by Audrey Cabaltica
Essential field hockey gear
1. Sunew Baseball Knee High Athletic Team Socks
I absolutely love these socks! They stretch so easily without ripping and easily goes over my shin guards.
My teammates with different socks often struggle to pull them over their shin guards. A lot of them have holes at the back of their socks or in the shin part from all the stretching. But I’ve used these socks almost every day for almost a year and they’re still completely intact with no holes or rips. I recently bought new pairs in other colors.
Sunew socks are long enough to completely cover my shin guards with an inch left to spare. This is great because it secures my shin guards and keeps them from falling off.
Sunew socks stay up and snug to my skin. I love this because I can concentrate on the game and don’t have to worry about my socks or shin guards falling down. While some of my teammates who use other brands have to be repeatedly pull up their socks during games.
Even though they’re snug, Sunew socks are super breathable and light. They’re not too thick that you get super sweaty but not too thin that they can’t stretch. There’s a mesh material on the back and toe part so you don’t get sweaty while running. I notice this difference when I wear different socks that make me sweaty, but when I wear Sunew socks I don’t get as sweaty.
Sunew socks come in so many different colors and have no logo or stripes on them. They’re super cute even for regular day outfits and I find myself using them even on days I don’t have practice. I bought another pair in pink because I really loved the material and wanted a pair just for everyday use.
2. STX Field Hockey Shin Guards
STX shin guards were recommended by my field hockey coach. My upperclassmen teammates who bought these STX shin guards four years ago still use them. They’re very durable and last a long time.
The grip on these STX shin guards is very strong and can stay on your legs even without socks. My teammates with other brand shin guards have to hold down theirs down while putting socks over them.
Even though the grip is strong, STX shin guards are very light and not too tight. I barely feel a difference when running with them versus running without them. There’s also padding on the inside of the shin guards that rests comfortably on my shins.
The exterior of STX shin guards is very sturdy and hard. I’ve been hit by a stick that was swung at full force and I only felt a vibration. They’re very protective and will definitely keep you from injury.
STX shin guards are also long enough to go right below your knee, providing protection for your whole shin. I’ve seen shin guards that stop short a few inches below the knee, which is dangerous because the ball could hit that exposed area. I can concentrate on my games because I can rely on my STX shin guards to protect me comfortably.
3. Longstreth Cranbarry Field Hockey 6 Pack Balls
Cranbarry field hockey balls come in a convenient mesh zippered bag, so I don’t have to find another bag to carry them in. This makes it easy to store and transport. Unlike other players who have to separately buy a bag to carry around their hockey balls.
I love the texture of Cranbarry balls because they’re very smooth and have no bumps or dents. It rolls quickly across the turf unlike bumpy balls that roll slower.
It’s so satisfying to play with Cranbarry balls because they make no noise when dribbling them and they feel so smooth hitting against your stick.
Cranbarry balls come in a pack of six which is perfect for players who just want to practice by themselves. Other brands had too many balls which is inconvenient if you have to run out and collect them. While I was looking at other brands, I found out that buying Cranbarry six-pack is almost 50% cheaper than buying six single balls.
A Cranbarry ball are also the same size and weight as an official field hockey ball. If you’re looking for a good deal on field hockey balls for practice by yourself or with a friend, this pack is for you.
4. SISU Mouthguard
SISU mouthguard was recommended by my field hockey coach. It’s one you have to mold yourself, which is great because it will be comfortable with your teeth rather than one of the stiff pre-molded ones that don’t fit all mouth types.
SISU also accommodates braces, unlike other mouthguards. My friend who has braces is always complaining that she can’t wear a mouthguard properly because of her braces, but she’s able to wear SISU without any problems.
When I first got SISU, I was very nervous to mold it because I thought if I made a mistake I wouldn’t be able to redo it. Surprisingly, the SISU mouthguard easily unfolded when put in warm water, making it super easy to remold. I ended up trying multiple times to get a mold I was happy with.
SISU mouthguard also doesn’t solidify quickly, so you have time to shape it in your mouth before it hardens. Because of this, you have to hold it in your mouth for a longer time in order to get a sturdy mold.
Most mouthguards are super chunky and barely fit in your mouth. My teammates who bought different mouthguards are always complaining how uncomfortable they are and how it makes them feel like gagging.
SISU mouthguard is super thin and comfortable. I always forget I have it on since it barely feels like anything’s in my mouth. The thinness makes it easy to talk even with it on, so I can communicate on the field without anything falling out of my mouth.
I was surprised by how comfortable SISU was because it was my first time wearing a mouthguard. I expected it to be very thick and hard to keep in your mouth, but SISU mouthguard is so thin and fits perfectly.
There are so many cute colors to pick from, including lavender, aqua, and navy. I highly recommend SISU mouthguard to players in need of a thin, comfortable, colorful mouthguard even if you play other sports.
5. Adidas Visor
My practice is in the afternoon when the sun is hot so I need a hat to shield my face. A lot of kids at school own visors and they’re very popular right now, so I bought this Adidas visor.
