Which Should You Buy for Your Kid?

An expensive hockey stick versus an economical one—which is the best choice when you're buying a hockey stick for your kid? Truth is, there is no single answer that covers everybody. High-quality hockey sticks come at all price points; the better hockey sticks on the less expensive end of the price continuum will still boast quality construction and materials. But as you climb the cost ladder you'll find higher quality materials, lighter weight sticks, and better performance.

Deciding which hockey stick to buy for a child often boils down to the question, "how much stick does my kid need?" If you're like most parents, you want your kids to have the gear they need to enjoy success at hockey, but you don't want to overspend. So how do you know whether to buy your young hockey player an expensive hockey stick or a less expensive twig? It's all relative—one parent's ‘expensive' is another's ‘affordable.'

Low-End Hockey Sticks Under $100

You can find hockey sticks made with quality materials and constructed to high specs, for under $100—even under $50. You'll also find these sticks are heavier and potentially stronger than inferior sticks. Less expensive sticks are often constructed in two pieces and contain more carbon fiber than more expensive sticks. The shaft and blade are fused together, and resin or epoxy helps strengthen the hosel area. This two-piece construction adds weight, often at the bottom, which affects the balance of the stick. And while this type of construction might help the stick last longer, it's not a guarantee.

High-End Hockey Sticks Over $200

In high-end sticks that cost as much as $300, you're paying for performance. To improve a hockey stick's performance, manufacturers will use the highest quality materials and the newest technology to make sticks as light as they can be. These are usually one-piece sticks, which weigh less than a two-piece stick and produce a better feel from the blade through the stick and to the hands. This higher end stick also sends more power from the hands to the puck. More advanced players will be able to take advantage of this better quality to impart more power to their shot. And they will enjoy better stick handling thanks to the stick's improved feel.

One thing you can't do is buy a better shot or better stickhandling skills: buying a high-end stick will not make you a better hockey player. But a low-end stick can impede the skills of a better hockey player, at least somewhat. This truth applies whether your child is just starting out or is a talented player rising through the ranks. It's no secret that you can spend a lot of money on your hockey gear or you can choose less expensive equipment. Fortunately, there's a whole lot of sticks that fall between these extremes on the price continuum, and that split the difference between the two.