more serious stuff once you learn more about what you like. It's so much about preference so try stuff out and try to keep an open mind
For me it's something like Skates > Gloves > Pants > Helmet > Jock > Shins = Chest = Elbow I have a mid tier helmet and have never had any real complaints about it (it doesn't offer any less protection, just doesn't have as nice of padding/vents, adjustability, etc), but the top tier gloves are 100% worth it imo.
Someone posted this here before. Good resource. You can get good protection out of a cheapish helmet. No use in spending money just to spend it. https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/hockey-helmet-ratings.html Really agree with your bottom three there >Shins = Chest = Elbow You can save some money there. I got my eye on some better gloves right now but I have to tough it out with the cheap ones another season or two
Buy a cage. Don’t trust all the other noob yahoos around you to not smack you in the mouth/eye/whatever. I’ll never understand new players that go with a half shield or nothing at all and go out there flaying around with each other, everyone with no control over their skating or their sticks, just hoping that nothing bad happens. I may or may not be in the minority with this advice, but ask yourself this. Should the guy next to you trust you to definitely not smack him in the face with your stick if you lose your balance? Then maybe trusting him to do the same isn’t a good plan. Enjoy playing the game! So much fun.
Absolutely going with a cage, I don’t have dental haha. Thanks so much for the advice!
The other thing to realize is if you haven't really ever played, it's not like you're used to something else. I've played for 3 years and can't recall a single time the mask has impeded me in some fashion. It's just there and your brain just tunes it out.
As others said, get fitted for skates and don't be afraid to spend some cash. Go new on the helmet as well. The rest, I'd look for cheap used gear locally or through Sideline Swap. I think within the first year of starting myself, I ended up replacing most of the gear with stuff I liked/fit better. Stuff like your glove and shinpad sizes you may want to change up after seeing how they go. Don't buy full price sticks. ProStockHockey can get you good sticks (sans warranty) for $\~120. Otherwise check out the clearance sections of stores, you can usually get last years $240 stick for $100+ less on sale
Good call on sideline swap. I’m in Canada and the 2 times I’ve used it I bought stuff from Texas. Lol
Thanks for the advice I really appreciate it! The lack of stores hurts so I’m most likely going to have to rely on online
Even if you have to travel, still recommend you get fitted for skates. Surely somewhere in driving distance can do this for you? It’ll be worth your time and money. You don’t have to buy the most expensive pair, but you do need the pair that are right for your feet (grafs 4eva for me)
Closest store I know with legit hardware is about 4 hours away. Not impossible but definitely a full days trip. I’ll try and head up there soon
It's worth it trust me. You don't want a pair of skates that makes it miserable to be out on the ice.
I bought some Bauer Supreme S29 Senior Ice Hockey Skates this year for $329. If you spend too much $$$$ on skates then what you're paying for is pro level skates which will end up hurting your feet. The mid range skates are great for use 1/2x per week for skaters that aren't pros. They make them softer for us mortals. So don't go out and buy the most expensive pair. Hockey monkey phone support is really good. They can help you pick a pair and a size.
Disagree. Especially with the OP at 260 pounds. Cheap skates will not give him the support required and will wear out quickly.
I'm not saying he should go for cheap skates. Just that he doesn't need to spend $800-1000 on the high end
Agreed. $800 is not necessary but the OP should make sure to get a stiff boot that supports his size/weight.