My favorite feature is the adjustable velcro strap because I have a very small head and I wasn’t sure it would fit me. The Adidas strap can range from super tight to super loose, so it’s perfect for all ages and head sizes.
The velcro on the strap is also very secure and stays put. On other caps I’ve owned, the velcro doesn’t stick when you adjust it super tight. This Adidas visor surpassed my expectations and I was happy to be able to adjust it to fit my head perfectly.
Adidas visor is very lightweight, making it easy to run with. When I would wear other caps while running, I would have to hold it down to make sure it didn’t fly away. Adidas visor stays on my head so I don’t have to worry about it during practice.
The brim of the Adidas visor is wide and shields my face from the sun from all angles without blocking my peripheral vision. Before the Adidas visor, I didn’t wear caps for practice because they blocked my vision and I couldn’t see well. But the Adidas brim allows me to see my surroundings as If I wasn’t wearing a cap.
The Adidas visor is so practical and stylish. Even if you don’t play sports, this is great for everyday use. I wear it to school and during P.E. since it can double as a regular hat. It comes in tons of colors including magenta, sage green, and salmon.
- Hydrapeak 32oz Insulated Water Bottle
Hydrapeak water bottle is very practical and durable. I’ve had the Hydrapeak for four years now and it’s dent-free and still works perfectly.
The Hydrapeak water bottle can hold hot liquids for 12 hours and cold liquids for more than 24 hours. I once opened my water bottle after not using it for a whole day, and the ice I had put in was still there, frozen.
I really like the lid of this Hydrapeak because it’s super easy to open and sip from. Unlike other water bottles where you have to hold the cover after unscrewing it, this cover stays attached to the lid. So when I’m so thirsty, I can easily take the lid off and let it hang as I drink quickly. I don’t have to worry about losing it. The cover is also well sealed so no water will leak.
Another thing I love about Hydrapeak is the handle. I like bringing a water bottle with me everywhere I go but I don’t like to bring a separate bag just for it. This Hydrapeak has a wide handle that opens up so I can carry it. The handle also folds down flat so nothing sticks out.
If you prefer to carry your Hydrapeak without the handle, the bottle’s surface is slip free and won’t slip out of your hands. Once after practice, my palms were sweaty when I picked up my Hydrapeak and I was surprised at how well it stayed firmly in my hands. Other water bottles I’ve owned in the past were too sleek and slippery.
I love the insulation, practical handle, and super cute colors it comes in. It also comes in different sizes if you don’t need as much or want to hold more liquid.
Hydrapeak is also super easy to clean. My hand can easily fit inside with a sponge. Since there are no straws or small openings, it’s easy to sponge the lid and spout.
Hydrapeak is also great for non athletes. It’s so well designed that I use it all the time outside of sports.
- 30 SPF Thinksport Mineral Sunscreen
Thinksport sunscreen is great for everyday use on the body and face. It’s broad spectrum, reef safe, with safe and natural ingredients.
Unlike other sunscreens I’ve tried, Thinksport is very smooth to apply and doesn’t feel sticky. Before Thinksport, I didn’t like to use sunscreen because of the sticky white layer it left behind. With Thinksport, I barely even notice I have something on my skin. After the application, I forget I even put anything on.
Thinksport also has no smell. I usually know when someone’s wearing sunscreen because of the strong odor from other sunscreen brands. Thinksport has no odor and feels like lotion.
Thinksport is also water resistant. I remember once I applied this sunscreen before my P.E. class, but it ended up raining while we were running. Many of my classmates complained that their sunscreen was washing off and they had white streaks on their arms and legs. I didn’t have the same problem and none of my sunscreen came off in the rain.
Even though Thinksport sunscreen is white, it easily blends into my skin. You can’t even tell I’m wearing sunscreen. With other sunscreens I used to use, they’d always be too white and would make me look like a ghost. I used to spend a longer time rubbing it in to diminish the whiteness. But with Thinksport, it’s a quick and easy application.
Thinksport sunscreen encouraged me to wear sunscreen whenever I go out in the sun because of the light, moisturized feeling I get after applying. It’s great for sports because you barely feel anything when running, moving around, or sweating. Thinksport really protects me from the sun’s harmful UV rays and reduces tanning.
- 30 SPF Thinkdaily Tinted Sunscreen for Face
Thinkdaily face sunscreen is much lighter than the Thinksport body and face sunscreen. Thinkdaily feels very smooth on your skin and is easy to blend so you don’t have to scrub your face so hard.
I like that Thinkdaily is tinted for tanned skin. It blends easily with your skin tone so it’s not at all obvious that you’re wearing sunscreen. Thinkdaily doesn’t leave a white residue on your face.
Much like the body and face sunscreen, Thinkdaily is also broad spectrum, reef safe, odor free, and water resistant. It doesn’t rub off easily, even when you’re sweaty. I always get really sweaty after running and wipe my face. When I used other sunscreens, it would rub off my face and leave streaks on my towel. Thinkdaily doesn’t come off even when it rains.
I use Thinkdaily sunscreen on my face when I play sports and when just go out. It keeps me protected and even moisturized. I really like how light it feels on your skin that I can wear it all the time. I am so happy I found such a great sunscreen.
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