Maximize Your Investment by Putting Goalies in the Proper Gear
Mar 24 '04 (Updated Dec 13 '05)
The Bottom Line Goalie is the most expensive position in team sports. But what you really cannot afford is to outfit any goalie in sub-par gear.
Outfitting Goaltenders
The objective of this article is to help new goalies and parents understand how goalie equipment should fit as well as to educate them on some of the more affordable options that exist. Making sure any goalie is in the right set of gear will help to maximize the investment by increasing his or her enjoyment of the sport. This article will cover the following items:
1. Misconceptions about buying gear for growing goalies
2. The sizing system used buy equipment makers
3. How much a set of gear might cost
4. Leg pad sizing and features
5. Blocker and Trapper sizing and features
6. Helmet sizing and features
7. Chest and arm protector sizing and features
8. Pants sizing and features
9. How to pick out a stick
10. What else will you need?
11. Some affordable new gear options
12. Some brands to beware of
13. Cleaning and caring for gear
14. A Quick Note on Goalie Skates
Common Misconceptions
A set of Ice Hockey goalie equipment is one of the biggest investments for any position in team sports. This is a particularly painful thing for parents who know the very expensive gear they are looking at is going to eventually be outgrown. There are two common mistakes that parents often make in purchasing gear.
First, there is a tendency to buy gear that is too large for young goalies. Certainly young goalies should have some room for growth. There comes a point however, where oversized gear will detract from the goalie’s experience to the point that the game will no longer be fun, and safety will be impaired.
Second, many parents buy gear that is of too low a quality. It is often difficult to tell the gear made for ball hockey from actual ice hockey equipment. Not only will the less expensive ball hockey gear deteriorate very quickly, the goalie will have highly increased levels of discomfort from poor designs, inferior construction and minimal padding. Keep in mind that ice hockey pucks are hard enough to break bones.
Buying the right gear helps maximize the expenditure by ensuring that your child won’t give up the sport as a result of poor fit or quality creating a miserable experience. Does this mean that as a parent you cannot purchase affordable gear for your growing goalie? Not at all. There are a number of brands on the market that make quality affordable gear. While I’m not a huge fan of used gear, there is also a huge selection in the used hockey gear market. Much of it is very good.
The Sizing System
Hockey has three basic size tiers. From smallest to largest these are youth (or child), junior, and senior. This size scale for goalies applies to pants, jerseys, chest protectors and helmets. Within this system are sub-sizes that we are familiar with, Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large. Some brands or items will not have an Extra Large in Youth and/or Junior sizes.
For goalie gloves and pads there is an extra designation of intermediate. While this might sound like a bad thing, it actually makes buying gloves very easy. Goalie gloves only come in four sizes (a few brands have senior large and small). This is actually better than forward gloves which come in eight sizes. Leg pads come in one-inch increments (although most brands will go two-inch increments in smaller sizes). Youth Leg pads are generally 25” and smaller, juniors 25” to 28”, intermediates 29” to 31”, and seniors 32” and up.
So Just How Much Might This Cost?
Let’s get a little perspective first. A top-notch pair of adult sized leg pads will run in the ballpark of $1500. I bet that number got your attention if you just started shopping. Fortunately you don’t need the top of the line gear for a young goalie. For a youth hockey goalie it is possible to outfit a goalie from head to toe in new gear of good quality (excluding skates) for about $400. For juniors the estimated cost excluding skates would be about $600 and for an intermediate or adult, a set of new gear in the $800 range is realistic.
The prices for used equipment can bring this total down substantially. Some items are better purchased new than used. I will address both of these options as we get into each item as well as what to look for in new or used gear.
Leg Pads
Leg pads are the biggest investment in the entire bag of goalie equipment. This is most likely the reason that parents try to buy these bigger than they should be. Pads are misfit more often than any other goalie item.
It might be surprising, but the most expensive item the goalie will need is possibly the one that you can cut the most corners on. Even a good pair of inline hockey goalie leg pads will offer more than adequate protection from the puck for ice hockey goalies. The side that faces the goalie’s leg is the actually more important one for comfort and safety in all but the cheapest pads.
