Buying a hockey gift is stressful if you do not play. Sticks have a hand, a flex, and a curve. Gloves come in inch sizes. Skates do not match shoe sizes. Get one spec wrong and the gift sits in a closet.
The best hockey gift I ever got was a pair of custom Warrior gloves from my grandpa that matched my team colors exactly. I absolutely loved those things. That is what a great hockey gift does: it feels like it was made for that player. Pro stock gear gets you close to that feeling, because it was built for real teams, often in real team colors, for a lot less than custom.
This guide helps you get there in two parts. First, how to quietly figure out the specs of the player you are shopping for. Second, the best pro stock gifts at every budget.
The Short Answer
The safest hockey gifts need no sizing at all: grip tape and knob tape. If you can find out the player's stick hand, flex, and curve, a pro stock stick is the best value gift in hockey, with new pro stock sticks often selling for $100 to $150 less than the same retail stick. Pro stock gloves are the next best upgrade if you know their glove size. Skip skates unless you know their exact skate size and width.
Step 1: Find Their Specs Without Asking
Half the fun of a gift is the surprise. Here is how to get every spec you need from the gear already sitting in their bag or garage.
Stick: hand, flex, and curve
Look at the shaft of their current stick, usually in the middle of the stick. Most Bauer, CCM, and Warrior sticks print flex and curve together:
- Flex: a number like 70, 77, 85, or 95.
- Curve: a code like P92, P28, P90TM, or P88.
- Hand: If the curve curves to the left, it is a right handed stick. If the curve curves to the right, it is a left handed stick.
Snap a photo of it and you have everything you need. If the print is worn off, a photo of the blade from above still helps. Send it to us and we will help you match it. For more on what those numbers mean, see our guide to reading pro stock stick listings.
Gloves: size in inches
Check the tag inside the cuff or on the back of the glove. Adult gloves are usually 13, 14, or 15 inches. Younger players are often in 11 or 12 inches.
Skates: size and width
Skate size is printed on the tongue or inside the boot, along with a width like D, E, EE, Regular, or Fit 1, 2, or 3. Hockey skate sizes run smaller than shoe sizes, so never buy skates off a shoe size. Our skate sizing guide explains why.
Helmet: S, M, or L
Look for a sticker on the back or inside the shell. Helmets also need to fit the player's head shape, so read our helmet fit guide before buying one as a surprise.
Step 2: Pick a Gift by Budget
Almost everything we sell is one of a kind, so once a spec is gone, it is gone. The collections linked below always show what is in stock right now.
Under $25: Stocking Stuffers That Always Fit
- Howies Non-Stretch Pro Grip Tape (1.5 in). Every player goes through tape constantly. Three or four rolls is a gift they will actually use all season.
- Howies White Knob Tape (1/2 in). For building the knob at the top of the stick. Pair it with grip tape.
Tape is the only hockey gift with zero sizing risk. If you know nothing about the player's gear, start here.
Under $100: Pro Gloves for Younger Players and Pant Shells
Youth and junior pro stock gloves (11 and 12 in). Real pro stock gloves in smaller sizes are hard to find. These are built to team spec, not retail entry level gloves, and usually run around $100. Look for 11 and 12 inch pairs in the gloves collection.
Pant shells. Shells slide over existing pants to change the color or freshen up a worn pair, and they cost a fraction of new pants. Browse pant shells.
Under $200: The Sweet Spot
This is where pro stock really pulls ahead of retail. You get pro level gear for about what a mid level retail product costs.
- Pro stock sticks from about $150. CCM Ribcor Team, Bauer Vapor League, and Bauer Nexus League sticks are pro stock builds at a lower price point. Filter by hand, flex, and curve in the sticks collection.
- Adult pro stock gloves (14 and 15 in), usually $150 to $180. Pro stock gloves come in team colors you will never see on a store wall. If the player you are shopping for has team colors, a pair that matches is the kind of gift they remember. Shop the gloves collection.
- Pro stock pants. See the hockey pants collection.
- Pro stock helmets. See the helmets collection, and confirm size first.
$200 and Up: The Big Gift
A top line pro stock stick. This is the gift hockey players get most excited about. For example, a senior CCM Jetspeed FT8 Pro lists for about $390 at US retailers in 2026, while new pro stock FT8 Pro sticks have sold for around $250 at Gear Guyz. We carry pro stock CCM Jetspeed and Ribcor, Bauer Nexus and Vapor, and Warrior Alpha and Novium sticks. See every hand, flex, and curve in the sticks collection.
Pro stock skates (only if you know their exact size). Pro stock CCM and Bauer skates are a huge upgrade, but skates are the highest risk surprise gift in hockey. Confirm size and width first, then check the skates collection for current sizes.
Quick Gift Picker
| What you know about the player | Best gift | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing at all | Grip tape and knob tape | Howies tape |
| Glove size | Pro stock gloves | Gloves |
| Stick hand, flex, and curve | Pro stock stick | Sticks |
| Pant size | Pro stock pants or pant shells | Pants |
| Exact skate size and width | Pro stock skates | Skates |
When to Order for the Holidays
November and December are our busiest stretch for gift shoppers. Parents, grandparents, and friends know how expensive hockey gear is, and this is when they come looking for real deals on what their player actually needs. That also means the best specs go first.
Orders placed before 10 PM Central ship the next day. Even so, holiday carrier delays are real, so ordering by early December gives you a comfortable cushion before Christmas. Twin Cities shoppers can also arrange local pickup.
FAQ
What is a good hockey gift if I don't know their size?
Grip tape and knob tape. Every player uses them, they need no sizing, and they cost under $10 a roll. If you want something bigger, check the player's current stick for the hand, flex, and curve printed on the shaft.
How do I find out someone's hockey stick hand, flex, and curve?
Look at their current stick. Most sticks print the hand (L or R), the flex number (like 85), and the curve code (like P92) together on the shaft. Take a photo and you have everything you need to buy a matching stick.
What is pro stock hockey gear?
Pro stock gear is equipment made by brands like Bauer, CCM, and Warrior to the specs of professional, college, and junior teams instead of for retail shelves. It is the same pro level construction, usually sold for less than the retail equivalent. Learn more in What Is Pro Stock Hockey Equipment?
Is pro stock gear new or used?
Both exist. Every Gear Guyz listing starts with the condition: New means never used, Like New means used once or twice with no visible wear, and Used means played with and graded further.
What is the best hockey gift for an adult rec or beer league player?
A pro stock stick in their current specs. Adult players rarely spend $300 or more on a stick for themselves, so a pro level stick for well under retail is the gift that feels the most premium.
What is the best hockey gift for a kid who plays?
Gear in their team colors. Matching gloves or pants make a young player feel like they belong on the ice, and pro stock lets you find team color gear without paying custom prices. Just confirm their glove or pant size first, since kids outgrow gear fast.
When should I order hockey gifts for Christmas?
As early as possible, since most pro stock items are one of a kind and November and December are the busiest months for gift shoppers. Gear Guyz ships orders placed before 10 PM Central the next day, but ordering by early December gives you a cushion for holiday carrier delays.
About Gear Guyz
Gear Guyz is a pro stock hockey equipment company based in Bloomington, Minnesota, founded by Alex Malecha at age 15. We buy gear directly from pro, college, and junior hockey programs and sell it nationwide, with more than 5,000 completed sales and a 99.9 percent positive feedback rating on SidelineSwap. Every item is hand inspected and graded before it is listed.
Not sure what to get? Send us a photo of their current stick or gloves through thegearguyz.com and we will help you pick the right gift.
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