The Best Hockey Equipment Stores

Thursday, March 30th

2023 Hockey Equipment Store Reviews

Perani's Hockey World

• Return Policy: Return within 30 days of invoice date with a return authorization number

Perani's Hockey World was started by Bob Perani in 1976. He was a local pro hockey player who wanted to start a retail store for other players to find all their necessities in one place. Their core operations and customer service center is located in Flint, Michigan. They have over 100,000 square feet of warehouse space to fit the big inventory of hockey equipment that they carry. Perani's Hockey World has earned our highest rating among online hockey retailers.

Lots Of Choices

You'll find name brand products at Perani's Hockey World like Nike, Easton, Reebok, Warrior, Mission, Infiniti, Bauer, and more. They have the sports equipment to outfit players from goalie to forward. The product categories customers can shop from include:

• Hockey Jerseys
• Helmets
• Pants
• Protective Gear
• Skate
• Sticks
• Bags
• Gloves
• Performance Wear
• Socks

Competitive Pricing

There are quite a few different products and prices for any given item at Hockey World. This means that most people should be able to find something in their budget that works for them. Their prices are competitive and some of the products have customer reviews so you have an idea of how the quality matches up with the cost. Their best price guarantee ensures that you won't get caught paying higher prices at Hockey World if another retailer is offering the same products for less. For orders of $99 or less, ground shipping is an additional $8.99 on top of your product costs.

Team Discounts Available

Team discounts are an option for groups who are ordering in bulk. Hockey World has a list of specific products that are eligible for discounts for customers who are ordering in quantities of 12 or more. A contact email and number is available for a representative who can help with customizations on apparel or gear if needed.

Highest Rating

Overall, we are impressed with the hockey inventory at Perani's Hockey World. This is one of the few retailers that mostly focuses on hockey gear, so they really know their target market and provide all the necessary products that players would need. We highly recommend going straight to Hockey World's website next time you need to make a purchase for hockey equipment for a smooth shopping experience. They have earned our highest rating for hockey equipment retailers.

Pure Hockey

• Return Policy: New items can be returned for a refund within any timeframe, while used items have 30 days to be eligible for refunds with some exceptions.

Pure Hockey boasts that they are the largest online hockey retailer in the USA. All of their store managers are former hockey players and hockey fanatics. They aim to provide top-notch customer service where they offer genuine opinions about products to make sure customers purchase the best gear. We like everything we see at Pure Hockey, except the flat rate $10.99 shipping fee for all purchases seems a little expensive when compared to some retailers that offer free delivery. But hey, if this is our biggest complaint, that should tell you Pure Hockey is a good place to shop.

Choose Your Price Range

Pure Hockey runs seasonal sales periodically, so customers can save on their orders by taking advantage of this. If you are trying to stay within a certain budget when you're looking for any given hockey product, Pure Hockey allows you to choose your price range and sort through their inventory this way. Most of their products fall between $25 and $1,250 depending on what you're looking for. Their low price guarantee also ensures that if you find an equal product at another online store, Pure Hockey will match the price within 30 days of your purchase.

Hockey Equipment Categories

Your online shopping experience at Pure Hockey will be quick and easy with their professional website and specific product categories. They include:

• Sticks
• Skates
• Protective
• Accessories
• Bags
• Jerseys & Apparel
• Goalie
• NHL
• Sale

Shop By Brand

You can also shop by brand at Pure Hockey. Some of their brands include Bauer, TRUE, Warrior, CCM, Shock Doctor, and many more. Once you narrow down what you're looking for, you can shop by price, size, product line, color, division, and more. We noticed that all product categories have a lot of options, so there is a huge inventory to choose from at Pure Hockey.

