Lifetime Hockey - Equipment

Hockey Equipment

Buying the right hockey equipment can be a complex and expensive experience. Lifetime Hockey staff have years of playing and buying experience and we bring this experience to our equipment store. We have provided recommendations and reviews for equipment we believe will be of high value to the adult recreational player. For the basics of hockey equipment design and usage please visit the equipment section of this website by clicking here. Hockey Giant is our main equipment provider but we also think you might want to look at:

- Hockey Deals - a discount store with limited but inexpensive gear
- Shop USCHO - a place to get college hockey jerseys and gear
- Ice Jerseys - a store to buy Jerseys for your team along with NHL and vintage items

Our primary equipment affiliate is the Hockey Giant. Although the Hockey Giant is similar to a hockey warehouse, we think that with our recommendations you will get the highest quality equipment. Check their sales and clearances. There are some good deals here from time to time! Hockey Giant also has an "Ask the Expert" feature which is a live text messaging service with their sales department. If you have questions regarding the proper size, return policy et cetera, try this feature.

To find the specific item we have recommended please copy the item number and when you go to Hockey Giant paste it into their search box.

Skates
RBK 9K Senior Ice Hockey Skates
	If you have wide feet, you cannot go wrong with a pair of RBK skates. The Reebok Senior Ice Hockey skate is the pro model that Sidney Crosby wears. They are made by CCM. We can attest to the high quality of this skate. We were able to make cuts and turns that we could not make with other skates. The RBK has a curved cut-out blade which reduces weight as well as holes drilled into the bottom of the skate that help to dry out the skate as well as diminish its weight. It also has the pump feature which provides additional tightness around the top of the ankles without restricting flex. Just remember to release the pressure before you try to take the skates off. We recommend that you get properly measured for hockey skates. Generally your skate size will be smaller than your shoe size. For example, Mark wears a 9.5 shoe but a 7.5 RBK. The tighter the fit, the better in our opinion.

Bauer Vapor XXV Senior Ice Hockey Skates
	This is the Bauer equivalent of the Reebok 9K. We like the Bauer skates too. If you have a wider foot, this might be the skate for you.
Easton Stealth S11 Senior Ice Hockey Skates - 2007
	These are great skates. They mold to your feet and have a good heal support.
Helmets
CCM 892 Hockey Helmet
	This is an excellent helmet. It is very solid and will protect your head in most situations. We recommend that you purchase a new helmet about every three years. The foam insert loses its ability to keep its shape over time and as a result the helmet's integrity is compromised. There is an "interactive fitting room" listed on the Hockey Giant web page that has helmets, cages and shields and it works for most of the equipment sold.
	Be sure to purchase a full cage for your helmet. The cage pictured is a Bauer. Cages are a personal preference. We have tried shields, half shields, shield/cage combinations and we think the simple full cage is the best protection and the least hassle for the adult player. Be sure it has a chin protector so that your helmet is securely attached to you head and chin. Shields always fog up even with all of the anti-fog agents that are out there. Half shields really only protect your eyes and that is not guaranteed. Good stick-handlers go by feel, you don't need a half shield or a shield to be better able to see the puck. If you don't think about it, you can see through a cage just fine.
Nike Bauer 4500 Hockey Helmet w/ Cage
	The Nike Bauer Helmet is a good value. It provides great protection for the head and it comes with a cage already fitted to the helmet. Remember to replace your helmet approximately every three years; the foam tends to become compressed over time and the helmet loses it protective integrity.
Shin Pads
RBK 9K ASD Senior Hockey Shin Guards - 2007
	These are expensive shin pads but worth the price. You will never feel another slap shot again. When you wear them put the bottom flap over the top of your skate and you will maximize its protection.
Mission Fuel 110 Senior Hockey Shin Guards
	The Mission Fuel 110 Shin Guards are light and provide excellent protection. They are adjustable to fit your knee and leg size. The shin pads fit your right and left legs (anatomically designed for each leg).
Easton Stealth S9 Senior Hockey Shin Guards
	The Easton shin guards wrap around the back of the leg and provided added protection to blows from behind. This is a nice shin guard.
Sticks
Easton Synergy ST Grip Senior Hockey Stick
	This is an incredible hockey stick. It is expensive--probably $169-$189 but is worth it. It really has some snap to it. Snap shots and wrist shots really take off. The slap shot is heavy off of this stick. If you like to flip the puck off the glass or out of the zone, try the Lidstrom pattern. It has a mid-heel curve that is fabulous.
Easton Synergy Elite Senior Hockey Stick - 2007
	This is also a very good stick. It is extremely light and has a very touch when handling the puck. We would recommend the 85 flex for the amateur player. 100 and 110 are too stiff for the average adult hockey player.
Louisville TPS R8 Response Lite Senior Hockey Stick - Afinogenov
	This is the pro stick. It has a great feel and serious whipping action. We would recommend the whip flex for adult amateur player.

