Hockey equipment prices are out of control !

Hockey gear prices are out of control !
Why Are Hockey Sticks & Skates So Expensive - High cost of hockey equipment explained
• Why Are Hockey Sticks ...
Cheap vs Expensive hockey skates - What is the real difference ? FT6 Pro VS FT 670
• Cheap vs Expensive hoc...
NO MORE Bauer Supreme & CCM Ribcor - Why do we have LESS hockey manufacturers and Equipment
• NO MORE Bauer Supreme ...
Your hockey stick spec is wrong ! Watch this before you buy your next ice hockey stick
• Your hockey stick spec...
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[@JWC924]

this is why i hate the NHL promoting "hockey is for everyone". It's not for everyone.. it's for wealthy families. If you want to go far in the sport you need money and unfortunately not everyone can play because of that. Brands like Bauer and CCM are about inclusion but promote their $400 sticks and $1200 skates at the same time. Kids these days can be cruel as well so if you don't have the best gear you'll get picked on or called names.

[@mh-yx1xo]

Youre dead on. Also, my parents paid about $1500 a season for me to just play on the team and that was in the early '90's.

[@nicd5439]

You think mcdavid needs the most expensive gear to be that good? No, he would still dominate with a wood stick, and 90’s skates. Beer league bum is probably one of the few people not being paid to review gear. This Chanel is heavily paid for

[@sand_is_greaney]

Fr. I’m from Baltimore and while everyone was excited when Noel Acton win the Willie O’Ree award, we knew nothing would change. The rink all those kids play in still has a huge gaping hole on the roof that means that rain and snow along with debris can come in and prevent the kids from playing. They make a big deal about highlighting making the game more accessible but then don’t do anything about these types of places they’re also highlighting. It’s crazily frustrating

[@JWC924]

i didn't ask about McDavid, so not sure why you brought him up, also he has had the best gear available at all levels paid for by someone else. My comment is about the NHL and gear companies promoting inclusion while they promote the top of the line gear.. hockey is not for everyone.

[@JSnipes-nb7uy]

Your response is so cringe. Not everyone is Mcdavid… most the players in the NHL got there because of extra training, camps and clinics. Hockey is absolutely for ppl w money. If you don’t have money you cant put your kids in extra camps and clinics. SOME kids can still excel without but MOST need it in order to make top teams. There is ZERO argument against hockey being too expensive, ZERO. If you don’t under that the best kids are the best because they practice more aka pay more then you are totally clueless when it comes to current minor hockey/club hockey landscape

[@jayemm4]

As a beer leaguer that has worn mid level skates my entire life, I finally bought some elite level Skates last year (Ccm ASV pro) there’s a big difference in comfort and feel between mid level and elite level skates.

[@ED73SGH]

Same here. I started playing goalie about 2 years ago. Started with Bauer GSX level entry skates$300. Upgraded to Bauer vapor pros ( on clearance sale $500) retail $800. The difference is night and day.

[@dbecker33]

I’ll spend money on two things: Helmet and Skates. Gotta protect the noggin and take care of your feet!

[@blackyslife7456]

I think even in Beer League it makes a difference. Can only speak for me but i Always buy top of the Line Skates, gloves and Sticks. The Skates are the Most important Thing. When you Block a big Shot you know why better buy Higher Models 😂. Sticks are also important for me. Over 400 Grams feel very heavy and results in Bad Stickhandling and Not as good reactions for me. Gloves because of the palm and Mobility. But i definetly dont pay the full price. Always looking for Sales from Last Gen top Equipment. For Hyperlite 2 Skates i paid 730€ and top Sticks in General max 150€. Last week i bought a tmp pro and flylite for 130€ each. For Other Equipment i buy mostly in the middle Tier sections. For Elbows i have the cheapest Nexus from 10 years before. 😅

[@Erri_17]

I paid 250 euros for my machs, they're used but that doesn't matter

[@s2photo]

I found the same - literally never had comfortable skates until I bought high end. Had enough of my feet killing me after a game. Maybe it was just fit, but I bought some ultrasonics in 2021 and they are sooo comfortable.

[@ProdigyHighlights]

I desperately wanted to play hockey as a kid. I practiced for hours in the driveway with a cheap stick and net, using tennis balls and the metal lids of Duke's mayonnaise jars for pucks. But my parents just could not afford paying for a full kit and all the ice/team fees, plus they both worked full time and couldn't drive me to the rink all the time. I understood it just wasn't possible and I never pushed it. I recently started adult hockey because I can finally afford to pay for ice time, and things like SidelineSwap and Facebook market exist to buy cheap used gear. The years of playing in my driveway paid off, and playing hockey is coming naturally to me and I'm loving it. But now I am always going to wonder what I could have done with hockey if my family could have afforded the expense. I loved the game so much but I could never play it.

[@josephpatrickprescott562]

Hello…. You are playing Our Game now and Loving it…..that is GREAT. DO NOT WASTE A MINUTE ON “could haves”….”ponder” or dream about all the possibilities you have now.