The main thing to look for in a pair of leg pads is a good knee cradle. This is the padding that not only keeps the goalie’s knee in place, but protects them as they go down on the ice. A good knee cradle will always have a flap on either side of the knee and at least one extra pad on the inside of the knee. The thicker the padding is on the inside of the knee, the better.
Other things to look for are the materials of the leg pads. Nylon or Courdora faced pads will soak up a great deal of moisture, cut easily and generally deteriorate quickly. Stick with the more durable fabrics. Synthetic leather type pads are the only choice for ice hockey. Most of these pads will still be in good shape when you sell them to offset the cost of a new set. The cheaper faced pads will get you next to nothing in resale if they last that long.
A quick way to get an estimate of the size leg pad you need for your goalie is to measure their leg, from the top of the foot, to about halfway between their knee and inseam and add their skate size to that number. For example myself - 23” from the top of my foot to mid-thigh and 10” for my 9 ½” skates comes to 33”. Incidentally I am using 34” pads, but this again is a rough estimate. Different brands will run slightly different in size, so you will need to check them out.
Once you have this rough idea of what size, make sure to check out some pads in person. When trying on goalie pads it isn’t necessary to actually strap on the pads. The easiest way is to put one pad face down on the floor and kneel down into it. Check the location of the knee in the pad with the foot up against the bottom of the pad. This is the most important factor - the knee must be inside the knee cradle.
If the goalie’s knee is above the cradle, obviously the pads are too small. The mistake many parents make is buying the pair where the goalie’s knee is below the cradle. This will cause the goalie to essentially be slamming their knee directly onto the ice every time they drop into the butterfly. In a typical game and warm-up this would be like dropping to your knees 30 to 50 times with no padding on asphalt or concrete - ice is hard.
Typically, you will find a pair that has two or three inches of room for growth. This brings up another misconception. Parents tend to think of this as their child growing two or three inches. Let’s hope that all of that growth isn’t from the knees down! Even two inches of room will be enough for a child to grow six inches taller or more before outgrowing the pads.
When looking at pads, always examine the straps. This is one item to consider carefully in used lag pads. Make sure that leather straps are pliable and soft on new and used pads. Some new pads use such low quality leather, that they will break in a matter of months. On used pads check for any small tears in leather straps. At $10 a piece or more for new straps, replacing them can easily add up to $100 to the cost of a used pair of goalie pads.
This in mind, I prefer the newer style nylon straps on my gear. They look cheaper, but last a great deal longer. I haven’t had one break in over three years of using them. With leather I was breaking one every other month or so. Also, the plastic buckles are easy to adjust and add another plus for parents of young goalies, they are quicker to put on.
Most new pads come with thigh guards, a hard piece that sits just above the goalie’s knee. These are essential, as the bare knee is exposed without them. If you buy a pair of pads that doesn’t include thigh guards, make sure that there is a place to lace them into the pads. Also, consider this in the cost. Thigh guards are about $50 a pair.
The last thing to look at is the toe system. There are two types of toes currently used on goalie pads. Open toes with a leather strap is the more traditional style and still very common. The new style is a closed or bridged toe with a lace. Goalies tend to have a preference for one or the other systems. I prefer the closed to with laces for a couple of reasons. The closed toe gives a little extra protection from shots and it is a much more customizable fit. Also, the older system is once again a leather strap that will eventually fail and cost substantially more to replace, up to $15. With the lace system I just use a pair of $2 laces, normally old ones that are still in good shape but have lost an end.
Goalie pads are the most likely thing that you will find a good deal on used. They are also one of the less fragrant (and I mean that in the worst possible way) pieces of goalie gear. Pay close attention to the stitching all around the pad. Look for any tears or wear spots especially in the leg channel and along the bottoms of both pads. Wear in the area around where the skates sit might indicate use for street hockey which puts a great deal of undue wear on pads. Again, make sure that all the leather straps are in good shape. While it is possible to save a lot of money on pads, it is also possible to spend more than you would on a new pair by the time they are repaired.
