A Few Interesting Facts about How to Choose the Right Hockey Gloves
As one of the most successful and popular winter sports in Canada, and one that has many successes on national and international levels, it isn’t a secret why Canadians are still supporting it. However, aside from being popular in Canada, hockey is also popular worldwide, and there are some interesting facts about it, including the use of hockey gloves, that you might be unfamiliar with. Here they are:
- The original name of hockey was ‘shinty’.
- It’s believed that hockey is the oldest team sport in the world dating 3000 years, all the way back to the Greek classical era.
- In the modern day, hockey was first played in the 1700’s in Scotland.
- Hockey is popular in Australia, New Zealand, India and Pakistan thanks to the British army who spread it throughout the British Empire in the past.
- This sport is the second most played sport in the world after football/soccer.
- It’s said that men’s hockey has the fastest swing speed in comparison to any sport, with a reach of around 165 km/h.
- Did you know that many famous people like Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Watson, Heath Ledger, and even the Princess of Wales all played hockey?!
- At the London 2012 Olympics, hockey was the third most popular sport.
- Women’s hockey was only included in the Olympics in 1980 and Zimbabwe won the first ever Olympic Gold Medal.
- Between the time of 1928 to 1956, India won the most Olympic Gold medals with a total of 8 medals.
- Did you know that early hockey players wore gloves for sure but they were used mainly for keeping their hands warm on the ice?!
- In the 1900s, players started adding padding on the inside of their gloves for extra protection.
- It was in the 1930s when gloves with reinforced thumbs were created because the professional Canadian ice hockey player Babe Siebert broke his thumb.
Why Do You Need Hockey Gloves?
Well, the reason for using ice hockey gloves is quite obvious. Truth be said, protective hockey gloves shield your hands from injuries, especially if made from high-quality and durable materials. They are the most essential piece of hockey equipment and a must have in your bag, as they are here to protect your hands from flying pucks and sticks.
They are also very much needed to help you protect them from the ice in case of accidents. They are designed to keep you warm as well, while not compromizing your comfiness and flexibility. They are available in youth and adult versions, so everybody can feel protected and safe when playing.
What Hockey Glove Do I Need?
To find a true answer to this question, first, you should consider some of the most important things to make the right choice.
Size and Fit
Generally speaking, these pieces of essential equipment are measured in inches and sizes 13, 14 and 15 inches are considered sizes for adults, while the ones smaller than these are considered perfect for children. The length of these gloves is measured from the bend in your inner elbow to the base of your fingers.
Aside from measuring your hand from elbow to fingers as a good way to shop for them, still, it would be best to try some in person to see how they feel and look. It is said that you should have about ΒΌ of space in the fingertips in order to feel comfortable even if you curl your hand in a fist. Additionally, the wrist break on them should line with the wrist on the underside.
Padding
You know what they say, quite often the price says a lot about a product’s quality, and this goes when choosing this hockey gear as well. Practice shows that the cheapest types usually have single-density foam throughout the gloves which is quite poor, offering little to no protection. Mid-range models usually have a layer of high-density foam on top of this which is better, however, the highest-quality ones have plastic inserts aside from the mentioned padding.
They may also have some extra padding on certain areas like the fingers and sides of your hands for added protection. So, if you want to invest in gloves that offer the utmost protection, invest in ones that have a higher protection paired with hard plastic to have peace of mind.
Palm Material
When it comes to investing in good ones, you should also take into account the material from which palms are made. The most popular palm material is the Nash palm as it offers great grip, and it usually comes in beige. Of course, there are other types of materials you can choose from, and most of them differ in appearance, moisture-wicking properties, durability and personalized feel. Given the fact that the palm material is of vital importance, make sure to consider everything before making the final decision.
Manoeuvrability
When speaking about manoeuvrability, you should certainly consider three important segments. The first one is finger segments and this means that you should choose ones with three segments in the fingers for a maximum grip. You should also look for a pair that offers improved manoeuvrability and one that offers flexibility for improved contact with the stick. And lastly, you should think about wrist flexibility and look for gloves with open cuffs or ones with adjustable cuffs for maximum protection and easy movement.