[@danglez83]

I remember when the OG Gretzky aluminum came out, it was $50 and that was expensive at the time

[@mrhonda1]

I remember that one, it was actually $99. Other aluminum sticks were running about $50.

[@jamieblagdon7311]

I had the first aluminum Gretzky one. I think it was white and red Easton.

[@Boyo-xe5fp]

Slashing with those built men. Nobody cared about the gear, they were worried about going home in one piece.

[@williamlayton1827]

Yeah 1993?

[@Konanan]

One of the biggest giveaways on pricing is how junior and intermediate gear drops to almost half the price but obviously take about as much labour.

[@namelessrocker12]

This KILLS me. Intermediate gear is literally half the price for the exact same thing minus like 15% of material

[@igoresque]

But you can think about the price being somewhere in the middle, like they might intentionally make junior equipment cheaper, subsidizing it with higher prices for senior equipment

[@sand_is_greaney]

The other issue that isn’t discussed is that people are paying for this gear. There is no need for a 7-year old player to have Bauer Machs and a Agent stick, but parents do buy them for them even though they will grow out of both in a year or two. Also it feels like sticks have been pushing to be lighter instead of pushing to hold their value for longer. These two trends are really unfortunate, especially the first one in my opinion

[@hexx.hockey]

That Graf video should win an award my friend. It was awesome. Just to add some context to costs, I bought a full set of Brian's Heritage pads/gloves, I added 'some' custom, not a lot. Cost me $4,500CDN. It was a rough invoice to process.

[@alexanderh.999]

Less than $200 for a stick and less than $500 for skates. My first Sherwood featherlite was like $20-25. I would say nowadays the value brand I always look to when shopping around for new sticks and gears is Sherwood

[@mrhonda1]

I remember when I first started, I wanted Gretzky's Titan TPM2020 more than anything. It was selling for $25 so my dad said no. He came home with a $15 Koho that I loved so much. By the time I made it to college, aluminum sicks came out and they started around $50. My parents bought one for me (an Easton) when I made my college team. With the current pricing, I really like all the alternatives to the big brands. Tronx and Shift have some great spec sticks for much better pricing. I bought a lot of mid-spec sticks from CCM and Bauer and they kinda sucked. The puck feel was awful. For the same price I can get better specs from smaller brands. I was also fortunate enough to get a 50% off deal last month on some True Cat 5 skates. $140 for the most comfortable skates out of the box that I've ever had.

[@jorgemedina9650]

Hi Guys, greatly appreciate your videos on equipment and everything else that you guys do. Hey, my son asked if you guys made a video on traditional hockey pants vs girdles which is better or best to wear, etc ...have fun...👍

[@grittiban]

I still wear a tackla girdle I got over 20+ years ago. Its great and prefer them as the move with the body and don't shift.

[@cpellett20]

I can understand $1000 for skates because they should last for 3-5 years (or longer) but spending $400 or more on a stick is ridiculous when they only last for a couple months

[@finnsandberg87]

when I was playing semi pro I went thru 3-4 pair of skates a yr, imagin having to pay that at these prices ...... lucky in those days skates sticks were provided by team.

[@jonnylowther5326]

Guy on my beer league team bought a true hazardous for $400, broke a week after the warranty expired

[@CosmicMomentumX]

Haven't gotten into hockey gear yet, but I recently got the vapor X3 skates for $299. Just skating for fun at the moment.

[@BenDover-vs7ih]

Have mercy just skating for $299. Mad expensive.

[@CosmicMomentumX]

@@BenDover-vs7ih I would have gotten used skates but I have wide feet. These 9EE skates fit perfect, worth the cost, I go about 8hrs a week at the moment.

[@FlexSZN23]

@@BenDover-vs7ihthat’s super cheap lol especially for hockey skates

[@BenDover-vs7ih]

@FlexSZN23 yes compared to how it is today. But still expensive for some folks.

[@unapologeticOne]

@@FlexSZN23”That’s super cheap” lmao. God damn, bud. You’re part of the problem. People like you gladly spending $300 on skates as if it’s cheap.

[@steve581581]

I only play roller now and in the past few years ive replaced all of my equipment after 20yrs. If you need the latest and greatest its expensive. If you buy last years models you can get them at a huge discount. My new skates were kind of ridiculous but found them barely used for half price. That being said after a marsblade chassis i still have $800 into them but they were the first pair out of 6 that didnt hurt after the first shift. Everything else was top of the line for the year before off the clearance sections.

