Boys’ lacrosse is a contact sport. And as with all contact sports, players of the game are required to wear a lot of gear.
For the budding young lacrosse player who is just looking to practice his skills in the backyard, purchasing a lacrosse stick is enough to get going. If that sounds like your child, we have a great guide on our recommended top 5 complete lacrosse sticks for youth players to help you out in selecting a complete stick.
But for youth players interested in joining an organized team and playing with others, getting outfitted with all the pads can be a bit more involved. For the uninitiated, we suggest checking out lacrosse starter sets.
- TLDR: Which starter set should I get?
- Budget Option: Maverik Charger EKG Youth Set
- Intermediate age/skills: STX Stallion 200 Set
- Most customizable: Maverik MX Set
- TLDR: What do starter sets include?
- Gloves
- Arm pads
- Shoulder pads
- Optional add-ons: helmet and/or stick
Table of Contents
Why Buy A Lacrosse Starter Set?
The lacrosse starter sets that we recommend on this page provide many benefits for any younger player looking to break into the sport. Lacrosse starter sets simplify the search process and substantially bring down the overall cost of gear while still offering proper in-game protection for the head, hands, arms, shoulders, and chest.
What do lacrosse starter sets come with?
The 4 most important pieces of equipment you will need once you have a lacrosse stick are gloves, arm pads, shoulder pads, and a helmet.
These first 3 items make up the core of all lacrosse starter sets, but the majority come with a helmet and/or lacrosse stick as optional add-ons.
Just to simplify things a bit, there are 2 lacrosse brands for which you will find youth lacrosse gear sets easily available: Maverik and STX.
Then there are 4 basic options for lacrosse starter sets:
- just the pads (gloves, arm pads, shoulder pads)
- pads with stick
- pads with helmet
- pads with stick and helmet
It’s important to know that, in lacrosse, the term “shoulder pads” refers to a single piece of equipment that covers the chest, back, and shoulders of a player. Lacrosse “arm pads” cover the upper and lower areas of the arms, with the elbow area being the most strongly reinforced part, usually featuring plastic coated caps to cushion a hard stick check or fall. Lacrosse “gloves” offer protection for the hands and wrists, while also facilitating a better, more stable grip of the stick.
Again, all 3 of these components are necessary for any boys’ lacrosse player who wants to participate in an organized game.
Gear options
Here is a full list of the total individual items available through the lacrosse starter sets mentioned in this guide:
Pads: Maverik Charger, Maverik MX, STX Stallion 75, Stallion 200
Sticks: Maverik Charger, STX Stallion 50, Stallion 200, Warrior Warp Jr, Warp Next
Helmets: Cascade CPV-R, Cascade CS-R, Cascade S, STX Stallion 100
Truthfully, the gear itself is not going to differ much in terms of mobility or functionality, especially for younger players. Each lacrosse starter package on this list complies with the latest player safety standards set by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE).
But there are some significant differences among the stick and helmet options. So if you’re thinking about going with one of the 5-piece lacrosse starter kits that include everything your youth lacrosse player needs to play, you might first want to check out our guides on these products (sticks, helmets) to decide whether you would rather upgrade to a superior helmet or lacrosse stick, which could offer better protection among other benefits.
One more thing to note is that you likely won’t find lacrosse starter sets in brick-and-mortar stores, since the various sets are just bundles put together by online retailers.
That said, there is nothing stopping you from walking into a store, trying on the individual items to make sure they fit and feel comfortable, then going home to buy the set online. That way you get the best of both worlds by knowing exactly what you’re getting while also saving money. But don’t worry too much if you can’t make it out to a store in person–the links in this guide contain sizing charts.
Starter Set Options
Maverik Charger EKG Youth Starter Sets
Pros
- Budget friendly
- Extra chest protection
- Adult options also available
- Helmet add-ons from Cascade, best lacrosse helmet brand
Cons
- Not the best option for intermediate/advanced players
One of the most serious safety concerns with lacrosse in recent years has been around impacts to the chest that in rare cases can cause a dangerous heart condition known as “commitio cordis.”
With this in mind, and in response to new safety regulations, Maverik developed its new Charger EKG (External Kardiac Guard) set of pads, placing special emphasis on the protective quality of the chest part of its shoulder pads.