Elbow Pads
Easton Stealth S5 Senior Elbow Pads
	Try these elbow pads if you are looking for solid protection. We are not sure why they are called the Stealth S5? It sounds a bit like a piece of military equipment. One tip with elbow pads, once you get "your" fit, don't undo the Velcro straps, just slide the elbow paid on and off your elbow. You will get the same fit each time without the Velcro stretching and grabbing at your jersey.
Easton Stealth S9 Senior Hockey Elbow Pads
	This is the enhanced version of the S5. It has more adjustments to make this elbow pad stay precisely where you place it to provide the maximum elbow protection. Easton makes a nice elbow pad.
RBK 9K ASD Senior Hockey Elbow Pads - 2007
	The RBK pads have the 3D mesh technology which means that they wick moisture and dry more quickly. These are a good value for an elbow pad.

Gloves
CCM 892 Senior Hockey Gloves
	These CCM gloves are smaller in size so they give you great flexibility and agility in working with you stick but they also provide good protection for your hands and wrist. Unless you are a smaller person, go with the 15"/38 cm size.
Louisville TPS HGRL8 R8 Lite Senior Hockey Gloves
	The Louisville TPS gloves are very light and have great flexibility for stick control.
Mission L7 Senior Hockey Gloves
	These Mission gloves are high quality leather. They provide great protection and have a nice feel to them.

Shoulder Pads
Nike Bauer Supreme Pro Lightspeed Senior Hockey Shoulder Pad
	You might want to skimp here, but shoulder protection is especially important for adult players. Take it from someone who has separated both shoulders: one shoulder with a $20 shoulder pad and the other shoulder with an $80 shoulder paid. Shoulder one--grade 2 (separations are graded 1-3) and shoulder two (with better protection--barely a 1).
Mission Fuel 110 Senior Hockey Shoulder Pads
	The Mission Fuel 110 shoulder pads have a unique look but provide great protection to the sternum and the spine. You will be a knight in armor with these shoulder pads.
CCM Vector 4.0 Senior Hockey Shoulder Pads
	These shoulder pads are a great value. They are light but provide excellent protection for the shoulders, spine and sternum.

Hockey Bags
Nike Bauer Team Canvas Senior Hockey Equipment Bag
	Hockey equipment bags are a person choice. Some players like the "back pack" style and others like bags with wheels on them. One thing to consider is the more pockets and zippers the greater chance that they will break or rip out. This is especially true of the "external" skate pockets and other types of features that are outside the equipment bag. Our experience is the more simple hockey bags will last the longest and this is why we recommend something like the Nike Bauer Team Canvas bag.
Shock Doctor Power Dry Senior Hockey Equipment Bag
	This hockey bag is unique for those players or their spouses that don't like the smell of sweaty hockey equipment. The Shock Doctor claims that it can it keeps itself dry and kills bacteria. It has a hose port in which an option dryer can be connected to blow out the bag.

Other equipment to consider purchasing:

Stick wax (it helps keep the snow and ice off your stick); spread it liberally on the tape of your stick).
Skate toe protection (with leather skates, it helps protect and prolong the life of skate by putting extra protection where the puck strikes the skate).
Bagball Hockey Equipment deodorant (this is an equipment deodorant that you an place in your hockey bag and it will help mask the smell and will kill some of the bacteria that is there.
Hockey ball; if you want to improve your stick handling, purchase a hockey ball--it feels likes a puck and weighs about the same--practice indoors on carpeting or any flat surface. Mark keeps his stick and a hockey ball next to his television and he practices 5 minutes every evening and now he can stick handle with his eyes closed.

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RBK 9K ASD Senior Hockey Shin Guards - 2007