Blockers and Trappers
Goalie gloves an item that I would recommend purchasing new. Gloves are among the most bacteria laden goalie items. Not only do they stink - and I mean really stink - rashes from bacteria in hockey gloves are not uncommon.
When looking at trappers these should fit much like a forward’s gloves. The most growing room at the end of the fingers would be about 3/8”. The glove should fit comfortably on the goalie. A good test of whether the blocker is too big is to put a goal stick on the floor and have the goalie pick it up with the blocker on their hand. If they cannot pick up a stick the glove is too big. Obviously this is important. They won’t be able to take off a glove in the middle of a game to pick up their stick.
Look for a blocker with a reinforced nash or leather palm. This is the one area that will wear out most quickly. Other features a blocker should have are protection at the end of the fingers and on the thumb and index finger side of the blocker. Both of these will protect the hand from shots that ride up the stick and strike the hand. The thin layer of leather on the gloves gives little protection from a quick moving puck.
On the trapper one of the most important things to look for is a glove with a good “off the shelf” break in. This means that the goalie should be able to close the glove. It might take some effort at first, but goalie gloves will break in like a baseball glove. Some of the cheaper models however, will be so stiff that young goalies cannot close them at all. The shelf break in of a glove is generally the biggest determining factor of quality. Inferior gloves will be very stiff.
Never subject goalie trappers to un-natural break in methods such as rubber banding them shut and tossing them in the dishwasher, or parking the car on them. As odd as it sounds, I have heard of goalies doing both of these things. Just like a baseball glove, the best way to break in a goalie trapper is by using it. The aforementioned methods will usually result in the glove bending in an uncomfortable position for the goalies hand, not to mention the undue wear and tear they create. Some gloves might even melt in the dishwasher.
When looking at used gloves pay particular attention to the palm on the blocker. As mentioned this is the part that will wear out most quickly. If you have to re-palm a goalie blocker, it is not cheap. Most shops will charge $50 to $80 to do this.
In the trapper, make sure that the face has no tears and the stitching is all sound. Normal wear spots would be at the heel of the glove, check for holes in the leather there. Again, repairs might more than double the purchase price. Also, it is not uncommon for goalie catch gloves to become overly broken in. Make sure that the glove does not require an effort to keep it open. The trapper should close easily, but stay open on its own. If a trapper that is used is still stiff it might be of such low quality that it will never close properly.
Helmets
This is another place that I would highly recommend the purchase of new gear. The helmet is again an item that is in direct skin contact and a possible source of some nasty bacteria. More important is the fact that the helmet is essentially a disposable item. Helmets have a life span of 2 or 3 years. After that time the elasticity of the padding deteriorates and protection begins to decline. Also, the helmet is the last place that any parent should be overly frugal. This is the part of the gear that protects your child’s brain. Even in good helmets concussions can happen.
If you do decide to go with a used helmet make certain that there is a HCAA and CSA certification sticker on the helmet. These stickers will have an expiration date. If the date is expired or missing, the helmet is no good (Helmets more than two years old did not have a date). This sticker is very important for youth hockey. Most leagues in Canada and many in the United States will not allow goalies under age 18 to play in a non-certified helmet. It is also the only way of being certain that the helmet was intended for ice hockey. Many toy helmets look almost as good as a real one.
Youth goalies rarely use goalie helmets. The shots are simply not hard enough and rarely leave the ice. This level of play does not warrant the extra protection of a very expensive helmet and few brands will fit them. Any hockey helmet will suffice, but it should have the HCAA and CSA certification stickers. Most hockey helmets are adjustable. Make sure someone helps you adjust the size of the shell when trying them on.
Juniors should be in a high quality ABS and Nylon or Fiberglass goalie helmet. For the younger goalies in this size range, a single density foam lined helmet will suffice. As they get a little older and face harder shots, consider upgrading to dual density. The combination of materials in the helmet helps to better minimize ringing in the ears and prevent concussions.
Intermediates and seniors should look at a reinforced fiberglass helmet or one with a full Kevlar layer. Again dual density foam offers a much higher level of impact protection.
