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The Best Hockey Nets 2020 Review

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The Best Hockey Nets 2020 Review

Started practicing at home to improve your shots? That is where you will feel the need for the hockey shot net. The main objective of hockey is to make a goal. For that, you need great skills. If you want to practice more outside of the rink, you need a home set up. When you are settling a small practice zone in your yard, you are surely going to need some solid nets for hockey goals. While there are so many hockey nets for sale all over the internet sites, picking up the durable and the perfect one can be very tough. We are here exactly for that reason. We will present all the best hockey nets of different features and prices available in the market. Before we get down to the products, let’s see some basics that you need to know about the nets. 

Purpose a hockey net:

First, you have to decide the purpose of the hockey net you are buying. Is it for the rink, which means the match purpose or it is for the training purpose? Match and training nets are a lot different from each other. So you need to see the purpose of the net before you make the purchase.

Things to look into a hockey net:

There are 2 key features you definitely need to see in a hockey net before getting it. One is the denier and the other is the assembly of the net. 

Denier measures the weight of the weave of nets. The more the denier measurement, the more the durability of the net.

You definitely need to consider the ease of assembly of your net before you buy it. There are different methods of setting it with the goal post. Some are strung by hands, some are attached by the velcro and some are attached to the sleeves that can be threaded on to posts.

What is a hockey net backstop:

If you are searching for the best hockey nets, you will definitely find one word named backstop. You must be wondering what is a hockey goal backstop. The backstop is a specially designed extension of a hockey net, to have better training of high shots and to protect everything that remains behind your net. So it is better to buy a hockey net with backstop for better quality training.

Best hockey nets suggestions:

Here are our best hockey nets reviews to make your work easier.

1. EZGoal Hockey Folding Pro Goal


A net with a pretty easy setup system. It comes with backstops and targets, which will definitely help to improve your performance. You will get a curved pro-style frame and top-shelf in it. Getting down to the construction, it has a 2-inch powder coated 18 gauge steel frame with high rigidity. This will definitely hold up the entire thing in heavy conditions. The size of the backstop is 10’ * 6’. It rebounds pucks and keeps them from hitting your garage.

You can easily store it flat because it has a rock-solid folding mechanism. You will get a lifetime warranty on the goal net. It is very durable. If you are tired of rusting and net tearing and want something very solid, then this is the thing you are looking for. You can forget the hassle of getting hockey nets again and again once after you buy this. This net is definitely one of the best hockey nets you can ever have.

Pros :

  • The assembly system is easy to understand
  • Inflatable
  • Very high-quality product

Cons:

  • Bit heavy, but that will make the entire setup stable.

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2. 2″ Steel Folding Hockey Goal


This one is another excellent product by EZ goals. You won’t be able to find a better brand like EZ for hockey nets. So definitely, this one is one of the best hockey nets you can find in the market. It comes with backstops and targets, which will definitely help to improve your performance. You will get a curved pro-style frame and top-shelf in it. Getting down to the construction, it has a 2-inch powder coated 18 gauge steel frame with high rigidity.

This will definitely hold up the entire thing in heavy conditions. The size of the backstop is 10’ * 6’. It rebounds pucks and keeps them from hitting your garage. You can easily store it flat because it has a rock-solid folding mechanism. You will get a lifetime warranty on the goal net. It is very durable. If you are tired of rusting and net tearing and want something very solid, then this is the thing you are looking for. You will get Pro Shooter with 5 targets along with the net. 

Pros :

  • The assembly system is easy to understand
  • Inflatable
  • Removable shooter targets

Cons:

  • You will need time to set this thing up if you don’t understand the setup system well.

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3. Franklin Sports Hockey Goal ( Pro-Style Hockey Nets and Goal Set )


Are you a travel and play person? Then have a look at this portable hockey net. This is a very versatile hockey goal made with heavy-duty steel posts and sturdy steel tubes. With the help of this, you can take your hockey game from ice to the street. The question may pop in your mind that will it rust or is the material friendly for all weather? The answer is, yes it is. The net and the steel both are perfect to perform on the street heat to chilling ice, maintaining its durability. You will find spikes under its steel so that it stays on the ice without any movement. There is also a wrap on the nets so that your skate doesn’t get tangled in the nets. It is a very high performing net. You can put shots into it all day long for years even. It takes a long time to wear out. Give the setup some minutes and you will be ready to go. It is very easy to assemble. 

Pros:

  • Skate guard available
  • Portable
  • Easy to assemble

Cons:

  • You may find the net a bit bigger than the post size

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4. Franklin Sports Hockey Goal – (Quickset)


This is a robust, heavy-duty goal/net the size of a regulation NHL-size goal. It’s substantial and that means you’ve got a goal that will stand up to more than just occasional use. You’re probably not going to move it about all that much, but you can if you want/need to. There is a term in the name, quickset. Which means you can set it up pretty quickly, especially the posts. You will definitely get a hundred bucks worth durability from it. It is a 72″(W) x 48″(h) x 30″(d) steel Hockey goal. You will find premium heavy gauge steel tubing with 1.5 inches (1,0mm wall) post diameter here in this hockey goal set. Amongst all the interesting upgrades, you will find the two most interesting features here. One is Pro-style top shelf and back support brace which will make your shooting worry-free. The other feature is rugged heavyweight polyester pre-fit net with reinforced net perimeter. All these are pretty durable to last for the season after seasons. 

Pros:

  • Easy to set goalposts
  • Durable
  • Professional size goalpost

Cons:

  • You can set the net faster than the old school methods, but not as fast as expected reading the term “quickset”

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5. EZGoal 67109

This one is another excellent product by EZ goals. You won’t be able to find a better brand like EZ for hockey nets. So definitely, this one is one of the best hockey nets you can find in the market. This net is just perfect for practicing corner shots. It has 4 dedicated corner targets. But when you are in a game, you can remove them in a jiffy. The goal is totally inflatable, so you can easily store it anywhere without wasting so much space. It folds easily without any tools, literally in minutes with or without the backstop.  Another interesting feature is, you can use it with goal backstop rebounders, so you will not need to go all the way to chase the pucks. You can easily replace the netting and all the steel parts if they are worn out. You will find tight, rounded corners reinforced puck-proof, 5 mm thick heavy-duty Pro goal net tough powder-coated 2-tone steel frame and thick welded wire to secure the lace and the net. 

 Pros:

  • Inflatable
  • Dedicated net targets
  • Can be used with the backstop rebounders

Cons:

  • Extreme heavy slashes can get the steels some dents

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6. Franklin Sports Hockey Goal – (Inch Tubing)

This is a full NHL size net from Franklin. Franklin makes a lot of nets, but they are smaller. This is the first time they came out with a full-sized one. This is one of the best hockey nets from Franklin. The entire setup is pretty heavy and sturdy. But no worries! There are wheels underneath this heavy goal. This will help you to have easy transportation for this, full-size, heavy jumbo goal post. To make the thing durable, they have used Heavy Gauge 1.5” diameter premium steel tubing. You will also find pro-style welded loop net attachment (rope ties included) and heavyweight 10,000D polyester pre-fit net with rugged tarpaulin skate guard. Another useful feature is, it has foam padding back support post with nylon cover. 

Pros:

  • Super easy transportation
  • Full-size goal
  • Easy to understand setup system

Cons:

  • Takes long to set it up

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7. Mylec Official Pro Steel Goal


If you want a net that will do good in the yard and your budget is within 100 bucks, this is the net you will love. It is a regular sized net by Mylec. Overall size is 72″ x 48″ x 33″. It is a construction with heavy gauge 1.5″ steel tubing. Extremely sturdy ,durable goal posts. Ideal for high volume indoor use by youth players. It performs amazing in roller or street hockey. You can’t ask for something better at this price point. 

Pros:

  • Easy to put together
  • Strong goal post
  • Very affordable

Cons:

  • Nets are not that durable

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8. Park & Sun Sports


It is a pretty sturdy, smaller than the regular net. It is 54″ wide x 44″ tall x 30″ deep. The frame is made of 1-1/2″ diameter, 18 gauge steel with a protective red finish. The top hood is welded. So that will provide good durability. You will also find side stability bars with turn knobs for tightening and loosening during set up and take down. It is pretty easy to set up, if you have experiences in setting up a normal hockey goal. Another interesting and key feature is you will get white, nylon Bungee Slip Net with 1-3/4″ mesh that slips over the frame and attaches with 18 poly “C” clips. It is suitable for street and ice both. It is pretty light, so you can easily move the entire set wherever you want. 

Pros:

  • Welded top hood
  • Side bars for extra stability
  • Affordable price range

Cons:

  • The instruction for setup is not so good, it is advisable to avoid the instruction that comes with the packaging. You better use your common sense to set the thing up.

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Hockey net is such a thing that can make a good player a better one. Actually the hidden fact is, when you practice, practice, and practice; you will certainly be a better player. A good quality net gives you the chance of practicing a lot. So it will be a good decision to get a good quality hockey net at home. 

Basic Hockey Rules for Beginners

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Basic Hockey Rules for Beginners

Ever imagined a game without any rules? What would it look like if there were no hockey rules made for the game?  Maybe it would look like a few men are running around with hockey sticks in hand. It would be more like a chaotic fight scene than a hockey match. Rules play a very important role in our life, but when it comes to sports, it is the backbone of it. 

Knowing about the hockey rules of the game is as important to know about how hockey is played. Before we get down to the rules about hockey, let’s get into some hockey basics. Here we tried our best to make the blog beginners hockey friendly. The very first basic is the structure of the rink where you will play. It is one of the basic rules of hockey to know about the rink well. 

Structure of the rink:

Structure of the rink

Hockey rink is divided into three zones; defensive, offensive and neutral. Defensive is the zone where you and your teammates are standing. The middle section is the neutral one. And the opposite side where the opposition party will stand, is called the offensive zone. The attacking way is from the defensive zone to the offensive zone.

Position of the players:

Position of the players

Ice hockey:

5 players and 1 goalie makes a team. All of them have to stand in their defensive zone. There are different positions for different roles.

    • Goalie: Goalie stands in front of the goal post to prevent the puck from entering into the goal line. 
    • Defense players (left and right) : They try to block the opposition party when the team doesn’t have puck possession. They also block the opposition party from taking over the puck when their team has possession. 
  • Forward centre : They try to take possession on the puck during every face off.
  • Forward left and right wing : They have some defensive responsibilities. But they look forward to creating the primary situation of making a goal. 

Inline (roller) hockey :

Inline roller hockey has a player less than the ice hockey one. They got 5 players including the goalie. 

Field hockey :

The field hockey rules are quite similar to soccer. The difference is they have to hit the ball with the stick except for their feet. So they got 11 players in a team. The setup is of a  goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders and forwards.  Anyone can make the goal including the goalie (rare case) . 

Game time:

Ice hockey:

It is basically a 60 minutes game divided into three 20 minutes periods. Each period got 5 minutes break time, which is 15 minutes in total. 

Inline (roller) hockey:

Because of lacking the cooling effect of an ice surface, this inline hockey game duration came down. It’s a two 20 minutes session in the world championship games.

Field hockey:

This one has the longest time duration in comparison to other hockey games, excluding the hockey rules overtime. It has got 2 sessions of 35 minutes each. There’s a break time of 15 minutes in between. 

Overtime:

The term overtime is used when you can’t reach a conclusion in the given time. Like when it’s a draw and game time is up. Then some extra time is given to sort out the match winner. This is known as overtime. The first action taken after a draw match is giving 15 more minutes. If it’s a draw after this event, then a penalty shootout comes. It is again like soccer. A single player tries to make a goal from a selected spot. Team goalie gets the chance to defend goals. Hockey rules overtime is more or less the same in every type of hockey. But one of the worst parts of NHL hockey rules is, the team that loses in overtime is awarded a single point, and this might seem a bit unfair to you. But it is the rule. 

Starting of the game :

Starting of the game

Hockey starts with centre passes. The puck is placed in the centre of the rink. One of the forward centre players of any team pushes the puck. Forward centre player needs to stand in his defensive side while pushing it. Both the players are allowed to try to take possession over the puck. 

Tackling :

After the centre pass is done, any of the players except the goalie is allowed to try to take possession over the puck. This action is called tackling. This is the main action required throughout the game. 

Rules of playing with the stick :

Rules of playing with the stick

The most basic rule of playing the puck is you can’t touch it with your feet or your hand. You will have to play it with the stick. There’s one of the famous NHL hockey rules, that is, you can’t play with a broken hockey stick. If your stick is broken, you will have to drop that immediately. There are few more specifications about the stick rule in field hockey. Those are –

  • You are allowed to hit the ball with the flat side of the stick only. 
  • Other than the goalkeeper none is allowed to touch the ball with any part of their body.

Officials :

A game official is the person who has the responsibility of enforcing the rules and doing the maintenance of the game. The number of officials vary with the type of the game. 

