Field hockey equipment from A to Z – what a starter kit costs and how to put it together model by model

This is a follow-up to the post Starter kit – what to buy before your first season and what can wait. That article sets the order of purchases: what you need for the first training session, what can wait a few weeks and what only makes sense once you have a specific role on the pitch. Here we go one step further and walk through field hockey equipment item by item: which parameters on the product page matter, which models in our range are described as entry level, how a child’s kit differs from an adult’s and what the whole thing costs in four example configurations.

Prices in this text come from the product listings in our shop as of 27 October 2026, and the technical data from product pages as of October 2026. Before buying, check the product page for the current price and the lengths, sizes and colours available.

How to read a product page before anything goes in the basket

Product pages in our shop use a fixed set of attributes. When putting a first kit together, six of them matter, and it helps to know what they mean before comparing two models.

• Length – given in inches. In the data for our range, junior sticks start at 28 inches and senior sticks come in 36.5, 37.5 or 38.5 inches.
• Composition – the share of carbon, fibreglass and aramid in percent; Gryphon states it as a Carbon Quotient. More carbon means a stiffer stick.
• Bow – the profile type (Standard, Mid Bow, Low Bow, Control Bow, DII) and, for some models, also the depth of the curve in millimetres and the position of its deepest point, measured from the head.
• Weight – in grams, with a tolerance, or as a weight class, such as Light at Grays.
• Size – lettered for shin guards and gloves (from 2XS to XL), European sizing for shoes.
• Variant – Indoor, Outdoor or both at once. This field tells you whether a product will move from turf to indoor without buying a second one.

If a product page does not state a parameter, do not carry it over from another model of the same brand. Data differs between lines and seasons, and weights and bow depths are only given for some sticks.

What the FIH rules say about protection, and what competition regulations say

The FIH rules in force from 1 March 2026 recommend that field players wear shin, ankle and mouth protection. The edition that comes into force internationally on 1 November 2026 uses stronger wording and strongly recommends such protection. The date from which the new edition applies in domestic competitions is set by the national association. In both editions this is a recommendation, not an obligation written into the rules of the game; an obligation can be introduced by the regulations of a given competition, a tournament or a club, and that applies to children too.

The same rules allow hand protection, provided it does not significantly increase the natural size of the hand and fits within 290 by 180 by 110 mm, and they recommend face protection when defending a penalty corner. For putting a kit together this gives a simple order: shin guards and a mouthguard before the first training session, a glove as a practical choice, a mask only when the coach puts you on penalty corner defence.

A field hockey stick: three parameters and ten models

Length

Length is chosen according to the player’s height in the playing position, not their age. We covered the manufacturers’ charts and how to measure in the post on how to choose stick length. The data for our range shows which models cover the full range of lengths: Grays GT3 comes from 30 to 36.5 inches, so a single model runs from children’s sizes to a senior one, and TK F Jr Control Bow from 32 to 35 inches.

Composition

In the sticks our range describes as entry level, the carbon share is low or zero. TK P6 Control Bow has 10% carbon, 85% fibreglass and 5% aramid. Ritual Velocity 25 has 25% carbon, 70% fibreglass and 5% aramid. Naked Zeme 30 Mid Bow has 30% carbon, 65% fibreglass and 5% kevlar. Gryphon Cobra DII G26 has a Carbon Quotient of 40 with fibreglass dominant. Osaka Pro Tour GF 2.0 Grow Bow Junior is 95% fibreglass and 5% kevlar, with no carbon. Grays GT3 is described by the manufacturer as an entry composite with aluminised fabric, without percentages.

Less carbon means a stick that damps vibration on an imprecise trap and punishes mistakes less. That is why manufacturers assign such models to beginners, juniors and recreational play. Sticks with a high carbon share sit in other price brackets in our range, for example Grays GT8 at PLN 1,269 or Osaka Pro Tour 100 2.0 Low Bow at PLN 1,702, and are not needed to get started.