Generous Return Policy

If you aren't 100% satisfied with your order, Pure Hockey will take your items back for free. As long as they meet the general return guidelines (new condition, original packaging, no scuffs, and so on), there is no timeframe for returning unused items. If you're trying to return a used item, you have 30 days to do so. In this case, you can usually still receive a full refund unless it is a hockey stick, shaft, blade, jock, mouthguard, undergarment, or custom order. All in all, Pure Hockey has a generous return policy that makes it fairly easy for customers to receive a refund if they need to.

Great Reputation

We are not surprised that the Better Business Bureau gives Pure Hockey an A+ rating. From kids to adults, whether customers are novice or professional hockey players, Pure Hockey has gear for everyone. We like how many products are offered to meet different price points, making this online store a place that caters to all players. We highly recommend shopping here for any hockey needs.

Hockey Monkey

• Return Policy: Return within 90 days for a refund or 1 year for exchanges

Hockey Monkey is a division of MonkeySports Inc. that also sells baseball, softball, and lacrosse equipment. Since 1999, they have been selling sports gear. In addition to shopping, hockey fans can stay up-to-date on important news in the sports world through Hockey Monkey's frequently-updated blog. This website is definitely a catch-all for a customer's hockey needs whether it be products or information.

They've Got It All

You don't have to worry about Hockey Monkey carrying any product you might need. They seem to have just about everything. For first-time players, detailed gear guides can be browsed that help customers locate the right equipment. Many hockey products were on sale at the time of this review, making them a competitive option. This is good news for hockey players since their skates and other necessary equipment is usually hundreds of dollars. Hockey Monkey has a best price guarantee, so you can make sure you get the best deals on items that might also be sold elsewhere. If you're spending $75 or more, shipping will be free. Otherwise the cost to ship anywhere in the US is $7.99.

Great Return Policy

Customers have a whole year to return new and unused purchases. If products are returned within a 90 day period, they are eligible for refunds or exchanges. We are impressed by how generous this return policy is. If items are returned after the 90 day refund period, but within one year, exchanges for another product are allowed. Restocking fees (10%) only apply on returns if customers buy multiple sizes of the same product.

Strongly Recommended

We like that Hockey Monkey has products for both inexperienced and experienced players that fit different price ranges. We recommend taking advantage of the clearance selection and periodic sales that they run to get the best deals. We were surprised to see that the Better Business Bureau only gave MonkeySports, Inc. a B- rating, but we still feel confident that they are a good option for high-quality and affordable hockey equipment.

HockeyShot

• Return Policy: 120 days for returns and exchanges

HockeyShot was founded in 2007 as an online retailer that provides the tools necessary for hockey training. Here you'll find products like flooring tiles, passing kits, synthetic ice, goals, slide boards, and more. They are partnered with companies like the Los Angeles Kings, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, How To Hockey, The Hockey Movement, The Hockey Foundation, and many more.

Confusing Shopping Experience

If you're new to hockey, then browsing products at HockeyShot will be more confusing than at other online retailers. Their product categories include shooting, pass/stickhandling, skating, training, and HS products. You won't find things like skates or apparel necessary to playing hockey here. Rather, you'll have the best luck if you're just trying to get accessories to create your own game environment or practices.

Free Shipping - If You Qualify

Customers only receive free shipping from HockeyShot if they spend over $200. This seems like a pretty expensive benchmark to hit in order to get free shipping. However, some of the equipment on this site might be up to a couple hundred dollars by themselves since they sell larger equipment. If you sign up for their email list, you'll receive 10% off of your order, so this is something to take advantage of.

Customer Issues

We are concerned about some of the comments customers have made about their experience with ordering products from HockeyShot. It seems to be a common theme that orders are placed and then take a really long time to ship. They have a disclaimer on their website that shipping times are delayed, so this is to be expected. However, customers have a hard time getting a hold of customer service to get a status on their shipment. HockeyShot is unrated by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), but has a few negative comments on their BBB profile, leaving them with a 1 out of 5 star rating on their site.

