Entry- to Mid-Level Lacrosse Gear That Won’t Break the Bank

We have all seen the guy who shows up to pick up lacrosse with gear that is older than your washer and dryer. Typically, they fall into one of two camps: older and slow but skilled, or older and absolutely filthy.

That’s because the game doesn’t care what gear you use, just whether you can catch, pass and shoot. Experience and skill beat a sweet neon twig and new cleats every single time.

On the other end of the spectrum (and even toward the middle), there are players just starting out in elementary or middle school who just don’t know where to start when it comes to lacrosse gear.

This list hopefully addresses both camps and fills in the middle for the players who just want to throw on their gear and play.

Just in time for Black Friday sales, here are some of the top gear picks from leading manufacturers that won’t break the bank. 

Disclaimer: This article includes affiliate links. USA Lacrosse earns a small commission on qualifying purchases. Any revenue we generate supports our mission to grow the game.

Complete Sticks

You can buy a $300 stick if you want. But you don’t need a $300 stick to play lacrosse.

Complete sticks today are a totally different animal than the ones players were trying to use 15 or even five years ago. Here are some of the more acceptable alternatives to save some money and just get a usable weapon for the field. 

Gloves

When it comes to gloves, the focus is usually on one of two things: flexibility and protection. The more protection you seek, the less flexibility you will find and vice versa.

Although, that’s not as true as it has been in the past thanks to advances in materials like EVA foam and layered design elements.

These picks blend that functionality with moderate prices.

Helmets

The helmet wars have reignited this offseason, as both STX and Warrior have teased out their newest designs on the interwebs.

However, new designs mean that older — but still NOCSAE-approved and viable — models are going on sale. Here are some of the best options to explore if you’re not into paying $300-plus for a helmet.

Arm Protection

Arm guards are different from arm pads. Arm pads are more popular because they are typically lighter and less restrictive. But arm guards often offer superior protection at the price of a small amount of mobility.

The tradeoffs are real for all levels, but most younger players don’t need to go for a guard unless they’re attackmen. Young defensemen are still, you know, defensemen. They are still going to throw the wood.

Shoulder Pads

The recent rule change to provide more protection to the front of the chest of lacrosse shoulder pads forced thousands of players to change their shoulder pads. Some were happy about this, others vehemently opposed. However, the trickle-down of that new standard has made shoulder pads more protective — and in some cases, more affordable. 

Cup

Look, no one loves wearing a cup. It’s annoying, it pinches and it gets in the way. But so does every other pad that you have to wear for lacrosse. And getting hit in the unprotected spot on your forearm is a lot less painful than catching the same check down there. Be smart. Cup up.

Cleats

Cleats have come a long way since the bargain-bin designs that were blatantly stolen from football product designers’ trash cans. Now companies like New Balance have invested considerable resources into designing lacrosse-specific cleats that maximize traction and provide a stable ride for even the speediest of players.