[@4lukeadams]

The Graf video was awesome. That was unique content and for a great cause to add some clarity. Been in my Grafs for 15 years going strong and can only hope their products come back to the market in the US

[@aaronwhite1786]

As an adult that started I think maybe 6 or 7 years ago, minus the 3 years off for Covid, my Warrior Dynasty AX2 senior stick in 100 flex was I think $170 or so. I accidentally purchased an intermediate one on clearance shortly after that for around $99 if I remember right. I'll add that I don't think they were top end, maybe mid-tier at best. But to their credit, they're still going strong. Outside of the 3 years Covid wrecked, I've been playing at least once a week, and that intermediate 70 flex I picked up got an extension put in it and I was using that thing in my garage to take all kinds of shots at my shooting tarp for a few months. My goal is to always go for either mid tier (especially on clearance) or pro stock that's relatively cheap. As far as "affordable vs expensive" goes, it would be cool to see you guys giving a nice 1:1 comparison of those options. You could have some skill drills a few of you do where you do it with a cheap "entry level" piece of gear, a middle tier item, and then the higher end equivalent, when possible. That could be a pretty entertaining way to combine the popular "high end" stuff with the less popular low end gear, while also showing the extent of the craftsman being more important than the tool.

[@jairoquintero26]

Bought the CCM FT2 brand new when they came out just days before the pandemic started , months later the FT 3 then the FT4 came out it was the Same exact skate just different color design Yet people bought the new skates over the older design when they could of buy FT2 for half price brand new 🤔

[@billsiopes4533]

Chris, great video! What I’d love to see if something along the lines of best VALUE in a range. I’d prioritize sticks as what I’m most interested in… For example, I have a Bauer Nexus E3 that was about $150 and it’s one of the best I’ve ever owned. It’s tempting to buy a Sync and even customize it - but WHY? I also bought a Trigger 8 about 6 months ago. Not the pro, the 2nd price point. I’m glad I saved the $90, bc it’s amazing and still probably more than I need. We all want the freshest gear, but most of us are trying to get the most bang for the buck. Also, to be completely honest… I’d love to experiment with different sticks to experience the differences and maybe find what fits me best. I can’t do that for $350/twig. But I might be able to try a handful over the course of the year for $150 each. There’s no guidance out there for that. Please cover this!

[@seanlong9049]

This is exactly why for years, I've been outfitting my 3 youth players from the end of year clearance bin and a year ago switched to hockeystickman pro blackout extra lite sticks. If the boot is in good condition, we also have been re-using skate boots with younger siblings and just replacing the runners with new mid-range steel. $115 for new steel instead of $500+ for a whole new youth skate is very helpful when the old boot is still in good shape and foot/ankle shapes are reasonably similar.

[@peteflynn]

Started playing Jan 2023: CCM AS570 £350 (cracked the boot within 3 months) Since brought hyperlights and only feel better for comfort. Stick - True 3x £75 - (since spent over £200 for a stick and can noticeably tell the difference.

[@dood_games]

I loved my graf skates. Was thinking about the company pretty regularly wondering what had happened to them then came across the graf video by chance!

[@frankstulens1398]

My son (tall and lightweighted ) was playing with my old reebok pump skates for a year but needed a new pair. After some research myself (thanks to you guys) we doubt between FT670 and FT680. In the store they recommended the FT670 but after trying them out we bought the FT680 for the extra ancle support and he is very happy with them. So personally I would like to see more mid range equipment.

[@averagekev]

I usually wait til the higher end sticks or skates from previous seasons go on sale/clearance to buy. Most spent on a stick was 225 cad for a ft4 pro 😅 First ever stick was a koho wood stick from a garage sale for $5 from my mom! At the time I liked to play left but this stick was also righty and I've played righty ever since.

[@benrio39]

I'm 46, when I started playing, I remember my dad would take me to Canadian Tire when the Cooper stick I was using was in discount at 7$. Then I witnissed the evolution, going to Titan and Koho, then Easton aluminium stick, composite stick and shaft and now carbon/boron etc...

[@vrhockeyreborn]

Imaging how bad it is for people in Republic of Ireland, we don't even have shops, so we buy gear, that costs fortune, blindly, without even trying it out.

[@Boyo-xe5fp]

Using potatoes for pucks there buddy boy? You should be golfing.

[@cglasford1]

you should start a shop! sounds like an opening in the market!

[@jerryt.5437]

I bought 2 pairs of Graf G9035 late 2018 knowing Graf was leaving Canada. Each of those pairs of G9035 were $280. Yes, $280 a pair, CAD. I rotate through them twice a week and they are still like new. A comparable pair from Bauer or CCM at that time were well north of $700 CAD. No thanks. These Grafs will last me the next 20 years. So sad how hockey equipment prices in general have soared, especially for skates.

[@cypsrp7924]

I've had my CCM Tacks 652s since 1996-ish, cost $375. I took around 15 yrs off in there, I'm in my 40s now, trying to play again, they hurt my feet (aging is real), won't really hold an edge anymore, and have finally started to show significant signs of wear and tear. Really looking forward to a new pair with much needed comfort!

