Hockey deals/equipment needed!

[BELSEWHERE]

For those of you who are into hockey or have a child in that sport, then you know how expensive it can be! I have a 13 year old heading that way and we need all the help we can get for his equipment!

Any ideas?

[cata5]

Have you tried second hand stores? We have one called Play it Again Sports where you can buy used, but good equipment. Sometimes sports have a swap or an organized sale within the program.

[lschrow]

we found the prices very good at inlinesports.com. you can get last year's missions or bauer's a LOT cheaper than ANYWHERE else i've searched. just a warning, tho, order waaaaaaaaaaaaay in advance of when you need the items (it took about 3 months, lots of e-mails, and a few calls to california with curt "i'm busy"'s from their salespeople, to actually receive the skates we ordered - their cust service aka store salespeople outright STINKS - one of the WORST i've come across, but their prices are excellent & the items are new & exactly as pictured). definately, use a credit card.

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also, from e-mail rec'd:
"Mission Super Sale Starts Now !!!!
Only at InlineSports.com, all 2001 Mission Skates are reduced 25% effect
immediately while supplies last .... This discount will be taken off after
your order is placed and shipped .... This incentive is our gift to you
for purchasing 2001 mission skates from InlineSports.com ..... MERRY
CHRISTMAS in July
When you place your order for your 2001 Mission Skates the regular price
will appear on your order and your order confirmation , but your friends
at InlineSports.com will take off 25% before they charge your credit card

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[BELSEWHERE]

I do plan to try Play It Again Sports first, thanks for the reminder. As for InlineSports.com, I wish I could say that I weren't too leary of that whole experience that you went through but I do not have the patience to tolerate the crappy "customer service". That is not a good enough exchange to get just to know I may save a buck! A business doing business such as that should not be still in business!!

But thanks for the heads up and I am glad that through your determination, you were able to get your skates at a wonderful deal. I also might add that if they aren't willing to change their website charge transaction to send you a confirmation stating the CORRECT price that you are being charged, then I would NOT trust that or touch that with a ten foot pole!!!

[lschrow]

Originally posted by BELSEWHERE
I do plan to try Play It Again Sports first, thanks for the reminder. As for InlineSports.com, I wish I could say that I weren't too leary of that whole experience that you went through but I do not have the patience to tolerate the crappy "customer service". That is not a good enough exchange to get just to know I may save a buck!

weeeeeeeeeeell, it was a smidge more than that.. .
after many years of hockey (roller, ice was just getting waaaaaay too pricey!), we found that the regulation wear can easily cost over $1000. since kids' feet grow (darn them - LOL), buying $300 skates at least every year (still assuming you replace the wheels, bearings can be transferred if in good condition), plus the diff sticks for indoor/outdoor play, helmets for *growing* heads, guards, etc. - the sport can get expensive.
i saved about $200 on skates alone (missions), over sports authority, and all the other retailers (both web & B&M) . we did try play it again sports, but 1) there's an inherent danger in used protective equip (helmets especially), 2) buying new wheels & bearings for used skates can double the price of used - bringing the cost to a new pair, 3) regulation brands & correct sizes are not always available.
fyi, i last ordered thru inline sports a year ago, so they may have gotten better (the "owner" contacted me via e-mail, & was able to resolve the UPS delivery prob that time). i definately would use them again, most likely to order back-up equip as in a second pair of skates, extra sticks, etc. - when we did not need them within a small, e.g., 4 week, time-frame. (btw, i had recommended them to a friend, who got her son's equip quickly, & without a prob)
& another note: if this is your child's 1st year, do check the "regulation" wear list - i've seen a # of parents spend money on disallowed equip (like Mylec).
hope this helps - it's really a fun (even to watch!!), fast-paced sport, & the kids learn a lot from it!
laurie s

[cata5]

Ischrow-
I checked out the site for inline skates. MY kids are volleyball and soccer players... (cheap sports) The prices look great! How is the sizing? I have a hard time ordering online since they fit differently-or so it seems with my kids and their bigger than normal feet.

You have a good point about the used protective equipment too. I'll keep that in mind when my son starts football this fall.

[lschrow]

cata:
DS tried a few pairs of missions & bauers on at sports authority, and we bought the size that fit based on that (identical missions: prev years model were $300 at SA, $99 at inline). he wore a size 10 shoe, we bought a size 11 skate (btw, he's 12yo, and wears mens 11's now - my kids have BIG feet too! )
if at all possible, have the kids try the same brand skates on at a B&M store, and base the sizes on that. there is no difference, besides styling, in prev years models & that's norm where the best deals are.
also if you check on their homepage, there is norm a *free* offer - since you have to pay shipping on it, tho, it's really only free if you're making a purchase anyway. they currently have a jersey, or abec-1 bearings (which although some skates come with, are the slowest. 3's are great to start with, but most on our league have abec-5's or "warp speed" 7's. ). shipping is $10 for reg UPS, but no tax (which is 8 1/2% in NY) outside of California.

hope that helped!
laurie s

[cata5]

That helps alot!LOL So as far as inline skates go, what is the best brand?

[BELSEWHERE]

Laurie S,

Thanks so much for clarifying that issue for me! I am on my way to inline's site right now and feel better about it now. Especially knowing that your friend had no problems either. And yes, the helment issue is a good point. You never know how much of a beating it took previously. Our team here requires it to be HECC approved and I will be buying a new one at least in that. My son's family says that KOHO is the best brand as well as Bauer. But according to a site that I found, CCM makes KOHO. Still trying to confirm that! I beleive CCM to be a great brand. The pro's wear it so that has to stand for something!

Thanks again!
Jan

[lschrow]

Originally posted by cata5
That helps alot!LOL So as far as inline skates go, what is the best brand?

IMHO (gleaned from many hockey addicts/experts - it's a BIG sport on LI), the major ones are comparable - but there is a "cool" factor involved, as in "but maaaaaa, everyone else has fill-in-the-blank!"
mission skates are definately the top in our league, followed by nike, bauer, and CCM. helmets are mostly CCM. sticks, hockey pants, and other gear are pretty split among the major brands.
if they're joining a league, maybe you can find out which are the most popular from another child, or a local sporting goods store. (btw, the independent stores normally have someone that knows the composition of the rinks used - some surfaces need harder wheels).

Laurie S