The Gear Files
What you actually need, by sport.
Honest starter kits. Real cost ranges. What to skip. Written by parents who have already bought the wrong thing.
How this works
Pick your sport or activity below. Each guide has a starter list, the gear that actually matters, and what to skip. Sizing companion pages where the sport needs them. Affiliate links where used; disclosure here.
Team sports
- Baseball Glove, bat, helmet, cleats. Tee-ball through middle school.
- Basketball Shoes, ball, athletic gear. Indoor sport, low overhead.
- Football — Flag Mouthguard, cleats, gloves. No pads, no helmet.
- Football — 7v7 Skill-position 7v7. Mouthguard, cleats, gloves, optional skull cap. No tackling, no linemen.
- Football — Tackle Helmet, full pads, cleats. The most equipment-heavy youth sport.
- Hockey Skates, helmet, stick, full pads. Plan for serious investment.
- Lacrosse — Boys Contact version. Helmet, gloves, full pads, stick.
- Lacrosse — Girls Non-contact version. Stick, goggles, mouthpiece.
- Soccer Cleats, shin guards, ball, water bottle.
- Softball Mostly the same as baseball, with a few specific tweaks.
- Volleyball Shoes, knee pads, ball. Indoor and beach variants.
Individual sports
- Crew Most gear is club-provided. What you actually buy: a few specific things.
- Cross country Trainers, racing flats, layered cold-weather kit.
- Golf A starter set, gloves, balls. Used clubs are fine.
- Gymnastics Leotards, grips, tape. Most apparatus stays at the gym.
- Martial arts Gi, belt, mouthguard. Discipline differs by style.
- Swimming Suit, cap, goggles. The cheapest sport on the list.
- Tennis Racket, shoes, balls. Stringing matters more than you think.
- Track and field Spikes by event. Sprints, distance, hurdles, jumps, throws.
Performing arts
- Ballet Slippers, leotard, tights. Pointe later, on the teacher's timeline.
- Band Instrument, reeds, accessories. Rent before you buy.
- Cheerleading Shoes, bow, practice clothes. Competition uniforms via the team.
- Choir Almost no equipment. The list is short and cheap.
- Dance Shoes, leotards, tights, recital costumes. Style-specific.
- Stunt and tumbling Mat shoes, bracing, athletic tape. The tumbling-track essentials.
- Theater School plays, community theater. Mostly time, less equipment.
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