How should hockey gloves fit on a kid?

Open the hand fully — the palm material should be taut across the palm with no loose folds. Fingertips should just reach the end of the glove, with about a quarter-inch of space. The cuff should overlap the elbow pad by 1-2 inches. The kid should be able to feel the stick through the glove — if they can't, the padding is too thick for their hand size.

How do I size youth hockey gloves?

Measure from the base of the palm to the tip of the middle finger, with the hand open. Match the measurement to the manufacturer's chart. Youth gloves run 8"-11", junior 11"-12", senior 12"-15". The fit is highly personal — some players prefer tighter gloves for better feel, others looser for mobility. The palm gap test is more important than the measurement alone.

Can my kid use used hockey gloves?

Yes — gloves are one of the safest pieces of equipment to buy used. The protective technology doesn't change much, and the smell/break-in issues are minor. Check that the palm isn't worn through, the cuff is intact, and all the protection panels are still in place. Used gloves are a great way to save money, especially for growing kids who will outgrow them within a season or two.

Equipment

HOW TO FIT HOCKEY GLOVES

How to fit hockey gloves for your kid. Covers the palm gap test, finger length, cuff-to-elbow overlap, length measurement for sizing, and when to size up.

WHY GLOVE FIT IS PERSONAL

Hockey gloves are the most personal piece of equipment. The fit directly affects stick feel — a glove that's too big makes it impossible to grip the stick properly, a glove that's too small cramps the hand and makes the stick feel awkward. Other equipment can be "close enough" — gloves can't.

Gloves also protect the hands, fingers, wrists, and forearms. The fit has to balance protection with feel. The two aren't always the same goal.

THE FIT TEST

Four checks. The glove fails if any of them don't pass.

Palm gap: open the hand fully. The palm material should be taut across the palm with no loose folds, no extra material bunching up.

Finger length: fingertips should just reach the end of the glove, with about a quarter-inch of space. Less and the fingers are crowded; more and the stick slips.

Cuff overlap: with the elbow pad on, the cuff of the glove should overlap the elbow pad by 1-2 inches. No gap of bare skin between them.

Stick feel: have the kid grip a stick. They should be able to feel the tape through the glove. If they can't feel the stick, the padding is too thick for their hand size.

SIZING (YOUTH)

Measure from the base of the palm to the tip of the middle finger, with the hand open. Match the measurement to the manufacturer's chart.

Youth 8"

Ages 5-7

Youth 9"

Ages 7-9

Youth 10"

Ages 9-11

Youth 11"

Ages 11-13

Junior 12"

Ages 13+

Glove sizing is highly personal. Some kids prefer a tighter glove for better stick feel; others prefer a looser glove for mobility. If the kid is between sizes, try both and have them grip a stick in each before deciding.

WHEN TO SIZE UP

Size up when:

• The palm material has visible folds or bunching when the kid opens the hand.
• The fingertips are more than a quarter-inch from the end of the glove.
• The cuff no longer overlaps the elbow pad by 1-2 inches.
• The kid complains of hand cramping or loss of stick feel.
• The hand has visibly grown between seasons.

Gloves are typically the first piece of equipment parents replace when a kid outgrows it, because the fit failure is obvious (the kid complains about losing stick feel). Most parents replace gloves every 1-2 seasons for kids 8-13.