Bow

For some models the product page gives two numbers: the depth of the curve and the distance of its peak from the head. Grays GT3 has 22 mm at 300 mm, Osaka Pro Tour GF 2.0 Grow Bow Junior 17 mm at 300 mm, TK P6 Control Bow 24 mm at 240 mm, and Ritual Velocity 25 24 mm at 250 mm. The shallower the curve and the further its peak from the head, the closer the profile is to straight, and manufacturers describe such sticks as favouring a clean hit and learning the basics. Naked Zeme 30 has a mid bow profile with the deepest point in the middle of the shaft.

A low profile does not rule a stick out for beginners if the manufacturer describes it that way. Gryphon Cobra DII G26 has a DII profile described as extremely low, and yet in the data it appears as a starter stick for juniors and adults playing recreationally, with a Regular head of 118 by 75 mm and a weight of around 530 g. What decides is the combination of profile and composition: a low carbon share keeps the stick forgiving.

Senior sticks described as entry level

• Grays GT3 – 30 to 36.5 inches, 22 mm bow, Micro head, Light weight class; beginner level; PLN 317.
• TK P6 Control Bow – 36.5 and 37.5 inches, 10% carbon, weight 530 g (±10 g); described as a first step into composite; PLN 387 to PLN 433 depending on the variant.
• Gryphon Cobra DII G26 – 36.5 and 37.5 inches, Carbon Quotient 40, weight around 530 g; marked Indoor and Outdoor in the data; PLN 431.
• Naked Zeme 30 Mid Bow – 36.5 and 37.5 inches, 30% carbon, weight around 520 g, Boom Zone reinforced with kevlar; PLN 496.

Junior sticks

• TK F Jr Control Bow – 32 to 35 inches, Control Bow profile; PLN 160 to PLN 194 depending on the variant.
• Naked Genesis Jr – 28, 30 and 32 inches, fibreglass with around 10% carbon, classic profile; PLN 207.
• Naked Prodigy 15 Jr – 30, 32 and 34 inches, 15% carbon; PLN 280.
• Naked Supreme Jr – 32 and 34 inches, 30% carbon, low bow with the deepest point around 200 mm from the head; the manufacturer describes it as an intermediate step between an entry stick and a senior one, not as a first stick; PLN 366.
• Osaka Pro Tour GF 2.0 Grow Bow Junior – 28, 30 and 34 inches, no carbon, weight 370 to 435 g depending on length, a thinner shaft for smaller hands; PLN 388.
• Ritual Velocity 25 – 32 and 34 inches, 25% carbon, marked Indoor and Outdoor, described for beginners and juniors moving up from children’s models; PLN 409.

One practical thing follows from this list: in a junior stick, the price difference between 160 and PLN 409 is above all a difference in composition and profile, not length. A child who is starting out is well served by a model from the lower part of the list, and a stick with 30% carbon makes sense only once the basics are in place.

Shin guards: six models and their sizes

A shin guard should cover the shin from just below the knee to just above the ankle, not press on the kneecap when the leg bends and not slide down when running. A lettered size is the manufacturer’s label, not a measurement, so the same S at two brands can differ in length. Gryphon is the only brand in our data that gives length in centimetres: S 30 cm, M 33 cm, L 36 cm, measured along the longest edge. How to read the other brands’ labels is covered in the post on how to read glove and shin guard sizes.

• Grays Shield Shinguard – 2XS, XS and S; light shell with foam padding; beginner and recreational level in the data; PLN 86 to PLN 87.
• Grays G600 Shinguard – 2XS, XS, S, M and L; polymer shell with removable, washable padding; four colourways; PLN 108.
• Osaka Keigo Shinguard – XXS, XS and S; hard shell with cushioning foam, strap fastening; described in the data as a senior model despite the small sizes; PLN 108.
• Gryphon Classic Shinguards – S, M and L; fabric padding and ventilation holes; PLN 119.
• Grays G700 Pro Shinguard – S, M, L and XL; PLN 150 to PLN 152.
• Osaka Shinguard – S, M and L; hard shell, foam, straps; PLN 162.

