Home › Guides › First-time hockey player
First-time hockey player
Quick answer: Buy a full bag that fits the body you have today. Do not size everything “to grow into.” Helmet and skates are the two pieces you should not guess.
What goes in the bag
Skates, stick, helmet with cage or visor as required by the league, neck guard if required, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, pants or girdle + shell, shin guards, jock/jill, jersey, socks, tape, bag. Goalies add mask, chest, pads, blocker, catcher, goalie stick.
Order it goes on
Base layer and jock/jill → shins → pants → skates → shoulders → elbows → neck → helmet → gloves → jersey. Socks over shins, jersey over shoulders.
What to measure
Shoe size (say if it is US women’s or men’s), height, weight, head circumference, chest, waist, hand length, kneecap-to-top-of-boot. Then run Full Setup.
Where to save money
Value-tier gloves, elbows, and sticks are often fine for learn-to-play. Do not cheap out on a helmet that does not fit, or skates that swim.
Related: used gear · Youth/Junior/Senior · tiers