In the world of shipping sports gear, one of the questions we are asked often is, “how can I ship my hockey equipment quickly and safely?” At Pak Mail, our specialty shipping experts are well equipped to answer this question. We’ll pack and ship your equipment in the most cost-effective, safest way.
Shipping Hockey Sticks
There are a number of options for how to prepare a hockey stick for shipment. If you do not have a stick bag available, the most economical strategy is to wrap the stick in furniture wrap, then securely cover the stick in bubble wrap. For an extra layer of protection, you can wrap the bubble-wrapped stick in a sheet of thick plastic (heavy duty trash bags will work) to create a moisture barrier against the elements.
Another strategy for shipping hockey sticks includes fashioning a corrugated box that the stick will fit inside. We suggest still wrapping the stick in furniture wrap and bubble wrap before placing inside the box. The box can be a traditional rectangle with loose-fill to provide cushioning.
Finally, the safest method of packing a hockey stick for shipment is to make a box out of plywood that the stick will fit inside (again, make sure to wrap with furniture wrap and bubble wrap prior to placing in the box). The best practice for shipping a stick in a box (either wood or corrugated) is to use a rectangular-shaped box that keeps the stick completely protected. Using a box that follows the contour of the stick makes it much more susceptible to damage because anything that protrudes has a higher chance of being broken.
Remember, shipping multiple sticks together will make them stronger and less susceptible to damage. If shipping sticks for an entire team, it may be a good idea to mix and match different player’s sticks so that if one shipment is lost or damaged, each player’s backup stick will be in another shipment.
Shipping Hockey Pads, Skates, and Helmets
The most efficient method for shipping hockey pads and skates is to pack the equipment as you normally would in your equipment bag. First, we suggest that you use a hockey-specific equipment bag. The size of the bag is important – too small and you will risk damaging something trying to get everything in the bag; too big and your equipment will move around and potentially get damaged.
Hockey skate blades should be protected with skate guards whenever they are placed in your equipment bag. If you do not have skate guards and are shipping your equipment, we suggest covering the blades with bubble wrap.
When it comes to loading everything into the bag, you should use shoulder pads and hockey pants to line the bottom. Shin pads are a good idea for lining the sides of the bag since they retain their rigidity. All other gear should be placed on top of the extra padding created by the shoulder pads and pants and within the protection of the shin pads. Helmets and skates should be well protected during shipment because of the large amount of hardware that can be damaged.
Tips for Shipping Hockey Equipment
- If flying, check with your airline well in advance of your trip to find out what they suggest when flying with hockey equipment. Also, be sure to ask what the costs will be. Oftentimes, shipping luggage with a packing and shipping expert like Pak Mail will be significantly less than airline fees.
- When shipping, be sure to ship equipment with enough time before your first practice or game in case of delays. When flying, you should plan to arrive a day or two before your first practice or game in case any of your luggage gets misplaced.
- Ask about insurance for your equipment – travel insurance and shipping value coverage could save you in the event your equipment is lost.
- Use multiple luggage tags on your bags or inside shipped packages that include your name, phone number, and the destination address and phone number.
If you are shipping hockey equipment – of any size and any amount – come talk to the experts at Pak Mail for the best customer service and professional packing services to get your equipment to your next game or tournament. Pak Mail can pack and ship anything, anywhere.