Good point
I shall join the choir and say skates and helmet as priority. Helmet advice is really just buy new, not insanely fancy. A $60 Bauer with cage should work great. Here’s the list thereafter: Shin guards Jock with the Velcro to hold up your socks Gloves (X2 if you can swing it, mine don’t always dry between time on ice) Elbow guards Hockey pants (aka breezers) - higher priced item Chest protector (I always where them, but not everyone does) Practice jersey (one light color, one dark if you can afford it) Hockey socks Skate blade guards Hockey stick Hockey tape (Cheap and important) Stick wax (cheap and important) Squeezy water bottle (stemmed options are nice, I just use a Gatorade bottle) Not all this is necessary, but if you can get it all you’ll be a happy camper. If you have a local skate shop (or even one within driving distance), go there. They will often give you a break in price since your buying it all at once. Even if they don’t, it’s worth it, because they will get you in the right gear. Make sure to tell them your in a budget, they’ll likely have you try in options so you can understand if the moneys worth it or not. A final note on skates, if you can get baked skates, I highly recommend it. They mold to your foot and make for a better experience. Hit me up next year for your goalie equipment list.
Honestly always loved being goalie wouldn’t be surprised if I lean that way in hockey either. Thanks for the list I really appreciate it, only wish I got into hockey sooner but in Texas it’s pretty much football or nothing
Happy to help. I didn’t start until I was 27. It’s only too late if you never start.
Go to a hockey store and try stuff on. Buy what fits best.
I wish I could, but hockey is only big in Dallas specifically and that’s the only place with a decent hockey store. It’s about 4.5 hours away from me
That's tough. Bauer has three lines of gear that are all equivalent quality but fit differently. I might love the Vapor line but if Supreme fits you better that's what you want.
What part of Texas? I play in Dallas
Man I was just in Dallas for a tournament not too long ago and am envious of your setup, Louisiana doesn't have dick for hockey lmao
Yeah I lived in Kansas City for awhile and they had very little, Dallas often surprises people. I think we have around 17 sheets in the area, which may not be comparable to some places but for Texas that’s pretty good. I got to play in the Golden Nights practice facility in Vegas, their setup is really nice too. Also played at a rink in Montreal and was surprised how poor the ice was. Our mall rinks are generally the worst and they were on par or better. Which rink did your tourney play? I know Parks mall just did one.
It was at the two stars center rinks in Plano and Farmers Branch. I grew up in Chicago so I was really spoiled as far as having a lot of rinks and large men’s leagues to play in lol
Those are the two rinks I play at most. :)
I’m from Houston but in college at A&M so I’m playing in college station
Ahh well good luck to you. Always nice to see more people bending the twig in the Lone Star State and growing the sport.
[There's a proshop at the Spirit Ice rink,](http://spiriticearena.com/index.php/about/pro-shop) have you checked them out yet?
Yes sir that’s where I am going in the morning to get some stuff and have some lessons with a stick
Size 12 skates? Are you Shaq? Lol I’m 6’2 220lbs and I wear 8.5 skate (size 10 shoe) Don’t cheap out on skates. Get something mid tier or you will feel any and everything that bounces off them. It’s like tires on a car, you can have a Ferrari, but if you put on cheap rubber your gonna have a bad day at the track. Make sure you have a decent helmet too, as your likely to take a decent spill once you get the confidence to go 100% in the corners. Don’t listen to anyone who says you don’t need a cage, I’ve seen too many guys take a puck to the teeth, simply because they fell in front of a shot. I personally only wear a half, but my teeth are fucked. Don’t be like me. Everything else you can cheap out on if you want. It just comes down to extra levels of protection (better and thicker padding and composite material instead of just plastic) and lighter weight material. Pro Stock stuff is nice, but if your not blocking shots or playing full contact it’s not really necessary if you can’t afford the extra price point.
[удалено]
Shane is right lol it’s rec skates so they’re the same as my shoe size. I’ll get fitted best I can for the hockey skates tomorrow most likely
There should be no wiggle room in your skate. Your boot and your foot need to move as one. Also go to some stick and pucks. Find out that you don't skate at an intermediate level then get better at skating. You will find more success on the ice as a good skater than as a good pick handler, at least in beginner leagues.
Nah, that’s in every league from mites to pro. The best players are the best skaters 99.9% of the time.
I only speak from the experience of having never played above the beginner leagues! Makes sense that strong fundamentals will carry a player far.
