I just got the CCM AS-V hockey gloves. They were $230, does that mean I’m going to play better?!
High-end hockey gloves are made with quality materials that will last longer than cheaper hockey gloves. This is especially true for the palms of the gloves. More expensive hockey gloves will provide great protection and are lightweight. If you are brand new to playing hockey having the most expensive gloves will not make you play better. If you have had previous injuries to the wrist or hand more expensive gloves will provide you with more protection.
What makes more expensive hockey gloves better and what materials do they even make hockey gloves out of? We’ve got some answers to common hockey glove questions below. Learn how to properly fit your gloves so that even if you have cheaper gloves you can maximize their protection.
What is the difference between cheap and expensive hockey gloves?
When it comes down to cheap hockey gloves vs expensive hockey gloves, the simple answer for the difference between the two is material quality.
Cheap hockey gloves provide an adequate amount of protection for most beer league hockey players but they will wear out faster and they can feel a bit chunky or bulky.
The biggest difference most people find when they upgrade to more expensive hockey gloves is the life span of the palms of your gloves.
Way back in the day, hockey gloves used to be made of real leather which took forever to break in but also lasted forever.
Nowadays companies use synthetic materials that feel a lot like suede. More expensive hockey gloves will have extra reinforcement in that meaty, palm and thumb area where your stick tends to rub.
Higher-end hockey gloves will also use better quality foams in the padded areas on the backside of the glove which protects the tops of your hand and fingers. Using a better foam allows for a smaller overall glove but better protection because these more high-quality foams are better at taking impact and not passing that feeling along to the person wearing the glove.
In really nice hockey gloves you will find high-quality foams like Poron XRD which is a specially formulated foam for sports. While cheap gloves use something like MD foam which you will actually find at home improvement stores. MD foam is often used as weather stripping.
You will typically find more expensive hockey gloves to have a better cuff roll. Which is the part of the glove that protects your wrist and forearms. I have noticed lots of cheaper hockey gloves tend to skimp on that part.
More expensive hockey gloves will also have a better-designed thumb area, allowing for more flexibility.
Average Price Of Hockey Gloves
Adult or senior hockey gloves can range in price from $50-$230. Most adults will find themselves spending around $75 dollars for a decent pair of hockey gloves. There is a wide range of choices right around the $75 price point.
If you are lucky or patient, you can find a good sale at pure hockey or hockey monkey. I was lucky when I bought my first pair of gloves. I actually ended up getting a crazy deal at $35 bucks but this was also in 2014, which really wasn’t that long ago but at the same time, a totally different world.
Entry Level Hockey Gloves ($50 – $75)
| Glove Name | Price |
| Warrior QR5 40 | $69.99 |
| CCM Tacks AS-550 | $74.99 |
| Bauer X | $69.99 |
The last pair of gloves that I purchased was the Warrior QR5 40. The QR5 40 pair of gloves is so much nicer than my previous pair of gloves (which they no longer make). My previous pair was also a warrior glove but it was the burn series. The biggest difference is palm quality and bulkiniess.
Mid-Level Hockey Gloves ($75 – $150)
| Glove Name | Price |
| Warrior Alpha Pro | $150 |
| Bauer Supreme 3S | $120 |
| CCM Tacks 4R | $140 |
When you compare mid-level gloves to entry-level hockey gloves you will notice slightly nicer material and much better palms. With a few extra upgrades to things like foam used and liner used on the inside of the gloves.
Upper-Level Hockey Gloves ($150 – $230)
| Glove Name | Price |
| CCM Tacks AS-V Pro | $230 |
| Bauer Pro Series 4 Roll | $160 |
| Bauer Supreme Ultrasonic | $210 |
| Warrior Covert QR5 Pro | $200 |
One of the more highly praised gloves on this list falls into the upper level hockey gloves and it happens to be the lowest priced one of that tier. The bauer 4 Roll Team Glove pro has received tons of good reviews about the durability of the palms as well as the comfortable fit and lastly the numerous options that you have for customizing colors.
That way you can always find a color that will match your team.
Best Cheap hockey Gloves
Speaking from personal experience I think that the Warrior Covert QR5 is the best value glove. It’s the current gloves that I’m using and they felt like a huge upgrade from my last pair which were also a budget pair.
