6 Best Hockey Equipment For Camp That Lasts Beyond Just One Summer
Invest in hockey camp gear that lasts. Our guide covers 6 durable equipment picks designed to withstand multiple summers and seasons of hard play.
You signed them up for hockey camp, and the excitement is palpable. Then the equipment list arrives, and a different feeling sets in: overwhelm. Do you buy the cheapest gear possible, assuming it’s a one-time fling, or invest in quality for a passion that might stick? This is the classic parent dilemma—balancing your child’s fleeting interests with the desire to give them a great experience. The right gear can be the difference between a week of frustration and a season of fun, and a smart purchase now can save you money and stress later.
Sizing for Growth: The Bauer & CCM Fit Systems
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Remember the days of buying shoes two sizes too big and stuffing the toes with newspaper? We often apply that same logic to hockey equipment, but it’s a strategy that can hinder skill development and even compromise safety. Ill-fitting gear, especially skates and helmets, can cause blisters, create balance issues, and shift during play, leaving areas unprotected. It forces a child to fight their equipment instead of learning the game.
Thankfully, major brands like Bauer and CCM have moved beyond simple small, medium, and large sizing. They’ve introduced comprehensive fit systems (like Bauer’s “Fit 1, 2, 3” and CCM’s “Tapered, Regular, Wide” profiles) that account for foot volume, head shape, and overall body type. This is a game-changer for parents. Instead of just guessing on length, you can find gear that provides a near-custom fit right off the shelf. This means you can buy the correct size for right now with confidence, knowing it’s designed for a specific body type, which provides better performance and safety from day one.
Bauer Supreme M1 Skates for Camp and Beyond
Your child’s first experience on the ice will likely be in a pair of skates. If those skates are flimsy, unsupportive rentals, their first experience might also be their last. Learning to skate is about building confidence from the ankles up, and a good entry-level skate is the foundation. It’s one of the most important pieces of gear to get right.
The Bauer Supreme M1 skate is an excellent starting point for this reason. It offers significantly more support and a better fit than generic sporting goods store models without carrying the price tag of a high-performance skate. The boot is stiff enough to prevent ankles from wobbling—a common point of failure for new skaters—but forgiving enough for a young player to learn proper stride mechanics.
Think of it as a bridge. It’s the perfect piece of equipment to take a child from cautiously stepping onto the ice at camp to confidently joining a house league team in the fall. It’s a smart investment that supports the crucial first steps of their hockey journey and has decent resale or hand-me-down value when they eventually outgrow it.
CCM Tacks 70 Helmet for Multi-Season Safety
When it comes to your child’s head, there is no room for compromise. A helmet is the single most important piece of protective equipment, whether it’s for a week-long camp or a full travel season. The primary challenge for parents is finding a helmet that fits correctly now but also offers some room for growth without being dangerously loose.
The CCM Tacks 70 helmet is a workhorse in this category. It features a tool-free adjustment system that is simple for parents to use, allowing you to fine-tune the fit as your child grows or even just changes their hairstyle. The multi-density foam liner is designed to protect against the types of impacts common at the developmental level, where falls are frequent.
This isn’t a pro-level helmet, and it doesn’t need to be. Its job is to provide reliable, certified protection in a comfortable, adjustable package. Choosing a helmet like the Tacks 70 ensures your child is safe for camp and has a dependable helmet ready for the season if they decide to continue, saving you from having to make another crucial purchase just a few months later.
Sherwood Rekker Legend Pro for a Balanced Feel
Walking into the stick section of a hockey shop can be dizzying. You’ll hear terms like "low-kick," "mid-kick," and "variable-kick," all describing how a stick flexes for different types of shots. For a new player who hasn’t even developed a shot yet, choosing a highly specialized stick is like buying professional running spikes for a toddler learning to walk.
The Sherwood Rekker Legend Pro offers a fantastic solution. It’s known for its balanced feel and a "low-kick point," which means it’s easier for players with less strength to flex the stick and get the puck in the air. This is incredibly encouraging for a young learner. A stick that is too stiff or specialized can be a source of immense frustration, making them feel like they can’t shoot properly.