Ice hockey:

  • Referees (on ice)
  • Linesmen (on ice)
  • Assistant referees (on ice)
  • Goal judge (off ice)
  • Video goal judge (off ice)
  • Official scorer (off ice)
  • Penalty timekeeper (off ice)
  • Goal timekeeper (off ice)
  • Statistician (off ice)

Inline (roller) hockey:

As there is no offsides, no icing; here they need lesser referees and usually they don’t use any lineman. 

Field hockey:

They got umpires instead of referees. Umpires and referees do the same job almost. 

Crimes :

 

Crimes

Ice hockey:

    • Off side : When the puck is in possession of your team and your players’ sticks cross the blue line of the attacking zone, before the puck crosses that line is called off side.
    • Icing : If you hit the puck from behind the centre red line and your puck remains untouched, it will be called icing. 
    • Butt ending: Jabbing a player of the opponent team with the top end of the stick.
    • Checking from behind: Hitting a player from behind while he is not aware of the scene and can’t defend himself.
  • Cross checking: :Checking the stick with both hands.
  • Elbowing: Hitting an opponent with the elbow. 
  • Fighting : Getting involved into physical fights inside the rink.
  • Hooking: Blocking someone’s progress using the stick. 
  • Interference: Blocking someone’s progress while he doesn’t have the puck and creating any kind of disturbance while picking up his stick or gloves from the ground. 
  • Kneeing: Hitting an opponent with the knee. 

All kinds of deliberate actions that make an opponent fall or get him injured comes under the crime section. 

Inline (roller) hockey:

No icing , no off side rule here. Plus you can have body contact with the opponent while playing the puck, but there can’t be any deliberate hitting of course. 

Field hockey :

All the things are the same like ice hockey. 

Punishments :

Punishments

Ice hockey:

  • For a minor penalty you have to sit in the penalty box for 2 minutes. In case of double minors a four minute penalty is given. 
  • In case of a major penalty you have to sit in the penalty box for 5 minutes. 
  • In case of a misconduct penalty you have to sit for 10 minutes in the penalty box. 
  • Sometimes a penalty shot is also given. It depends on the situation and the league. 
  • While having an offside, your goal won’t be counted and you will have to resume the game with a faceoff. 
  • Icing comes under a delayed penalty. 

Here’s a chart of hockey majors and minor penalty time.

PENALTY CLASSIFICATION TIME
Boarding Minor 2 or 5 minutes
Charging Minor 2 minutes
Contact to the Head Minor 2 minutes
Cross-Checking Minor 2 or 5 minutes
Delay of Game Minor 2 minutes
Elbowing Minor 2 or 5 minutes
Slashing Minor 2 or 5 minutes
Roughing Minor 2 minutes
Obstruction Minor 2 minutes
High-Sticking Minor 2 minutes
Kneeing Minor 2 minutes
Holding Minor 2 minutes
Holding the Stick Minor 2 minutes
Interference Minor 2 minutes
Hooking Minor 2 minutes
Unsportsmanlike Conduct Minor 2 minutes
Tripping Minor 2 minutes
Butt-Ending Major 5 minutes
Checking from Behind Major 5 minutes
Fighting Major 5 minutes
Fight Instigator Major 2 minutes
Holding/Grasping the Facemask Major 5 minutes
Pushing-off of Opponent with Skate Major 5 minutes
Misconduct Major 10 minutes
Spearing Major 5 minutes

Inline (roller) hockey :

As there is no off side or icing, except those all other rules are the same. 

Field hockey:

There are three kinds of punishments for the crimes. 

  • Free hit
  • Penalty corner
  • Penalty shoot

All the rules are similar to soccer. 

Replacement:

Every team can replace their player any moment they want. But they have to announce their replacement.

So that’s it. Hockey rules explained here as if they are the rules of hockey for the dummies. We hope that you enjoy playing hockey. But it is really important to follow the protocol to be a good player. So follow the rules and we hope if you have a dream of being a world class player, that comes true.

The 8 Best Wheeled Hockey Bags – 2020 Review

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Best Wheeled Hockey Bags 

Imagine you are very tired after a super exciting but energy draining hockey match. Now it’s time to go home with all your heavy stuff carrying them on your back. I know that can be a nightmare for you. This is the exact time to use the biggest invention of ancient people ; wheels . Wheel hockey bags can be the solution to all your problems.

Things to know about hockey wheeled bags :

If you have decided to buy hockey wheeled bags, most probably you are looking for the features you should look for in hockey equipment bags with wheels. We are here to help you with that. Let’s look into the features you should expect from hockey bags with wheels.

Space: Hockey means a game with lots of equipment and gear. Which means you need a lot of space to carry them. 

Durability: If you are buying a bag, you will definitely look for its durability. It totally depends on what the material is, how the stitching quality is. 

Dedicated extra pockets:  It is a pretty important thing to notice in a bag. You need extra pockets outside the bag for towels, extra clothes, etc. 

Easy moving wheels: You are buying hockey bags with wheels, then definitely it is for comfortable movements. If you get a stiff feeling while rolling your bag, that won’t be something very pleasant.

Moisture protection:   You may keep wet towels and clothes inside, if your bag doesn’t have that moisture guard, the wet materials can damage your gears inside. 

Rain proofing: Rain proof material is a very important feature for the safety of your materials inside. 

Handle height:  The height of the handle needs to be in a comfortable position to hold. So, the handle is a very important feature for hockey bags on wheels.

Light weight : The gears are already pretty heavy, so the bag itself can’t be heavy at all. 

Easily washable: Because of carrying the gears, the bag can get dirty quickly. So it needs to be easily washable. 

Removable dividers: In order to stay organized,  you really need adjustable dividers. May not always come with the bag , in that case you may need to buy extra partitions . 

Budget : Already all the equipment brings a heavy expense. So the bag can’t be that expensive. 

Look : Everyone expects their purchase to be good looking  .

BEST WHEELED HOCKEY BAGS FOR YOUR COMFORT:

After knowing all the features you must be looking for which one to buy. There are many types of hockey equipment bags . But we are showing the roller hockey bags only . 

We are here to help you out with the brands , presenting you some of the best wheeled hockey bags for you .

1. BAUER S19 ELITE

BAUER S19 ELITE WHEEL HOCKEY BAG - SENIOR

This is a bag with a large main compartment . There are some dedicated pockets as well . Made with polyester fabric . The opening is a  u-shaped one .Good airflow for ventilation and moisture control is present . 

Pros :

  • Long lasting material
  • Rain proof
  • Huge opening
  • Spacious skate and helmet pocket
  • Wheeled base pull handle
  • Inner panel for other stuffs 

Cons :

  • No outer pockets available

2. BAUER S19 CORE

BAUER S19 CORE WHEEL BAG - SENIOR

Comes with a large, weatherproof main compartment .Very easy carrying and comfortable transportation . Made with good quality fabric for long durability . 

Pros :

  • Polyester body 
  • Scratch resistant bottom
  • Good quality zipper 
  • Airflow system for moisture control
  • Handle got webbing for holding comfort
  • Easily fits in cars 

Cons :

  • No dedicated pockets inside or outside 
  • No panels for organizing gears

3. BAUER S19

BAUER S19 PREMIUM WHEEL BAG - SENIOR

If you are a person who just loves to take all the gear options to  your dressing  room , then this is the bag for you . Interesting thing is , you can use it as a travel bag for a long weekend as well . It’s very easy to travel with. This is obviously one of the best hockey wheeled bags in the market .

Pros :

  • Weather proof material 
  • Scratch resistant body and bottom
  • Pvc coated bottom
  • Able to take heavy loads 
  • Outer pockets for towels , water bottles etc .
  • Different sizes are available for seniors and juniors 
  • Good quality ventilation for moisture control 

Cons :

  • Handle webbing not available 
  • No small pockets inside

4. CCM 390

CCM 390 PLAYER WHEEL BACKPACK HOCKEY BAG - SENIOR

Pretty much different from the previous model . It doesn’t have that flat carrying bag type look . It looks and works more like a hockey backpack . But if you are tired of carrying it on your back , you can pull the handle out and can turn it into a rolling hockey bag . The height of the bag is higher in comparison to others . Definitely the best wheeled hockey backpack for you available in the market . 

Pros :

  • Two different types of fabric used for the bottom and the body , which makes the entire thing weatherproof and pretty durable 
  • Wheels are able to roll on the rough roads also 
  • The zipper covers a huge area , so you can get a full view opening of the main compartment
  • Side skate pockets 
  • Front accessories pocket 
  • Dedicated players id pocket 
  • Versatile , roomy and functional

Cons :

  • Longer things like sticks won’t fit
  • After using the wheel , if you want to carry on your back again , your top will get dirty because of the wheels 
  • You may not like the plastic zipper , but it’s actually durable

5. CCM PRO 44IN

CCM PRO GOALIE WHEEL BAG 44IN - SENIOR

A huge bag that can easily fit 2 kids inside as well . A pretty much basic design , but not with the rounded edge like the Bauers one . You may find it a lil box shaped. There’s cardboard at the surface to make the bag stand . There are handles on almost every side of the bag . If you want to carry every single item into your bag , then this is the best wheeled hockey bag for you . 

Pros :

  • Good quality material 
  • Locked in zippers , which will prevent damaging the bag while pulling them in a rush 
  • Roomy 
  • A huge main compartment in which you can take every single gear you need 
  • Handles got an additional padding beneath to support the weight you are carrying 

Cons :

  •  No dedicated pockets inside or outside the bag
  • You will need extra removable partitions to stay organised

6. BAUER VAPOR 1X

BAUER VAPOR 1X LOCKER BAG - SENIOR

A very neatly organizable bag that looks like a hockey backpack. But the size is huge. You can fit all your required gears in it . There are removable shafts inside and dedicated pockets on both sides . The design is perfect to fit your bag inside the locker . The model comes with a good ventilation system which keeps your gears away from moisture.

Pros :

  • Shafts , pockets keeps it super neat 
  • Very good quality building material 
  • Looks like a backpack, but pretty spacious 
  • Pretty durable 
  • Light weight
  • Shoulder straps available to carry as a backpack 
  • Multi surface wheels work together to make the transportation smooth 
  • Well ventilated pockets provides the maximum airflow to keep things dry inside 

Cons :

  • Too oversized to carry as a backpack 
  • No surface support present , so the bag actually can’t stand well 
  • Dedicated pockets for skates are too big , which wasted the inside space

7. GRIT HTFX HOCKEY – [ SENIOR ]

GRIT HTFX HOCKEY TOWER BAG - SENIOR

The very first feature of this bag is ,it’s very very light . The durability is also worth praising . It is a tower bag with so many options that you can call it a all in one . Very much travel friendly not only because of the light weight , but also you can squeeze and compress the bag while it’s empty without damaging its surface . The ventilation system keeps everything dry and moisture-free. 

Pros :

  • Super light
  • Travel friendly
  • Strong structure with extreme elasticity , no matter what you do with it, it will be back in shape without damaging the surface 
  • Removable mesh bag 
  • Removable foot carpet 
  • Dedicated pockets for gears 
  • Comes in different sizes 
  • Straps available for carrying upto two sticks 

Cons :

  •  The removable mesh bag gets damaged quickly 

8. GRIT HTFX – [Youth]

GRIT HTFX HOCKEY TOWER BAG - YOUTH

The very first feature of this bag is ,it’s very very light . The durability is also worth praising . It is a tower bag with so many options that you can call it a all in one . Very much travel friendly not only because of the light weight , but also you can squeeze and compress the bag while it’s empty without damaging its surface . The ventilation system keeps everything dry and moisture free . The facility of the youth edition is, it is  smaller than the senior edition , but bigger than the junior one . This is the bag for whoever needs a medium sized bag for his gears . 

Pros :

  • Super light
  • Travel friendly
  • Strong structure with extreme elasticity , no matter what you do with it, it will be back in shape without damaging the surface 
  • Removable mesh bag 
  • Removable foot carpet 
  • Dedicated pockets for gears 
  • Comes in different sizes 
  • Straps available for carrying  stick

Cons :

  •  The removable mesh bag gets damaged quickly 
  • The option of carrying two sticks is not available in the youth edition

FAQs :

  • How big should the bag be ?

There’s a traditional measurement which works for players of almost all ages . The size is generally between 26’ to 40’ . You can pick up a bag of any of these sizes and then customize it according to the needs.

  •  Why is the airflow so important ?

While you play everything gets sweaty like your skates,  your gloves etc. All these can end up producing extremely bad odour in a place like a bag. That is why ventilation is so important to control the smell. At the same time, the moisture can damage the other gears inside. So it is important to keep things dry as well.

 

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF MY BAG :

After buying all the gears and equipment, your pocket must be feeling pretty light and now you are buying a hockey bag to carry them all nicely and safely. Obviously you don’t want to spend again and again behind a hockey bag. So if you want to make it last longer, you need to take care of it. 

Whatever you want to take care of , the basic idea is to keep it clean . Now in a game like hockey, your gears and other stuff you carry inside your bag get dirty quickly, so does your bag. It is required to clean your bag pretty often. 

