• Fit Your Feet With Ice Hockey Skates

• Find the Right Inline Skates for Roller Hockey

• Carry the Perfect Hockey Stick

• Wear Protective Hockey Equipment

• Select Gear for Hockey Goalies

• Find Hockey Equipment on eBay

• Buy Ice Hockey & Roller Hockey Gear With Confidence

Fit Your Feet With Ice Hockey Skates

Fit Your Feet With Ice Hockey Skates

Every ice hockey player needs a good pair of ice hockey skates. Size ice hockey skates carefully to get a good fit and look for quality construction.

Size ice hockey skates

Tight-fitting ice hockey skates provide players with the most stability. Different ice hockey skates, such as Bauer ice hockey skates, CCM ice hockey skates, Easton ice hockey skates, Graf ice hockey skates, Mission ice hockey skates, and Nike ice hockey skates, use slightly different sizing guides.

Since you'll always need a smaller size skate than your shoe size, you can follow these general rules when shopping on eBay:

• Youth ice hockey skates: Buy youth ice hockey skates one size smaller than your child's shoe size. Unlike shoes, you should buy snug-fitting ice hockey skates without room to grow so that your child remains stable on the ice.

• Adult ice hockey skates: Buy adult ice hockey skates one to one-and-a-half sizes smaller than your shoe size.

Evaluate ice hockey skate materials

Ice hockey skates are usually made from a combination of leather and synthetic materials. Ice hockey skates with a hard plastic boot offer superior protection.

A portion of your ice hockey skate blades contact the ice. The length of this part of your blade, described as the "blade radius," helps determine how well you perform. Beginning skaters should go with a radius of about five inches. If you’re more advanced, you will get increased maneuverability from a radius of three to four inches.

Find the Right Inline Skates for Roller Hockey

Find the Right Inline Skates for Roller Hockey

Roller hockey players, especially those planning to play in rinks, need to buy specialized roller hockey skates. Roller hockey skates resemble ice hockey skates and have a leather upper, protective padding, laces, and a Velcro ankle strap. Unlike recreational inline skates, they do not have braking systems.

Choose roller hockey skates

Most serious players choose production hockey skates or component hockey skates. Popular options include Bauer roller hockey skates, CCM roller hockey skates, and Koho roller hockey skates

• Component roller hockey skates: Component hockey skates usually employ frames made of aluminum.

• Production roller hockey skates: Production hockey skates are modified recreational skates typically made of a plastic boot, a plastic frame, and foam liners.

Look for roller hockey wheels

Standard polyurethane inline skating wheels have diameters ranging from 70 mm to 80 mm. Smaller wheels make it easier to maneuver, while larger wheels are designed for speedier skating.

Some roller hockey skates come with specialty roller hockey wheels. Offered by Hyper, tapered roller hockey wheels deliver increased stability in a turn and include bearings (balls at the center of each wheel), that you can have serviced or replaced.

Carry the Perfect Hockey Stick

Carry the Perfect Hockey Stick

Equip yourself with a hockey stick that provides good maneuverability and puck handling. Popular choices include Easton hockey sticks, Louisville hockey sticks, Bauer hockey sticks, and Ballistik hockey sticks.

Measure hockey stick length

Your hockey stick should come up to between your chin and nose when you stand in your hockey skates. The length of your hockey stick should complement your body. You may also want to buy a hockey stick on the long side and cut it down for a customized fit.

Shorter hockey sticks make it easier to control the puck and offensive players typically choose them. Players on the defense usually select longer hockey sticks that allow for easier steals. Junior hockey sticks measuring 46 to 54 inches long and senior hockey sticks measuring 56 to 62 inches long are also available.

Select hockey stick material

The shaft of a hockey stick can be made of wood or a composite material. Traditional wood hockey sticks remain the most popular choice for players. They're affordable, durable, powerful, and you can fine-tune the hockey stick with cutting or sanding.

Lightweight composite-shaft hockey sticks usually feature wooden blades and cost more than wood hockey sticks. The shafts come in a variety of materials:

• Fiberglass hockey sticks: Fiberglass hockey sticks have an outer coating of fiberglass with an wood interior.

• Aluminum hockey sticks: Aluminum hockey sticks are relatively strong and lighter than wood or fiberglass hockey sticks.

• Graphite hockey sticks: Many players choose lightweight and strong graphite hockey sticks. Some hockey stick shafts use graphite to reinforce a wooden core.

• Kevlar hockey sticks: Kevlar hockey sticks combine graphite and Kevlar to form a strong, lightweight composite material. The shaft may also be made entirely of Kevlar.

• Titanium hockey sticks: Titanium hockey sticks make a good choice for players looking for a strong and lightweight hockey stick.

Examine hockey stick features

A wooden blade extends from the hockey stick shaft, allowing you to control the puck. Look at stick flex, blade curve, and blade lie when comparing hockey sticks.