[@pontiacgrandam1989]

Just started playing and I found a new pair a Bauer Supremes from a year or 2 ago for 135 got a ccm jetspeed 660 for 80 dollars on sale and seem my local hockey shop only sells the 200 plus dollar sticks even seen one for 389 dollars😮

[@supersoniq3506]

When I was a kid in the late 70's early 80's, a Sherwood PMP stick was like 10-15 bucks. I think in 1983 The top of line Bauer skate (Supreme 100) was around $200. Even 15 years ago, The top skates were $500-600, top of the line sticks $200. Made in Canada pro level gloves were 200-250. Sherwood PMP's probably around 25? Do I think the current gear pricing is getting out of hand? Yeah, definitely seems to out pace inflation and incomes. If I was still playing, I wouldn't be buying $1100 skates and $350 sticks. The good news is it appears great skates are available in the 500 dollar range and true one piece sticks in the 450 gram weight for less than $150. So, I suppose it boils down to what kind of gear you need and what level you play at.

[@ItsMeSteve]

I bought a Bauer stick for $60 for my first and my first pair of skates was $80. They were Bauer's as well, but my college had them on sale at the skate shop.

[@hilligus33]

As a person that has worked in the industry and as a person who made pro goalie equipment for these elites in specific, I'll agree that everything is geared towards building for the elite level so that when they are seen on TV, the kids see their hockey hero and say to the parents, "I want to look like him or her!" Junior models are made for this in specific and priced so that the company may look like a premier builder such as Vaughn or Bauer or True, but that equipment is nowhere near the elite model as seen on the pros. Price point will reflect this. Materials that go into hockey pads are around 200 dollars total. That's it. The rest of the price is paying the workers to spend the time on stitching them together and stuffing it. Going deeper, cost of tools required plus electricity. Then the company markup to sell to stores then the store markup to sell to the consumer. Most pros get their gear free as advertising promo. The real price is felt by the actual consumers, not the nhl players.

[@TaketheL-qr9kw]

I still buy top of the line skates for my kids, however they have approached what I’m willing to spend at$1000-1200…I won’t go higher. Sticks on the other hand, buy top of the line but a season old or pro stock for $200-250. Can’t justify $400+ for something that lasts 30 days.

[@stevereyers]

700 range for skates and I pay $179 for sticks (pro stock). First stick was a titan for $15

[@sammyweed4771]

I bought Christians and coopers for 10$ Koho ,s and Sherwoods where 15$ bucks…. I still have a Paul coffee Sherwood they where my favorites and I have a Gretzky Titan small blade. And a Stevie Yzerman Eastean wooden

[@crischmitz]

Writing from Brazil here. Here we have only one store (which is kind os expensive when you talk about skates) and if you want to have something more affordable you have to ask someone who is traveling to US or you have to travel there to get "cheaper" equipment. Besides that, there is lots of guys who develops ways to fix broken skates, for example. Is hard to see something that you will put in the trash. Good content!

[@vshume99]

First stick was an adult Cooper with graphite strips on the blade. that was $11.99US. And first pair of skates were the Bauer adult size panthers which were about $120 in 1986. The last stick I bought was for my son, which was an intermediate warrior $120 on sale and the latest skates were an intermediate Bauer Vapors for $540 on sale down from $630 in 2024.

[@Quad038]

I skated on mid-tier jetspeed 280s for 7 years. Just got a custom pair of ft6 pro with bladetech blades. I skate 5 days a week so it’s worth it. Skates/blades are used 100% of the time on the ice unlike other equipment. For sticks I buy last gen top or second tier on sale. $150-80. With extra sales (Black Friday, etc) 100-150. Still using my quicklite 270 protective from 2016. Stick prices are especially nuts considering shelf life due to breaking or loss of pop.

[@veasnamoth88]

Started playing hockey 11 years ago and still use a majority of the same equipment i first bought including Reebok 12K skates that i just got new bladetech runners. Sticks used to break often and I would not be able to play until I could afford a replacement. Now I just take a lot less slapshots unless they are 1 timers and they last a lot longer lol. My favorite pair of equipment upgrade was prostock pants. So much more protection from my cheapest pair I could find when I started. Tempted to get new gear but way too cheap to actually do it as it still works for my level. Im wondering what higher quality products would actually do for my game since im so used to having the cheapest everthing.

[@cypsrp7924]

Grew up in MN playing hockey. I remember the first stick I paid for myself was a 100% super bright neon green sherwood, probably broke my little bank at the time! Paid probably $25-$35 for it, I was 14-ish in 1994!