If you don’t want to damage the handle or the surface, you must know how much weight the bag can carry. If you carry extra weight , it can make your bag tear even . 

The most important thing in a bag is the zipper and most probably this is the thing that gets damaged often and that makes you change your bag. The trick to making the zipper last long is to deal it with soft hands. If you pull it in a rush it will surely cause damage. 

We often forget to take care of the bottom of the bag after taking care of the entire body. It is really important to keep the base in its own shape. 

As you are getting a wheeled hockey bag, it means you need those wheels a lot. If a single wheel is damaged , that can cause you a great hassle or even it may take to change your bag as well. So you better handle the wheels carefully. It’s better not to roll the bag on an uneven surface.  Weight balance inside the bag is also very important to keep the wheels safe.

 

HOW TO WASH THE BAG :

Start the process with normal laundry detergent and hot water. Then rinse it with clean cold water. Make sure to scrub the corners and pockets well. It will be better for your bag if you can use some antifungal spray.  The most important thing is to dry your bag well. After drying,  use some anti odour spray and then you are ready to go again. 

In case of buying wheel hockey bags,  you might not be satisfied with all the features you need. But the positive thing is you can easily customize it in your own style. So just figure out what kind of material you need, how many things you need to keep in it, figure out the size, and then buy the bag. This thing is just to make your sports life easier. 

How to start playing Hockey 

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If you are reading this blog,  I guess you are a complete beginner who doesn’t know where to start. People usually start reading blogs about ” how to play hockey ” right after deciding they want to play hockey. Playing hockey is fun, but learning hockey requires a lot of patience. So let’s just consider that there is a line going on in the back of your mind that ” I want to play hockey “. So we are here to help you out with beginner hockey basics and tips for beginner hockey players. 

How was hockey invented : 

If you know the background of a sport, you can easily relate to the rules. So if you are learning to play hockey, it will be better for you if you know how it was invented.  

The name hockey most probably came from the word hoquet. Which means shepherd’s stick. 

Some say the name Hockey came from the stick’s curve which looks like a hook. So hockey from the hook.  No matter what the history is, the basic is to hit something with a stick. It’s a pretty ancient game, so earlier people used to make hockey sticks with bamboo. Rules are equipment evolved constantly and now we have modern hockey in hand.

What to learn first :

What to learn first

Do you know what is most important in the case of learning a sport? It is to figure out what is the first thing that you should learn. So let’s see what are the beginner hockey tips we got for you.

My personal opinion always is to learn to stand first. For hockey, the term should learn to skate first unless you are playing field hockey. In the case of field hockey it will be, learn to run well. So let’s get into how to start playing hockey.

How to skate :

Okay, so we have three different types of hockey. Ice hockey, roller hockey and field hockey.

Ice hockey:

The first rule is to have patience. You won’t learn it in a day or maybe in a month also. At times you will feel like this is not possible at all. But it’s actually something achievable. So when you begin, definitely wear lighter clothes, so that you can move easily wearing them. I know it can be a bit chilly, but once you start moving you won’t feel the cold anymore. Still, to prevent cold you can wear fitted tops and leggings.

Then comes the most important thing, skates. You need to wear skates which are very comfortable and fit really well. To keep your feet warm use socks. But you can’t use the cotton socks due to less moisture-wicking ability. You better use microfiber socks. Then put on a helmet on your head for safety. 

Mastering the basics :

  • Now, this may sound funny, but first, you need to learn falling and trust me you will obviously fall while learning hockey. The question is why you need to learn how to fall. The answer is, when you fall with a prepared position, you can reduce the seriousness of your injury. The less injury you face, the more you can focus on learning. So here are some techniques of falling in the right position.
    • Whenever you start feeling like you are falling, bend your knees and shift your body into the dip position (squatting).
    • It’s better to place your hands on the lap while falling forward and roll over your hands and knees.
    • To get up, gently push your body with your hand and stand up.
  • Learn to stop. If you know to ski then it is the same technique. Pull your legs apart and bend it sideways. This will reduce your speed and help you stop within a second. But as a beginner you may fall down while practicing it. So have patience.
  • To be comfortable in the skates keep gliding and keep stroking.
  • Practice swizzling (pulling your feet apart and then dragging the toes together, making an hourglass shape. It will help you improve your skills.)

Roller hockey :

In the case of roller hockey, all the safety measures are the same as ice hockey. All the glides, slides are also the same. The only difference is in the stopping method. 

  • One of the basic methods is to kneel down with one knee and stop.
  • Use the back part to stop (which is specially designed for brake)
  • Use the front block of the skate to stop.

Field hockey :

You don’t need to skate in case of field hockey. We need to run here. Again the safety measures are the same here. All you need to learn is to increase your running speed, practice pivoting (moving your body with one foot only) and keeping the balance while striking

Hockey basics:

Hockey Basics

While you must be hell level confused with all the other basics and searching everywhere about how to play hockey for beginners, we got Hockey: 101 for you.

Before you learn how to start playing hockey, I want to tell you that hockey is a team game. You need to be a team person first. It won’t matter how good you are in the game if you are not a good teammate. So when you start learning to play hockey, keep working on your mindset as well. Now let’s just jump to the technical things.

Holding and using the stick:

To hold the stick, take your right hand on the middle of the stick, hold the stick with your forefingers and wrap the thumb around. Then put your left hand on the top then again do the same thing with the fingers. That’s how you will get a good grip. Then push the puck and twist the stick. That will do the energy transformation and the puck will move further. Keep practicing this stroke again and again.

Warm-up and make your body comfortable in the outfit:

To ensure safety, you need to wear a lot of bulky things while playing. So do some warm up and obviously proper warm  ups wearing those bulky things. So that you get adjusted with the entire set up and while playing you don’t get injured while playing. Remember the highest probability of getting injured is during the practice time. So never skip the warm up session before practicing.

Practice quick start :

Hockey is a very fast paced game. Your reflexes need to be extremely good. You need to practice starting very quickly. Every single body part needs to be highly reflexive. You need to practice quick striding as well. For the quick start you will have to bend your knees a bit, pull one of your legs apart and kick with that. This will make the energy transfer smooth and you will have a real quick movement.

Practice multitasking and keeping balance:

Hockey is very much of a multitasking game. You will have to keep skating, look for the puck and hit it towards the goal and will have to snatch it from the oponentes as well. So it’s very common in new players that they end up falling hard on the ice or the ground during doing all these together. So it is really important to keep the balance while multitasking. Cause one bad fall can kick you out of the tournament.

Hockey rink and your position:

Okay, so now you know what to start with. Now let’s get into how to start playing hockey. We will now talk about the rink and your position in it.

Structure of the rink :

Rink structure and position

 

The rink is divided into three zones; defensive, offensive and neutral. Defensive is the zone where you and your teammates are standing. The middle section is the neutral one. And the opposite side where the opposition party will stand, is called the offensive zone. The attacking way is from the defensive zone to the offensive zone. 

Selecting your position:

Selecting your position

You will get 5 players and 1 goalie in your team (depends on the game type). All of them have to stand in the defensive zone. There are different positions for different roles. 

  • Goalie: The goalie stands in front of the goal post to prevent the puck from entering into the goal line. If your reflexes are really good and you can remain very alert all the time then you can consider being a goalie.
  • Defense players (left and right): They try to block the opposition party when your team doesn’t have the puck possession. They also block the opposition party from taking over the puck when your team has the possession. If you are not that aggressive player and you have a good blocking skill, then you may try playing from these positions.
  • Forward center: They try to take possession of the puck during every face off. If you are a very aggressive player, then you should try for this position.
  • Forward left and right wing : They have some defensive responsibilities. But they look forward to creating the primary situation of making a goal.

If you are just thinking of, who makes the goal, I want to be the hero of the match! Then the answer is anyone can make the goal including the goalie (rare case). 

So that’s it, that’s how you start playing hockey. But always remember whenever you violate a rule, there will be a negative impact on your team. So always play safe and follow the rules. If you want to know about the hockey rules, click here.

8 Best Hockey Skates for Youth (2020)

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Best Hockey Skates for Youth

It’s a common phenomenon of people that when they are done dressing up they look towards their feet and start thinking of shoes. But when it comes to sports, the shoe plays a vital role. You can’t just have that go with the flow nature in case of buying the sports shoes; especially specified shoes like hockey skates. The entire game of Hockey depends on the skating quality. If one wants to be a good hockey player, he needs to be a good skater. Hearing the word skating,  the thing that hits the head first is skates. You are looking for the youth size, so we understand that you are searching for the best hockey skates for toddlers. We are here to help you out with the best youth hockey skate reviews. 

Things to know about skates : 

Hockey skates are not like normal shoes that anyone can go to shop, try them on and then buy. It has so many different specifications. Those are very important to know before buying. Here are some points which are required to keep in mind if you want to get the best youth skates.

  1. Fit: Best option is to try them on. Though it is not always possible. In that case, the other option is sizing.
  2. Sizing: First things first, measure the length of your feet. This way you will get the base size of your skate. There are different widths of skates. The width sizes are D, E, EE. Few more things matter; like the heel, ankle, forefoot and instep size.
  3. Pricing: The lesser the price, the softer the skates. Which means less stability and fewer features. The amount of time spent on ice will help decide how many features one may need. The more features one needs, the more he needs to spend to get the best youth skates for hockey. 

How to size your feet: 

If you don’t get the perfect size for you, even the best hockey skates for youth won’t work or serve your kid’s needs properly. There are basically 2 methods of sizing youth ice hockey skates.

Method 1: 

If you are an adult, then your skate size will be 1.5 sizes less than your normal shoe size like your normal shoe size is 38, then your skate size will be 36.5. 

If you are in your teenage years, then your skate size will be 1 size less than your normal shoe. 

If you are still not so sure about this method, then we got another one for you. 

Method 2 : 

This method is called tracing and measuring.  Keep your feet on a white paper and trace your feet, holding the pencil straight. Then measure the length and then the width. There’s a universal chart of skates size. Figure out your size, seeing your length and width. Then there comes the volume fact. It’s one of the most important things. For example, you and your friend’s length and width are the same. Still, you two will not fit into the same skate. Because of the volume.  The volume matters because of the size of one’s instep, forefoot, heel, and ankle. So measure them as well to get the volume of your feet whether it is narrow, large or mid. 

Senior, junior, youth :

Whenever you will look for a skate model, you will definitely find any of these three words added after the model name. These words stand for a basic size group. If you are looking for your kid’s skates, you must be wondering what you should look for; best junior hockey skates or youth hockey skates. Let’s solve that problem first. Youth hockey skates are sized for toddlers and young children (maximum age 9). The junior hockey skates are for children of approximately 7 to 13 years old.

Best hockey skates for youth suggestions: 

You are looking for skates for your kid. We can understand your concern. That is why we have got the best picks for you, which will make your kid want to play hockey. We are reviewing the best hockey skates for youth only. You will surely find the best one for your kid here within your budget line.

1. BAUER VAPOR 2X

BAUER VAPOR 2X ICE HOCKEY SKATES - YOUTH

 

The model got two LS three stainless steel runners, which are taller than the traditional steel. So you will get a more aggressive turning radius, more custom profiling option, and a longer sharpening life. You will find a quick-release trigger system, which allows you to swap blades within seconds. The steel is connected to a pro TV-out. It gives a good energy transfer, even though it is not composite. One of the greatest upgrades in the boot is, it has CURV composite. CURV is one of the most popular options today for elite-level skaters. It is very lightweight and stiff so you will get a good stride power.

The material is extremely heated moldable and there is protection for preventing high ankle blisters and rubbing injuries. An interesting upgrade inside the boot is they managed to cut out the negative space from the toe part. This will increase the foot and ice connection. For the tongue, they have used injected metatarsal guards and thick foams. All these will give protection against lace bites and will give great comfort. You will get good moisture control, locked-in feel, great forward strides, and comfortable footbed in the boot. It is one of the best hockey skates for youth, for sure.

Pros :

      • Low profile design 
      • Entire tongue offers comfort and flexibility 
      • Offers quickness
      • Super light 

Cons : 

      • Not for the ones who got wide feet.

2. CCM JETSPEED FT2

CCM JETSPEED FT2 - YOUTH

This is the first one-piece skates in the JetSpeed family and is one of the best hockey skates for youth. It has no outsole, no stitching. Which offers your feet a different level of comfort. Your skate will work exactly in the way you move your foot. In the lower, you will see a new XS  speak blade holder. You will get a quick-release dial to swap blades in no time.

The holder holds the blade in place all game long to make sure the energy transfer works well. There is a huge upgrade in the coverage. You will get a 360-degree comfortable wrap. The top provides superior level protection against lace bites. It is very lightweight because there’s nothing in the visible range to stick things together and the rocket composite material. It is totally a one-piece skate. The moisture control, ventilation and all other comforts are available in the skate.

Pros : 

      • Spring lock technology for good balance.  
      • Short time blade replacement 
      • Blade with extra height for better performance 
      • Molded tongue for lace bite protection.  
      • Highly responsive 

Cons : 

      • May not fit in an odd-shaped foot.