This stick provides the performance a developing player needs without forcing them into a specific shooting style. It allows them to experiment with wrist shots, snap shots, and passes, making it a versatile tool for skill acquisition. It’s a stick that feels good in their hands at camp and will still be an asset as they begin to play in games.
Warrior Covert QR5 40 Gloves for Lasting Grip
A new player’s hands need to do two things: feel the stick and stay protected. Cheap, bulky gloves often fail on both counts. They can feel like wearing oven mitts, making it difficult for a child to learn how to properly hold the stick and stickhandle, while offering minimal protection against an errant puck or stick.
The Warrior Covert QR5 40 gloves strike an excellent balance between feel and protection for a developing player. They feature a more anatomical, tapered fit that feels less restrictive than many entry-level models, allowing for better dexterity and control. The palm is durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of both a summer camp and a full season of practices.
More importantly, a glove that fits well and feels good encourages a player to keep their hands on the stick and learn the fundamentals. It’s a piece of equipment that directly impacts their ability to interact with the puck. Investing in a solid pair like this means you won’t be replacing gloves with worn-out palms mid-season.
TRUE AX5 Shoulder Pads for Reliable Protection
Shoulder pads for young players are not about delivering big hits; they are about protecting them from falls and incidental contact. The biggest mistake is buying pads that are too big and bulky. Oversized pads restrict a child’s range of motion, making it harder to learn proper shooting and skating posture.
The TRUE AX5 shoulder pads are a great example of modern, streamlined protection. They are designed to sit closer to the body, offering an anatomical fit that moves with the player instead of against them. This allows a young athlete to focus on their movements without feeling like they are wearing a suit of armor.
The protection is targeted to key areas like the sternum, spine, and collarbones, which is exactly what a new player needs. This is a piece of gear that provides essential safety without creating bad habits. It’s a durable, well-designed pad that will comfortably last through camp, the season, and could easily become a high-quality hand-me-down for a younger sibling.
Bauer X Shin Guards for Camp-to-Season Durability
Shin guards are another area where a good fit is paramount for both safety and performance. Inexpensive, poorly designed guards have a tendency to slide down or twist around the leg during play. This not only leaves the shin and calf exposed but is also a constant, frustrating distraction for a young player.
The Bauer X line of shin guards is built to solve this problem for beginners. They incorporate design elements from higher-end models, like a deeper, more anatomical knee pocket and secure strapping systems. This helps lock the pad in place, ensuring the protection is where it needs to be when a fall inevitably happens.
By choosing a shin guard that fits securely, you are giving your child one less thing to worry about on the ice. They can focus on their skating and the puck, not on constantly adjusting their equipment. The durable construction means these pads will easily withstand the rigors of camp and still be in great shape for the first day of season practices.
Howies Hockey Tape for Stick & Blade Protection
It may seem like a minor detail, but the quality of your hockey tape matters. It’s the connection point between the player’s hands and the stick, and the primary line of defense for the expensive stick blade. Using cheap, flimsy tape that peels off after one session is a false economy.
Howies Hockey Tape is widely regarded for its durability and adhesive quality. A proper tape job with quality tape protects the bottom of the stick blade from chipping and cracking on the ice, extending the life of your investment. It also provides a consistent grip for the puck, which helps a new player build confidence in their stickhandling.
Teaching your child to tape their own stick is a great ritual in hockey, and using good materials makes that process easier and more effective. It’s a small, affordable upgrade that protects a more expensive piece of gear and reinforces the importance of taking care of your equipment. Think of it as the essential accessory that holds everything together.
Ultimately, outfitting your child for hockey camp is about smart, targeted investments. You don’t need to buy the most expensive gear on the wall, but investing in foundational pieces that fit well and offer real protection will pay dividends. It will enhance their safety, accelerate their skill development, and most importantly, increase their enjoyment of the game—which is the best way to ensure that summer camp gear becomes first-season gear.