Helmets should fit tightly without being uncomfortable. If the mask slides on the goalie’s head at all, it is too big. There is no point if it’s so big that you get a concussion from the helmet hitting you in the head after the puck hits it. Make sure it is snug! There is generally a fair amount of adjustment in the mask and again if you get two or three years out of it, its time for a new one anyway.
Ask questions about the vision out of the helmet. Not being able to see well out of a mask is annoying and lowers the safety levels again. Some helmets will have bars that obscure some player’s vision.
Sizes and shapes of helmets have a good deal of variation from one brand to the next. Don’t assume that because a medium fit in one brand or style of helmet that it will fit in another. Order only a helmet that your goalie has tried on, or that can be returned if it doesn’t fit.
Chest and Arm Protectors
While the chest protector has a high possibility to be a very foul smelling item, it is one that you can find used and one of the better items to buy second hand. Unlike the helmet and gloves, it does have the buffer of a shirt between it and the skin. This is also an item that young goalies will likely outgrow a bit more quickly.
Chest protectors need to fit pretty well. There is less possibility to buy a chest protector with room for growth than perhaps in any other item in the goalie’s bag. If the chest protector is too big, it will be impossibly restrictive. The chest protector already makes the goalie look and feel like the Michelin Man. Going too big will not only add to the lack of flexibility, but cause safety issues as well. The pads will sit out of place and pucks will sneak in hitting shoulders instead of shoulder pads, or elbows will hit the ice.
Chest protectors are also possibly the easiest of the gear to size. Have your goalie put them on and check that the shoulder and elbow pads are in the proper place. If the sleeve length seems long, have them put on a pair of gloves. On rare occasions the sleeves are too long and the gloves won’t fit over them.
Make sure to pick out a chest protector with a belt loop on the front. This helps keep everything in place, minimizing the gap between the chest protector and the pants. For higher level goalies, look for double or triple shoulder pads. The shoulder is one of the most painful places to take a shot and a weak link on some chest protectors. Back protection is generally minimal, but there should be adequate kidney and spine guards. Check that these have a hard plastic piece inside them.
When looking at used gear, double-check all the straps and hardware. Make sure that all of the Velcro still works. Try all of the clips, and understand how the sizing adjustments work. The most likely problems to miss will be with a strap or hardware.
Pants
The great thing about pants is that goalies can wear them as big as they want as long as it is comfortable. Many elite level goaltenders actually wear pants that are a size too big in order to make themselves larger in the net. However, comfort is still important and going too big will interfere with other equipment. Like the chest protector, used pants might not smell great, but they are a good option.
Youth goalies rarely use goalie specific pants. Just as with helmets, there is little gained from this and they are nearly impossible to find. Any hockey pants will work in youth sizes.
Goalie pants are generally shorter than forward pants. This gives a higher level of flexibility and keeps them clear of the leg pads. They also have much stiffer plastic plates for protection. In any size of pants, it is important that the goalie try them on with pads. Make sure that the pad is not pushing the pants upward as the goalie moves around. If this is happening, it will be uncomfortable and distracting. Also the goaltender should be able to kneel in the pants without them pushing up.
Look for goalie pants that have solid front of the leg protection. The back of most goalie pants is not well padded. However, they should have good tailbone protection. Some newer pants will have moorings for kneepads although most kneepads work without lacing them in, so this is not a requirement.
In used pants, check the thickness of the nylon shell. This is generally the first part to wear out. If it seems consistent and is in good condition, feel all the plastic shells inside. Make sure none of them are cracked or broken.
Choosing a Stick
Sticks are cheap enough that buying a used one rarely makes any sense. Sticks that might look in good condition could have numerous flaws below the surface that will cause a quick and certain failure.
For youth and beginning goalies a straight or nearly straight blade stick is the best choice. As a new goalie, the stick is a device for stopping the puck and perhaps moving it a few feet. Only the more advanced goalies with high levels of puck handling skills will benefit from a curved blade.
