How to Buy Kids' Hockey Gear as a Gift

Hockey equipment makes a great gift for a young athlete, but it's hard to surprise them with all of it - they really need to be there if you want to get the right fit.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Athletic Tape Cutter
• Athletic Tapes
• Hockey Elbow Pads
• Hockey Jerseys
• Hockey Neck Protectors
• Hockey Protective Girdles
• Hockey Shoulder Pads
• Hockey Sticks
• Knee Pads

1. Realize that skates and helmets are the hardest equipment to size correctly, so if you want to surprise your would-be hockey player with gear, it's best to buy the rest of the stuff and pick these up later.
2. Shoot for buying knee pads, elbow pads, a protective girdle, shoulder pads, a hockey stick, and a hockey jersey. These are the easiest to size without having a child right there in front of you and have the added bonus of being adjustable.
3. Consider picking up some accessories as well. Neck protectors, tape, tape cutters and laces will all come in handy, and a puck or two thrown into the collection would be fun.
4. Be sure to decorate the gift box with stickers of your young hockey fan's favorite team.
5. Refer to "How to Get Fully Equipped for Ice Hockey" if you decide to go for it despite this advice. And keep your receipt - you may be heading back to the store or, worse yet, shipping equipment back to the online supplier.