As much fun as lacrosse is to watch, coach or play, it’s not the cheapest sport for a newcomer to take up. The gear can be expensive to buy new. Not just the lacrosse stick, or the short crosse, that everyone is familiar with, but also the helmet and pads. In boys lacrosse, the shoulder and arm pads, helmet and gloves are required safety gear for every player.
The goalie has to additionally wear a chest pad and throat guard, and typically uses a different style of crosse than the field players. Optional equipment can include rib pads, and up to four players per team, usually defensively oriented, are allowed to use a long stick instead of the regular 42 inch one.
For most beginners interested in becoming involved in the sport, or for advanced players who want additional gear, the question of where to get second hand lacrosse gear comes up. Often the person has played a season with borrowed gear from a friend or the team and wants to invest in their own.
Other times, a player wants additional gear for others to use while he practices his technique at home in addition to formal practice with the team. In either case, the player may not want to spend the full price for new gear.
There are a few answers to the question of where to get second hand lacrosse gear. Perhaps the best choice is from a friend, someone who has aged out and no longer needs their old gear or someone who is upgrading their gear and needs to sell what they used to use to help finance their new equipment. If that situation is unavailable, a new player can look online. It’s always suggested to go through a reputable website that has a track record of providing buyer protection and solving disputes should the gear arrive not as described or unusable.
Another option, typically a bit more expensive, is to try shopping for gear at sports stores that have a buyback program for used but usable sports gear, or even a local pawn shop might have a great deal on equipment, especially if lacrosse is a popular sport in the area. Second hand gear is available, it may just take some time and patience to find.