Let’s get this out of the way: hockey is expensive. There is no cheap way to outfit a hockey player. Even the minimum starter kit at age 7 assumes you buy half of it used.
Compared to the other sports on this site, hockey is in a category of its own. A fully outfitted 7-year-old costs roughly three to five times what a baseball or soccer player costs to gear up for the first season. It climbs from there. Travel hockey is one of the most expensive youth sports commitments in North America — ice time, tournament travel, and coaching fees add up fast.
That said, there is a clear order of priority. Skates first. Helmet second. Then stick. Then everything else. Cut corners on the gear list, never on the safety equipment.
Some links on this page are affiliate links to Amazon. We earn a commission if you buy; the price you pay does not change. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Ages 5–7 (Learn to skate + intro hockey)
Most rinks run a learn-to-skate program before kids start playing organized hockey. This is the right path. Kids who cannot skate cannot play hockey, and skating is harder than it looks from the stands.
Start with the learn-to-skate program. Most programs provide stick and puck time at the end. Your kid will know within a few sessions whether they want to keep going. That information is worth more than a full gear purchase.
Skates (start with rentals or used)
Learn-to-skate programs usually rent skates by the session. Use that until your kid is committed. Buying skates for a kid who might switch to figure skating or not come back is a fast way to spend a lot of money on gear that sits in a closet.
If you’re buying: youth recreational skates are fine at this age. Don’t buy high-end skates for a 5-year-old who will outgrow them in four months.
How to choose: skate fit is professional territory. Have a hockey shop fit them. Hockey skates run 1 to 1.5 sizes smaller than street shoe size. The heel should sit firmly in the heel pocket. Get them baked at the pro shop to mold the boot to your kid’s foot — most shops do this free with purchase and it makes a real difference in how the skate feels.
Note: we don’t link to skates on Amazon because skate fit requires a trained eye and in-person baking. A hockey shop fitting is not optional. It’s the difference between a kid who loves skating and a kid who hates it because their feet hurt every session.
A youth hockey helmet with full cage
Required at every age in every youth league. The cage protects against pucks and sticks. Your kid will not love it. They will get used to it.
The helmet is the one piece of hockey gear you always buy new. Not because used helmets can’t work, but because you cannot verify the certification date and structural integrity of a used helmet by looking at it. A helmet that took a hard impact can fail on the next one with no visible sign of damage.
How to choose: look for the HECC sticker inside the helmet. HECC certification is the standard that youth leagues require. The helmet should sit level on the head — not tipped back, not pushed forward. The chin strap should be snug, and the ear loops should align with the ears. If the helmet shifts when your kid shakes their head, it is too big.
Bauer Lil Sport Helmet Combo with Cage
Bauer's youth starter helmet with the full cage already attached. HECC certified, one adjustable youth size covers most learn-to-skate heads, and the cage is fixed so you're not buying two pieces.
Our take: The helmet is the one piece you buy new, every time. Buy it once and buy the known brand. Everything else on this list can come from the used rack.
See it at Amazon ↗As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
A starter stick
Junior or youth flex sticks for this age. Wood is cheaper and totally fine at 5 to 7. Composite sticks are nicer but break easily, and a 6-year-old won’t notice the difference in feel.
How to choose: stick length, when the kid is in skates, should reach about chin height. Slightly higher for wingers, slightly lower for defensemen. For learn-to-skate, just get a size that fits and don’t overthink it.
Franklin Ripper Youth Hockey Stick
Franklin Ripper youth hockey stick with a right or left-hand blade option. Lightweight build for small players, sized for beginners, and priced low enough that you won't be heartbroken when it gets chewed up by the ice.
Our take: The right first stick. It won't last forever and it doesn't need to. Your kid is learning to skate and handle — not optimizing flex profiles.
See it at Amazon ↗As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Pads (the full kit)
This is where it adds up. The full pad kit for a 5 to 7-year-old:
- Shoulder pads
- Elbow pads
- Hockey pants (girdle or breezers)
- Shin guards
- Hockey gloves
Most beginning programs don’t require the full kit at first. Check with the program before buying. For pure learn-to-skate, you can often get away with just the helmet and gloves for the first few sessions.
Buy pads used. A used set of shoulder pads from a kid who grew out of them is functionally the same as new. The helmet is the one exception.
Bauer Prodigy youth hockey starter kit
Starter pad set covering shoulder pads, elbow pads, shin guards, and gloves in youth sizing. Everything except helmet and skates.
Our take: If the local used market has nothing in your kid's size, this kit covers all five pad pieces in one purchase. Still buy the helmet new.
See it at Amazon ↗As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Mouthguard
Required. A boil-and-bite mouthguard works fine.
Shock Doctor Youth Mouthguard
Boil-and-bite youth mouthguard with a strap that attaches to the helmet cage. The strap matters — a loose mouthguard ends up on the ice or in a pocket inside of a week.