All six models are marked Indoor and Outdoor in the data, so the same shin guards serve on turf and indoors. For a child, the smallest sizes come from Grays Shield, Grays G600 and Osaka Keigo. The shin guards and protective gear for field hockey category also has masks for defending penalty corners (Grays Facemask at PLN 258, TK PC Elite Face Mask at PLN 390) and knee guards, but these are purchases for a role, not for starting out.

Mouthguard: you will buy it outside our shop

We do not currently have mouthguards in our range, which is why they are missing from the kits below. That does not change the order of purchases: the FIH rules recommend one just as they recommend shin guards, and a club may require it from the first training session. The options are ready-made models, boil-and-bite models and ones made individually by a dentist. Mould at home only if the manufacturer of that model provides for it, and according to its instructions. With braces, consult an orthodontist about the choice. A well-fitted mouthguard stays on the upper teeth without clenching the jaw and does not get in the way of breathing or speaking.

Shoes: two Osaka models and one rule

There is one rule: the shoe has to match the surface. A field hockey pitch is short artificial turf, water-based or sand-dressed, while an indoor hall is a smooth, hard floor that you enter in clean shoes with a non-marking sole. A venue may have its own requirements, so check the pitch or hall regulations before your first session.

• Osaka Furo – marked Outdoor; sole with a highly abrasion-resistant stud system, inner bootie; sizes 36.5 to 44; PLN 349.
• Osaka Furo Court – marked Indoor; herringbone sole, spandex bootie, reinforced toe; sizes 36.5 to 44; PLN 349.
• Osaka Sliders – black slides with a moulded sole for after training and matches, marked Indoor and Outdoor; sizes 37, 42, 43 and 44; PLN 75.

Both Furo models start at size 36.5, so for a younger child you will choose shoes outside our range, following the same surface rule. An adult who plays on turf and indoors needs two pairs, because a studded sole is not suitable for a hall floor and herringbone does not hold on wet turf. You will find both models in the field hockey and indoor hockey shoes.

Balls: which one for training, which one for home

The FIH rules define the outdoor ball as hard and spherical, with a circumference of 224 to 235 mm and a weight of 156 to 163 g. An indoor ball is a separate product, and a foam ball is only for practising technique at home and in the hall. In our range:

• TK Club Ball – a training ball for grass and artificial surfaces, white; PLN 32.
• TK Dimple Ball – dimpled surface, for training and matches, in white, yellow and pink; PLN 32.
• TK Dimple Deluxe Ball – a higher-grade version, white and yellow; PLN 45.
• Kookaburra Dimple Standard – a basic dimpled ball for everyday training; PLN 71.
• TK Indoor Deluxe Ball – an indoor hockey ball, yellow; PLN 41.
• TK Soft Ball – a soft polyurethane foam ball, blue or pink, for practice at home and in the hall; PLN 26.

If the club provides balls at sessions, your own hard ball is not a first-day purchase. It is useful for work outside training, but only in a safe place, away from windows and other people. For a flat, a foam ball is the better choice. You will find all the models in the field hockey balls.

Glove: why the left hand, and which models are for turf and indoor

In the basic grip the left hand holds the stick at the top of the handle and is the upper hand when dribbling, which is why a field glove protects the left hand. All the single gloves in our data are marked “left”; the only set for both hands is the TK PC Glove Set at PLN 520, in sizes S-M and M-L. The models listed below differ mainly in two things: whether the palm is covered or open, and whether the product page allows them for turf and indoor.