3. BAUER SUPREME 2S

BAUER SUPREME 2S ICE HOCKEY SKATES - YOUTH

Aggressive players will really like it. This is a design for year-round elite players. The blade bites the ice really well. So players can enjoy every moment on the ice. You will find two LS three stainless steel runners. It is also 3 mm taller so you will find a more turning radius. The light speed edge holder is used which is the most popular trigger system in NHL. You will certainly get a really quick change of blades.

The blade is connected with the full composite outsole, though it has a nylon midsole to make the boot more stiff and rigid. The model gives a truly anatomical shape right out of the box. It is made of CURV composite so it is highly heat-moldable too. So it will provide you amazing fitting from the very beginning. The tenon guard in this model made a debut in Bauer and it is very flexible. So you will find a full back and front stride extension in it. The tongue is called the reflex tongue, a very much protected and comfortable design. The footbed got a grippy texture. All these just reduce all the unnecessary movement inside the boot. So you will have a great energy transfer.

Pros :

      • Pro-grade features with a lower price point 
      • Trigger for quick blade exchange 
      • Allows superior stride action 

Cons : 

      • Poor sharpening 
      • Some may find the blade height a bit different,  which will take time to adjust

4. BAUER VAPOR 1X

BAUER VAPOR 1X ICE HOCKEY SKATES - 2017 - YOUTH

The model got the most famous holder in the NHL since its debut. It is called 2 edge holder. It has a real level quick-release trigger which allows swapping the blades in a jiffy. The added height in the front and the rear of the blade allows you to have aggressive turns. The blade is attached with a full carbon composite outsole, which is very rigid and light. Moving upwards, you will see CURV composite. It is the most thermoformable material available on the market.

The design of the tongue allows you to bend more and will give you a better attack angle. The skate will wrap around the foot perfectly and will provide a locked-in feel. After baking, the one will find the tongue and insides more comfortable. On the top, you will find a collar with a grippy and comfortable texture which will protect one from the ankle abrasions and blisters. Kids who are growing very quickly and have to spend a lot of time on the ice, this is the best hockey skates for youth for them.

Pros :

      • Releases moisture from the bottom
      • Takes less drying time after game
      • The ankle fits into the ankle pocket better

Cons :

      • Metatarsal guard is bit soft

5. CCM JETSPEED FT480

CCM JETSPEED FT480 - YOUTH

A two-piece boot with top technologies and solid performance features.  It’s basically a low volume foot skate. In case you don’t want to pay high but still want the highest performance from your skates, this pair of skates is worth your consideration and money. In the base, you will see an XS speed blade holder with a quick-release system. The uniqueness comes into the holder design. There is a mechanical lock so that the holder does not move even an inch. Plus in any case, the steel breaks or you have to change it for any other reason, you won’t have to change the entire holder.

You will just have to buy the steel. The outsole is composite so it is light and stiff. There is an extra air vent in the bottom for the junior and youth model to make it more comfortable. For the first time, CCM used 3D lasting rocket composite for the liner. In addition, the memory foams inside make it fit really well so that you don’t almost need to bake it (but I would still recommend doing that). Moving to the tongue, it will give you proper fit, comfort, and lace bite protection. It is made of a 7 mm flex foam. It will also allow you to have full forward extensions. The design is pretty good for players who need to stay on the ice a couple of times a week. Kids really love it, as it is very comfortable. This is definitely the best hockey skates for youth at this price point.

Pros : 

      • Low profile fit. 
      • Runner lasts long; a very important feature for regular players  
      • Great heel lock 
      • Excellent energy transfer 
      • Multi-density padding for extra comfort 

Cons :

      • Not for the wider foot.

6. CCM TACKS 9060

CCM TACKS 9060 YOUTH ICE HOCKEY SKATE - YOUTH

Right at the gate, you will see an SB 4.0 holder and a removable stainless steel runner. The holder and the runner technology offers better energy transfer. Talking about the outsole, this is an injected concave TPU. You will find an exhaust vent here in the bottom as well. The nylon midsole is still here but it is a meta frame technology this year, which is new to CCM. There is a huge upgrade in the boot. You will find a really good anatomical shape. Which is pretty unexpected at this price point. For the exterior, a synthetic composite has been used. So it is gonna be stiffer, light and obviously good looking. The interior is pretty soft, comfortable and wicks away the moisture pretty well. The tongue is made with regular flex-foam again, well enough to protect from the lace bites. The footbed has a special design just to make sure the ventilation. 

Pros: 

      • Double-stitched eyelets and tendon guards
      • Pretty cheap with all the supreme features 
      • Advanced level ventilation

Cons:

      • Not for higher and lower volume foot.

7. BAUER VAPOR X2.7

BAUER VAPOR X2.7 ICE HOCKEY SKATES - YOUTH

At the gate for the very first time in the Bauer Vapor line, you will see a Tuuk edge holder and a quick-release system. All these are connected to a TPU outsole. It will provide better energy transfer and overall stability throughout the game. Moving towards the boot, this is a one-piece polycarb boot with a comfort flex system. It has a great anatomical shape for a perfect fit right out of the box. But they are heat-moldable as well. There is an exciting upgrade in the tongue. It is a two-piece 40 ounce felt tongue. It will give you great protection and pro level feel. Good forward flexes are also available. Moving into the interiors, you will have upgraded liners and ankle pads to provide ultimate comfort, moisture-wicking, and ventilation. 

Pros:

      • Perfect for the skill development time
      • Affordable
      • Very comfortable for the kids

Cons:

      • Need to follow more instructions for baking

8. BAUER SUPREME S27

BAUER SUPREME S27 ICE HOCKEY SKATES - YOUTH

For the first time in this line, we are seeing a lightspeed edge holder and a quick-release trigger of course. The runner blade offers really good durability in comparison to the price. You will see a TPU outsole here. The stiffness is really good for the players who are developing their strides. The 3D injection process gave the boot a very good anatomical shape. It is heat-moldable as well. The tendon guards are flexible enough to allow the player to take great strides. The tongue is good enough to provide the required protection and comfort. The memory foam inside gives a good locked-in feel. 

Pros:

      • A great one for the beginners
      • Affordable
      • Many upgraded features in a low price range

Cons:

      • Few kids complained about the holder

After you buy : 

After all the research of ice hockey skate reviews, consideration and comparing, you finally have the skates on your hand, but wait before giving that to your kids. There’s still something left for you to do. You need to break the skates. The easiest way to break it is to bake it. You have to put them in a customized oven with a designed (according to foot shape) footbed in it. If your kid is still not comfortable, some hammering will do the job. 

The legs are considered to be the most important body part of every moving species. It’s really important to take care of our feet, on which we stand. Shoes play a vital role in our life while buying them we pay extra attention to comfort. Now, shoes for a high paced game like hockey is really important. It needs to be flexible, comfortable and shouldn’t hurt the feet at all. Here money is not important, the protection and comfort of your kid’s feet are important. Cause if you are buying low-quality skates just because it’s cheap which can lead your kid towards an injury; the quality of performance can go down for a lifetime.

8 Best Hockey Shoulder Pads In 2020

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Best Hockey Shoulder Pads In 2020

Imagine fighting a war without wearing a proper shield. Maybe you will refuse to go for it, or even if you go, no matter what you will end up losing it. A game like hockey where pucks are flying here and there, players with sticks around you, you can fall any moment; it is not less than a war. So being a hockey warrior, it is really important to take proper protection measures. One of the most important ice hockey protective gear is the shoulder pads.

Why is it important to use hockey shoulder pads?

Hockey is a very fast paced game. You can have a lot of injuries while playing. One of the most common injuries is shoulder injuries. It can occur from direct contact with other players, boards, sticks or ice.  The impact can mainly cause you two fatal injuries. One is shoulder separation and the other in collarbone breaking. Shoulder separation is mainly a ligament injury. In a mild shoulder separation, your ligament that holds your shoulder blade to your collarbone gets stretched. In a fatal one, your ligaments will tear. It takes a long time (from 6 months to 2 years) to recover, but you will not need any surgery in most cases. The second case is a collarbone break.  The collarbone is one of the main bones of the shoulder. Most of the fractures occur due to a fall onto the shoulder or an outstretched arm. All these lead to a snap or a fracture on the collarbone.

 

How to choose ice hockey shoulder pads for you :

The shoulder pads are categorized into three different levels of play. Those are recreational, performance and elite. 

  • Recreational level play means the beginner level. This is a great option for a brand new hockey player who is getting into a non contact hockey league. It is more affordable also.  Talking about the construction, you will find a one piece panel design on the front and the back and the majority of the protection is gonna be a single layered foam. You will find some plastic covering up some key areas like the sternum and spine. These two are very vital areas. So adding up some plastic layers offers some extra protection.
  • The next design is for the performance level play. This is for those players who are getting into contact hockey. This design is a great balance of protection, comfort and mobility. But you won’t find a high price tag on it. Getting down to the construction, you will find a 1, 2 or 3 piece panel design on the front and on the back. You will also find a bicep pad which will allow you to have a customized height. You will also find a great upgrade in the liners. They will be much more comfortable than the recreational level one.
  • Moving to the elite level shoulder pads, this is for the full contact players, who are actually pros. This comes in the highest price range. So it is the absolute best shoulder pads in terms of protection, comfort and mobility. Getting down to the construction part, you will find 2 or sometimes 3 piece panel design. It means you will have a torso movement easily maintaining the protection outside. In the terms of protection, you will see multi layered foams such as, smart foam, composites etc. You will find some more adjustment features in here. Overall this will protect you from all sources of impact while providing you enough comfort.

How to size your shoulder pad :

Sizing is the most important thing to do in case of getting the required protection. You can have horrible injuries even while wearing the best hockey shoulder pads, if it has a bad fit. So it is important to know how to size them properly. So let’s get down to the measurement.  First, wrap the measurement tape around your chest like an inch below your armpit. Then note down your size and you will find your size in the general sizing chart entering your chest measurement and height. If you fall in between two sizes, it will be your personal choice. If you are looking for closer fit and mobility then go for the smaller size. In case of the need of full coverage, go for the larger size. Now different brands got different sizing charts. So make sure you check the right brand’s sizing chart before your purchase. 

Now, how to check the proper fit. You have to make sure by wearing it on. Your shoulder caps should be square on the top of your shoulders. Not above or below. The torso should be near your belly button. For the bicep pads you better look for that adjustable height option. You need to ensure that there’s no gap in between the shoulder pad’s bicep guard and the elbow pad. And the torso shouldn’t move around you. You need to have a locked in feel for proper protection.

Best hockey shoulder pads suggestion :

There are so many features, so many advertisements floating all around the internet. You must have been confused by now which one to buy. That is exactly why we are here for you. We have picked up all the best hockey shoulder pads amongst all. You will surely find the one for you from here.

 

1. CCM SUPER TACKS AS1

CCM SUPER TACKS AS1 HOCKEY SHOULDER PADS - SENIOR

The front panel has a two piece construction. You will find a floating sternum guard. This is one of the provide some of the widest coverage and protection available on the market. The sternum guard got an injected plastic with D3O inside and high density closed cell foam outside. All these will provide ultimate protection against high impacts. The chest part is made with medium density foam and it has good ventilation. On the ribs part you will again find the closed cell foams.

There is a two inch dropping system, which you will find new and pretty cool. It has quick release tabs, which will help you to easily wear it on and off. Moving up, you will find a dual density foam in the collarbone part with an injected plastic inside. The shoulder caps have JDP technology and D3O foam inside. None of the material absorbs water. So you will stay fresh and dry all day long. You will find the most adjustable bicep protection than any other shoulder pads on the market now. The bicep guard construction is the same as the collarbone part. The back has a three piece construction. Spine guard is the same as the sternum one. The kidney protection is pretty good with an injected plastic and closed foam on top. The nylon type strappings around offer excellent mobility. This is definitely one of the best hockey shoulder pads available on the market.

Pros :

  • Removable bicep bulks
  • Two inch dropping system
  • Durable

Cons :

  • A little expensive in comparison to other pads, but it is worth every penny of yours.

2. CCM JETSPEED FT1

CCM JETSPEED FT1 HOCKEY SHOULDER PADS - SENIOR

It is an elite level shoulder pad and a two piece construction. On the top you will get the sternum guards and the covering foam. The base layer got something interesting. The top two portions connect to the lower bottom half with elastic straps. So you will find great mobility in here. You will find rocket frame composite down through the center for sternum guard. It is one of the best lightweight hockey shoulder pads. The base is made with lightweight closed cell foam. You may have a little medium density feel to it. This doesn’t absorb any water and there is good ventilation present as well.

