The Basics of Hockey Gloves

While they are very common today Hockey gloves haven't always been used by the players. They were originally designed and built in the early 1900's by hockey enthusiasts and quickly rose in popularity. Hand injuries can debilitate a good hockey player for months... perhaps even permanently. Teams tired of losing players to minor hand injuries, thus they started wearing gloves more often. Gloves are no longer optional apparel. Used to protect the hands, they are the most basic piece of protective equipment. Goalies have specially designed glove. They are built larger than regular gloves to allow the goalie to catch and block lightning-fast pucks. Tradition hockey gloves are made of leather, while more modern gloves use a combination of Kevlar and nylon for much better strength, comfort, and higher durability. Next to the mask, gloves are the most common hockey accessory.

Hockey Gloves

Hockey gloves, unlike other protective equipment, don't need to be an exact fit. As long as the glove covers all of the hand and wrist they can be a little big. Average gloves can range from nine (kids) to sixteen (adult) inches long. To find the proper size one must measure from the end of the elbow to the tips of the fingers. Nine to ten inches are usually small. Eleven to thirteen inches need medium gloves. The large size is for fourteen to fifteen inches. Extra large is anywhere from sixteen to seventeen inches. Sizes can vary from company to company, so they should be tried first. Gloves are required equipment for players of all stripes, from offense to defense. They protect the hand and wrist from hard blows caused by sticks, pucks, or ground. Most hockey gloves are designed to provide little to no loss of flexibility, ensuring that they player is still playing to his maximum potential.

Custom Hockey Gloves

Many players want custom hockey gloves to express their personality and attitude. There are many different types of customization available. Players can choose from a rainbow of colors and patterns. They can ask for special embroidery like initials or a team mascot. Some shops tailor the glove to fit your specific hand, although a custom-sized glove can be very expensive. People on a budget shouldn't rule out glove customization. It helps make equipment unique, not to mention it's easier to track lost or stolen items. Always make sure no matter what custom work is done that the glove will still play well.