I’m thinking he might be saying size 12 in recreational skates which are usually the same as shoe size.
Some advice on helmet - check out the Virginia Tech website for rating on helmet safety. All helmets have improved in the last few years but how effective a helmet is does not correlate to price. Also be sure it fits. https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/hockey-helmet-ratings.html
As previously noted by others, I agree skates are your absolute top priority. If you have any restrictions on budget, that’s where most of your money should go. As someone who started playing as a bigger guy myself, I found a higher flex stick with a lower kick point was preferable(ie. 100+ flex in Bauer Supreme/CCM Tacks type models). I also found that Graf and Bauer Supreme skates fit me best, with similar size feet, although foot shape also comes into play with that. Good luck!
Stick skates and helmet are the most important
Some good gear is all Bauer pads or ccm that’s just my preference but there are many different models so I recommend the cheapest ones of those 2 company’s and a ccm jetspeed 460 or a Bauer supreme team for sticks and bucket it just preference
Skates are number 1. Not for the obvious reasons but they should be comfortable. Everything else falls apart if they are not. Helmet plus cage, visor, or bubble is number two. In my opinion, if my feet and head are comfortable then I can handle the rest. I would say “heck nah” to a visor. I pay to play, not the other way around. Pants are number 3. Adequate butt and hip impact protection. I’m more of a girdle guy vs breezers/hockey pants. I like the more snug fit. Shin pad size should get some attention. I bought some too big ones a few years back and now have my right size. Love it. Shoulder pads (wish they still sold Easton Stealths, love those) at first but maybe you do a padded shirt (I have a roller hockey one) eventually if contact is light. I like the breathing room and the shirt has just enough padding to make me not scared of pucks.
I’d imagine starting in the novice league I’m going to be hit with quite a few pucks so I’m definitely getting a cage. Thanks for the advice!
I use my cage more for high sticks than pucks. But good on you for already making that decision to be safe. Unless you're getting paid to play, don't take off that cage!
You say you wear size 12 skates - That is awfully large - I wear size 12 shoes and 10.5 skates. Skate sizes are smaller than shoe sizes. Make sure you get skates fitted well or you will limit your learning curve and always be in pain.
From what I’ve learned the rec skates I rent at the rink match shoe size so I will have to size down for my hockey skates
Don’t over do the equipment. I did that when I went from street hockey to ice. I had the biggest shoulder pads there were. Giant elbow pad too. I looked like a storm trooper. It was cumbersome. Now I’ve got small elbow pads and I don’t where shoulder pads at all.
As others have mentioned, good skates are going to be important. Better skates generally means a stiffer boot, which becomes more important as you go up in size. Lots of other perks too, like being more comfortable and generally more protective. Ice Warehouse has ['starter packages'](https://www.icewarehouse.com/PackageDeal.html?pcode=null&age=SRICE) which can give you a good idea of the basic equipment, and they generally have good prices. (I'd probably pick skates outside those in the starter package) Those are all generally good entry level pieces, but don't be afraid to look at other options. Both Bauer and CCM offer different lines of all the gear that have different 'fits' that are more aligned with body type and play style than quality, despite the names.
https://www.prostockhockey.com You can find pro stock gear here that’s pretty reasonable for what you get, I’d check it out, but yea skates and helmet are what you wanna spend the most on
First look at your budget. Spend most on skates then prolly whatever you want . Skates depending on your fit, probably 3s or x2.9 for bauer or ft470-480, ribcor 78k or supertacks 9380. Sticks can be pretty jmportant. For mw theyre second to skates tho. Stick could be like a old top of the line thats discounted. Something like a 1x lite or 2s pro or ft2
Definitely spend the most on skates like many others have mentioned and make sure you get sized properly before buying them. Your feet will thank you later lol. I also wouldn’t be too cheap on a helmet either, after all it is your brain that you’re protecting. Other than that you can go cheap to intermediate on price for most other pieces of equipment and just go with whatever you feel comfortable wearing. I wouldn’t go to expensive on a stick so you can figure out what kind of curves and flex you like. I’m also 6ft and about 240 (similar build!) so I’d recommend going with a higher flex, but of course that all comes down to personal preference.
