Protective hockey gear helps to reduce the chance of injury and increase your comfort and mobility on the ice. Start with your jock or jill shorts, which fit based on waist size.
STEP 2
Shin pads
Then put on your shin pads, which should cover your knee cap to just above your ankle. There shouldn’t be any gap between the top of your skate and the bottom of shin pad. Pull your hockey socks over your shin pad.
STEP 3
Hockey pants
Put your hockey pants on now. You can generally find the size based on your waist size, but in addition you need to make sure they’re long enough when you’re standing. They need to hit about halfway down your kneecap, overlapping your shin guards. Make sure the tailbone guard is centered.
STEP 4
Shoulder pads
Time for upper body, starting with shoulder pads. The cap of the shoulder pad should sit on the middle of your shoulder joint and shouldn’t ride up or get in the way of your mobility. You can find your fit based on your shirt size.
STEP 5
Elbow pads
Next your elbow pads should cover from the bicep portion of your shoulder pads to your gloves.
STEP 6
Neck guard
Neck guards, which protect you from skate lacerations, are available in a collar or bib style. The size is adjustable, so fasten until it’s comfortably snug.
STEP 7
Gloves
Finally glove, which shouldn’t overlap with your elbow pads, but also shouldn’t expose any skin. Make sure you have the mobility to grab a stick.
