Are you looking to put your kid into ice hockey?
There’s nothing more exciting than passing the torch to the little ones.
Well, in order to play on the ice, your kid will need the right gear.
Whether they’re starting early at 3, or starting out as a 9 year old, the most important step is finding the right gear.
If your son or daughter is starting ice hockey soon and you’re looking to pick up a hockey kit, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll show you the 3 best youth ice hockey kits in 2023.
Let’s begin.
Best Overall: Sher-Wood Code Premium Youth Hockey Kit
The Sher-Wood Code Premium Youth Hockey Kit is our top rated youth ice hockey kit in 2023.
If you’re putting your kid into ice hockey and want the simplicity of a hockey kit, then this is your best option.
Pros
- Very comfortable
- Great fit for all sizes (3 to 9 years old or 35-70 lbs)
- Nice and protective
- Gear stays in place well
- Great quality
- Durable
- Good value
Cons
- Sizing tends to fit a little small (usually good to go up a size)
- Shin guards are a bit smaller fitting
- Not the cheapest kit available
| Kit Features | Sher-Wood Code Premium Youth Hockey Kit |
| Comfort | 9.5/10 |
| Protection | 9/10 |
| Weight | 9.5/10 |
| Sizing Versatility | 9.5/10 |
| Time to Break-In | 9.5/10 |
| Durability | 8.5/10 |
| Performance | 8.5/10 |
| Aesthetics | 9.5/10 |
| Includes Hockey Bag | 0/10 |
| Price | 8.5/10 |
| Overall | 82/100 |
Sher-Wood is one of the biggest and oldest names in hockey. Known for their wood sticks, the trusted brand makes a wide variety of hockey gear—including hockey kits.
The Sher-Wood Code Premium Youth Hockey Kit is our favorite choice in 2023 for youth ice hockey kits.
This premium kit is very affordable—especially since you’d be spending at least twice as much if you bought your kid’s gear individually.
This kit includes almost everything your kid will need to start:
- Shoulder pads
- Elbow Pads
- Shin Guards
- Hockey Pants
- Gloves
You’ll still need to get some skates, a helmet, and a stick (and base layers including protective groin equipment).
However, for a starter kit, this one will save you the hassle of searching for, fitting, and buying each piece individually.
Overall, this set offers you the best quality for a youth ice hockey kit. And, it’s decently priced as well—saving you a ton of time and money in the process.
The set is very comfortable, so your little one will feel good on the ice.
The one downside to this kit by Sher-Wood is that it tends to fit a bit small. This is most noticeable with the shin guards. So, it may be a good idea to size up if you’re wanting a better fit. Plus, that will help your child grow into the gear a bit.
All in all, the Sher-Wood Code Premium Youth Hockey Kit is an impressive starter kit. If you’re wanting to save a bit of time and money in the gear buying process, then this is a great choice.
Runner-Up: Winnwell NXT Youth Starter Hockey Kit
Our second pick for best youth ice hockey kit is the Winnwell NXT Youth Starter Hockey Kit.
This kit nearly took first place, as we rated it 78.5 out of 100 overall.
Pros
- Kit fits well
- Good sizing versatility (ages 4-9 or 40-70 pounds)
- Features Cleansport NXT Odor Management Technology to reduce odors
- Includes a hockey bag for the gear
- Great value
Cons
- Some durability concerns
- A bit lower-quality than the Sher-Wood Kit
- The gear fits a bit small
- Hockey bag is too small
- Concerns about durability of the velcro on shin pads
- Not the cheapest set available
| Kit Features | Winnwell NXT Youth Starter Hockey Kit |
| Comfort | 8/10 |
| Protection | 8/10 |
| Weight | 9.5/10 |
| Sizing Versatility | 8.5/10 |
| Time to Break-In | 8.5/10 |
| Durability | 6.5/10 |
| Performance | 8/10 |
| Aesthetics | 8/10 |
| Includes Hockey Bag | 5/10 |
| Price | 8.5/10 |
| Overall | 78.5/100 |
The Winnwell NXT Youth Starter Hockey Kit is a great option for anyone looking for hockey gear for their kid.
If your little one is just about to start playing ice hockey for the first time, you want to make sure they have all the right equipment to play.
Thankfully, you get all the essentials with this Winnwell kit.
The kit includes shoulder pads, pants, gloves, elbow pads, and shin guards. Plus, it also comes with a bag. The only thing is that the bag tends to be a bit too small so you may have to buy one separately to transfer gear from your house to the rink.
You won’t have any issues finding the right size for your kid. This kit comes with 3 sizes: small, medium, and large for ages 4-9 (or 40-70 lbs).
The one advantage this kit has over the Sher-Wood kit above is the fact that it features Cleansport NXT Odor Management Technology. So, if you or your spouse can’t stand nasty equipment odors, then you’ll want to consider this kit. It will help your equipment smell fresh by fighting off bacteria.
One downside to this kit over the Sher-Wood choice above is that it seems to be a bit lower quality. The fabric is a bit thin and the gear isn’t the most durable.
However, this Winnwell kit is a great starter set and a low cost option to get your kid used to skating around on the ice that will help them develop a love for the game.
Best Budget: PowerTek V3.0 Youth Ice Hockey Kit
The PowerTek V3.0 Youth Ice Hockey Kit is our best budget option for anyone needing an affordable youth ice hockey kit.
While this kit isn’t the best one on the market, it’s the most affordable ice hockey kit that will get the job done—allowing you to get budget-friendly gear in an all-in-one-set for your kid.
Pros
- Most affordable
- Good value
- Good fit
- Decent entry level kit for the price
- Comes with an equipment bag
Cons
- Not many sizing options (only small and large)
- Not very durable
| Kit Features | PowerTek V3.0 Youth Ice Hockey Kit |
| Comfort | 7.5/10 |
| Protection | 7/10 |
| Weight | 7.5/10 |
| Sizing Versatility | 6/10 |
| Time to Break-In | 7/10 |
| Durability | 6/10 |
| Performance | 5.5/10 |
| Aesthetics | 6/10 |
| Includes Hockey Bag | 10/10 |
| Price | 9.5/10 |
| Overall | 72/100 |
Are you looking to pick up some beginner gear for your kid?
But… you’re not wanting to spend a ton of money?
Well, then the PowerTek V3.0 Youth Ice Hockey Kit might be your best option.
For the price, this is an excellent starter kit. It’s not the highest-level equipment you could get. But, it will definitely help your son or daughter get used to skating with gear on.
While the gear isn’t super high quality, you won’t be dealing with contact play or hard shots yet, so it’s good enough to get the job done.
The gear fits pretty well overall. The pants come with an adjustable waistband to keep them in the proper position. And, the gloves include high density foam inserts with a nice, ergonomic design that lets your kid freely move their wrists.
The biggest downside to this kit is that it doesn’t currently come in a medium size (only small and large).
This means you’ll be okay if your kid is:
- 40-60 lbs (4-7 years old)
- 50-70 lbs (8-11 years old)
The medium size is perfect for kids 6-9 who are 45-65 pounds.
So, if your kid falls in line with the medium size, your best option is to go a size up to the large (as the gear tends to fit a bit small anyways).
Overall, if your kid is starting ice hockey soon and you want to get some decent gear at a great price, then the PowerTek V3.0 Youth Ice Hockey Kit is going to be your best budget-friendly option.
For more beginner hockey articles, be sure to check out our other popular posts: 3 Most Comfortable Hockey Skates for Beginners, What Is Knee Hockey, and How Many Times Can You Sharpen Hockey Skates.