Buying used hockey equipment is one of the best ways to keep your kid on the ice without draining your bank account every season. Hockey is notoriously expensive — a complete set of new gear for a young player can easily run $800 to $1,200 — and children outgrow it in a single season. Secondhand gear solves that problem, but only if you know what’s safe to buy used and what should always come new.
This guide gives you a clear, practical framework so you can shop with confidence.
TL;DR
- Used hockey equipment is smart for most gear — shoulder pads, shin pads, elbow pads, pants, and sticks.
- Helmets should almost always be bought new due to safety certification and unknown impact history.
- Skates can be bought used, but fit is critical — get them re-baked if the boot has already molded to someone else’s foot.
- Gloves are a personal call; they’re safe used but can be very smelly and heavily worn.
- Local buy-sell-trade shops like Endzone Sports in Georgetown are often the best option — you can inspect gear in person and get expert advice on the spot.
Key Takeaways
- The average complete set of new youth hockey gear costs $800–$1,200; buying used selectively can cut that in half or more.
- Youth gear is often outgrown after one season with minimal wear — the used market is full of nearly-new equipment.
- Always inspect used gear for cracked shells, broken straps, compressed foam, and strong odor before buying.
- Never buy a used helmet that has visible cracks, deep scratches, or an unknown impact history.
- Used skates can be a great value, especially for beginners — ask if the shop can re-bake them to fit your player’s foot.
- Protective pads (shoulder, shin, elbow) are the safest category to buy used — inspect foam condition and straps.
- Local sports resale shops beat online purchases for protective gear because you can check fit and condition in person.
- Sticks are excellent candidates for secondhand shopping — a barely-used composite stick can save you $100+.
- After buying used gear, wash everything before your player wears it for the first time.
[Image suggestion: A parent and child browsing hockey equipment at a local sports resale shop | Alt text: Parent and child buying used hockey equipment at a local hockey gear store]
Why Buying Used Hockey Equipment Makes Financial Sense
Hockey equipment gets expensive fast. When you add up pads, sticks, helmets, skates, and accessories, a single season of new gear can cost a family over a thousand dollars — and that’s before registration fees, ice time, and travel. The good news is that youth hockey gear is outgrown long before it’s worn out.
Kids often move up a size after one season, leaving behind equipment that’s barely used. That creates a resale market full of high-quality gear at a fraction of the original price. Buying secondhand keeps that still-useful equipment in circulation, saves your family real money, and is a genuinely smart approach to outfitting a growing player.
What You Should Almost Always Buy New
Not everything is safe to buy secondhand. Two pieces of equipment deserve special attention.
Helmets are the one item most experts recommend buying new. A helmet’s job is to absorb impact — and once it has absorbed a significant blow, its protective foam may be compromised in ways that aren’t visible from the outside. Health Canada’s sports equipment safety guidelines recommend replacing helmets after any significant impact, and with a used helmet, you simply don’t know its history. Add to that the fact that certification standards change over time — older helmets may no longer meet current CSA requirements — and new is almost always the right call.
Budget-friendly new helmets from CCM or Bauer start around $60–$80 and provide solid protection. That’s money well spent.
Jocks and jill straps are the other item universally recommended to buy new. No further explanation required.
The Safest Gear to Buy Used (And What to Check)
Everything else on this list is a legitimate candidate for secondhand shopping — as long as you know what to inspect.
Shoulder Pads, Shin Pads, and Elbow Pads
Protective pads are the best value in the used gear market. They see less stress than skates or helmets, and because kids outgrow them so quickly, you’ll often find barely-used sets at steep discounts.
What to check:
- Foam density. Press firmly on all padding surfaces. Compressed or hardened foam has lost its ability to absorb impact and should be a deal-breaker.
- Hard shell integrity. Run your hands across all plastic components. Cracks or deep gouges weaken structural protection.
- Straps and Velcro. Check that all straps are intact, adjustable, and secure. Fraying Velcro is a minor fix — broken buckles are harder to replace.
- Smell. A strong odor isn’t a safety issue, but it tells you the gear wasn’t cared for. Most equipment can be washed, but severely embedded odor is difficult to eliminate completely.
[Image suggestion: Close-up of hockey shoulder pads being inspected for foam compression and strap condition | Alt text: Inspecting used hockey shoulder pads for padding and strap quality before purchase]
Hockey Pants
Pants are a great buy used. They protect the hips, thighs, and tailbone, and the padding inside is durable. Check the outer shell for tears and the inner foam for compression. Make sure the waist adjustment works properly for your player’s size.
Hockey Skates
Used skates are a more nuanced decision — but for young players or beginners, they’re often the right call. Kids outgrow skates in a single season, which means the used skate market is flooded with pairs that were barely broken in.