[@snowman22ism]

You may have enjoyed making the video but I certainly enjoyed watching it. My first stick was probably about $20... Skates I don't know, my mom would have bought them for me.. lol

[@christianbailes8851]

I bought a pair of Bauer entry level hockey skates for around 90$ in 1990 and my Sherwood wood stick cost around $20. I recently started playing again about 4 years ago and bought some Bauer Supreme Ignite for about $250 and a Warrior Covert QRE 3 for $110. So, the costs were a bit more. If you look at inflation those skates I bought in 1990 would cost me around 200$ today and that stick about $50 today. I think the gear I bought recently is lightyears better than what I used (the skates especially), so the cost was warranted. My biggest issue is the durability. The new skates I bought fell apart and are not really worth putting new blades into (despite having blades that can be hot swapped right on the bench). The stick has held up well, but I think only because I use a basic stick and I play in an over 40 league. My sons use higher caliber sticks and now that they are teens, we are noticing their sticks breaking more....so I'm not 100% sold on buying the best sticks as the trade off in light weight seems to come with less durability and I don't see the benefit. It's also getting harder to hand equipment down from one kid to the next because velcro and seams on even the best gear doesn't hold up for much beyond a single season. Palms in gloves are also tearing after a single season. My boys really want the high end gear so they can have what their teammates have, but I don't see the value in a lot of it and the hardest thing for me is getting the right gear for them at the best price point. It's very easy to spend an insane amount of money on gear but it's hard to tell if it's really worth it.

[@BrotherTime1975]

I don’t remember the first stick I bought, but I do remember buying Titan Turbo in 1987-88 for 160 finnish marks (roughly 60$ today). That was was about 5 times more than normal wooden stick. Nowadays I try to find sticks under 100€. I play 3-4 times a week and stick consumption is 2-3 a year. All sticks don’t break, but they end to wear and start feeling sloppy.

[@AdamMannProductions]

I always like seeing videos which are "full kit for under £500" or "what NOT to skimp on" or "Want to start but dont know how". I fully understand you follow the algorithm as thats how you keep going but I bet most of the peeps watching cant afford it (I for certain cant but still watch them) I would love to see more Inline Hockey stuff as we all know the state of UK ice hockey and it is not accessible for most but inline could be as it just needs a sports hall really (to which there are plenty) I dont know if you would be able to but getting in touch with a company and letting them share their costs from start to finish and how they price (taking into account the design, R&D, testing, etc) so WE as the people and understand the logic maybe (but that will probably be a never video) I dont know if there is such a thing as DIY hockey, when I was younger (like 27+ years back) I couldnt afford new gear, couldnt really afford 2nd hand gear but things like shoulders and chest I ended up making my own out of old skating knee pads and some great building tech, same for neck guards, wrist guardsm etc maybe a series exploring this even?

[@gameotakuchan]

My son (AA Bantam player) uses the Bauer e5 pro ($200) mid-range stick and loves it, very whippy. We wouldn’t have discovered it if the sync and another top end stick hadn’t broken within 30 days of each other and I didn’t want to spend another $350 on a stick. So yes, mid-range equipment videos would be very helpful. I doubt you’ll get much traction on videos for entry level equipment. Would love to see videos recapping the best equipment of the previous year models so we can keep a look out for discounted prices when the latest model version comes out.

[@pattygiggie3878]

When I was a kid in the mid 70’s - Koho 201 for $10, Skates were always hand me downs. Now - stick is Warrior Novium (Jr) $220, Skates paid $500 for last pair of top of the line Vapors about 10 years ago. Expect to spend $700 to replace.

[@doug339]

Hockey companies and this channel can talk about budget skates all they want and how most players don't need a stiff boot, so go with a cheaper model, but the problem is, the cheaper models have corners cut everywhere and end up being extremely uncomfortable and break down very quickly. Tried to go with some middle to low end skates once, and ended up with nasty lace bite in about a year, meanwhile a top of the line skate is still comfortable after 10 years.

[@tophermckenzie]

in 2008 bought my first pair of skates- Graf Supra 301 for $279 USD and a CCM stick for $69, I stopped playing for a number of years and recently got back into it in 2023 and bought new gear. Bauer M5Pros $750 and a new stick True Catalyst 9X $200. I spent around $800 on all other gear (bag, shin, elbow, shoulders, etc) I shopped everything on sale because I like having the slightly higher end but at a discount. I need a little better gear due to size. I'm 6'2" 240 lbs. I splurged on skates knowing I wouldn't buy another pair for a while.

[@mattdixon9697]

Got my first skates in around 1996, Bauer Pro Team 25s, they were around £49 for an adult size 9. Stick was a Bauer woody I got from the shop in the old Nottingham rink, seem to think it was around £25 from memory. It’s a lot different now 😂

[@eddie88revox]

Is there something going on with the store? Seems to be dead/down/not operable?

[@gregorybrowe2]

I still have my Graf skates my dad bought me in 1998 or 1999 I can’t remember. But I still have my pair of 703s. I skated in them probably three or four years ago for the first time in a decade and yes, they aren’t as stiff as most of the boots made today, but they were still serviceable, I could still skate in them. My first pair of hockey skates were the CCM 99s, off the shelf at a target store for like 50 bucks. My first stick was a Koho revolution 2250 with a Mario Lemieux curve and I think it was like 30 or 35 bucks. I remember when I got my grass skates and they were basically top-of-the-line and they were like 500 bucks. I remember when we went from Wood sticks like Titan, Koho, Canadian, branches, Sher-Wood etc to aluminum or shafts like the Z bubble, etc. Even when full one piece sticks came out I think they were only like maybe 150 bucks, now a top-of-the-line stick is $400. So top-of-the-line has now basically doubled in price if not even a little more than doubled in price. Luckily most places in the United States, you can start with a learn to play program through your local NHL team and it’s like 200 bucks for full head to tow equipment and like six or eight weeks of hockey lessons.

