Outdoor Hockey Gear
Whether you're playing outdoor ice hockey, field hockey, or street hockey, the quality of your outdoor hockey gear can determine the difference between a great game and a lousy one. Here are a few things consider when handling your outdoor hockey gear.
Depending on the type of outdoor hockey you plan to participate in, you may have very different types of gear. Field hockey, for example, involves a very different kind of hockey stick and no skates at all, while street hockey involves roller blades and similar sticks to ice hockey. Regardless of what you choose, you will need to find ways to keep your outdoor hockey gear sanitized and usable, as outdoor environments tend to be much less forgiving than an indoor ice skating rink.
A good way to make your outdoor hockey gear last is to clean your shoulder pads, shin guards, elbow pads, and helmets regularly. Unlike with indoor ice hockey, you have more to deal with than simple sweat stains and bacteria. You may also have to clean mud, grass stains, and worse. Fortunately, in tackling these stains early, you can keep your outdoor hockey gear looking and feeling great.
Many who are new to hockey don't realize the importance of cleaning their gear. Failure to do so may result in you catching some rather nasty diseases, as bacteria thrives in the crevasses on the inside of your body armor. To tackle the worst stains and germs, try scrubbing your armor out in the tub using a mix of laundry detergent and small percentage of bleach. Once they're clean, leave them in a cool, dry place to drip dry. Within a day or so, you should be ready to use them again.
Be sure to take good care of your skates as well. Whether you are using outdoor ice skates or roller blades, regularly sanitizing and deodorizing your skates can do wonders for keeping them fresh and functional. If you're using ice skates, be sure to have your blades sharpened regularly, as using dull blades on ice can be very dangerous indeed.
Finally, be sure to replace any worn or damaged outdoor hockey gear the moment you notice anything amiss. Hockey is a high contact sport, and it's worth it to make absolutely sure all of your protective gear is working at its best. Learn more today about how to keep your outdoor hockey gear lasting for much longer!