Gloves are sized in inches, not shoe size or age — here's how to get the fit right.
Hockey gloves are sized in inches, measured from the cuff to the fingertip when laid flat, and generally follow the same youth/junior/intermediate/senior categories as sticks and skates. A correctly-fitted glove lets fingertips reach near the end of the finger stalls without jamming and allows a full grip on the stick — many coaches recommend sizing slightly loose rather than snug for younger, growing players, since a too-tight glove limits stick feel and wrist movement.
Hockey gloves are sized in inches, measured from the top of the cuff to the fingertip when the glove is laid flat — not by shoe size, height, or shirt size the way other gear sometimes is. As a general guideline, glove size roughly follows player height and stick length category (youth, junior, intermediate, senior all have their own size ranges), but trying gloves on is the only reliable way to confirm fit, since palm width and cuff shape vary between brands and models.
A correctly-fitted glove allows the fingertips to reach close to the end of the finger stalls without jamming, with enough room to fully close the hand around a stick. Many coaches recommend sizing slightly looser for younger, still-growing players rather than snug — a too-tight glove restricts stick feel and wrist movement, which matters more at the youth level than marginal extra protection from a snugger fit.
Glove palms are typically nylon, synthetic leather (clarino), or genuine leather. Nylon is the lightest and most affordable but wears fastest; synthetic leather balances durability, grip, and cost and is the most common choice at the youth level; genuine leather offers the best long-term durability and stick feel but costs more and takes longer to break in. For a young player who's still growing out of gloves every season or two, synthetic leather or nylon is usually the more practical choice.
Goalies do not use player gloves — they wear a separate blocker and catch glove, sized and fitted entirely differently. See our goalie equipment guide for blocker and catcher sizing.
In inches, measured from the top of the cuff to the fingertip with the glove laid flat — not by shoe size or age, though size ranges roughly follow the youth/junior/intermediate/senior stick and skate categories.
Slightly loose is generally the safer choice for younger, growing players — a too-tight glove restricts stick feel and wrist movement, which matters more at the youth level than the marginal extra snugness.
Synthetic leather (clarino) or nylon are the most practical choices for youth players who are still growing and will need a new size soon — genuine leather offers better long-term durability and feel but costs more and takes longer to break in.
No — goalies wear a separate blocker and catch glove, sized and fitted entirely differently from player gloves.