Starter gear kit for adult beginners

Full equipment is required at several programs on this site (for example Montclair State's Learn to Play). Here's the checklist.

What to buy first

Check your program's gear list before you buy anything. Some programs need less than full gear: Foundry's Get in the Game lists a helmet, elbow pads, hockey gloves, hockey pants, hockey skates and a hockey stick. If you are buying, start with the two items where fit and safety matter most: a helmet with a full cage and skates. Then add the rest of the protective gear.

Helmet: full cage and HECC

USA Hockey strongly recommends that all players wear a HECC-approved helmet and a HECC-approved full facemask. Its rules require HECC-certified helmets and facemasks for youth players, but adults only need a hockey helmet with the chin strap fastened (USA Hockey equipment rule, HECC FAQ). HECC stickers carry an expiration date, and an expired helmet no longer counts as certified. Your league or rink may have stricter rules, so check before you play.

Budget vs. full price

Adding up the low end of each price below comes to about $595 for a full kit, and the high ends add up to about $1,050. Once you add socks, a jersey and a couple of nicer pieces, a realistic total is roughly $850 to $1,000 (a rough estimate). Skates swing the total the most: about $90 to $300 for an entry-level pair. Buying used pads, pants and gloves is the main way to bring the cost down.

Buy first

Helmet with full cage

Approx. price, new: About $80 for a senior helmet-and-cage combo
Fit tip: Helmets are sized by head circumference (for example, the CCM Tacks 70 senior chart runs Small 52.5-57 cm, Medium about 56-60 cm, Large 58.5-62 cm). Measure around your head above the eyebrows.
Buy first

Skates (get fitted in a store if you can)

Approx. price, new: About $90 to $300 for entry-level senior hockey skates, up to $1,200+ for top-end models
Fit tip: Fit matters more here than anywhere. Try them on in person with the socks you will skate in.
Core gear

Gloves

Approx. price, new: About $50 to $80
Fit tip: Try them on: you should be able to grip a stick and bend your fingers without your fingertips hitting the end.
Core gear

Hockey pants

Approx. price, new: About $55 to $130 (shells that go over a girdle can be cheaper)
Fit tip: Most brands size by waist. Try them on with your shin guards so the bottom of the pants and the top of the shin guards meet.
Core gear

Shin guards

Approx. price, new: About $65 to $70
Fit tip: Measure from the middle of your kneecap to the top of your skate boot, and check against the brand size chart.
Core gear

Shoulder pads

Approx. price, new: About $70 to $80
Fit tip: Sized by chest. Some adult leagues have no checking, so a lighter entry-level pad is common for beginners.
Core gear

Elbow pads

Approx. price, new: About $40 to $45
Fit tip: Your elbow should sit in the center of the pad cup, and the pad should meet the cuff of your glove.
Core gear

Jock / jill

Approx. price, new: About $10 to $15
Fit tip: Sized by waist. Some come as shorts with a cup pocket that also hold up your hockey socks.
Core gear

Stick

Approx. price, new: About $80 to $140 for senior composite sticks
Fit tip: A common starting point is a stick that reaches between your chin and nose while you stand in shoes. Ask the store to help with flex and cutting.
Check first

Hockey socks + jersey

Approx. price, new: Varies
Fit tip: Some programs and leagues supply jerseys. Ask before you buy.
Last

Gear bag

Approx. price, new: About $55 to $110
Fit tip: Any bag that fits everything works. Air it out after every skate.

Prices are approximate. Each range runs from the lowest to the highest of the cheapest senior (adult) prices we found at Hockey Monkey, Pure Hockey and Ice Warehouse on October 16, 2026, rounded. Not every store is included for every item. Prices and sales change often.

New or used?

Used pads, pants and gloves can save money. Many used-gear stores won't take used helmets, so plan to buy the helmet new. Skates are the piece where fit matters most.

Play It Again Sports buys, sells and trades used sports gear, with prices it says are well below retail. Inventory changes daily, so call or visit your local store.

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