Sports are deeply rooted in American Culture
Ever since the first sports leagues were formed in the late 1800’s America has been at the forefront, both in terms of performance and enthusiasm. The Baseball’s National League was founded in 1876, the Stanley Cup was first awarded in 1893, and the NCAA was formed in 1906 - thirty years after colleges began competing in organized football. Today those roots have spread to nearly every town in America, where on any visit you’ll be sure to find a local field, basketball court, or baseball diamond. We start young and stay engaged as athletes and fans throughout our lives. In fact, 42% of the population from age 6 and up is physically active on a weekly basis.
More than 90 million Americans (45 million of which are youth athletes) play organized sports in the U.S. annually. Aside from the benefits of regular exercise and socializing, organized sports encourage higher grades by encouraging active problem solving, team building and overcoming setbacks. It’s not a coincidence that almost all Fortune 500 executives played organized sports as children, after all!
Because of these amazing benefits, it should be common sense to encourage everyone to play sports whenever possible - but it’s not that simple. The main reason why many abstain from joining teams, or allowing their children to join teams, is almost always the cost. Athletes must pay registration fees, travel, and of course, purchase the gear.
How much is this gear, exactly? It varies by sport, but on average an athlete will spend $600 a year on equipment with the potential for thousands more depending on how serious they are about their sport.
We founded SidelineSwap to make sports more accessible by making equipment more affordable. In order to do so effectively, we needed to know exactly how much new equipment costs in each of the major sports. This whitepaper details what we found, and the savings you can expect by shopping for new and used gear on SidelineSwap.
Lacrosse
Given how contact-heavy this sport is, you might think that lacrosse would be incredibly expensive, but it’s actually one of the least expensive of our top served sports! The lack of equipment is actually the cause for many of the bragging rights that lacrosse players hold so dear - you have to be ready for pain and injuries to play this sport at elite levels.
Required Equipment
We compared the cost of each piece of required equipment on Lax.com, arguably the most popular site for new gear, to the average cost on SidelineSwap.
If you or a family member is getting ready to start playing this sport, the equipment you’ll need to invest in is:
- Helmet
- Gloves
- Arm Pads
- Shoulder Pads
- Strung Head
- Shaft
- Cleats
Helmet
Price comparisons are for the Cascade R Lacrosse Hemlet.
Lax.com: $249
SidelineSwap: $105
Total Savings: 58%
Gloves
Price comparisons are for Maverik M3 Gloves.
Lax.com: $129
SidelineSwap: $60
Total Savings: 53%
Arm Pads
Price comparisons are for STX Cell III Arm Guards.
Lax.com: $70
SidelineSwap: $40
Total Savings: 43%
Shoulder Pads
Price comparisons are for STX Cell 3 Shoulder Pads.
Lax.com: $120
SidelineSwap: $70
Total Savings: 42%
Strung Head
Price comparisons are for STX Stallion U 550.
Lax.com: $75
SidelineSwap: $45
Total Savings: 40%
Shaft
Price comparisons are for the Maverik A1 Shaft.
Lax.com: $95
SidelineSwap: $45
Total Savings: 53%
Cleats
Price comparisons are for Under Armour Highlights.
Lax.com: $120
SidelineSwap: $60
Total Savings: 50%
Total Retail Cost of New Gear: $858
Lightly Used Gear on SidelineSwap: $425
(savings 50% or $443)
According to our research, if you pay for a new set of lacrosse equipment, you should be ready to set down $858, on average. However, if you decide to invest in gently used equipment from SidelineSwap, you’ll save 50% - and only have to put down $425, a total savings of $433.
Hockey
As one of the most physical sports, it’s a given that there are plenty of pieces of safety equipment you’ll need to participate in hockey. Players are covered head to toe in equipment while they’re on the ice, comfortable skates are a must, and you should always have a backup stick ready. While it’s easily one of our favorite sports and incredibly fun, don’t skimp on quality when you’re buying your equipment here!