Sizing a stick can be a little tricky as it should be done on skates. Many shops have something to stand on to put the goalie at the right height. With their stick hand resting on the paddle in their goalie stance, their stick hand should rest slightly above the knees. Most importantly this should feel comfortable to the goalie.
Goalie sticks should never be cut down. They are balanced to keep the weight as close to neutral at the top of the paddle as possible. Cutting the stick ruins this balance. Paddle length is the only important determinate of the proper size stick.
Other Items
A goalie jock is much different from a regular jock. These can run from $20 to $60 although there is not a huge difference in most brands. The one jock on the market I would not recommend is the Itech Jock goalie. This is a substandard jock that lacks the plastic cup and any real padding.
Goalie Bags only differ from other hockey bags in size. Wheels are highly recommended for children’s goalie bags. The gear is unwieldy in a bag. Many goalies prefer to carry their pads over one shoulder and put the rest of the gear in a smaller bag.
Hockey socks are not a requirement for goalies. I prefer a pair of performance long underwear, such as Under Armor or WSI.
Players switching to goalie will have to buy a bigger jersey. Goalie chest protectors are much bulkier than shoulder pads. You will probably have to jump up 2 sizes to accommodate their arms.
Some Affordable Options in New Gear
Mission’s Motion line is an excellent value. The pads have a good knee cradles and are very light. Their gloves are good quality as well. Mission markets Motion as inline products, but they are certainly sturdy enough for ice hockey.
Itech introduced the 4.8 line as their entry-level ice hockey gear a year ago. Up until last year’s models, I was never a big fan of Itech, however the combination of quality and value is exceptional now.
Louisville Bionics in Youth and Junior sizes are a good value. The knee cradle is not as good as the Itech and Mission pads, but the straps are nylon. The gloves are excellent and reasonably priced.
Some Brands to Beware of
Mylec makes only gear for ball hockey. Do not use any of their gear for ice hockey.
Tour makes some very good ice hockey gear, but many of their items are for Street, Roller or Ball Hockey. Tours GTL pads, especially, resemble ice hockey pads but are of too low a quality to seriously consider for ice hockey. Their new Bio Custom and Bio 1000 lines are of good quality with nice features. Also, Tour’s Hydra Lites were a good pad. Their chest protectors will suffice for younger players.
Franklin has many levels of gear as well. These range from pure ball hockey to fairly advanced ice hockey. Any item that starts with “SH” by Franklin is a street hockey item and not for ice hockey.
Itech’s lines falling below the 4.8 series are not for use in ice hockey.
Cleaning and Maintaining Gear
If goalie equipment is dried-out between uses it will help to lengthen its life and keep the odors to a minimum. Living in a dry area this is as simple as hanging up my gear after each game. In humid areas the purchase of a drying system might be required.
Some items can be hand washed or dry cleaned. I tried fabreeze on my gear and found that it actually smelled worse (the combination of hockey stink and fabreeze was not any improvement). There are some anti-bacterial treatments that will help if gear is sprayed after each use, but are not so great at killing odors already in the gear – OT brand Odor Treatment is one of these and can be found at many hockey shops including hockeymonkey.com. I generally take my gear out to hose it off a couple times a year and let it dry in the sun. This also helps.
If you do decide you just cannot stand the smell anymore the option that I would suggest is to get them professionally cleaned. Esporta washing systems will kill the bacteria in the gloves and take care of the not so wonderful aroma of sweaty hockey players. There is a list of locations on their website - http://www.esporta.ca/
Goalie Skates
The most obvious function of why goalie skates are different is for protection. The cowling keeps shots that would bruise or perhaps even break a skater’s foot to a minimla level of pain. Goalie skates are also shorter at the ankle and have longer flatter blades. Both of these features are to assist with the goalie’s mobility. Side to side acceleration and quick maneuverability are the goalie’s main needs, both the shorter boot and flat blades help with this.
Goalies traditionally do not wear their skates as tight as forwards, however, there does need to be a reasonable amount of support for them to skate. If the goalie cannot keep their ankles from bending, the skates are probably too big. My article “Skate Buying Demystified” in epinion’s What Should You Know About Hockey Equipment for Men? should help with skate decisions.
