Gear

Funny story about why I have a white helmet, as opposed to black. I bought it right before going to try out for the USA U20 team in New Jersey in 2015. I got it because if I were to make it, I would have needed a white helmet. Spoiler: I did not make the team. The helmet is great though.

Not many people wear a mouthpiece in ball hockey, but I’ve been hit in the mouth before and I will tell you it’s not fun. When I looked into mouthpieces in 2017, I wanted something low-profile that wouldn’t hinder my communication on the rink. I found the SISU brand and purchased their Aero Guard. It comes completely flat and you mold it to fit your teeth. It’s pretty amazing, to be honest.

This mouthguard case was an essential purchase after I started using the Aero Guard. I needed somewhere to store it.

I feel like elbow pads are very underused in the sport of ball hockey. Maybe I’m just soft, that’s a possibility, but I’ve been wearing these low profile pads for a few years and they’ve saved my elbows a lot of pain. They’re not bulky, so they don’t get in the way and I don’t like getting hurt.

When I started playing ball hockey, I wore ice hockey gloves. After I played for several years, I discovered Mylec Street Hockey gloves that we’ve all used at one point. I wore those until I broke my thumb, then I decided I need gloves with more protection. I’ve been wearing lacrosse gloves ever since. They offer the perfect blend of protection and mobility.

I bought my first composite stick, a Bauer Vapor APX LE, in 2013 and I’ve used Vapors ever since. I like a light stick with rounded corners and a low kick point.

• Length: Senior (Cut To Chin)
• Hand: Left
• Curve: P88 Kane
• Finish: Grip
• Flex: 77
• Lie: 6

I started wearing these padded shorts several years ago to add a little more lower body protection. Falling on dek tile is not fun and the side pads on these shorts have saved me from getting hip and thigh injuries. It’s also a nice to have extra padding to block a shot if necessary.

I like wearing extra knee protection under my shin guards. I used to wear volleyball knee pads, but they felt a little tight around the knee and wouldn’t stay in place because of their short length. These hex knee pads are longer and the compression helps them stay in place. They’ve saved my knees from many falls.

These are some of the best ball hockey shin guards I’ve ever used. They’re unlike the old-school plastic Mylec shinners; these don’t let you slide on outdoor dek tiles. They’re a bit bigger, but they provide more protection and stay in place better (especially if you wear socks over them).

I actually wear 2 pairs of socks. I put on these standard Nike crew socks, then knee pads, then shin guards, and then my over-the-calf socks. I’m not sure why I started doing this initially, but it definitely adds more comfort and padding around my ankles and feet.

You would not believe how difficult it has been to keep finding this type of sock. I used to wear Reebok ones but then Dick’s Sporting Goods stopped carrying them and made their own. I wear these socks over my shin guards. They fit well but they get holes in the heel after several games.

My experience with shoes for ball hockey has been a wild ride. I wore Nike Air Max Torch SLs for a long time. They were very durable but are hard to find nowadays. I’ve tried mesh Nike running shoes: absolutely destroyed on dek tile and not good for taking slashes. Back in 2018, I found Knapper and tried their ball hockey shoes. The first few versions were rough, but they’ve evolved well over the years. Today’s version offers a solid sole that performs well even in the rain, extra toe protection, and midfoot padding. My only critique is that the insoles disintegrate very quickly. I solved that with aftermarket insoles, however.

I’ve had this hat for a long time. I love the Bauer brand and always wear this cap rink. The only bad thing is it’s a small/medium and it’s a bit tight. Make sure you measure your head properly!

I’ve had this bag for several years and it’s held up brilliantly. It’s the perfect size to fit all of my equipment and has a few exterior pockets to hold hockey balls, tape, etc.