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Step 1
Consider the level of hockey you are playing. This is very important so you can purchase a catcher that is sturdy enough to stand up to the hardest shots you will take, but you don't need to buy the top of the line pro-style if you aren't playing with people who can hit a 100-mph slapshot.
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Step 2
Check the glove for heavy padding in the palm and across the fronts of the fingers. This is especially important if you are buying a used goalie catcher. Once these padded areas are worn out, it is very painful to catch a hard shot without getting injured.
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Step 3
Try on several catchers to get a feel for what you want. There are generally three sizes of the same catcher offered; senior, intermediate, and junior. Try them all to figure out what size suits you the best. You should also consider such optional details like a thumb and pinky strap inside the glove (which helps with giving your palm more control to close the glove), or a detachable inner glove that can be removed for cleaning and drying.
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Step 4
Check the webbing of the glove. Make sure the lacing is made from a high quality nylon lace and that the holes in the glove that the lacing goes through are solid and stitched for reinforcement.
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Step 5
Ensure that you feel comfortable in the catcher. Some goalies like a bigger catch glove, while others prefer one that is smaller.