Traditional strapping system present with quick release tabs.  You will get a removable belly guard here as well. The collar part is made with microfiber which will offer you great comfort. The shoulder cap is made with CCM’s lightest foam with elite level protection. Moving down to the bicep guard, it is made with full compression molded HD foam and is adjustable as well. You will find one extra bicep lock strap to make sure it stays in its place.  You will find almost the same construction as the front, in the back. So you will get superior protection and mobility in the back as well. The material reduces time to dry after the game and will keep you dry and cool throughout the game.

Pros :

  • Max level mobility
  • Segmented collar part
  • Mobility of shoulder pad

Cons :

  • No inserted plastic in the bicep guard

3. BAUER VAPOR 1X LITE HOCKEY SHOULDER PADS – SENIOR

BAUER VAPOR 1X LITE HOCKEY SHOULDER PADS - SENIOR

The front panel has a two piece construction. You will find a floating sternum guard. That allows the side panel to stay in its position. You will find curv composite to protect your sternum. Around the sternum you will find high density foam. That is reducing the weight incredibly and gives you elite level protection. On either side you will see hyper light foam, all these materials repel the water. So you will have a lightweight pad all game long. On the bottom you will find a traditional strapping system.

You will also find a removable belly pad here. A dual density foam set up will give you a total wrap around your collar part. Unlike any other shoulder cap, you will not find any plastic insert here. It is made with aerolite 2.0 foam, which is even lighter than aerolite foam. The bicep guards are made with the curv composite high density foam. Adjustable height option is present like any other elite level shoulder pad. The back has pretty much the same features. The spine guard construction is like the sternum construction.

Pros: 

  • Tight fit for slimmer hockey players
  • Free floating shoulder cap
  • 37.5 technology used in the interior to keep the player cool and odor free all game long

Cons :

  • No plastic at all, so very high impacts can leave you with slight pain

4. BAUER SUPREME 2S HOCKEY SHOULDER PADS – SENIOR

BAUER SUPREME 2S PRO HOCKEY SHOULDER PADS - SENIOR

Starting off with the front construction, it has Bauer’s new amp construction. It is a three piece construction. You will find a floating sternum guard. That allows the side panel to stay in its position. You will find curv composite to protect your sternum. The other constructions are made with vent armor foam to increase protection. You will have plastic inserts in the collar, bicep and shoulder part. The back construction is pretty much similar to the front. This is Bauer’s one of the best hockey shoulder pads so far. 

Pros :

  • Elite level protection
  • Every single part moves with you, even during heavy movements. 
  • Best possible features in medium price range

Cons :

  • If you compare with the pro version, you will find it heavy

5.CCM JETSPEED FT390 HOCKEY SHOULDER PADS – SENIOR

CCM JETSPEED FT390 HOCKEY SHOULDER PADS - SENIOR

This is a dual air high mobility design. The front layer is well segmented away from the bottom layer. This allows the front and back panel to move separately from one another. In the centre you will find HD PE insert providing you elite level protection. Other parts are made of thick medium density foam or dry foam.

All the materials come with good ventilation and don’t absorb any water. The strapping system is very traditional with added quick release tabs. The collarbone guards are super comfortable. For the first time the shoulder caps are attached to the body. So they will always stay in place while high making high movements. The shoulder cap and bicep guard both got PE inserted in it. The back construction is almost similar to the front part.

Pros :

  • High mobility 
  • Flexible collar part
  • Shoulder cap stays in place nicely

Cons:

  • Bicep guard strap is weak to hold them on during heavy movements.

6.BAUER SUPREME 2S PRO HOCKEY SHOULDER PADS – SENIOR

BAUER SUPREME 2S HOCKEY SHOULDER PADS - SENIOR

Starting off with the front construction, it has Bauer’s new amp construction. It is a three piece construction. You will find a floating sternum guard. That allows the side panel to stay in its position. You will find curv composite to protect your sternum.

The other constructions are made with vent armor foam to increase protection. You will have plastic inserts in the collar, bicep and shoulder part. The back construction is pretty much similar to the front. This is Bauer’s one of the best hockey shoulder pads so far. You must be thinking about having all the same features, why this pro one got the higher price tag? The answer is every feature is upgraded here. This model will be much lighter and durable than the 2S one.

Pros :

  • Elite level protection
  • Every single part moves with you, even during heavy movements. 
  • Lightweight 

Cons :

  • A little expensive in comparison to other pads, but it is worth every penny of yours.

7. WARRIOR ALPHA DX3 HOCKEY SHOULDER PADS – SENIOR

WARRIOR ALPHA DX3 HOCKEY SHOULDER PADS - SENIOR

It is a two piece construction with a lot of upgrades in the ALPHA series. Starting from the top, the collar line got dual density foam with injected plastic protection. In the sternum part you will see a TVA foam, so it is lightweight and good enough to provide good quality protection. Good quality moisture control and ventilation systems are available. The straps are traditional 2 inch velcro straps. The rear panel is a single piece construction. For protection you will see multiple PE inserts. 

Pros :

  • Slimmer shoulder caps in comparison to the other ALPHA DX series products
  • Very much affordable
  • Offers close to body fit

Cons :

  • Not so durable

8.SHER-WOOD 5030 HOF HOCKEY SHOULDER PADS – SENIOR

SHER-WOOD 5030 HOF HOCKEY SHOULDER PADS - SENIOR

The most classic model I have ever seen. It is a good, old and classic model. Maybe you have seen it on the players you have idealized since your childhood. It has a very simple and lightweight construction. The entire thing is made with a single density foam. It has floating shoulder caps. This model is really good for the extreme beginners, as it is very much affordable and provides required protection. Beginners usually hate wearing heavy gears. As there’s nothing much to it, it is very lightweight. The overall setup looks pretty cool while wearing it. 

Pros :

  • Really a thing for extreme beginners
  • Very lightweight
  • Almost unimaginable low price range

Cons :

  • Almost zero technology comparing today’s gears
  • Low durability
  • The collarbones will remain totally exposed

So that was our total collection of best hockey shoulder pads for you. We hope that you got the pad for you from here. We hope that you will stay protected and enjoy your hockey career. Because we care for our players more than anything. So your security has always been our basic priority.

8 Best Hockey Elbow Pads For You In 2020

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best hockey elbow pads

What is the body part which hurts like hell? You may have a list of body parts. But I am sure elbow is definitely in the top 3. Some call it the funny bone. It’s because some feel funny after getting hit there (though I felt nothing except pain ever). I don’t know how many people feel while getting hurt in the elbow, but sure everyone feels the pain. This pain can be fatal during a game. While playing hockey, you can badly fall on your elbow and have a bad fracture. Which can lead you to life long arm deformation. So it’s better to use an elbow pad. Especially in a game like hockey.

 

Why does the elbow hurt so much?

Many of us think that the elbow bone is so vulnerable that is why we feel the pain. But that weird pain doesn’t come from the bone at all. Instead, that weird sensation comes from the ulnar nerve. Which passes from the elbow joint. It is made of sensitive fibers, so it hurts badly. And in any case, if it is the bone, that can be fatal. So it is better to save the elbow during the game.

 

How to choose the elbow protection:

Hockey is a very fast game. So there are so many hockey pads to give you superior protection all around your body. We will help you to choose the best hockey elbow pads for you. There are different types of elbow pads for hockey. 

  • So the first design is the soft shell design. It is basically a one piece pad. There’s padding outside and a plastic core inside. It offers good mobility but less protection. This design is famous in the entry and rec level players because of the softness and the fitting style.
  • The second design is the most common design in the market. It is an L type two piece pad, which comes with a forearm pad on the top. The pad is totally covered with molded plastic which gives high end protection. There’s a biceps guard in the  forearm pad, which enhances the protection level.
  • The third design is a three piece elbow pad and is more seen in the top or the higher end pads. It serves like the two piece design, but gives better mobility than that. Cause they have added a different segment in the middle so that your arm can lie totally flat on it.

The quality of the protection, comfort, mobility, material quality all gradually increases from the first design to third design. You can call the first design a beginner level design, second one an intermediate and the third one a pro level design. The price level also increases as you get more features.

 

How to size your elbow pad:

If you want the proper protection, sizing is everything. If it is not a proper fit, even the best elbow pads won’t be able to keep your elbow protected. The best way to wear the elbow protection is, the top should touch the shoulder pad and the bottom should touch your gloves. This is the most protected position for a hand while playing. 

  • The best way to find out the size of your elbow pad is to measure the area of your hand that will be covered with the pad.
  • Here is another way you can use. There’s an universal chart for elbow pads size according to your height (sometimes different brands got different size charts). You will get the perfect size using this method mostly. But we can’t guarantee that it will be the perfect fit always.
  • Sometimes different hands require different starping systems. So that is a thing to consider.
  • It is better to check the size while wearing the shoulder pad and with your gloves on. This will give you the perfect idea of the gap in between the pads. There shouldn’t be any gap in between or the glove end shouldn’t come on the pad bottom also.

Best hockey elbow pads review :

So after all the things you need to know about elbow protections, let’s get down to the top rated elbow pads suggestion for you. Amongst all these best hockey elbow pads in the market currently, we are pretty sure you will definitely find the one for you.

 

1. BAUER VAPOR 1X LITE

BAUER VAPOR 1X LITE HOCKEY ELBOW PADS - SENIOR

You can easily get that it is lighter than the previous model, so they had used the name lite for it. It is a traditional 2 piece design. The bicep guard is attached to the body with good mobility. The joint is made of a neoprene like material which will make it durable.

The elbow cap is made with Bauer’s personalized material; all foam inside. Interesting thing is, this all foam inside cap will provide you NHL level protection without any plastic. They made it that light by reducing the practice use. The material doesn’t absorb the moisture, it wicks away. Bauer made a huge upgrade by using the curv composite technology like the boot. The elbow part got nylon lock straps and the bicep part got 2 inch elastic straps. With all the excellent technologies, it is one of the best hockey elbow pads in the light pads section.

Pros :

  • Super light
  • Durable
  • High mobility

Cons :

  • People are doubting its protection because of that no plastic formula. But it offers good quality protection actually.

2. CCM JETSPEED FT1

CCM JETSPEED FT1 HOCKEY ELBOW PADS - SENIOR

It is a three piece design. CCM tried something new with this design. The top bicep is still traditionally hinged. Difference is in the interaction of the form guard and liner combo’s interaction with the cup. They are hinged, but not traditionally. They got a nylon strap inside which prevents it from pulling out. Everything can move independently, that’s why you will get excellent mobility. For the first time in CCM we are seeing this rocket frame composite.

It may look familiar because it is inspired from their boot. This will give you a good wrap, protection and comfort without putting on weight on your arms. The moisture wicking technology keeps you dry and cool always. The elbow cap got a newly introduced JDP design, which ensures more safety. They got a new strapping this year well. They are calling it an arched bicep strap, which sits a little higher than the regular one. The mid and the bottom part got very comfortable nylon strapping. The quick release straps gave it a different volume. All these made it one of the best hockey elbow pads.

Pros :

  • Super mobility
  • Easily wearable and removable
  • Super comfortable due to the low profile design

Cons :

  • Best for intermediates in spite of being a 3 piece model

3. CCM SUPER TACKS AS1

CCM SUPER TACKS AS1 HOCKEY ELBOW PADS - SENIOR

It’s a two piece model, the bicep guard is traditionally hinged with good mobility. For protection, there is injected plastic inside the bicep guard. High density foam for the outside. This helped reduce the weight. The elbow cap used the new JDP construction. It has the D3O foam right in the centre, which works extremely well against impacts. Medium density foam is used outside the elbow cap and high density foam for the forearm pad. The interior design is super comfortable with good moisture wicking technology. This is for the players who want maximum coverage and protection. This is something really good for your perfectly protected flexible hands.

Pros:

  • Customized fit right out of the box
  • Gives a huge coverage against impacts
  • Amazing protection

Cons :

  • You can feel a slight weight after all day long practice

4. BAUER SUPREME 1S 

BAUER SUPREME 1S HOCKEY ELBOW PADS - 2017 - SENIOR

It is a traditional two piece construction. It has a neoprene strap so it doesn’t allow it to flex a little bit, but you will still get good mobility. This model got higher protection and lesser weight in comparison to the previous model. They have used curv composite technology in the bicep guard. They have inserted a small plastic inside the bicep guard and some high density foam beneath it. The elbow cap is a less plastic made and more curv composite. They used power light technology to attach foam to it.

So it is a totally different construction, different from the traditional elbow pads. You will see a bodysuit like technology here, which will give you better fit. The strapping system is traditional again. On the top they have 1.5 inch elastic straps and nylon lock guards in the bottom. The straps are pretty longer than usual. So this will provide you a better fit than usual as well. The entire set works together and it won’t pinch you or fall off even if you wear it all day long. There is an odor treatment process and a good evaporation system to keep you cool, dry and fresh.

