How much do Hockey Sticks Cost? (Here’s what to Expect)

If you’re going to play hockey, you must have a hockey stick. There really is no getting around it. So, if you must buy one, it is helpful to actually know how much you’ll have to shell out.

So how much do hockey sticks costs? After looking around on various websites, there is a wide range of prices depending on skill level. However, for most people, a quality hockey stick should cost between $75 to $125. Again this goes up considerably if you are a skilled player and require the best equipment possible.

Like all sports equipment, hockey sticks come in a wide range of prices. And, with the range of prices, there is a range of quality, too.

There are high-end, expensive sticks and there are low-price, budget sticks. If you are new to the game, you probably don’t want to drop hundreds on a high-end stick. If you are a veteran and you play on a regular basis, then you might be ready to buy a stick that will last a long time.

We’ve divided the different ranges into: Budget, Mid-range, and Expensive and describe each in subsequent sections.

Budget

how much do hockey sticks cost?
Budget-priced hockey sticks are great choices for new hockey players who are not on the ice very often. Where high-end sticks are balanced perfectly, the budget model sticks are often heavier at the bottom.

Most hockey players comment that budget sticks do not have the pop that high-end sticks have, which is one of the reasons why these sticks are not beloved by veteran players.

But, they are durable and they do not cost much, which is a big plus for someone who does not want to spend more than $80 on a hockey stick.

Characteristics

So what do budget sticks have in common?

  • Priced between $50 and $80
  • Made of low-end composite and resin
  • Often made of two-piece fused sticks
  • Limited “pop”
  • Durable
  • Mid-flex point
  • An example: Bauer Vapor X600

Mid-range

mid range hockey stickMid-range hockey sticks are good choices because they can sometimes perform better than the budget-priced models.

Mid-range sticks have more pop and whip, but because they have more performance qualities – like lower weight and more flex. This also means that they can break more easily than the durable low-price models.

They are usually made of better composite materials than low-end models. There are usually a few mid-range models in every brand’s line of sticks.

Characteristics

Here are some things that many budget sticks have in common:

  • Priced between $100 and $200
  • Made of composite and resin
  • Not as heavy as budget-model sticks
  • Two-piece fused sticks
  • They have “pop” and “whip”, but can be “whipped out” quickly
  • Not as durable as budget-model sticks
  • Flex differs
  • An example: Sherwood Rekker EK345

Expensive

expensive hockey stickExpensive hockey sticks are nearly the equivalent of what professional hockey players use.

They are made of the best quality composite materials so that you can get the best performance out of them. They are lightweight and balanced perfectly so you can feel the puck on the ice.

Most of the expensive hockey sticks are one-piece models, which makes them have better pop. Hockey players of all levels become better when they use a high-end stick, because they have better control of the puck.

Characteristics

What most expensive sticks have in common include:

  • Priced over $200
  • high-quality composite materials
  • Lightweight
  • One-piece
  • Well-balanced
  • Plenty of pop and whip
  • Easy to feel the puck
  • Balanced blades
  • An example: Bauer Nexus 1N

Important things to Consider with Pricing

Before you decide your price range or budget, there are a few important things to know:

  1. Spending more on a stick doesn’t mean that it will last longer than a lower-priced stick.
  2. A high-end stick will perform better than a low-price stick. It’s like buying a high-end luxury car or an economy car, the luxury car will perform better – even if the same person is driving it.
  3. There is no guarantee that a stick will not break, no matter how experienced or inexperienced you are at playing hockey

When is a good time to buy?

One of the things to know about hockey sticks is that they are constantly being upgraded by manufacturers.

They do this at different times, so there is not a magic time to buy a year-end model on a big discount. Most brands have lines that they maintain and they offer different styles in those lines. You can expect them to add new sticks every year or two – especially as new technology is developed.