The key issue with used skates is that a skate boot molds to the original owner’s foot over time. If the boot has a significant mold already baked in, it may not fit your player well — or worse, could promote an unnatural stride.
What to check:
- Blade and holder condition. Look for deep gouges in the blade, cracks in the plastic holder, and loose rivets. A blade that needs replacement is a minor cost; a cracked holder usually means replacing the entire runner.
- Boot structure. Squeeze the heel cup firmly. A soft, collapsing heel cup means the boot has broken down and won’t provide proper ankle support.
- Eyelet condition. Check each eyelet for pulling or tearing, especially near the top of the boot where lacing tension is highest.
- Re-baking option. Ask your local shop whether the skates can be heat-molded to your player’s foot. Many shops offer this service, which resets the boot’s memory and gives you a much better custom fit.
Once you’ve picked up used skates, make sure to get them properly sharpened before hitting the ice. A store with experienced technicians — like Endzone Sports in Georgetown, which has been offering expert skate sharpening and a full buy-sell-trade program since 2002 — can sharpen and assess skate condition in one stop.
Hockey Sticks
Sticks are one of the smartest things to buy used. They’re expensive consumables — a quality composite stick retails for $150 to $300 — and players break them regularly. The result is a robust secondhand market, often full of barely-used sticks from players who stocked up and never got through their supply.
Look for used sticks with no cracks in the blade or shaft, and check that the blade hasn’t delaminated at the tip. Give the shaft a light flex test to confirm it still has spring. A lightly used stick at half price is a genuinely excellent deal.
What About Used Gloves?
Gloves sit in a gray zone. They’re safe to use — the protective components hold up well — but hockey gloves are notorious for absorbing sweat and developing serious odor. If you’re buying used gloves, inspect the palm for wear and check that the protective foam across the backhand and fingers isn’t compressed or torn. Be honest about the smell. Many gloves can be washed and deodorized effectively, but some have reached a point of no return. For younger players, inexpensive new gloves are often the better call.
Where to Buy Used Hockey Equipment
Your options fall into three categories, each with distinct advantages.
Local buy-sell-trade shops are the best option for protective gear. You can inspect condition in person, try equipment on your player, and get knowledgeable advice from staff who understand hockey. Shops like Endzone Sports Georgetown offer fair trade-in values and a curated selection of used gear that’s been checked before hitting the floor — especially valuable when you’re buying for a growing child.
Online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace and SidelineSwap offer a wider selection and sometimes better prices, but you can’t inspect condition before buying. Stick to sellers with clear photos, honest descriptions, and local pickup if possible. Online is most appropriate for sticks, bags, and other items where fit is less critical.
Community networks — arena bulletin boards, local hockey Facebook groups, and team chat threads — are underrated. Parents swap gear every season, and you’ll often find excellent deals on gear you can inspect in person from families you already know at the rink.
Inspect Before You Buy: A Quick Checklist
Use this before committing to any piece of used hockey gear:
- ✅ No cracks, deep gouges, or broken shells on hard components
- ✅ Foam padding is firm and responsive, not compressed or flattened
- ✅ All straps, buckles, and Velcro are intact and adjustable
- ✅ No visible mold (black, green, or white patches)
- ✅ Odor is manageable — not embedded beyond what washing can fix
- ✅ Skate blades are not deeply grooved, and holders are crack-free
- ✅ Helmet has no cracks, deep dents, or unknown impact history (and ideally, buy new instead)
For a deeper dive into maintaining secondhand gear once you’ve brought it home, our guide on how to wash hockey equipment covers the full process — including what can go in the machine, what can’t, and how to actually get rid of the smell.
Gear That Doesn’t Fit Is Never a Deal
The most important rule in buying used hockey equipment is this: a deal on gear that doesn’t fit is no deal at all. Poorly fitted protective equipment doesn’t protect. Skates that don’t fit correctly affect skating mechanics and increase injury risk.
Take your player with you when shopping. Have them try everything on. Check that shoulder pads cover the collarbone fully, that shin pads extend from the ankle to just below the kneecap with the knee centered in the kneecap cup, and that helmets sit level with about two finger-widths above the eyebrows.
Hockey Canada’s equipment fitting guidelines are a reliable reference point for proper sizing at every age level — worth a quick read before your first trip to the shop.
Ready to Gear Up?
Buying used hockey equipment the right way saves real money without cutting corners on safety. Buy new where it matters (helmets, jocks), buy used where it’s smart (pads, pants, sticks), and always inspect before you commit.
Browse our full hockey equipment resource section for more guides on gear selection, maintenance, and everything else you need to keep your player ready for the season. And if you’re still figuring out what your kid actually needs to get started, our youth hockey resource section is a good place to begin.