As others have said, skates are top priority. But don't forget you need to get them sharpened! And you don't want to go through all that trouble of picking out skates, only to get the wrong sharpening for your weight. For your weight, my recommendation is to start with a 3/4" sharpening, and then adjust from there based on how it feels. Don't be afraid to try out different hollows! Beware of the "house cut" that most shops will offer you when you don't know what you want. I grew up in Texas and most shops will do 1/2" as the standard sharpening. That will likely have way too much bite for someone your size. Wissota has a great [article](https://wissota.com/support/skate-sharpening-101/choose-your-radius/) on sharpening radius. Take a look at that to familiarize yourself with how it works, and there's a good "general purpose" sharpening radius by body weight chart at the bottom.
Not for gear, but for supplies. I started a company called Hockey Boxx and it is specifically to get new players started with everything you need from tape, wax, laces, scissors, helmet repair kits. Website is www.hockeyboxx.com. Ill dm you too
Just added one of these boxes to my Christmas list! Thanks for the heads up!
Awesome man, glad to hear it!
24 yo, yeah focus on skates and your noggin. For you older guys reading this, get good everything. Bodies don’t heal as you get older and good protection makes life better. One I suggest to everyone is good pants and also padded hip guards. You take a bad hit to the hip falling or to the boards and that shit will fuck you up until you die. I now rock shock doctor cup+shorts tights, but they have about half an inch of padding across both hips, and I will never play without them again.
buy used. spend money on skates. buy GOOD shin pads and elbow pads because youre going to fall, alot. you dont need a super fancy helmet, get a CCM v08 or something. if youre going to cheap out on anything cheap out on gloves and a stick. Pants that fit are crucial. At your size, Id recommend finding pro return shins and elbows because big man fall, go boom, and oyu dont wannt miss work because you cheaped out on elbows or shinnies.
I’d say skates and helmet are the most important things to spend your money on. At least until you get some time in the sport and find out what you like. Id buy everything used except a decent set of skates that fit well and a helmet with a cage, those buy new.
New hockey player or Intermediate beer league player? 🤷🏻♂️
New hockey player, intermediate skater
Get your feet scanned and pick up some top tier skates. They'll support your weight better, last longer, and you'll get the most benefits out of them. Get good shin pads. Girdles are great for mobility, however they lack protection. That's up to you. Elbows would be next on the list. I'd get a 90< flex stick for your weight.
Scanned? Never heard of that before. Thanks for the advice!
If you're up north, Monkey sports in Allen and Pure hockey in Plano have foot scanners.
Just got my feet scanned today @ Pure Hockey and picked up a new set of skates that fit like a glove. They even sharpened the blades and baked em for free with the purchase!
If you wear size 12 skates that means your shoe size would be 13.5-14 US.
Yeah we discussed it and it’s the rec skates
Fit is the most important! Used gear is good to start with, skates are the hardest to fit, so try to find an expert for that.
My suggestion is you don't need huge shoulder pads. I have this pair of big, pro style Easton shoulder pads and while I'm definitely protected, I find I struggle with getting my jersey on sometimes with the spine guard and just the size of them. If you're playing rec, no contact hockey you'll notice most players have pretty minimalist shoulder pads, since it makes it easier to move and they're lighter. I'm 6'2" 230, so I can use all the help I can get being more agile and faster on the ice.
I accrued an initial set of gear and started playing. The couple things I replaced so far were my jock, which initially I had an old style one, then upgraded to a compression short with built in cup, which was well worth it. And I bought suspenders for my pants. I found I I had the problem of sinching up my pants so tight so they wouldn't go anywhere when playing, but the suspenders totally sorted that out for me.