• Grays Anatomic Pro – lycra with a moulded knuckle shield; Outdoor; XS to L; intermediate and advanced level in the data; PLN 86 to PLN 87.
• Gryphon G Mitt OP G5 – open palm, EVA foam and a hard shell on the back; Indoor and Outdoor; XS to L; every level; PLN 108.
• Naked Protek Glove Left – Outdoor; XXS, S, M and L; every level; PLN 108.
• Ritual Vapor Glove Left – the base model of the Vapor series, protection for the back of the hand and fingers; Indoor and Outdoor; S to L; PLN 129.
• Gryphon Millennium G5 – covered palm, multi-section HD foam, adjustable wrist strap; Indoor and Outdoor; S to L; PLN 172.
• Gryphon Indoor Blockr – a blocker-type glove for indoor only, one size; PLN 86.

If you plan to play both formats, a model marked Indoor and Outdoor lets you buy one glove for the whole year. For a child, look at the sizes available: Naked Protek starts at XXS and Grays International Pro at 2XS, but the latter is described in the data as a model for advanced players. You will find more models in the field hockey gloves.

Bag and backpack: from PLN 87

For the first few weeks, the kit and shin guards fit in an ordinary backpack and the stick travels in your hand. A stick bag becomes practical when the stick regularly goes to training on public transport or in the boot with other equipment. The range includes, among others:

• TK4 Stick Bag – a basic stick bag, black; PLN 87.
• TK3 Stick Bag – a stick bag in black or turquoise; PLN 173.
• TK6 Backpack – a backpack for kit, shoes and accessories, black or navy; PLN 195.
• Gryphon Mini Freddie-MF – a compact bag for basic equipment; PLN 216 to PLN 217.
• TK Deluxe Backpack – a backpack for kit, shoes and small accessories, black or navy; PLN 260.
• Grays Alpha-X Kitbag – a large 100 by 32 by 28 cm bag with a compartment for up to four sticks and a detachable backpack; PLN 410.

To start with, the bag in the first position or a backpack is enough. A bag with a compartment for several sticks makes sense when more than one person in the household plays or when you travel to tournaments with a spare stick. The full list is in the hockey stick bags and backpacks.

Turf or indoor: what is shared and what you buy twice

The season in Poland is split between turf and indoor play, and the “Variant” field on the product page tells you which item moves from one format to the other.

• Shared: shin guards (all six models in the data carry both markings), mouthguard, gloves marked Indoor and Outdoor, bag.
• Separate shoes: Osaka Furo for turf, Osaka Furo Court for indoor.
• Separate ball: TK Club Ball or TK Dimple Ball for turf, TK Indoor Deluxe Ball for indoor.
• Stick: for the first indoor sessions you can go in with a stick the club allows, but if you play both formats all year round a second, indoor stick makes sense. Indoors the ball may not be hit, so the stick works differently; indoor sticks tend to be lighter and slimmer, which is a manufacturers’ convention, not a requirement of the rules. Entry-level indoor models in our range: Gryphon Cobra Pro Indoor G26 (36.5 inches, Carbon Quotient 40, weight around 480 to 490 g; PLN 259), Ritual Precision 10 Indoor (36.5 and 37.5 inches, 24 mm ultra-low bow, low carbon share; PLN 366), Ritual Precision 10 Indoor Jr (35 inches; PLN 366), Grays DB1Xi Dynabow Junior (34 and 35 inches; PLN 189) and the wooden Gryphon Taboo XLB Indoor Wood G26 (36.5 and 37.5 inches; PLN 776).
• Indoor glove: Gryphon Indoor Blockr is marked Indoor only, while Gryphon G Mitt OP G5, Gryphon Millennium G5 and the Ritual Vapor gloves carry both markings.

What field hockey equipment costs: four kits with prices

Below are four kits made up of the models described above, with prices as of 27 October 2026. They are examples, not the only right configurations: every item has to be matched to the player. None of the kits includes a mouthguard, because we do not have one in our range, and the child’s kit also leaves out shoes, because the Osaka models start at size 36.5. The fourth column shows what a full kit costs for an adult who plays on turf and indoors from the first season.