It’s important to know that in lacrosse, the term “shoulder pads” refers to a single piece of equipment that covers the chest, back, and shoulders of a player. “Arm pads” cover more than just the elbow, though the elbow area is the most strongly reinforced part. Lacrosse “gloves” offer protection for the hands and wrists, while also facilitating a better, more stable grip of the stick. Again, all 3 of these components are necessary for playing organized lacrosse.
One nice thing about this set is that all 3 pads come in all sizes, ranging from Youth XS to Adult XL. There are also 6 total variations for this set, since there are 2 different helmet options (Cascade CPV-R and Cascade CS-R). There is, on the other hand, just 1 stick option (the Maverik Charger Complete Stick), which can be used by players of all ages but is primarily designed for young boys.
STX Stallion 75 and STX Stallion 200 Youth Lacrosse Starter Sets
Pros
- High quality sets for beginners (75) and intermediates (200)
- Adult options also available
- Stallion 200 add-on stick is an excellent complete stick
Cons
- None
There are two options for STX sets: the STX Stallion 75 and the STX Stallion 200. The main difference being that the 75 is designed for younger new players. The 200 is better suited for older players.
The sizing options are the same for both, so the main functional difference is that the 200 pads are a bit tougher and more substantial. The 200 pads offer slightly more protection to accommodate for the increase in strength of older players and the higher level of physicality in the game. Because of this, they are also a bit more expensive than the 75.
The helmet and stick options also do not vary between the 75 and the 200. The add-on stick is the Stallion 200 complete stick and the add-on helmet is the Stallion 100 helmet.
The Stallion 200 is a great intermediate stick, which can be used by players of all ages, but may be a bit challenging for young players below the age of 10 since it’s a full-sized stick.
As for the pads themselves, the STX shoulder pads meet the same NOCSAE safety standards as the Maverik EKG set listed above. One minor difference between the 75 and 200 that gives the 200 a bit of a nifty perk is that all 3 pads come with printed-on name tag labels. When your teammates have the same set of pads, this can be a big help!
There are 4 purchasing options for both the 75 and 200 starter sets: You can purchase just pads; pads and stick; pads and helmet; pads, stick, and helmet.
The price point for the 200 set is a little higher than that for the 75 or the Maverik set, but worth the difference if you’re shopping for a player who’s in the intermediate range of age and/or skill.
All Buying Options
Boy's Beginner Lacrosse Packages from Universal Lacrosse
Pros
- Full range of options for starter set pads, sticks, and helmets
- Maverik MX is the best all-around set of starter pads
- Additional accessory add-on options
Cons
- Maverik MX set is expensive
This starter set from Universal Lacrosse is a good option if you want a set with more customization.
The sets come in 3 tiers (silver, gold, and premium), which correspond respectively to the Maverik Charger pads, the STX Stallion 75 pads, and the Maverik MX pads.
We’ve covered the first 2 already (see above for details on the Maverik Charger & STX Stallion 75 pads), so let’s quickly go over what makes the MX pads more advanced before moving on to the customization options.
Maverik MX Pads
The Maverik MX pads have superior flexibility, comfort, and lighter weight. But they are more expensive than the other options. We recommend these for a seasoned lacrosse player who needs to replace all of his pads at once.
The Maverik MX packages also allows for greater customization of your starter lacrosse set. Once you select which tier of pads you want, you can then add a helmet, a stick, and even some small accessories (lacrosse balls, mouthguard, equipment bag).
What separates this from the other set options in this guide is that there are more helmet and stick options, all available for any of the 3 tiers. Here’s the list of options.
Helmet options: Cascade CPV-R, Cascade CS-R, Cascade S
- The Cascade S is considered to be superior to the other 2 options.
Stick options: STX Stallion 50, Maverik Charger, Warrior Warp Jr, Warrior Warp Next
- The STX Stallion 50 is worth considering if you’re shopping for a very young player, since it is specifically designed to be a youth stick. It is not legal for high school or college play, but offers the advantage of being shorter and lighter for players under 10 years old.
- The Warrior Warp sticks are unusual in that the pocket is not made out of normal mesh.