Hockey Goalkeeping Kit Checklist: What You Need and What to Buy First

So someone in your house has decided they want to go in goal. Brilliant: goalkeepers are worth their weight in gold to any club. The slightly less brilliant bit is that a keeper needs a lot more kit than everyone else, and the names (kickers, hand protectors, smocks) don't always explain themselves.

Here's our checklist of everything a hockey goalkeeper needs, what to buy first and where it's worth spending your money. Simon, one of our founders, is a former goalkeeper and our resident goalkeeping expert, so if you'd rather talk it through, give us a call.

The hockey goalkeeping kit checklist

Here's the full list, roughly from head to toe:

• Helmet: protects the head and face. Goalkeepers have to wear one in matches.
• Throat guard: covers the gap between the helmet and chest. Some helmets, like the OBO ABS, have one built in.
• Body armour: protects the chest, ribs and shoulders.
• Arm guards: protect the elbows and forearms.
• Hand protectors: the left hand stops and controls the ball, the right holds the stick.
• Padded shorts: protect the hips, thighs and tailbone.
• Groin protector: not optional, for anyone.
• Leg guards: do a lot of the saving and protect the legs.
• Kickers: strap over your shoes, protect your feet and do the clearing.
• Goalkeeping stick: handy, but a lower priority than protection.
• Smock: worn over the top, in a different colour to both teams.
• Goalkeeping bag: carries the lot and lets it air.

Yes, it's a long list. No, you don't need to buy it all at once.

What should you buy first?

If you're building a kit in stages, this is the order we'd normally suggest:

1. Helmet. Never face a shot without one. The OBO ABS Senior Helmet is our best-selling goalkeeping helmet, and the Mercian Genesis Senior Helmet is another popular choice.
2. Leg guards and kickers. They do most of the work. The OBO Yahoo Legguards and Yahoo Kickers are designed for club keepers and players aged 12 to 16.
3. Hand protectors. Fit and feel matter here, so they're worth choosing for yourself.
4. Body armour, padded shorts and groin protection.
5. Throat guard, arm guards, smock and bag.

Lots of clubs lend kit to new goalkeepers, which is a great way to find out whether you like it before spending anything. Even then, we'd buy your own helmet and hand protectors first, for fit (and because nobody wants to put their hands into a club glove that's been sat in a bag all summer).

Bundles or individual pieces?

A goalkeeping bundle is the simplest way to get a matching set. OBO do full bundles at OGO, Yahoo, Cloud and Robo level, plus kicker and leg guard bundles (with or without hands) if you've already got the rest.

Individual pieces make more sense if you already own some kit, need to replace something worn out, or prefer a different brand for your helmet or hands. Mixing brands is completely fine.

Understanding the different levels

Most goalkeeping brands make several levels of kit, from lighter, softer kit for new keepers to high-density kit for adults facing hard shots. OBO is by far the biggest name in our goalkeeping range, and their ranges go roughly like this:

• OGO: lighter and softer, for junior club and school keepers. See the OBO OGO Legguards.
• Yahoo: for club keepers and improving players aged 12 to 16, with most of the features of OBO's senior kit in a slightly lighter, softer package.
• Cloud: senior and club level, with a softer, more accessible feel than the top Robo range. See the OBO Cloud Legguards.
• Robo and Robo PLUS: OBO's high-level kit. The Robo PLUS Legguards are their widest and lightest Robo leg guards, aimed at senior, national and performance-level keepers.

Our guide to the OBO goalkeeping ranges goes into a lot more detail. We also stock goalkeeping kit from Mercian, TK and Grays.

Junior goalkeeping kit

Junior keepers need kit that's lighter and fits properly. Pads that are too big slow a young goalkeeper down and can leave gaps in protection, so try to resist buying a size up to grow into.

The Mercian Genesis 3 Goalkeeping Kit for Juniors includes dual-layer leg guards, kickers and gloves, so it's a sensible starting set. You'll still need a helmet, such as the OBO ABS Junior Helmet or Mercian Genesis 3 Junior Helmet, plus body and groin protection. For the youngest keepers, the OBO OGO Kickers (Junior) come in a smaller size.

How should goalkeeping kit fit?

Fit matters more with goalkeeping kit than almost anything else we sell, and every brand sizes slightly differently, so use the brand's own guide:

• OBO goalkeeping size guide
• Mercian goalkeeping size guide
• TK goalkeeping size guide

As a rough rule, a helmet should feel snug without pressing, body armour should let you lift your arms freely, and leg guards and kickers should stay put when you move rather than twisting round your legs.

Where should you spend your money?

Worth spending on: the helmet, leg guards, kickers and hand protectors. They take the most impact and make the biggest difference to how you play.

Easier to save on: the smock, padded shorts and bag, especially when you're starting out.

Body armour sits somewhere in between. The OBO Robo Chest Guard has been our best-selling chest guard over the last year, and the OBO Yahoo Chest Guard sits a level below it in the OBO range.

Looking after your kit

Take everything out of the bag after every session and let it dry. Foam that's packed away damp breaks down faster and starts to smell (and goalkeeping kit can get very smelly indeed). Our guide to looking after your hockey equipment has more tips.

Goalkeeping kit FAQs

How much does a full goalkeeping kit cost?

It depends a lot on the level. An entry-level OBO OGO bundle or a junior set like the Mercian Genesis 3 is the most affordable way in, and top-level adult kit costs a good deal more. Most keepers spread the cost by starting with a helmet and building up from there.

Do I need a goalkeeping stick?

Plenty of keepers use a goalkeeping stick and plenty use a normal one. It's worth having eventually, but your protective kit comes first.

Can juniors use adult goalkeeping kit?

We wouldn't recommend it. Kit that's too big is heavier, slows the keeper down and can leave gaps in protection.

Still not sure where to start? Give us a call on 0191 447 4744, drop us a message on live chat or pop into the shop and we'll talk you through it. New to the position? Tom Millington's beginner's guide to hockey goalkeeping is a great next read. Or just browse all our hockey goalkeeping kit.