Item	Child, starting on turf	Adult, starting on turf	Starting indoors	Adult, turf and indoor
Stick	Naked Genesis Jr – PLN 207	Grays GT3 (36.5 inches) – PLN 317	Ritual Precision 10 Indoor – PLN 366	Grays GT3 and Ritual Precision 10 Indoor – PLN 683
Shinguards	Grays Shield Shinguard – PLN 86 to PLN 87	Grays G600 Shinguard – PLN 108	Grays G600 Shinguard – PLN 108	Grays G600 Shinguard – PLN 108
Shoes	chosen outside this comparison	Osaka Furo – PLN 349	Osaka Furo Court – PLN 349	Osaka Furo and Osaka Furo Court – PLN 698
Ball	TK Club Ball – PLN 32	TK Dimple Ball – PLN 32	TK Indoor Deluxe Ball – PLN 41	TK Dimple Ball and TK Indoor Deluxe Ball – PLN 73
Glove	after a few weeks	Gryphon G Mitt OP G5 – PLN 108	Gryphon Indoor Blockr – PLN 86	Gryphon Millennium G5 – PLN 172
Bag	TK4 Stick Bag – PLN 87	TK4 Stick Bag – PLN 87	TK4 Stick Bag – PLN 87	TK3 Stick Bag – PLN 173
Total	PLN 412 to PLN 413	PLN 1,001	PLN 1,037	PLN 1,907

A few notes on the table. The child’s kit without a bag and with a club stick for the first weeks shrinks to shin guards and a ball, that is PLN 118 to PLN 119. In the adult turf kit, the glove and bag can be put off for a few weeks, in which case the first basket comes to PLN 806. In the indoor kit the glove is there from the start, because indoor play is low to the floor and close to the boards; that is a practical choice, not a requirement of the rules. In the fourth column one glove marked Indoor and Outdoor replaces two, and the shin guards are the same all year.

Child or adult: what changes in the kit

For a child, the stick and shoes are seasonal items, because a change in height changes the size, while shin guards and a glove last longer as long as they have not become too small. That is why in a child’s kit the money is best spent on a well-chosen size, not on the stick’s composition. The data for our range shows that for PLN 160 to PLN 207 you can buy a junior stick with a profile for learning the basics, while Naked Supreme Jr at PLN 366, with 30% carbon, is described by the manufacturer as an intermediate step between an entry stick and a senior one, not as a first stick. If the club lends sticks for the first weeks, the first own stick is bought after a few sessions, once it is clear which length the child feels confident with.

An adult has a fixed size, so the stick and shoes are bought for longer and they can go straight for a model in 36.5 or 37.5 inches. The trap is different: competition-grade equipment is within reach of the wallet, and the product page tempts with a high carbon share. A stiff stick will not replace learning to trap and dribble the ball, and the four senior models in the list above cost from PLN 317 to PLN 496 and are all described by their manufacturers as entry level. The difference between them and a stick at PLN 1,269 is above all a difference in composition and profile, not length.

Trying things on before buying: a checklist

Trying things on catches sizing mistakes that the product page cannot show. Before ordering, or in the showroom, check in turn:

• The stick in the playing position, not standing upright. The child holds the stick the way they will dribble, and that is when length is judged.
• Shin guards with socks and in shoes, the ones the player actually plays in. Without socks a shin guard sits differently and trying it on tells you little.
• The left-hand glove on the stick. Check that the grip at the top of the handle is free and that the shield does not block the wrist.
• Shoes in the socks you play in, and with the shin guard inside if the model reaches low over the ankle.
• The variant on the product page: if you will change surface during the year, the Indoor and Outdoor marking on the glove and shin guards saves a second purchase.
• Nothing to grow into: the stick, shin guards and shoes are chosen for the player on the day of purchase. For a child that means trying everything on before each season.
• A mouthguard separately, before the first training session, outside our shop.

If you would rather hold a stick in your hand before buying, you are welcome at our showroom in Żerniki by prior appointment. If in doubt about a specific model or size, write to us with a description of the player, their height and the surface they play on. Start putting your field hockey kit together with the stick: entry-level, junior and indoor models are in the field hockey sticks.