Required Equipment
We compared each piece to a new item from TotalHockey.
- Skates
- Stick
- Helmet
- Shoulder Pads
- Elbow Pads
- Gloves
- Pants
- Shin Guards
- Socks
Skates
Price comparisons are for Bauer Nexus 1N Ice Skates.
Total Hockey: $949
SidelineSwap: $450
Total Savings: 53%
Stick
Price comparisons are for Bauer Nexus 1N Composite Stick.
Total Hockey: $300
SidelineSwap: $135
Total Savings: 55%
Helmet
Price comparisons are for Bauer Re-Akt 100 Helmet.
Total Hockey: $75
SidelineSwap: $45
Total Savings: 40%
Shoulder Pads
Price comparisons are for Bauer Vapor 1x Shoulder Pads.
Total Hockey: $189
SidelineSwap: $120
Total Savings: 37%
Elbow Pads
Price comparisons are for CCM Tacks 6052 Elbow Pads.
Total Hockey: $70
SidelineSwap: $55
Total Savings: 21%
Gloves
Comparisons are for CCM Tacks 6052 Gloves.
Total Hockey: $85
SidelineSwap: $40
Total Savings: 53%
Pants
Comparisons are for Bauer S17 Supreme S190.
Total Hockey: $140
SidelineSwap: $70
Total Savings: 50%
Shin Guards
Comparisons are for Bauer Supreme S150 Shin Guards.
Total Hockey: $60
SidelineSwap: $15
Total Savings: 75%
Socks
Comparisons are for Bauer 1000 Adult Socks.
Total Hockey: $20
SidelineSwap: $5
Total Savings: 75%
Total Retail Cost of New Gear: $2,082
Gently Used Gear on SidelineSwap: $940 (savings 55% or $1,142)
Hockey, according to our research, is the sport where buying used will save you the most money. If you pay for a new set of hockey equipment, you should be ready to set down $2,082, on average. However, if you decide to invest in gently used equipment from SidelineSwap, you’ll save 55% - and only have to put down $940, a total savings of $1,142.
Baseball
Ah, the great American pastime. Baseball may not be as physical as some of the other sports in our study, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need gear! Not convinced you need protection for a quick pickup team? Consider that the average pitch speed is between 50 to 70 miles per hour. The average. Still don’t want to shell out for a proper helmet and glove?
Required Equipment
We compared each piece to a new item from BaseballMonkey.
- Bat
- Glove
- Helmet
- Cleats
Bat
Comparisons are for Easton S2 Hybrid Baseball Bat.
BaseballMonkey: $259
SidelineSwap: $198
Total Savings: 24%
Glove
Comparisons are for Mizuno Global Elite Infield Glove.
BaseballMonkey: $239
SidelineSwap: $160
Total Savings: 33%
Batting Gloves
Comparisons are for Nike Vapor Elite Batting Gloves.
BaseballMonkey: $50
SidelineSwap: $20
Total Savings: 60%
Helmet
Comparisons are for Easton Z7 Batting Helmet.
BaseballMonkey: $70
SidelineSwap: $20
Total Savings: 71%
Cleats
Comparisons are for New Balance M3000 Mid Metal Cleats.
BaseballMonkey: $95
SidelineSwap: $65
Total Savings: 32%
Total Retail Cost of New Gear: $903
Gently Used Gear on SidelineSwap: $463 (savings 51% or $440)
Baseball is relatively affordable compared to some of the other sports we covered here. If you pay for a new set of high-end baseball equipment, you should be ready to set down $903, on average. However, if you decide to invest in gently used equipment from SidelineSwap, you’ll save 51% - and only have to put down $463, a total savings of $440.
Golf
As one of the most dignified sports that Americans play, golf is known as not only a great way to get some exercise and enjoy good weather, but also the setting where many great business deals and partnerships are made. However, in order to play, you need to invest in quality equipment - it’s just par for the course.
