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HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT GEAR?

A little help to choose the right hockey equipment for young players

Helmet

By far the most important piece of protective equipment is the helmet. It is the only piece of equipment that has the possibility of preventing head injuries and that is why it is important to wear a suitable, high-quality helmet.

HOW DO I CHOOSE THE HELMET?

Great progress has been made in helmet production in recent years, so it's worth reaching into your pocket and investing in one of the more expensive models. New children's helmets also have alternative and child-friendly locking mechanisms so that children can put on their helmet without help.

Hockey Sticks

Especially in childhood, finding the right hockey stick is challenging. Parents who haven't played ice hockey themselves often rely on guidance in the store in such cases. As hockey coaches, we regularly observe children with sticks that are far too large, have too high of a flex, a poor curve, and are generally too heavy for small children.

How to find the right stick?

As a helpful feature for you, we have integrated a filter for the size/weight of the child in our shop, making the search for a suitable stick easier.

The stick should reach between the child's eyebrows and lips without skates. The flex rating indicates how soft or stiff a stick is. The lower the flex, the easier it is to bend the stick. To learn the correct shooting technique, a child needs a stick that can bend on the ice, rewarding the proper technique. Once the stick is cut, the flex rating increases. Vikkela Hockey has addressed this issue in children with new flex levels. The flex increments are smaller (16/18/20/25/30/35/40/47), so the child doesn't have to play with a stick that is too stiff.

Our sticks are available in the two most commonly used curves. P92 is the more straightforward curve, suitable for shooting, puck handling, or using the backhand side—it's the ideal middle ground. On the other hand, the P28 curve is more pronounced and is preferred by shooters. The curved shape facilitates puck handling on the forehand side, and moves like the Toe Drag can be learned more easily. Passing, shooting, and puck handling on the backhand side are a bit more challenging to master with the P28 curve.

Bestseller Hockey Sticks

Vikkela GR8 Flex 18
Sticks ,
Vikkela GR8 Flex 18
CHF 199.00
Vikkela ZAG Flex 25
Sticks ,
Vikkela ZAG Flex 25
CHF 179.90

SHOULDER PADS

The shoulder pads are a piece of equipment that does not have a very important function for children. Shoulder pads are sometimes overestimated at this age and the comfort of the child is underestimated. The most important thing is that the child feels comfortable in it and can move freely. Otherwise, shoulder pads that are too large and too expensive can hinder the child from playing rather than help it. Many professional players also prefer comfort in this area rather than the most expensive and newest model. When it comes to shoulder pads, we recommend choosing the cheaper models.

Gloves

A glove that is too big or too small can prevent the child from properly handling the puck or even shooting. When it comes to gloves, it is important to find the right fit. Holes can quickly become unpleasant for the child and can also lead to blisters, especially for kids who are diligently practicing stick technique and shooting technique. We recommend having the gloves mended at a tailor's shop or buying new ones.

Pants

The fit is also the most important thing when it comes to hockey pants. Of course, depending on the club, the colour is also crucial. Nowadays, even cheaper models are so good that you don't have to dig deep into your pockets for this piece of equipment. Smaller children's pants tend to slip down from time to time, so we recommend getting suspenders.

Skates

As with the stick, the wrong skate can prevent the child from making training progress for a long time and hold them back.

HOW DO I FIND THE RIGHT ICE SKATE?

The first point is the size. Parents tend to buy larger skates for children because they are still growing into them. However, it is important to buy the skate max. one size too big. Children who wear shoes that don't fit them find it difficult to control them.

Bauer has been leading the ice skate market for years and continues to produce very good ice skates. We recommend you choose Bauer, CCM, or True ice skates. A high-quality skate helps the child learn the technique more easily. For beginners, you don't necessarily have to choose the most expensive models, but definitely not the cheapest ones! As soon as a child has a good grip on the skate and is a good skater, we recommend choosing the harder and more expensive models.

Part of our S4H concept is also checking the equipment. Our players must all have the tongue of the skate hidden under the shin guard and the skates tied to the top hole (as they were designed). This is another little tip from our coaching team.

Shin Guards

When it comes to shin guards up to the age of 15, the most important thing is the fit. A pad that is too long will prevent the child from skating properly. A pad that is too short does not offer enough protection and slips under the child's tongue from the skate, which also prevents them from developing good skating technique.

Bestseller Shin Guards

North American Tape Clear
Hockey Accessories ,
North American Tape Clear
CHF 6.00

Consumables

Having a complete set of equipment doesn't end everything. In order to be prepared for training or a game, the hockey player needs various tapes to perform smoothly.

WHAT CONSUMABLES DO I NEED?

WHAT CONSUMABLES DO I NEED? The blade of the stick should always be taped, not only to protect the stick but also to have a good grip on the puck and to make it roll smoothly. Some players also coat their tape with hockey wax, making it more water-resistant and longer-lasting. Professional players often tape their sticks partially after every period and most of them do it before each training session. While it might not be necessary for children as frequently, this should not be underestimated. New tape also feels different for the child compared to well-used tape. In our shop, we also offer Rezztek Tape as an alternative, and it should be replaced over time as it wears out.

Various types of tape are used on the stick's handle. Most players use simple hockey tape, while some use colored grip tape. The key is that the grip feels natural for the player, and the child can hold the stick straight like a hammer. As an alternative, we also have S4H Rocketgrip, which is applied to the handle with hot water.

Laces last a long time with children but are still not replaced often enough. We recommend waxed or semi-waxed laces for children. Thanks to the wax coating, it's easier to tie the shoe, and once the laces are too old, they give in during training, and the skate loses its grip. Another significant issue is overly long laces; a quadruple knot is still complicated for kids at a young age, so we recommend opting for smaller sizes.

Bestseller Consumables

S4H Tape Black
Hockey Accessories ,
S4H Tape Black
CHF 6.00
S4H Hockey Laces White
Hockey Accessories ,
S4H Hockey Laces White
CHF 6.50
S4H Rocketgrip Black
Hockey Accessories ,
S4H Rocketgrip Black
CHF 9.50
CHF 12.50
Tape Scissors
Hockey Accessories ,
Tape Scissors
CHF 7.00

Elbow pads

At a young age, when it comes to elbow pads, we primarily look at the fit. The child's comfort is the most important thing here. Expensive models are often very massive and an unnecessary investment.

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The best advice

The best advice

We will help you choose the right equipment.

Innovative children's hockey sticks

Innovative children's hockey sticks

New Flex Levels.

Fast delivery

Fast delivery

All ZAG II and GR8 series junior sticks are in stock.

Hockey stick testing in Davos

Hockey stick testing in Davos

During our camps, you can try Vikkela hockey sticks.