Let’s get this out of the way: hockey is expensive. There is no cheap way to outfit a hockey player. The minimum-viable starter kit at age 7 runs $400 to $700 and assumes you buy half of it used.
That said, there is a clear order of priority. Skates first. Helmet second. Then stick. Then everything else. Cut corners on the gear list, never on the safety equipment.
Ages 5–7 (Learn-to-skate / Mini Mites)
Most rinks run a learn-to-skate program before kids start playing organized hockey. This is the right path. Kids who can’t skate can’t play hockey, and skating is harder than it looks.
Skates (start with rentals or used)
Learn-to-skate programs usually rent skates for $5 to $10 a session. Use that until your kid is committed.
If you’re buying: youth recreational skates are fine at this age. Don’t buy high-end skates for a 5-year-old who will outgrow them in 4 months.
How to choose: skate fit is professional territory. Have a hockey shop fit them. The skate should be 1 to 1.5 sizes smaller than street shoe size. The heel should sit firmly in the heel pocket.
Cost range: $80–180 new. Used: $30–80.
A youth hockey helmet (with a full cage)
Required at every age in every youth league. The cage protects against pucks and sticks. Your kid will not love it. They will get used to it.
How to choose: HECC certified is the standard. Helmet should sit level on the head, not tipped back. Chin strap snug, ear loops aligned with the ear.
Cost range: $50–100.
A starter stick
Junior or youth flex sticks. Wood is cheaper and fine at this age. Composite sticks are nicer but break easily and the kid won’t notice the difference.
How to choose: stick length, when the kid is in skates, should reach about chin height (slightly higher for wingers, slightly lower for defensemen). For learn-to-skate, just get a size that fits.
Cost range: $20–60 wood, $40–100 composite.
Pads (the full kit)
This is where it adds up. The full pad kit for a 5-to-7-year-old:
- Shoulder pads: $30 to $60
- Elbow pads: $25 to $45
- Hockey pants (girdle or breezers): $30 to $80
- Shin guards: $30 to $60
- Hockey gloves: $30 to $60
Most beginning programs don’t require the full kit at first. Check with the program before buying.
Cost range total: $145–305 for the full pad set.
Mouthguard
Required. Boil-and-bite is fine.
Cost range: $5–15.
Ages 8–10 (Mites and Squirts)
Real games begin. Body checking is not yet legal in most leagues at this level. The pads upgrade gradually.
Better skates ($150–300 range)
By age 8, your kid is skating multiple times a week. Cheap skates won’t last and won’t perform. Mid-range skates are the right call.
How to choose: get them professionally baked (the boot is heated and molded to your kid’s foot). Most hockey shops do this for free with purchase. Makes a real difference in fit.
Cost range: $150–300 new. Used in good condition: $80–150.
A real youth helmet with a cage or full shield
Cages are standard and cheaper. Full polycarbonate shields are an option but tend to fog. Either works.
How to choose: the helmet should not move on the head. If it shifts when your kid shakes their head, it’s too big.
Cost range: $80–150.
A composite stick
Composite sticks have better feel and more flex options. Junior or intermediate flex depending on weight.
How to choose: stick should reach approximately chin height (in skates). Flex rating should be roughly half of the kid’s body weight in pounds (e.g., 60-pound kid = 30 flex stick).
Cost range: $80–180.
Position-specific gloves
Skater gloves run $50 to $100. Goalie gloves are entirely separate (see below).
Cost range: $50–100.
Better pads (whole kit upgrade)
Replace the starter shoulder pads, elbow pads, shin guards, and pants with mid-range gear. Total kit upgrade: $300 to $500.
Ages 11–12 (Pee Wee, body checking begins)
In many leagues, body checking begins at this age. The pads need to step up. The skates and helmet are the most important pieces.
High-quality skates ($300–500 range)
By Pee Wee age, your kid’s feet have stopped doing the rapid growth thing. Skates last longer. Buy real skates.
How to choose: foot shape varies by brand. CCM, Bauer, True, Graf all fit differently. Try multiple brands.
Cost range: $300–500 new. Used in good condition: $150–250.
A high-end helmet
For body-checking ages, helmet matters more than ever. Look for VTI 5-star ratings if available.
How to choose: certified by an HECC-recognized inspector. Don’t buy used helmets unless they are within their certification window.
Cost range: $150–300.
A serious composite stick
Stick technology actually matters at this age. Curve, kick point, flex. Your kid will have preferences. Talk to their coach.
Cost range: $150–300.
Full pad kit with body-checking-rated gear
Shoulder pads, elbow pads, pants/girdle, shin guards. Look for “Pee Wee” or “body-check rated” labels.
Cost range: $400–800 for the full upgrade.
A mouthguard (custom-fit)
For body-checking ages, a custom dental-fit mouthguard is worth the upgrade. Better protection, easier breathing.
Cost range: $80–150.
Ages 13–14 (Bantam) and 15+ (Midget / High school)
The pads and skates last longer at this age (full feet, fewer growth spurts). The cost shifts to ice time, travel, and tournament fees.
A typical Bantam-level kit:
- Skates: $400 to $700
- Helmet: $150 to $300
- Stick (and you will buy 2 to 4 a season): $150 to $300 each
- Full pads: $500 to $1,000
- Bag: $80 to $150
Total: $1,300 to $2,500 for a full season’s gear, plus 2-4 sticks at $150 to $300 each.
Travel hockey adds:
- League fees: $2,000 to $5,000
- Tournament fees: $200 to $500 each, 4 to 8 tournaments per season
- Travel and hotels: $1,500 to $5,000 a season
- Private skill coaching: $80 to $150 per session
A serious travel hockey program runs $8,000 to $15,000 a year all-in.
How to choose a hockey skate (the universal test)
Three checks:
One. The heel pocket. The heel should fit firmly in the back of the boot. If the heel lifts when your kid points their toe, the boot is too big.
Two. The toe box. The longest toe should just barely brush the front when standing. When your kid bends their knees forward in skating position, the toe should pull back from the front.
Three. The ankle support. With the laces tightened to playing tightness, the ankle should be locked in. Side-to-side wobble means the boot is too big or too soft for the kid’s weight.
Get them baked at the pro shop. Worth the time.
A few honest notes on the cost
Used gear is fine for everything except the helmet. Pads, skates (with proper fit), pants, gloves, sticks all work great used. Local rink pro shops often have used gear racks. Online sites like SidelineSwap have huge inventories.
The helmet is the one piece you do not buy used unless you can verify the certification date and condition. Helmets degrade.
Equipment swaps and exchanges are common in hockey communities. Local rinks often have semi-annual gear swaps where outgrown equipment changes hands at very fair prices. Get on the email list for your rink.
Hockey families share. Older parents pass down outgrown gear to younger families all the time. Be generous when it’s your turn.
— Dan