Better For Teams Than Individuals

Overall, we think most hockey players probably won't be shopping at HockeyShot because they don't have an inventory that caters to individuals. It seems to make more sense for teams, coaches, or building managers to purchase large equipment from this site for players to use. If you aren't worried about getting your order in a hurry, HockeyShot is a good place to look for training equipment.

DICK'S Sporting Goods

• Return Policy: Within 60 days of purchase with receipt

DICK'S Sporting Goods has been a familiar household name providing sporting gear for their customers since 1984. Customers have shopping options of either having items shipped to them from their online store or picking up their online order at one of their hundreds of locations around the U.S.

Extremely Concerning

The huge selection of inventory and good online browsing experience at DICK'S would usually lead us to recommend them as a good place to buy hockey equipment. However, they have hundreds of customer complaints that can be found online and they also receive an "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau. This is extremely concerning to us, so we would urge customers to steer clear of DICK'S to avoid problems.

Unfiltered Customer Reviews

DICK'S allows their customers to leave unfiltered reviews on their purchases, which is something we like to see. It is helpful so that shoppers can gauge the quality and performance of any given item before making an online purchase, especially since they aren't seeing items in-person. Since DICK'S has a fairly bad reputation with lots of customers, if you still decide to shop here, then hopefully the product reviews will help you get a better idea of whether or not you should buy a particular hockey product,

Price Matching

If customers find a product sold at DICK'S for a lower price through another hockey retailer in-store or online, they can contact customer service for price matching. This means that if the two products are equal, then you'll get the lowest price you've found. DICK'S typically seems to be more expensive than their competitors, so price matching might help you feel better about what you pay here. If customers need to make a return, there is a 60-day window to do so for any reason. As long as the receipt is on hand, customers can get a full refund or make an exchange.

Disappointing Reputation

Customer service issues seem to be a common complaint among people who have shopped here. Others have run into frustrations when trying to cancel orders, get a refund, or redeem their rewards points. It is disappointing that DICK'S has such a bad reputation because they are well-known, have many brick-and-mortar stores, and stock a thorough selection of hockey equipment. We recommend using a higher-rated online retailer for your hockey gear for the best possible experience.

Academy Sports + Outdoors

• Return Policy: Refunds given with proof of purchase with no time limit

Academy Sports originated in San Antonio, Texas in 1938. When they first started out, they were only selling tires. They have since expanded into the sporting goods and outdoor gear market. There are over 250 brick-and-mortar stores throughout the US, which means customers can shop online and pick up their order in-store if they live close to one of their locations.

Competitive Pricing

Compared to other hockey retailers, pricing for products at Academy Sports is competitive. For exchanges or returns, customers can send products back as long as they still have proof of purchase to go along with it. Academy Sports specifies that customers have 60 days to return their products. As long as products are resellable, they remain eligible for returns.

Sparse Hockey Equipment

It's easy to navigate Academy Sports' website and simple to narrow down the products you may be looking for. However, this won't matter much if they don't have what you are looking for. When it comes to hockey equipment, your options are sparse with this retailer. Other sports carry a bigger inventory, but for hockey players, you might want to look elsewhere just for the sake of having more products to choose from.

BBB Warning

One of the most concerning aspects of Academy Sports is the warning given to potential customers on their Better Business Bureau (BBB) listing. Academy Sports is not accredited and does not receive a specific rating from the BBB, but many disputes have led to the following post about their practices:

"It has been alleged by consumers that the sales and practices of Academy Sports & Outdoors are misleading and deceptive. Several of the complainants state the products received are used items. Also, complainants allege Academy Sports & Outdoors does not adhere to the 90 day return policy and fails to refund consumers. Additionally, customers allege they show concern when complaining about less-than-satisfactory experiences with employees, and negative customer services issues."

Dont Waste Your Time

This is a huge red flag for us. On top of the fact that they don't have very many hockey products for their customers to browse, we don't feel like Academy Sports has much going for them. We recommend that you skip over this store and not risk dealing with customer service or being disappointed with the products you receive.