[@marcusshepert105]

had a pair of grafs back in the day, loved em. switched to bauer in my mid teens and still have the same pair of APX 2s now at 23. I'd swap back to graf tho if their skates are decently priced.

[@seanlong9049]

We have had a huge problem finding a good "mid-range" stick from major brands. Bauer has their shift pro line but availability is very irregular and only at certain pro shops. Inexpensive name brand sticks are clearly heavier with balance problems, the nice high-end sticks are great of course, but the mid-range sticks we've tried from Bauer and other manufacturers simply don't measure up. Either they feel totally different or they break easily with blades that split open way too soon. But I've had 5 hockeystickman pro blackouts that have lasted more than one season and they feel and weigh only marginally different from real high end sticks, at a price that is much lower than even disappointing mid-range name brand sticks. I didn't think it was possible but my kids like the sticks and haven't broken one yet, even though playing at youth AA/AAA/Elite level.

[@Heavy4th]

First real skate i had was the Junior CCM 152 back in maybe 1997, no idea what they cost but probably not that much. First sticks was free from the a-team players handing em out after games. Also got an Easton Ultra Light in 1997 from my uncle who owned a sport shop, super expensive (back then) and couldnt flex it at all :D

[@2bNIKEt1]

Sherwood T20 ABS with a lefty PP26 I got a couple weeks ago lol im 33 and love hockey but could never play as a child. I’m gonna try now that I live in an area where leagues are more prevalent

[@darrenbush7187]

Been playing 4 years in Peterborough and my first stick was £120 ccm ribcor 46k. My first skates were ccm jetspeed Ft370 £270 had them for a year didn’t like them but went on to Bauer 2x skates £500 and still going strong now 3 years later.

[@rithymin850]

First wooden stick 30$CAD, first composite stick 80$CAD 300-400$CAD for the skates! There is so many new stuff coming out, the sticks and skates from 2-3 years ago are regulary 30-40% off in Canada

[@kingk4882]

I am not even a hockey player but I love the skating style and train a lot of these drills while on the ice. I wanted to go for some better skates as I had some entry level skates before. I aimed to get my hands on some Bauer X4 or mid range Jetspeed. My dealer had none of them in stock in my size. So I tried the X5 Pro and almost bought them when he pulled out the Hyperlite Prototypes. The comfort was a lot better than in the X5. I struggled and hesitated but after an hour I eventually bought them. I must agree that in the beginning when breaking these in I had some pain and the stiffness was definitely a big change. Now they feel great and for some more flex I leave out the upper eyelet row. But who knows how much better I would have done in the X4? I keep saying this to my friends as well: keep in mind that learning skills might be more difficult for me due to that stiffness level! I paid 750€ which is beyond what I actually ever wanted to spend on skates...

[@ED73SGH]

1st stick was $20 from champs sports in California. I think it was a titan and i also had a koho. Both wood sticks. Ccm 952 super tack skates $120. Which i still have. Dont use but still have.

[@mh-yx1xo]

My first skates were Bauer Turbos that my mom paid a whopping $59.99 for. My first stick was a Louisville Laser Lite that was like $17. I still have a aluminum Easton 5100 (Gold with the red lettering). That stick was $60 and man was that EXPENSIVE!

[@kpvTX88]

first skates Bauer Vapor x30 - €299 - first stick Koho 9030 wood stick - somewhere around €70 back then.. always wanted a Easton Ultra Lite but could never afford it back then as a teenager

[@gordondean-sb3tg]

over 50 years ago I purchased Bauer Supreme's for about $55, my wood sticks like Sherwood,Titan, and Koho were about $10-12.

[@samuelcresswell8719]

ive always had very large feet so first skates were supreme m4 at £400. i had them for a year but due to being on the ice 5 days a week and being heavy i found that they would buckle in way too much at the worst of times. i went to the m5pro and then found that they support me a lot more and no longer have issues. majority of my team have the cheapest skates they can find but have zero support.

[@arleen917]

I’m a new player and I’ve been using the CCM Jetspeed Xtra Pro skates for almost two years and I’m thinking about switching to Tacks, do you think this is a good idea?

[@Dhane-0]

My first bag of gear was hand me down stuff from friends that played and had stuff laying around. First stick was a 3 pack of Easton Z carbon wood/ composite sticks with a sakic curve. I think the 3 pack was $50

[@RedDirtShooter]

First stick was a sherwood 5030 or Koho for around $20

[@mattmcquate]

for sticks i order from pro stock hockey because its pro stock gear for cheap. most sticks cost between 140-180 usd. i get top end skates

[@s2photo]

I’m good with about $700 for skates and $200ish for a stick. I usually buy either prostock twigs, or last years stick. Sales are always out there when they have to push the new product all the time.