Pros :

  • Excellent fit
  • High-tech features
  • Best protection available in mid price range

Cons :

  • Some are not liking the MX3 sleeves

5. BAUER SUPREME 2S

BAUER SUPREME 2S HOCKEY ELBOW PADS - SENIOR

This is actually the upgraded version of the previous model. The main upgrade is the motion protection. The bicep guard is hinged with two elastic nylon straps, so it offers better mobility in between the bicep and the elbow body. They have added a bit of flex in the forearm part also. They have medium density foam on the inside and closed foam on the outside. They used the PE technology here, which means it has an inserted plastic in between. The material doesn’t absorb, it wicks away the moisture. So the elbow pad stays dry and lightweight. Down at the elbow, you will see molded plastic construction.

You will see IX foam in the elbow doughnut. IX foam is one of the most elite level foams which can easily absorb high energy impacts. There is vent armor foam in the bottom which will increase the level of protection and it is also a breathable material. So you will stay a lot cooler and drier throughout the game. The strapping system is pretty much traditional like an elastic strap in the forearm, y shaped anchor straps etc. All these will give you a perfect fit, but it won’t pinch at all like other traditional strap systems. There is a thermo max plus liner. Which helps wicking the moisture away and keeping the setup bacteria free and odor free.

Pros :

  • High level protection
  • You can get your hand inside easily
  • Perfect fit without getting any pinchy feeling
  • Reasonable price

Cons:

  • Little heavy comparing to other Bauer products

6. CCM TACKS 9080

CCM TACKS 9080 HOCKEY ELBOW PADS - SENIOR

CCM used compressed molded PE foam and D3O material. All these are going to work excellent together against high energy impacts. The bicep guard is hinged well ensuring the mobility of hands. The elbow cap has JDP technology for better protection. The strapping system is pretty good. They come with a wide range for getting customized fit. This is a pad for those who are into competing games, needs better protection but don’t want to spend so much. This pad provides a surprising level protection within this price range. This is one of the best hockey elbow pads in this price range.

Pros :

  • All the best technologies with an affordable price range
  • High protection against impacts
  • Great mobility

Cons :

  • Slight heavy
  • Weak moisture wicking feature

7. CCM JETSPEED FT370

CCM JETSPEED FT370 HOCKEY ELBOW PADS - SENIOR

A basic two piece model but pretty much upgraded. They have the bicep part hinged without sacrificing the mobility of your hand. They are well enough to provide coverage where you will need. The construction has PE foam with an inserted plastic and thick medium density foam on both sides. Foams will touch your skin, and it’s mostly like a memory foam like feel. The forearm part is segmented away from the elbow cap, so it does allow easy access into it while wearing them on. The elbow cap has used JDP technology. To provide elite protection the outer plastic is extended till the forearm part. The foams are a lot thicker than the previous year’s model, to provide a better protection. They have added quick release straps. 

Pros :

  • Modern features
  • Enhanced protection
  • Very reasonable without sacrificing any protection or comfort

Cons :

  • Not that durable

8. BAUER VAPOR X800 LITE

BAUER VAPOR X800 LITE HOCKEY ELBOW PADS - SENIOR

It is a split cap two piece design. Split cap means the PE cap does move a bit independently of the forearm and bicep guard. Starting with the bicep guard construction, it is a full hyper light foam package. It will give you full protection and wicks away the moisture. The elbow cap got an anatomical shape which provides close to the body fit and gives a locked in feel. The forearm guard is made of a thin layer of PE, medium density foam. Coming to the straps, in the bottom you will get a 2 inch nylon strap to keep the whole set up in place. You will find a mesh trap in the middle and an elastic strap at the top. The liner has featured sanitized technology so you won’t get any bacteria build up or any kind of odor. 

Pros :

  • Super light
  • Reasonable price without sacrificing the protection
  • BAUER’s signature strapping system provides awesome fit

Cons:

  • Some may not like the higher profile design on the top.

So that was all for your elbow protection. We always wish your game to be smooth and injury free. So we always provide the best quality product for your safety. You can check our other hockey gears review also. 

10 Best Hockey Sticks For 2020

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Best Hockey Sticks

If anyone imagines a fusion of cricket and football, most probably it is gonna be hockey. You got a bat-like object, a ball, and a goal post as well; but the excitement remains the same. 

Hockey is a fast-paced, exciting, dramatic sport, a good source of adrenaline for sure. So once you have decided that you are going to play hockey, the anxiety of the hectic process can hit you a little hard. Let’s assume that you are done with all those training admissions and you are physically pretty much prepared, then it all comes to buying gears and equipment. As it is a  fast-paced game, a lot of shields and much other equipment are required which can end up with a pretty good expense. We are here to help you out with the very first things you will think of buying Hockey Sticks.


Things to know about before buying a Hockey Stick :

Let’s just have a quick tour of the essentials you need to know before you buy a hockey stick. 

  • Grip: If you want a tight and tacked feeling then you can go for the grip. In case of a smooth feeling, go for no grip.
  • Height: This mainly depends on your height and comfort. If you are a tall fellow, a long stick is definitely required. 
  • Flex: Flex means the flexibility of the hockey stick, how much pressure can bend the stick. It depends mainly on your weight. (generally half of your pound should be the flex number. In case you are of 206 pounds then the flex should be 103)
  • Kick point height: It depends on how you like to make the shot. 
  • Blade pattern: This is the most personal preference. You need to try out a few hockey sticks to find your comfort zone. 

Our top ten choices:

So here goes the list of those best hockey sticks we got which you may consider buying.

 

1. BAUER VAPOR 2X PRO

BAUER VAPOR 2X PRO GRIP COMPOSITE HOCKEY STICK - SENIOR

At first glance, you will get to see the micro field two shaft dimension here which is pretty unique to Bauer. This increases the comfort level a lot. Getting down to the construction, you will see rounded corners with double concave walls, which is gonna give a secure and comfortable holding in hands. There is a huge upgrade in the material.

They have used text stream 18k carbon fiber. This one is an incredibly lightweight material, which Bauer started using in all their elite level sticks. The stick is very responsive and also does a very good job of managing impacts. For the durability, they have increased the shaft wall thickness this year, but that doesn’t reduce the playability at all. The HP molding process is putting it all together. This high performance really creates a much more consistent product in comparing others present on the market. This gives the maximum energy transfer to the puck as possible. Moving down to the taper, you will see the new XE taper here.

This is an elliptical shape taper that Bauers has been testing and trying to use it for quick release. They managed to use this taper in this model with perfection. This low kick point stick does have an extremely quick release system. Very much perfect for the close to net, aggressive shots. The design of the taper supports all these features. They made it softer on the top ¾ parts, and at the last, they have stiffened it. You will see the texturing carbon fiber coming into the blade. This is masking the max balance technology with aero foam down through the center. The stiffer outer rim and the aero foam just match the low kick point and increases the performance level. This is one of the best hockey sticks to buy in the medium price range.

Pros:

  • High performance
  • Lightweight
  • Perfect for quick shots

Cons:

  • The higher flex sticks can get a bit heavy, but after cutting, you will be just good to go. 

 

 

2. CCM RIBCOR TRIGGER 4 PRO

CCM RIBCOR TRIGGER 4 PRO GRIP COMPOSITE HOCKEY STICK - SENIOR

Right at the beginning, you will find super nice shaft dimensions. The double concave sidewalls are really comfortable for the top hand. The rounded corners give a very comfortable feeling while holding in the top hand. For your lower hand, means in the second thirds, it is actually going to flatten out in the back. So you will get a concave on the front and flat on the back. This design allows you to have better controls and stability while giving a big shot. For the bottom, it is the routine CCM design in this model, with their sigma tex 18k carbon fiber, which is one of the most elite level materials in the market today.

This is paired with the XFlow resin system. The one-piece construction process is going to provide some excellent level energy transfer directly to the puck. The entire design is going to provide great consistency and a greater balance point. Moving towards the kick point and taper, things get exciting here. Firstly if you look from the front at the bottom third, it looks like a regular Ribcor from CCM. Then looking at the back, you will find that it is convex. The front part still allows that quick release, but the convex backing prevents the shaft from twisting. This also increases the accuracy of your shots, durability, and reduces a significant amount of weight. But despite all the big changes, the low kick point works just perfectly as the other Ribcor models. You will get to see some big changes in the blade as well.

CCM used their agility blade in here. After a lot of experiments, they have softened the linear stiffness to ensure the accuracy and higher popping feature. They tried to upgrade their look profile as well. This one is definitely one of the best hockey sticks available in the market liked by all players.

 

Pros:

  • Shot accuracy
  • Lightweight
  • Unique design and high technology for excellent balance

Cons:

  • The price tag may seem a little high, but you will never regret paying the money or will not want to use any other stick in the future.

 

 

 3. WARRIOR ALPHA DX SL

WARRIOR ALPHA DX SL GRIP COMPOSITE HOCKEY STICK - SENIOR

Warrior’s entire Alpha line has some unique shaft design. Which are rounded walls and double concave sidewalls to make the stick comfortable to hold. This is a total one-piece construction to add consistency to the final product. The construction material is a minimus carbon 1400 deep carbon fiber which gives great energy transfer, makes the stick lightweight and responsive. It has a low kick point. You will find uniqueness in the taper called the Sabre taper. It allows you to have a quick-release shot at the same time you can have a long, big shot when it is necessary. You will find another big upgrade in the blade.

They have introduced new fuel core construction in the blade. It increases the performance and the durability of the blade in the long run. The blade is also not heavy, which gives a very good feel in the hand throughout the game. The Apex grip can give a tacky feeling all game long, which is liked by the beginners a lot. It is quite a good choice for the beginner stick and it is in the mid-price range.

Pros:

  • Very responsive and quick shots friendly
  • High strength and lightweight
  • Unique color combination

Cons:

  • Few cases of the chipped blade have been reported

 

 

4. BAUER VAPOR 1X LITE ADV PRO

BAUER VAPOR 1X LITE ADV PRO STOCK COMPOSITE HOCKEY STICK - SENIOR

This lightweight stick is one-piece construction, giving a good feel on the hand. You see the term LITE in the model name, and you can expect to feel no weight nearly while holding this thing. This is one of the first top-line best hockey sticks which weighs so less. It feels lighter because of the weight distribution. Getting down to the construction, this is not so traditional, a much more curved corner concave stick. Which is more comfortable for stick handling.

It has a low kick point, as expected from the quick 1X family. They have made a slight change to the taper. It has a quick-release taper plus. The total mass of the taper is increased from the previous model to prevent the blade from being unstable while shooting. The kick point of this stick is the result of a lot of engineering research. So you can easily expect the best performance from it. The blade design is also built with high technologies, so it is one of the top NHL level sticks that Bauer has ever made.

Pros:

  • Very lightweight
  • Filled with excellent features
  • Result of all the researches of Bauer till date, so one of the highest technologized sticks. 

Cons:

  • People expect a bit more durability because of the price, but the performance you will get from its lifetime, you won’t regret ever.

 

 

5. TRUE XCORE XC9 ACF

TRUE XCORE XC9 ACF GRIP COMPOSITE HOCKEY STICK 2019 - SENIOR

Right in the beginning, you will find rounded corners and concave sidewalls to have a great feel in the hands. You will find TRUE’s axenic technology in the construction. It gives a very good energy transfer and better power. This is totally unique to TRUE. The carbon twill fiberglass is going to give a good performance and better durability. This has a mid kick point which is really ideal for the power shooters. Moving down to the blade you will find the XCORE GEN 2.

That is a polyurethane compressible insert that you will see on the rear, which moves up all long the blade. This will give you three times longer sweet spots in the blade. It also offers a better dampening property this year. The technology keeps the puck stick to the stick during the passing, so you will definitely have a better passing experience. You will also get SmartPly technology for better balance.  Finally, there is BRt plus technology, which braided rib tubes that heel to toe preventing those twisting during the big shots, working as a backbone. It increases shot accuracy and overall durability. Most interestingly it comes with a great balance which is pretty unexpected at this price.

Pros:

  • Ultra consistent thickness from top to bottom, which prevents it from breaking, so you will get good durability. 
  • Very responsive
  • Great balance

Cons:

  • A little heavier than others, though you won’t feel it at all because of the weight distribution.

 

 

6. WARRIOR COVERT QR EDGE

WARRIOR COVERT QR EDGE GRIP COMPOSITE HOCKEY STICK - SENIOR

Right at the beginning, you will see rounded corners and straight sidewalls, providing a very traditional and comfortable feel in the hands. The material used in the basic construction is the minimus 1200, which is a  commendable upgrade. You will find a few upgrades in the construction style as well. This is a total one-piece construction.

It has distributed the weight really well to improve consistency and responsiveness. It has a super low kick point, sped up for more accuracy than the last model. The geometry of the design improved the playability a lot. It barely takes any effort to load up the stick to get a nice hard shot off. The unique design made the shot a lot more stable. Moving down to the blade, you will get premium level durability without using the fiberglass. It is a total carbon weaving in the blade. Because of the weight balance, it feels lighter than it actually is. There is another benefit of the lightness, it increases the speed of your shot, makes it really better for the quick releases. You will find the pro Cortex grip for better stickhandling. Surely this is one of the best hockey sticks available on the market.

