The Dude’s Guide to Making Hockey Gear Last Longer
Share
The Dude's Guide to Making Hockey Gear Last Longer
(Because replacing gear every season is a scam... and your wallet knows it.)
Let me say the quiet part out loud:
Hockey gear is expensive. And a lot of the time it doesn't wear out because your kid "plays hard" (although... yeah, they do). It wears out because it stays wet too long, gets stored wrong, or small problems don't get fixed until the gear basically disintegrates.
This blog is all about keeping your equipment alive longer—not skates (we're doing a separate full skates blog because that's its own world). This is gloves, helmet, pads, pants, bag, velcro, straps—the whole sweaty mess.
Parents of Young Players: Do This and You'll Save a Fortune
If you've got an 8U/10U/12U player (or honestly any kid), here's the truth:
Parents control whether the gear lasts. Kids aren't thinking about drying routines. They're thinking about snacks and Fortnite.
So here's the Dude-approved routine that works, even when life is chaos.
The 10-Minute "Get Home" Routine (Non-Negotiable)
When you walk in the door:
- Open the bag immediately. (Not later. Not "after dinner." Now.)
- Pull everything out. Yes, everything. Even the stuff at the bottom.
- Hang it or spread it out. Separate pieces so air can hit them.
- Fan it. A cheap box fan aimed at the gear is basically magic.
That's it. That's the whole secret.
If you do those four steps consistently, you will:
- ✅ reduce stink by like 80%
- ✅ stop foams from breaking down early
- ✅ protect palms, straps, and stitching
- ✅ prevent "mystery mold" and bag funk
- ✅ avoid that moment where you grab gear on game day and it's still wet from practice
"But we don't have room for a gear rack"
Cool. You don't need one.
Use:
- a shower rod
- a few heavy-duty hooks
- a folding drying rack
- the back of a chair + a fan
The goal is not Instagram-worthy. The goal is dry.
The #1 Parent Mistake
Leaving gear in the bag overnight. That's how equipment dies early.
One night here and there won't end the world, but if it becomes the habit, you'll start seeing:
- ⚠️ peeling glove palms
- ⚠️ stiff pads
- ⚠️ velcro that stops working
- ⚠️ straps that rot out
- ⚠️ smell that never goes away
The Dude's Golden Rule: Dry Gear Fast, Every Time
Hockey gear doesn't just get "sweaty." It gets wet. And wet gear turns into a bacteria farm.
Odor is not the problem. Odor is the warning light. The real problem is the gear staying damp long enough for bacteria to move in and throw a house party.
The Dude's Drying Setup (Simple + Effective)
- Bag stays open.
- Gear comes out.
- Fan goes on.
- If you can hang it—hang it.
If you want to go next level, get a rack. But honestly? The fan is the MVP.
What Actually Works for Smell (Without Destroying Your Gear)
Let's clear something up:
- Sweat isn't what stinks.
- Bacteria stinks.
- Bacteria grows when gear stays wet.
Safe options that work
- ✅ Airflow + fan (best solution by far)
- ✅ Enzyme spray (light mist, don't drench it)
- ✅ Occasional wipe-down of hard plastic shells
- ✅ Wash removable liners when gear is designed for it
What I don't recommend (because it ruins gear)
- ❌ soaking gear in a bathtub (kills foams/glues)
- ❌ bleach (wrecks fabrics and stitching)
- ❌ high heat drying (warps plastics, cooks foams)
If you're desperate, I'd rather see you do fan + enzyme + time than try to "nuke" the smell in one day.
Common Gear Problems (and The Dude Fixes)
1) Gloves falling apart (palms, fingers, cuffs)
Gloves die early from wet palms + friction + sweat salt stiffening materials.
Fix it:
- Open gloves wide after every skate and dry them with airflow.
- If they're soaked, stuff with towels for 10 minutes, then remove and air dry.
- Check palms weekly—small tears become blowouts fast.
The Dude tip: If a palm starts thinning, don't wait. Repair it early. That glove can live another season with a simple fix.
2) Velcro "stops working"
Most of the time Velcro isn't worn out—it's clogged with fuzz, lint, tape fibers, and hair.
Fix it:
- Toothbrush or velcro brush.
- Scrape it out.
- Trim loose strap threads before they unravel.
Bonus: Don't let velcro hook onto soft fabric inside the bag. It destroys both.
3) Shoulder pads & elbows that smell forever
These stay wet the longest because they're bulky.
Fix it:
- Hang them so the inside is exposed.
- Don't stack them under other gear.
- Fan them.
Monthly refresh: Light enzyme mist + full dry.
4) Shin pads rotting at the bottom
The bottom edge gets sweat runoff and stays damp.
Fix it:
- Dry shins upside down sometimes so moisture doesn't always settle in the same place.
- Pull liners out if removable.
- Don't store in a wet bag.
5) Helmet / chin cup funk and rusty hardware
Helmets don't usually "wear out" fast, but the comfort parts do.
Fix it:
- Wipe inside occasionally with mild soap/water.
- Dry fully.
- Replace rusty screws/clips (cheap fix).
- Replace chin cups when they get stiff and gross.
Safety note: Replace helmets based on age, major impacts, and manufacturer guidance—not just appearance.
6) Pants and girdles getting stiff, crusty, or funky
Same deal: wet + trapped moisture.
Fix it:
- Open the pants up fully when drying.
- Don't leave them folded or crumpled.
- Airflow inside the hips is key.
The Weekly "Dude Check" (5 minutes that saves you money)
Pick one day a week and do a quick inspection:
- Gloves: palms, fingertips, seams
- Elbows/knees: straps and velcro
- Shins: bottom edge, liner dampness
- Helmet: hardware, chin cup, snaps
- Bag: moisture pooling, old tape, trash, mystery smells
Fixing small issues early prevents:
- emergency purchases
- surprise repairs
- "we have a tournament and everything is broken" chaos
Gear Storage Rules (Do This, Not That)
Do
- store gear dry
- use a rack/hooks/open shelving
- keep gear out of sealed bins unless it's fully dry
- leave the bag open after use
Don't
- store gear wet overnight
- store in a sealed tote while damp
- keep gear in the trunk long-term (moisture + temp swings = gear death)
The Dude's "Gear Longevity Kit" (Optional but Worth It)
If you want to make this easy and automatic:
- a basic box fan
- enzyme spray (light use)
- toothbrush / velcro brush
- a couple old towels (gloves)
- microfiber cloth for helmet/plastic wipes
- a few hooks or a simple drying rack
No fancy gear dryer required. Just consistency.
The Bottom Line (From The Dude)
You don't need to deep clean gear every week. You don't need to soak it. You don't need to buy new stuff constantly.
You need to do the basics every time:
- take it out
- spread it out
- dry it out
- fix small things early
That's how you get an extra season (or two) out of equipment—without your house smelling like a locker room.