[@mattkraus4319]

Also skates are more expensive because there are less people making them so now you really only have like 3 options and they have that option to control the market way easier than if it were 6 competitors going against each other

[@dorianrogiers5267]

can you pls want to review the bauer supreme m4

[@flipe125]

I buy elite equipment years later from someone who used them most of the time. i currently have vapor apx2 skate that i bought 5 years ago. they were already 7 years old at the time but i got em for like 300$ its still does the job. the difference between a apx2 skate and a hyperlite 2 is not as big as they make it seem.

[@fabianlegner6975]

The first pair of skates I bought by myself was the reebok 9k pump for €350 back in 2008 I think. I never bought a stick that costs more than 200€. Maximum price I would pay now is 150€. There are a lot of small stock companies now and they make great products for „affordable“ prices

[@bl4501]

I used to spend thousands on top of the line sticks now I just buy pro blackout sticks the best stick I’ve had in awhile and really durable only like 150$ CAD

[@julianguenter]

What website?

[@NickoliVoCal]

So I played travel hockey growing up in mid to late 90s as a kid so I dont remember any prices as my parents paid for it all. I still have my old Easton aluminum stick that's like a rock compared to sticks now. Fast forward to last January I started playing again after 20 years of not playing at all and I spent 600 on some ccm skates and most of my pads I got was mid tier stuff from ccm or bauer. I got a ccm team stick for like 115 and it wasn't bad for getting back into playing for beer leauge that I play in. I treated myself for Christmas and got a ft6 pro and i dont think I'll ever buy a low spec stick again. It just feels way better in all aspects.

[@brockdomain8509]

my first set of gear was free from a good friend. after two years i bought reebok pump skates they where about 1000$ and i bought two baure total one sticks at about 200$ a piece both top of the line at the time.

[@wuorson5111]

i started ice skating back when i was in year 8 around 2009, i told my mum I really enjoyed it and she spent AU$200 on my first pair of hockey skates, I think it was the entry level of a Bauer, lightspeed holder and factory runner. Now I am 28 years old, if I do decide to go to the rink at least once a week, I can spend AU$1500 on a pair of something custom, that can last me a long time.

[@edwardd6528]

White Titan wooden stick is what I used, $12 each and I broke 1 stick every three games. Skates were around 90 dollars. I'm old but still playing. I'm comfortable spending $ 300 to $400 on skates today and $100 on a stick

[@dublinpub5363]

Still playing on Graf Ultra G35’s from 20 years ago. 3rd set of steel. Currently breaking in Graf Supra 605’s…

[@Sean-dj5rl]

I just started a year ago ~200 for sticks ~600 for skates I paid ~180 for my Hzrdus 7x recommended by Hockey Tutorials 👀 Also ~ 450 for the Supreme M3 on a Christmas discount at our local shop

[@jonnylowther5326]

I moved to Canada from Scotland 10 years ago and started playing hockey not long after, my 1st pair of skates cost me $50 but after blocking a shot I was told I should buy a better pair, during my dad's 1st visit over he bought me my 1st pair (still using) of proper hockey skates, Easton Stealth RS, they were on clearance for $300 which I thought was a great deal as they were $800 when they 1st launched, I'd have trouble paying more than that though

[@brendanjohnmichael4058]

I wanna see that video! I did some research and it was like $50 to make a top of the line stick.

[@KarlJC82]

Chris, the man, the myth, the legend!

[@deftones7599]

My first pair of scates ive got for free and my first stick i bought for 5 dollars. It doesn't make sense to compare technology of nowadays to the very old stuff. Last year i bought new ultra sonics skates for 425 and some 150 per sticks on sale from previous collections.

[@rockstar212121]

I've had a lot of used and clearance gear growing up and only started buying the previous years' top of the line gear once I started paying for everything myself. Looks like a lot of the comments are about trying to go pro when in reality you can just play to play, and it's a lot more affordable. I played roller growing up for about $600 a year, and finding a piece of gear every now and then at the swapmeet for sub $20. It wasn't that expensive for me until I started breaking 2-3 sticks a year. Fortunately I also have a stock of swapmeet sticks that were about $5/ea to subsidize my new $100 sticks. It really seems like there's a disagreement on what the definition of playing hockey is. Buying all new even entry level gear? Yeah, it's expensive. Get some used stuff, and it gets a lot more affordable. I just started playing goalie before covid, and the only new pieces of gear I got was my chesty at $300 and a neck guard for $60. Pillows were $40, catcher/blocker $125 for the pair, $10 for pants, $80 for helmet. Used my normal skates and a stick at the rink. I started playing in net for about $700 after tax. I could've kept using a hand-me-down chesty to almost cut that in half.

[@SN1PE]

My son is a 15yo goalie and this past season cost me $7k usd in equipment. That is also 5 sticks broken from just pucks hitting them and breaking 2 playing the puck and they just snapped off at the paddle. $2500 for travel team playing 55 games. It’s absurd what it costs us.