The palms are still going strong. I Play about 2 twice a week and these gloves are about 2 years old. Take a look at the pic below, there is some slight wear and tear right where my stick handle sits in my palms.
This is the usual area that gets beat up from continued use.
These gloves also feel a lot less bulky than my last budget pair of gloves giving me a better feel of the stick but I definitely didn’t sacrifice any protection.
Best Expensive Hockey Gloves
Again, the major difference between expensive hockey gloves and cheap hockey gloves is the materials used. If you are spending more money on hockey gloves you are going to want a more durable glove.
The highest-rated glove that I have seen for palm durability is the Bauer Pro Series 4 Roll. If you take a look at the reviews for these things most people are raving about how durable the palms are. Not only are the palms super durable but they have a great stick feel as well. The glove palms are made of a nash material which is a type of synthetic leather that many pro stock gloves use. This glove also has an insert in the palm area to increase durability without sacrificing feel.
Sometimes cheaper gloves will double layer their palms in order to boost durability but this decreases how much you can feel your stick and the puck on it.
The Bauer pro series gloves are lined inside with a material called thermo max which helps with comfort, sweat-wicking, and dry time. The time it takes for your gloves to dry is actually a big deal when it comes to your hands smelling like absolute trash after the games.
Wanna know how to make your hands not smell after the game?
How Should Hockey Gloves Fit?
A properly fitting hockey glove will protect the player’s fingers, backhand, and wrist while providing adequate movement.
A major benefit of more expensive hockey gloves is the protection aspect. A way to maximize the protection of your cheaper gloves is to make sure that they fit properly.
If your gloves are too small in particular you will leave lots of your wrist exposed for slashing or rouge pucks.
In order to properly fit your glove, you should know that there are three basic types of fits for hockey gloves.
There are three traditional types of hockey glove fits
- Anatomical
- Traditional
- Tapered
Anatomical fitting hockey gloves fit closest to your hand. They are tight from your fingertips to your wrist. Some players prefer this type of fit because they say that it offers a better feel of your hockey stick.
The traditional fit, sometimes called 4 roll, is your classic hockey glove shape. It’s the bulkiest of the three types and also gives the most wiggle room around your hand. This style does not limit wrist mobility and that is why some players prefer this classic fit.
The last fit type is a tapered fit. These gloves are tight around your fingers and loosen up as you move closer to the wrist. It’s kind of like if an anatomical fit and a traditional fit had a baby.
Regardless of fit style, you will still need to get the correct size of hockey glove. Senior Hockey gloves generally come in sizes from 13”-15”. To figure out your size you need to measure from the tip of your middle finger down to the bottom of your palm. Take that number and double it. This will give you your glove size.
| Glove Size | Hand Measurement | Player Height |
| 13” | 6” – 6.5” | 5’5” – 5’9” |
| 14” | 6.6” – 7” | 5’7” – 5’11” |
| 15” | 7.1” – 7.5” | 5’9’ – 6’1” |
How Long Do Hockey Gloves Last
If you play hockey 1-2 times a week hockey gloves will typically last you between 1-3 years before you start to notice holes forming in the palms of your gloves.
This will vary depending on how often you play and the quality of gloves that you have purchased.
A tip that I have found very useful to extend the life of my hockey gloves is to finish the handle of my stick with clear tape instead of stick tape. Hockey stick tape is very abrasive which is great for gripping pucks but it is also great at tearing holes in your gloves as well.
How long does hockey gear actually last?
Do More Expensive Hockey Gloves Matter?
More expensive hockey gloves will not make you play better hockey but when compared to cheaper hockey gloves you will notice that they will fit better, be more lightweight, provide better protection and usually last longer.
The biggest difference between cheap hockey gloves and expensive hockey gloves is the quality of materials used.
If you are brand new to the game of hockey, you do not need to go out and spend $200 on expensive hockey gloves. The entry-level $75 gloves will be just fine for you. The pair best pair of entry-level hockey gloves that I have used is the Warrior Covert QR5 40. The palms have lasted longer on these gloves than any other cheap glove I have used and the construction feels solid.