Sports Gear Costs
How expensive is it to equip your kids to play?
Anyone who’s ever signed a kid up for a rec league or a school team knows that you’ve got to pay to play ball. Athletic equipment comes with a big-league price tag, especially when you’re suiting up for impact sports that require serious padding and concussion protection. To give you the advantage in the sporting-goods store, we’ve broken down the gear budgets of the major kid sports by item; prices given are a median. Cut costs by going to a shop that resells gently used equipment or asking a friend to pass down gear that’s still in good shape.
FALL/WINTER SPORTS
Football | Soccer | Field Hockey | Basketball | Ice Hockey | Wrestling
SPRING/SUMMER SPORTS
Baseball | Softball | Tennis | Boys' Lacrosse | Girls' Lacrosse | Swimming
Football
Helmet with face mask: $200
Chin strap: $19
Shoulder pads: $175
Hip and tailbone pads: $15
Mouth guard: $30
Gloves: $72
Cleats: $115
Cup: $35
TOTAL: $561
Soccer
Cleats: $150
Shin guards: $65
Gloves: $20
Socks: $16
TOTAL: $251
Field Hockey
Field hockey stick: $220
Cleats: $60
Shin guards: $22
Face guard: $65
Mouth guard: $30
TOTAL: $397
Basketball
Basketball shoes: $135
TOTAL: $135
Ice Hockey
Skates: $230
Helmet with cage: $100
Hockey stick: $100
Padded hockey pants: $72
Hockey gloves: $100
Elbow, shoulder & shin pads: $100
Velcro garter shorts: $40
Socks: $30
Cup: $35
Mouth guard: $30
TOTAL: $837
Wrestling
Wrestling shoes: $100
Head gear: $50
Mouth guard: $30
TOTAL: $180
Baseball
Bat: $280
Glove: $90
Batting helmet: $60
Cleats: $85
TOTAL: $515
Softball
Bat: $230
Glove: $160
Batting helmet: $60
Cleats: $90
TOTAL: $540
Tennis
Tennis shoes: $100
Racket: $125
TOTAL: $225
Lacrosse (boys)
Helmet with face guard: $160
Stick: $105
Shoulder pads: $105
Gloves: $40
Cleats: $85
Mouth guard: $30
TOTAL: $525
Lacrosse (girls)
Stick: $120
Goggles: $45
Gloves: $35
Cleats: $60
Mouth guard: $30
TOTAL: $290
Swimming
Boys’ practice suit: $160
Girls’ practice suit: $105
Goggles: $25
Cap: $16
TOTAL: $201, boys; $146, girls
