How to Choose Ice Hockey Gloves
Ice hockey gloves are made to protect the player from getting hit in the hands with pucks, skates and sticks. Gloves should be thick with padding on the outside, but you should still be able to move your hands and do important things like hold the stick.
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Instructions
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Visit your local hockey equipment store to try on several pair of gloves. As with any protective equipment, make sure you purchase equipment that will protect you for your level of play. If you are playing in an adult recreational league, for instance, you won't necessarily need professional grade gloves. You will, however need gloves with substantial padding in case you take an errant shot off the back of your hand.
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Choose a brand that fits you well. Many professional hockey players are sponsored by a specific company, so you will notice that they will always wear one particular brand of gear. This is not true for novice players, so you have your choice of any brand available.
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Research different brands of ice hockey gloves and collect reviews on various brands. Hearing what others have to say about certain gloves can help you make a more educated decision on which pair of gloves to buy.
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Make sure your gloves fit snugly enough that they won't fall off when you reach to bat a puck out of the air or if you drop your stick on the ice. The gloves should fit your hand comfortably, but not tightly. You need to have a little room at the end of the fingers and thumb, and make sure you have enough dexterity in the glove to grip your hockey stick and maneuver it properly.
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Check to see that the gloves you buy are large enough to cover your lower forearm up to where the glove meets the elbow pad. You don't want to have any exposed body part when you are playing ice hockey, as that is the best way to get injured.
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Tips & Warnings
Try on several pair of gloves in a hockey store before buying them. You need to figure out what size you are (gloves run in inches), before you can decide exactly what type you want to get.
Once you know your size, you may be able to buy a pair of gloves cheaper online than in a store. However, you should visit a store first to make sure the chosen gloves fit properly.
Don't buy kids gloves if you are an adult with small hands. The kids gloves are not padded enough for the hits and shots an adult can take, even in a recreational league. You are better off having gloves that are slightly bigger and more protective covering your hands.
Resources
- Photo Credit http://www.sxc.hu/photo/479643