Required Equipment
We compared each piece to a new item from GolfGalaxy.
- Driver
- Putter
- Iron Set
- Fairway Wood
- Footwear
- Bag
Driver
Comparisons are for Titleist 915 D3 Driver.
GolfGalaxy: $279
SidelineSwap: $200
Total Savings: 28%
Putter
Comparisons are for TaylorMade OS Daytona Putter.
GolfGalaxy: $199
SidelineSwap: $109
Total Savings: 45%
Iron Set
Comparisons are for Titleist 716 MB Irons.
GolfGalaxy: $1099
SidelineSwap: $420
Total Savings: 62%
Fairway Wood
Comparisons are for TaylorMade M2 Fairway Wood.
GolfGalaxy: $199
SidelineSwap: $109
Total Savings: 45%
Footwear
Comparisons are for Nike Lunar Control 4 Golf Shoes.
GolfGalaxy: $169
SidelineSwap: $60
Total Savings: 64%
Bag
Comparisons are for Ping Hoofer Golf Bag.
GolfGalaxy: $209
SidelineSwap: $45
Total Savings: 78%
- Total Retail Cost of New Gear: $2,154
- Gently Used Gear on SidelineSwap: $943 (savings 56% or $1,211)
Golf equipment is all about quality over quantity - which mean to get the most putt for your buck, you’ll want to find higher quality gently used equipment, instead of buying lower quality gear for the same price. If you pay for a new set of golf equipment, you should be ready to set down $2,154, on average. However, if you decide to invest in gently used equipment from SidelineSwap, you’ll save 56% - and only have to put down $943, a total savings of $1,211.
Skiing
There’s nothing quite like flying down a perfectly powdered ski slope, and feeling confident and in control. That control, however, only comes from having the right equipment on - an ill-fitting boot or scratched up goggles can ruin what could be a great day. If you live near snow, or frequently travel to places that do, investing in great ski equipment is likely a top priority for you and your family, but make sure it doesn’t set you back financially!
Required Equipment
We compared each piece to a new item from Skis.com.
- Skis
- Boots
- Bindings
- Poles
- Helmet
- Goggles
- Jackets
- Pants
Skis
Comparisons are for Salomon X-Drive 8.0 FS Skis.
Skis.com: $950
SidelineSwap: $349
Total Savings: 63%
Boots
Comparisons are for Lange RS 90 SC Ski Boots.
Skis.com: $319
SidelineSwap: $179
Total Savings: 44%
Bindings
Comparisons are for Marker XCell 16 Bindings.
Skis.com: $269
SidelineSwap: $175
Total Savings: 35%
Poles
Comparisons are for Scott WC SL Poles.
Skis.com: $115
SidelineSwap: $50
Total Savings: 57%
Helmet
Comparisons are for Shred Mega Brain Bucket.
Skis.com: $159
SidelineSwap: $75
Total Savings: 53%
Goggles
Comparisons are for Poc Retina Big NXT Goggles.
Skis.com: $129
SidelineSwap: $90
Total Savings: 30%
Jackets
Comparisons are for Armada Atka Jacket.
Skis.com: $349
SidelineSwap: $215
Total Savings: 38%
Pants
Comparisons are for Armada Vision Ski Pants.
Skis.com: $199
SidelineSwap: $125
Total Savings: 37%
- Total Retail Cost of New Gear: $2,489
- Gently Used Gear on SidelineSwap: $1,258 (savings 49% or $1,231)
Skiing is a sport that lets you mix in a vacation at the same time - but is also extremely reliant on great equipment not only for your enjoyment but also your safety. If you pay for a new set of ski equipment, you should be ready to set down $2,489, on average. However, if you decide to invest in gently used equipment from SidelineSwap, you’ll save 49% - and only have to put down $1,258, a total savings of $1,231.
All prices as of 4/21/17.