• Hockey stick flex: The hockey stick flex number, found on the top of the stick’s shaft, ranges from 45 to 110. It indicates the force required to bend the shaft. A flex of 45 is far softer than the ultra-stiff 110. Low flex gives you a quicker release. More stiffness puts more snap on your shots, but requires more muscle.

• Hockey stick blade lie: Hockey stick blades can extend from the shaft at angles ranging from two to seven degrees. Hockey sticks with a low angle, also called a lie, have an L-shape, while blades with a higher lie feature a more inclined shaft when the blade rests on an ice hockey or roller hockey surface. Players who skate low to the surface prefer hockey sticks with low-lie blades while players who skate higher to the surface prefer hockey sticks with high-lie blades.

• Hockey stick blade curve: Hockey sticks can have a left blade curve, right blade curve, or straight blade curve. Buy a hockey stick that has the blade angled so that the puck rests in the curve for your forehand shot. A smaller curve, good for beginners, gives you better control for backhand puck handling.

Wear Protective Hockey Equipment

Wear Protective Hockey Equipment

Protective hockey equipment shields your body when you play hockey, a hard-hitting, physical sport. Read information provided by the manufacturer about safe use of protective hockey equipment before hitting the ice.

Protect your head

Hockey helmets and hockey facemasks protect you from head injuries. You must wear a hockey helmet every time you play. Buy the right size and use adjustment options to fit your hockey helmet snuggly on your head.

Hockey facemasks provide additional protection for your face and mount on your helmet easily. You’ll find three types of hockey facemasks:

• Wire cage hockey facemasks: Wire cage hockey facemasks have a metal or composite shield that covers your entire face.

• Face shield hockey facemasks: Face shield hockey facemasks use impact-resistant plastic to cover your face.

• Combination hockey facemasks: Combination hockey facemasks feature a plastic face shield that fits over your eyes and nose and a wire mesh that covers your jaw.

Guard your body

Hockey players gear up for the game with hockey jerseys, hockey bags, hockey pants, hockey pucks, hockey socks, and hockey tape. Additional protective gear can help you stay safe.

• Hockey throat guards: Hockey throat guards, available in junior and senior sizes, have several adjustment options for optimal fit.

• Hockey mouth guards: Hockey mouth guards help protect your teeth and offer extra protection against concussions. They’re not mandatory in all hockey leagues.

• Hockey ear protectors: Hockey ear protectors keep you warm on the ice while protecting your ears.

• Hockey gloves: Hockey gloves protect your hands and wrists. Sizes range from nine to 16 inches. To find your hockey glove size, measure the distance between the ends of your elbow pads to your fingertips.

• Hockey shoulder pads: Hockey shoulder pads protect your shoulders, collarbone, upper chest, back, and upper arms. Some pads protect the heart area and lower back.

• Hockey elbow pads: Hockey elbow pads protect you from bone bruises and fractures. Most hockey elbow pads are adjustable.

• Hockey shin pads: Hockey shin pads protect your lower legs from hits by a puck or from your opponents.

Also buy hockey hats, hockey shirts, and hockey jackets to wear outside the rink.

Select Gear for Hockey Goalies

Select Gear for Hockey Goalies

Hockey pucks and players constantly collide with goalies. Guard the net and keep your body free of bruises with protective hockey gear designed for goalies.

• Goalie leg pads: Goalie leg pads come in sizes ranging from 26 inches to 34 inches. Measure from your knee to halfway up your thigh to determine your size.

• Goalie chest pads: Get goalie chest pads to protect most of your upper body. Goalie chest pads also include a spine protector.

• Goalie gloves: You'll need two types of goalie gloves: a catcher (also called a catch glove) for your non-stick hand and a blocker to deflect shots.

• Goalie masks and goalie helmets: Goalie masks have a wire mesh cage that offers enhanced protection and come in several different styles. Goalie helmets are made of hard-shell plastic or composite.

• Goalie sticks: Goalie sticks have a larger blade than standard-size hockey sticks. They can come in sizes up to 3.5 inches wide and up to 15.5 inches long.

• Goalie skates: Goalie skates have a wider blade and lower boot than standard hockey skates, offering increased protection.

Find Hockey Equipment on eBay

Find Hockey Equipment on eBay

Once you know what type of hockey equipment you want, go to the Sporting Goods portal, click Ice, Roller Hockey, and start searching for item listings on eBay.

• Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. Initially you'll find links for Ice Hockey and Roller Hockey. Subsequent Categories list will help you narrow down your choices by product type.

• Keyword search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find a left-handed goalie stick, type "goalie stick left” into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy Ice Hockey & Roller Hockey Gear With Confidence

Buy Ice Hockey & Roller Hockey Gear With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,000.

• eBay Security & Resolution Center: Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.