Youth goalies do not year goalie skates. It is very hard to find a pair of goal skates smaller than a size 1 or 2. Again, they are not needed at that level of play.
Conclusion
There is a middle line of saving money and still buying quality gear for your goalie. Those parents not willing to find it often create a self-fulfilling fear by putting their young goalie in inferior equipment. Being comfortable as a goalie is perhaps more important than in any other sport. It goes beyond not being afraid of the ball in baseball. A goalie has to be willing to let the puck - certainly scarier than a ball - hit them. If it hurts every time, they will not have fun.
Whether you chose to buy used or new gear for your goalie, make sure that you give them the chance to maximize your investment by putting them in comfortable and appropriate gear.
Goalie is the most expensive position in team sports. But what you really cannot afford is to outfit any goalie in sub-par gear.
© 2005 Scott Noble – All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
General Guides
Fitting Goalie Gear
Goaltending 101: So you think you want to be a goalie, eh?
Ice Hockey Goaltending 102: First Day Between the Pipes
Goaltending 201: The Fine Art of Cheating
Fitting and Selecting Hockey Protective Gear
Hockey Skate buying demystified
How to Care for Skates
Hockey Stick Buying Guide
Hockey Mask and Cage Buying Guide
Goalie Gloves
Bauer Vapor 2 Catch Glove
Bauer Vapor 2 Blocker
CCM Blockade Blocker
CCM Blockade Trapper
Franklin THT6350 Catcher
Itech 4.8 X Factor Trapper
Itech 4.8 X Factor Blocker
Koho 14 Pro Trapper
Koho 14 Pro Blocker
Mission Motion 300 Blocker
Mission Motion 300 Trapper
Mylec Youth Blocker
Mylec Youth Catcher
Mylec Pro Blocker
Mylec Pro goalie Catcher
RBK Premier Pro Blocker
RBK Premier Pro Trapper
Sher-wood Cerberus 10 Pro Blocker
Sher-wood Cerberus 10 Pelican Trapper
Goalies Pads
Bauer Vapor 2 Leg Pads
Brian’s Demon Goal Pads
CCM Blockade Goal Pads
Franklin NHL Youth SH Goalie Set 7790
Itech 4.8 X Factor Pads
Koho 570 Pro Goal Pads
Louisville XLite GLL Goal Pads
Mission Motion 300 Goal Pads
RBK Premier Pro Leg Pads
Tour GTL Goalie Line
Sherwood Cerberus 10 Pro Goal Pads
Vaughn Velocity II Goal Pads
Goalie Jocks and Accessories
Brian’s Pro Goaler Jock
Brian’s Jane
Itech Goalie Jock
WSI Goal Jock
RBK Pro Goal Jock
Itech GKP Goalie Knee Protectors
Chest and Arm
Heaton AB 4800 Chest Protector
Koho AB570 Chest Protector
Louisville Xhale II Chest and Arm
RBK Premier Chest and Arm
Vaughn Legacy 6000 Chest and Arm
Goalies Sticks
CCM HS6PRO Goal Stick
Koho 590 Goal Stick
Koho 500 Goal Stick
Koho 400 Goal Stick
Louisville Xhale II Goal Stick
Louisville Response Plus Goal Stick
Louisville TPS Goal Stick
RBK 6K Goal Stick
Sher-wood Momentum Goal Stick
Goalie Pants
CCM 420 Goal Pants
CCM 220 Goal Pants
Koho 590 Pro Goal Pants
RBK Premier Pro Goal Pants
Goalie skates
Graf 750 Goaler Pro Skates
Koho 560 Titanium Goal Skates
Koho 460 Goal Skates
Koho 260 Goal Skates
Goalie Helmets
CCM GF6 Pro Goal Mask
Franklin Skull Goalie Mask
Itech 4100 Goal Mask
Itech 8000 Goal Mask
Koho 570 Goal Mask
Sher-wood GH200 Goal Mask
Online Shops
Hockey Giant
1800faceoff.com
Battram Custom Goalie Equipment
Hockey Monkey
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