Pros:

  • Lightweight
  • Comfortable stick handling
  • Head to toe stiffness to increase durability

Cons:

  • Takes time to figure out the best angle to shoot

 

7. CCM RIBCOR TRIGGER 4 PRO

CCM RIBCOR TRIGGER 4 PRO GRIP COMPOSITE HOCKEY STICK - INTERMEDIATE

Ribcor made an exciting change this year into the shaft dimensions. On the top ⅓  of the stick, you will get to see rounded sidewalls with double concave. Which is very comfortable for your top hand. Moving down to the ⅔ of the stick, it is gonna flattend out on the back. So you will have concave on the front, flat on the back. This design allows you to have better controls and stability while giving a big shot. For the bottom, it is the routine CCM design in this model, with their sigma tex 18k carbon fiber, which is one of the most elite level materials in the market today. This is paired with the XFlow resin system.

The one-piece construction process is going to provide some excellent level energy transfer directly to the puck. The entire design is going to provide great consistency and a greater balance point. Moving towards the kick point and taper, things get exciting here. Firstly if you look from the front at the bottom third, it looks like a regular Ribcor from CCM. Then looking at the back, you will find that it is convex. The front part still allows that quick release, but the convex backing prevents the shaft from twisting. This also increases the accuracy of your shots, durability, and reduces a significant amount of weight.

But despite all the big changes, the low kick point works just perfectly as the other Ribcor models. You will get to see some big changes in the blade as well. CCM used their agility blade in here. After a lot of experiments, they have softened the linear stiffness to ensure the accuracy and higher popping feature. They tried to upgrade their look profile as well. This one is definitely one of the best hockey sticks available in the market liked by all players.

Pros:

  • Shot accuracy
  • Lightweight
  • Unique design and high technology for excellent balance

Cons:

  • You will need some practice to get habituated with the shape and design.

 

 

8. WARRIOR ALPHA DX SL

WARRIOR ALPHA DX SL GRIP COMPOSITE HOCKEY STICK - INTERMEDIATE

Warrior’s entire Alpha line has some unique shaft design. Which are rounded walls and double concave sidewalls to make the stick comfortable to hold. This is a total one-piece construction to add consistency to the final product. The construction material is a minimus carbon 1400 deep carbon fiber which gives great energy transfer, makes the stick lightweight and responsive.

It has a low kick point. You will find uniqueness in the taper called the Sabre taper. It allows you to have a quick-release shot at the same time you can have a long, big shot when it is necessary. You will find another big upgrade in the blade. They have introduced new fuel core construction in the blade. It increases the performance and the durability of the blade in the long run. The blade is also not heavy, which gives a very good feel in the hand throughout the game. The Apex grip can give a tacky feeling all game long, which is liked by the beginners a lot. It is quite a good choice for the beginner stick and it is in the mid-price range.

Pros:

  • Very responsive and quick shots friendly
  • High strength and lightweight
  • Unique color combination

Cons:

  • Few cases of the chipped blade have been reported

 

 

9. BAUER VAPOR 1X LITE ADV PRO

BAUER VAPOR 1X LITE ADV PRO STOCK COMPOSITE HOCKEY STICK - INTERMEDIATE

This lightweight stick is one-piece construction, giving a good feel on the hand. You see the term LITE in the model name, and you can expect to feel no weight nearly while holding this thing. This is one of the first top-line best hockey sticks which weighs so less. It feels lighter because of the weight distribution. Getting down to the construction, this is not so traditional, a much more curved corner concave stick. Which is more comfortable for stick handling.

It has a low kick point, as expected from the quick 1X family. They have made a slight change to the taper. It has a quick-release taper plus. The total mass of the taper is increased from the previous model to prevent the blade from being unstable while shooting. The kick point of this stick is the result of a lot of engineering research. So you can easily expect the best performance from it. The blade design is also built with high technologies, so it is one of the top NHL level sticks that Bauer has ever made.

Pros:

  • Very lightweight
  • Filled with excellent features
  • Result of all the researches of Bauer till date, so one of the highest technologized sticks. 

Cons:

  • People expect a bit more durability because of the price, but the performance you will get from its lifetime, you won’t regret ever.

 

10. SHER-WOOD REKKER M90

SHER-WOOD REKKER M90 GRIP COMPOSITE HOCKEY STICK - SENIOR

If one is looking for good quality cheap hockey sticks, then this is the model they definitely should try. Sherwood was not that famous like Bauer and CCM for making quality sticks. But with this model, they managed to go higher with every possible detail. Firstly, it’s got a good grip feeling. When you will take it into your hand, you will feel that comfortable and intact feeling because of the grip. The blade construction is pretty much upgraded than those previous model. It is under 400 grams.

So it is pretty light. This is very balanced stick with a low kick point. For hard long passes, it plays amazing. They have used Flylite 2 technology for the balance. To increase the structural strength, they have used resinjection. It is a total package of high technologies, so you will find Graphene infused technology used for impact resistance. This stick is very responsive as well. They have used Backline XXV carbon fiber for it. Moving down to the taper, you will get a DropKick taper for quick release. The VRF.4 blade is going to make the puck controlling amazing.

Pros:

  • Budget friendly
  • Comfortable
  • Better stick handling 

Cons:

  • Durability takes a hit. But seeing the price, it is considerable.

 

 

Before you buy : 

If you are a beginner, maybe you are hell level confused right now. There are so many brands, so many things to buy, so many features and as a beginner, you don’t have any clue what the brands are talking about even. 

Here goes a little advice, if you are planning to take training from someone, discuss with your trainer,  play with a few sticks, try to figure out the features your hand finds right, like the grip, flex etc. Your trainer can tell you what kind of hockey will be better for you, seeing your running speed and reflexes. So before you buy the equipment, before figuring out what you want, figure out yourself. Equipment doesn’t play, it’s you who plays the game. So you are the one who needs to be experimented,  not the equipment. So find yourself out and all the best for your hockey career.  

Ice Hockey for Beginners: Complete Guide

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Ice Hockey for Beginners_ Complete Guide

We know what goes inside the mind of a beginner player. They have passion and love for a particular game and want to play it as well. Here the difficulty starts. They remain confused about how and where to start from.  If you are into hockey, and looking for blogs about hockey for beginners, we are here to help you out. The most famous type of hockey around the world is ice hockey. We got a complete guide of ice hockey for beginners.

Why start playing ice hockey :

It may seem like ice hockey for beginners is too tough. But trust me every single thing looks like it’s too tough in the beginning. Hockey is a very fast paced game. It will keep you fit and the adrenalin rush will keep your mental health better as well. You will achieve some lifelong qualities as well. Such as socializing, confidence, teamwork and quick decision making etc. 

When to start :

When to start

The lowest age to start ice hockey is the age 5. The early ages are the best to learn how to play ice hockey. But wait, if you are not in your early age, it’s not late. You can learn hockey in your teenage years or even after it. Professionals usually play hockey until their mid thirties. So you can start learning anytime before that.

Skills required for playing ice hockey :

Skills required for playing ice hockey

When you are looking for how to play ice hockey for beginners, you need a few sets of skills first. 

  • Ice skating , 97 percent of the game is ice skating. 
  • Multi tasking
  • Quick deciding skill
  • Good reflexes
  • Good core balance
  • Ability to work together in a team

How to skate :

How to skate

The first rule is to have patience. You won’t learn it in a day or maybe in a month also. At times you will feel like this is not possible at all. But it’s actually something achievable. So when you begin, definitely wear lighter clothes, so that you can move easily wearing them. I know it can be a bit chilly, but once you start moving you won’t feel the cold anymore. Still to prevent cold you can wear fitted tops and leggings.

Then comes the most important thing, skates. You need to wear skates which are very comfortable and fits really well. To keep your feet warm use socks. But you can’t use the cotton socks due to less moisture wicking ability. You better use microfiber socks. Then put on a helmet on your head for safety. 

Mastering the basics :

  1. Now this may sound funny, but first you need to learn falling and trust me you will obviously fall while learning hockey and this is one of the best ice hockey tips. Question is why you need to learn how to fall. The answer is, when you fall with a prepared position, you can reduce the seriousness of your injury. The less injury you face, the more you can focus on learning. So here are some techniques of falling in the right position.
  • Whenever you start feeling like you are falling, bend your knees and shift your body into the dip position (squatting).
  • It’s better to place your hands on the lap while falling forward and roll over your hands and knees.
  • To get up, gently push your body with your hand and stand up.
  1. Learn to stop. If you know to ski then it is the same technique. Pull your legs apart and bend it sideways. This will reduce your speed and help you stop within a second. But as a beginner you may fall down while practicing it. So have patience.
  2. To be comfortable in the skates keep gliding and keep stroking. 
  3. Practice swizzling (pulling your feet apart and then dragging the toes together, making an hourglass shape. It will help you improve your skills.)

Basic structure and objective :

Basic structure and objective

Ice hockey rules are pretty simple and the gameflow is also pretty easy. You skate, pass , shoot and score. When you make a goal, you get a point. That’s it. 

Rink structure and position:

Rink structure and position

You will get 5 players and 1 goalie in your team. All of them have to stand in the defensive zone. There are different positions for different roles. 

  •  Goalie: The goalie stands in front of the goal post to prevent the puck from entering into the goal line. If your reflexes are really good and you can remain very alert all the time then you can consider being a goalie. 
  • Defense players (left and right) : They try to block the opposition party when your team doesn’t have the puck possession. They also block the opposition party from taking over the puck when your team has the possession. If you are not that aggressive player and you have a good blocking skill, then you may try playing from these positions. 
  • Forward centre : They try to take possession on the puck during every face off. If you are a very aggressive player, then you should try for this position.
  • Forward left and right wing : They have some defensive responsibilities. But they look forward to creating the primary situation of making a goal. 

Game time:

It is basically a 60 minutes game divided into three 20 minutes periods. Each period got 5 minutes break time, which is 15 minutes in total. 

Officials :

A game official is the person who has the responsibility of enforcing the rules and doing the maintenance of the game. The number of officials vary with the type of the game. They are :

  • Referees (on ice)
  • Linesmen (on ice)
  • Assistant referees (on ice)
  • Goal judge (off ice)
  • Video goal judge (off ice)
  • Official scorer (off ice)
  • Penalty timekeeper (off ice)
  • Goal timekeeper (off ice)
  • Statistician (off ice)

Crimes :

As you are reading about ice hockey for beginners, it is really important to know about the crimes in ice hockey rules. 

  • Off side : When the puck is in the possession of your team and your players’ sticks cross the blue line of the attacking zone, before the puck crosses that line is called off side.
  • Icing : If you hit the puck from behind the centre red line and your puck remains untouched, it will be called icing. 
  • Butt ending: Jabbing a player of the opponent team with the top end of the stick.
  • Checking from behind: Hitting a player from behind while he is not aware of the scene and can’t defend himself.
  • Cross checking: : Checking the stick with both hands.
  • Elbowing: Hitting an opponent with the elbow. 
  • Fighting : Getting involved into physical fights inside the rink.
  • Hooking: Blocking someone’s progress using the stick. 
  • Interference: Blocking someone’s progress while he doesn’t have the puck and creating any kind of disturbance while picking up his stick or gloves from the ground. 
  • Kneeing: Hitting an opponent with the knee. 

All kinds of deliberate actions that make an opponent fall or get him injured comes under the crime section. 

Punishments : 

  • For a minor penalty you have to sit in the penalty box for 2 minutes. In case of double minors a four minute penalty is given. 
  • In case of a major penalty you have to sit in the penalty box for 5 minutes. 
  • In case of a misconduct penalty you have to sit for 10 minutes in the penalty box. 
  • Sometimes a penalty shot is also given. It depends on the situation and the league. 
  • While having an offside, your goal won’t be counted and you will have to resume the game with a faceoff. 
  • Icing comes under a delayed penalty. 

Here’s a chart of hockey majors and minor penalty time.

PENALTY CLASSIFICATION TIME
Boarding Minor 2 or 5 minutes
Charging Minor 2 minutes
Contact to the Head Minor 2 minutes
Cross-Checking Minor 2 or 5 minutes
Delay of Game Minor 2 minutes
Elbowing Minor 2 or 5 minutes
Slashing Minor 2 or 5 minutes
Roughing Minor 2 minutes
Obstruction Minor 2 minutes
High-Sticking Minor 2 minutes
Kneeing Minor 2 minutes
Holding Minor 2 minutes
Holding the Stick Minor 2 minutes
Interference Minor 2 minutes
Hooking Minor 2 minutes
Unsportsmanlike Conduct Minor 2 minutes
Tripping Minor 2 minutes
Butt-Ending Major 5 minutes
Checking from Behind Major 5 minutes
Fighting Major 5 minutes
Fight Instigator Major 2 minutes
Holding/Grasping the Facemask Major 5 minutes
Pushing-off of Opponent with Skate Major 5 minutes
Misconduct Major 10 minutes
Spearing Major 5 minutes

Equipments required for ice hockey:

While playing ice hockey you need a proper set of equipment. Here’s the list of it . 