[@ricardodecambre5108]

Ball hockey on sneakers is the cheaper alternative to ice or roller hockey

[@endme1903]

I bought my first stick off of a close friend for $5, it was an older stick (nike & bauer branded), with the toe coming apart. this was 2020 so i feel very lucky

[@joedebruin7848]

I grew up in the Edmonton area, born in 1965, played from age 4-17, my sticks in my teens cost 10-14 dollars CAN

[@HockeyTutorialOfficial]

Great time to grow up playing hockey

[@amhockeyclub9405]

I don't usually spend more than $100-150 on a stick these days and I won't pay more than $500 for a pair of skates either. My first stick that I remember the price of was the titan woodies and they were around $15USD in the early 90's.

[@bassmanjura]

I am buying my sticks from the A team used gear shop here in town, it is hard to find a spec I want but I have succeeded. Fortunately more players use softer sticks now then it was even few years back. for a used stick which is in shop for 200+euro I am paying 60 euro. it is a little beaten but not cracked/broken. For my beer league playing it is great and I was able to experiment a little with stick models for not so much money. I have never broke a stick shaft, it is always a tip of the blade which cracks after long use.

[@mrweirdums8629]

I geared 2 of my kids in used equipment head to toe this year. decent kit, but nothing flashy. It was 350$ each. I connected with a local kids sports organization to help coach a free to learn/play hockey basics for kids. It is not cheap, but it is not as expensive as many make it out to be. I skipped buying top spec skates and bought mid tear old model.....the difference was the cost of my kids gear. Good gear doesn't make you a good hockey player. Just go have fun.

[@kenfreeman6417]

I’m in Canada. I will pay 100-150$ for a stick usually a 200-250$ stick will go on sale for 100$ I will pay 230-299$ for skates. My first stick was a ko-ho torpedo. I paid 21$ tax included. Around 28 years ago.

[@charlie9ine]

When I got my first stick my Dad got it at service station free for filling up with gas. That was in the early 60's in Canada.

[@Swagster2000fitness]

So cool

[@RP75]

What about Tronx brand? They say same weight for sticks and half of price, they have a one pice skate for 250usd less than 1300gr, it sounds cool, could you do a video testing their things? Thanks dude!!

[@darkbigy6795]

I'm over 100kg, I spent not enough on vapor 3.7x at first for 150 euros, then switch to suprem M4 (500 E) to actually fit my weight. For stick I have two sticks (a vapor and Nexus E3), 130 around each. I have 2 years experience in Hockey and I'm 36 :)

[@charliecohen177]

I just bought my first hockey stick yesterday and got a basic Bauer one brand new for $100.

[@StillAliveAndKicking_]

My first stick cost £15 eight years ago. My last custom skates cost £820 five years ago. My current True TF9 skates cost £340, reduced from £650. I would pay £650 or more for skates, I love skating, and they make a difference. I buy top end sticks on clearance for £100. I’m not spending any more than that. I recently bought top end gloves on sale for £120. BTW that light bulb has burned almost continuously. A major reason for its longevity is hardly ever turning it on and off, as that stresses bulbs. It has also become very dim.

[@Desmotwin]

I'm 45 and just started 2 years ago. First stick was $80 on sale from the season or 2 before. First skates were new mid range hyperlites for $399 i think? Same for my daughter who started at the same time as me. Except maybe her skates were even cheaper i think? $299 Supremes. I replaced them after 6 months when I realized that they were actually too big which was a bummer because they weren't cheap. So maybe thats a lesson for new players, starting cheap is great because after 6-12 months your preferences will probably change a bit. As for sticks, I always try and find something on sale if I want to try a new curve or flex. I won't spend more than $150, which usually gets me something new from a previous season or pro-stock deal. $400 for a new stick that some jerk having a bad night smashes to pieces is foolish.

[@adammurray2324]

My Titan was 25 bucks Canadian tops by the time I ended my time in minor hockey wooden sticks were around 50 bucks Canadian for the best sticks, sherwood Featherlite

[@ClassicSam.]

For me you need to review each stick in the range. I.e. bottom to top range for jetspeed sticks etc. It all depends if you have to buy the products or if they get loaned to you.

[@Sebastian-od7es]

1k range on skates, with stick I mostly go for last years high end sticks on sale, you can find a nice stick for $90

[@TheAdamkristensen]

Koho revolution was a favourite and think it was around 30 Euros. Must admit I can’t remember the price of my first stick 😂 Regarding quality - had my Bauer supreme composites skates for four years, and they totally worn out inside but not outside. Got Ccm 852 tacks and they broke almost instantly due to poor quality. Got 1052 as replacement and they also broke quickly. Third pair was ok, but sold them and went back to supreme 4000 and all was good. Left hockey for circa 15 years and must say modern hockey equipment is so much better today. From top to toe everything is so much more comfortable, and no I didn’t buy top spec. Stick today are amazing, but will not pay more than 130 euros. Got a bargain on last years hyperlite stick at that price, and love it.