There are many types of ice hockey gear available. To choose the best ice hockey gear, the buyer first needs to know what basic gear he or she needs. Then the buyer can determine the best type of ice hockey equipment to use. Ice hockey gear can be divided into two main categories - protective gear and playing equipment.
Protective gear is one of the most important types. Protective gear helps keep the player safe in what is one of the most intense contact sports in existence. Protective hockey gear starts with a good helmet. The helmet needs to allow free movement and vision, while also providing good protection against all types of hits or falls. Some helmets also have face cages, to keep the face from danger, and additional shields.
Other protective gear includes the padding and the shin guards. Padding is needed for several key areas and includes various body pads, shoulder pads, elbow pads, and gloves. Pad style is largely a matter of preference. Padding that is too thick can inhibit skating, while padding that is too thin may not prevent injuries.
Other types of necessary gear are the skates and the stick. Skates are one of the most important pieces of gear. Skates are available in many different styles. The style skate chosen may depend on the position of the player, as well as the player's own skating ability. When sizing skates, buyers should be sure to try them on with the full amount of socks that they will wear, in order to ensure proper sizing. The standard width is also called "D" width. Wider widths are "E" or "EE".