GOALIE:

  • Stick
  • Mask
  • Chest protector
  • Neck guard
  • Arm protector
  • Goalie jock
  • Knee pads
  • Leg pads
  • Blocker
  • Catching glove
  • Skates 
  • Helmet

PLAYER:

Hope you got all your ice hockey tips here. If you want to know about other hockey rules and playing methods, you can check our other blogs as well. 

9 Best Senior Hockey Skates of 2020

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Best Senior Hockey Skates

Ever thought of the fact why the movements on ice look so smooth during playing hockey? Yes, it is the magic of the skates. But buying the skates is not an easy job; not even for the best hockey skating champions. A lot of consideration is required while choosing the perfect skates for you. Even the best skates in the world may not be the best hockey skates for you. So we are here to help you out to ease the complicated process for you. You will get the best senior hockey skates here. 

How to size your feet: 

If you don’t get the perfect size for you, even the best skates for hockey won’t work or serve your needs properly. There are basically 2 methods of sizing the skates.

Method 1: 

If you are an adult, then your skate size will be 1.5 sizes less than your normal shoe size like your normal shoe size is 38, then your skate size will be 36.5. 

If you are still not so sure about this method, then we got another one for you. 

Method 2 : 

This method is called tracing and measuring.  Keep your feet on a white paper and trace your feet, holding the pencil straight. Then measure the length and then the width. There’s a universal chart of skates size. Figure out your size, seeing your length and width. Then there comes the volume fact. It’s one of the most important things. For example, you and your friend’s length and width are the same. Still, you two will not fit into the same skate. Because of the volume.

Best senior hockey skates suggestion:

While many companies are screaming out telling that we have the best hockey skate for beginners and all, we are here with some suggestions about which one is actually the best for you. We got some hockey skate reviews, you will have to choose the best senior hockey skates for you. Mainly we are presenting the hockey skates of the best hockey skate brands like Bauer and CCM.

1. BAUER VAPOR 2X PRO ICE HOCKEY SKATES – SENIOR

BAUER VAPOR 2X PRO ICE HOCKEY SKATES - SENIOR

This is one of the highest performing BAUER skates on the market today. Analyzing the BAUER skate reviews, we can see that this one is one of the top skates that BAUER has made ever. Right at the gate, you will find LS5 carbon-coated stainless steel runners. The carbon coating on the outside of the runner will give a longer sharpening life of the blade. Moving upwards you will see the Lightspeed Edge holder with quick-release trigger technology to swap blades quicker.

For the outsole, they have used vented composite material for good moisture control and ventilation. It also minimizes the loss of energy. The main material used outside the boot is the carbon CURV composite material. You will find X rib technology on the back heel area. It is rigid, lightweight and thermoformable. The toe cap reduces negative movements inside the boot. The lacing system will last pretty long because of the anti-rust technology. The aero foam inside the boot is going to offer more comfort. You will get good protection from the lace bites and the tongue is going to allow you maximum forward strides.

Pros :

    • Lightweight
    • DYNA flex technology
    • Low profile design 
    • Enhanced fit 

Cons : 

    • Expensive but worth it

2. CCM SUPER TACKS AS1 ICE HOCKEY SKATES – SENIOR

CCM SUPER TACKS AS1 ICE HOCKEY SKATES - SENIOR

One of the most innovative, high tech skates and one of the best senior hockey skates as well. Right in the bottom, you will find SB black runners. It has a black oxide coating which will prevent corrosion and will make the edge life longer. Moving up, you will find SB 4.0 holders with speed rib technology. It makes the holder more rigid which will give you a better energy transfer. There is a vent in the bottom of the boot to kick the moisture out.

Moving towards the boot, you will find all the new technologies which will amaze you for sure.  The boot is made with mono frame 360 with premium composite as well as there speedcore 3 inner core. Benefits are going to be the 360 degrees fit around the feet and it will wrap underneath your feet as well. You won’t find any outsole here, so you will feel more connected to the ice. The last thing, there is no extra material, it is lightweight. CCM upgraded everything that helps to make the skate durable. Everything is double stitched. The increased the total height of the boot. The tongue and the tendon guard allows full extension while having a forward or backward stride. The overall boot is pretty stiff, so they softened the tongue and the inside a little bit. The tongue will give good quality lace bite protection.

Pros : 

    • Better protection 
    • Liner manages to lock the feet even in high moisture conditions 
    • Good moisture release system 
    • Different heel depth dimensions 

Cons :

    • Need to spend more for the custom mold

3. CCM JETSPEED FT2 – SENIOR

CCM JETSPEED FT2 ICE HOCKEY SKATES - SENIOR

This is the first one-piece skates in the JetSpeed family and is one of the best senior hockey skates. It has no outsole, no stitching. Which offers your feet a different level of comfort. Your skate will work exactly in the way you move your foot. In the lower, you will see a new XS  speak blade holder. You will get a quick-release dial to swap blades in no time.

The holder holds the blade in place all game long to make sure the energy transfer works well. There is a huge upgrade in the coverage. You will get a 360-degree comfortable wrap. The top provides superior level protection against lace bites. It is very lightweight because there’s nothing in the visible range to stick things together and the rocket composite material. It is totally a one-piece skate. The moisture control, ventilation and all other comforts are available in the skate.

Pros : 

  • Spring lock technology for good balance.  
  • Short time blade replacement 
  • Blade with extra height for better performance 
  • Molded tongue for lace bite protection.  
  • Highly responsive 

Cons : 

  • May not fit in an odd-shaped foot.

4. BAUER SUPREME 2S PRO ICE HOCKEY SKATES – SENIOR

BAUER SUPREME 2S PRO ICE HOCKEY SKATES - SENIOR

Starting with the runner, it is a TUKK LS5 carbon-coated stainless steel runner. The runner edge will offer more ice bite. Moving up to the holder BAUER used its most used lightspeed edge holder with a quick-release trigger option. You will find an ultra lightweight composite vented outsole. Moving up to the quarter package you will find a 3D lasted carbon CURV composite material. It is also heat moldable. There is a huge upgrade inside the liner. They have used a lock fit pro liner for the locked-in feel. Diving deep inside, you will find light memory foam for the ankle pad. You will get great comfort inside your boot. The tendon guard and the tongue will allow you to have full forward and backward stride. It is for those players who play 4 to 5 times a week all year round. 

Pros : 

  • Lightweight 
  • More lacing options 
  • Reduced negative space inside the boot 
  • Short breaking time 
  • No lace bites 
  • Stiff

Cons : 

  • Bulky tongues. 
  • Expected to be lighter considering the price.

5. CCM RIBCOR 80K ICE HOCKEY SKATE – SENIOR

CCM RIBCOR 80K ICE HOCKEY SKATE - SENIOR

Right at the gate, you will find XS speed blade black runner, which means it will have a longer sharpening life because of the oxide treatment. There is a 2 mm height difference from the steel which will give you better attack angles and better performance. You will get an XS blade holder here, which is a bit new for CCM. You will also get a quick release system in the holder.

Moving upwards you will find extra stiff composite material with an exhaust system to keep your feet moisture free and cool. You will find lightweight materials at the bottom so that you can have an excellent energy transformation. Moving upwards to the boot you will find flex frame technology which will provide extreme flexibility along with lateral stability. It is one of the most comfortable and best senior hockey skates. Most interesting thing is CCM uses biomechanics research with NHL players to refine their flex frame technology. The inside is also made with ADP memory foam. It is very comfortable and heat moldable.

Pros : 

  • Maximum energy transfer 
  • Less time required for blade replacement 
  • Comes with different skate options for different foot volume. 
  • Gives a flexible fit without any customization
  • Higher blade for better turn and movement 

Cons :

  • A little low durability than expected

6. BAUER NEXUS 2N ICE HOCKEY SKATES – SENIOR

BAUER NEXUS 2N ICE HOCKEY SKATES - SENIOR

This is a roomy high volume skate. Specially designed for those who need deep heel space and bigger forefoot and instep space. There’s thick foam padding all around for ultimate protection. The entire padding works for comfort and fit. There’s heel stability to avoid energy loss. Right at the gate, you will find LS3 stainless steel. You will also see the BAUER’s goto speed edge holder with a quick-release trigger.

For the outsole, you will find stiff composite material. Moving up to the quarter package you will find a 3D lasted CURV composite. It is also heat moldable. Going inside you will see HYDRA MAX 2 lining and memory foam for the ankle pad. You will find a high density and reinforced metatarsal guard in the tongue. It will give you a customized fit and good protection against lace bites. The padding inside is going to give a good grip and ventilation. You will also find a speed plate 2.0 insole inside. This is one of the best senior hockey skates at a lower price point.

Pros :

  • Pro-grade features 
  • Secondary price range 
  • Ultralight 
  • Stiff 
  • High durability 

Cons : 

  • Not for the narrow foot 
  • Takes more time to brake

7. BAUER VAPOR 2X ICE HOCKEY SKATES – SENIOR

BAUER VAPOR 2X ICE HOCKEY SKATES - SENIOR

The model got two LS three stainless steel runners, which are taller than the traditional steel. So you will get a more aggressive turning radius, more custom profiling option, and a longer sharpening life. You will find a quick-release trigger system, which allows you to swap blades within seconds. The steel is connected to a pro TV-out. It gives a good energy transfer, even though it is not composite. One of the greatest upgrades in the boot is the CURV composite.

CURV is one of the most popular options today for elite-level skaters. It is very lightweight and stiff so you will get a good stride power. The material is extremely heat moldable and there is protection for preventing high ankle blisters and rubbing injuries. An interesting upgrade inside the boot is they managed to cut out the negative space from the toe part. This will increase the foot and ice connection. For the tongue, they have used injected metatarsal guards and thick foams. All these will give protection against lace bites and will give great comfort. You will get good moisture control, locked-in feel, great forward strides, and comfortable footbed in the boot. It is one of the best senior hockey skates, for sure.

Pros :

  • Low profile design 
  • Entire tongue offers comfort and flexibility 
  • Offers quickness
  • Super light 

Cons : 

  • Not for the ones who got wide feet.

8. CCM JETSPEED FT480 ICE HOCKEY SKATES – SENIOR

CCM JETSPEED FT480 ICE HOCKEY SKATES - SENIOR

A two-piece boot with top technologies and solid performance features.  It’s basically a low volume foot skate. In case you don’t want to pay high but still want the highest performance from your skates, this pair of skates is worth your consideration and money. In the base, you will see an XS speed blade holder with a quick-release system. The uniqueness comes into the holder design. There is a mechanical lock so that the holder does not move even an inch. Plus in any case, the steel breaks or you have to change it for any other reason, you won’t have to change the entire holder.

You will just have to buy steel. The outsole is composite so it is light and stiff. There is an extra air vent in the bottom to make it more comfortable. For the first time, CCM used 3D lasting rocket composite for the liner. In addition, the memory foams inside make it fit really well so that you don’t almost need to bake it (but I would still recommend doing that). Moving to the tongue, it will give you proper fit, comfort, and lace bite protection. It is made of a 7 mm flex foam. It will also allow you to have full forward extensions. The design is pretty good for players who need to stay on the ice a couple of times a week. Kids really love it, as it is very comfortable. This is definitely the best hockey skates for youth at this price point.

Pros : 

  • Low profile fit. 
  • Runner lasts long; a very important feature for regular players  
  • Great heel lock 
  • Excellent energy transfer 
  • Multi-density padding for extra comfort 

Cons :

  • Not for the wider foot.

9. BAUER VAPOR X2.9 ICE HOCKEY SKATES – SENIOR

BAUER VAPOR X2.9 ICE HOCKEY SKATES - SENIOR

It is basically the upgraded version of the X2.7 series. Right at the bottom, you will see an upgraded LS1 steel runner with a TUUK edge holder, and obviously a quick release trigger. The holder is connected to a pro TPU outsole. Stiffer than the previous model. Moving towards the boot, you will find 3d lasted tech mesh with a perform flex technology.

It will provide incredible comfort and fit right out of the box so that after baking it will reduce the break-in time. The tongue is really good. It is a little wider which will give more comfort and protection against slashes, pucks and lace bites. It will also allow you to have a full extension while having a forward stride. For the liner, you will get hydrophobic microfiber, which is very durable, soft, comfortable and wicks away the moisture well. You will find a huge upgrade in the ankle portion, BAUER used aero foam memory pads. This provides you great comfort and fit.

Pros:

  • Less break-in time
  • Great fit
  • Pretty durable considering the price

Cons:

  • Won’t fit a wide foot

The legs are considered to be the most important body part of every moving species. It’s really important to take care of our feet, on which we stand. Shoes play a vital role in our life while buying them we pay extra attention to comfort. Now, shoes for a high paced game like hockey is really important. It needs to be flexible, comfortable and shouldn’t hurt the feet at all. Here money is not important, the protection and comfort of your feet are important. Cause if you are buying low-quality skates just because it’s cheap which can lead you towards an injury; the quality of performance can go down for a lifetime.