The first question that may come to mind for many when reading this headline could be “Where is Bulgaria?”

Bulgaria is a gorgeous country located in the Balkans region nestled next to Serbia, Romania, and Greece among many other European Countries. It is a country full of rich culture, incredible history, and gorgeous scenery that seems to have stepped right out of an Indiana Jones film. From the Black Sea Coast Line to the Rila Monastery in the hills, this country is sure to impress. With a population of just over six million and a sports culture dominated by soccer, you might be pleasantly surprised to hear of the lacrosse growth occurring in the country.

Lacrosse has been played in Bulgaria for over 10 years, led by the founder of Bulgaria Lacrosse, Nikolay Cholakov. Nik and his core group have dedicated endless hours to growing the game all over the country in order to foster a competitive atmosphere of lacrosse that could one day produce a Bulgarian National team to compete on the global stage.

This is where my journey with Bulgaria Lacrosse began. My name is Tucker La Belle, I’m a 25 year old College Lacrosse Coach, content creator, and lover of international lacrosse. When the opportunity to lead The Bulgarian National team came up, I jumped at the opportunity head first with no hesitation. After my first call with Nikolay I could see that something incredible was forming for lacrosse in Bulgaria faster than many other European Countries. The people of Bulgaria have latched onto lacrosse rapidly in a gorgeous way through media, pop culture, and following the sport played here in the United States and Canada. Fun fact, Bulgaria Lacrosse was even featured years ago in a popular music artists’ commercial reaching huge numbers of viewers exposing them to the game of lacrosse.

After some extensive research into the culture of Bulgaria, zoom calls with the team, and endless hours of YouTube videos about Bulgaria, My Fiance and I began our journey from Iowa to Bulgaria. My heart was full of a hunger for adventure and a desire for the moment I would finally get to meet my new team. After some long flights and several layovers across Europe we finally landed in the capital city of Sofia, Bulgaria. Walking out of the Airport we were warmly greeted by Nikolay who was full of enthusiasm and a desire to introduce us to his incredible culture. Our first stop was a small neighborhood restaurant where we would quickly learn to love the Bulgarian Cuisine. Nikolay claimed this was one of the best spots in town, as he claimed about every spot we visited. He wasn’t wrong. The food at each small restaurant seemed to

get better and better. The Shopska salads and constant barbeque became a staple of our time there. After our quick stop for lunch, the tour of the city began before we would later attend the first day of the national team training camp. We jumped back into Nik’s car and sped around the city as Nik called out each historic landmark, each more interesting than the last. While Nik is a lover of lacrosse, we also learned he was truly a historian and a prideful lover of Bulgarian Culture. The parks were beautiful, the people were full of personality, and the city contained endless scenes that felt like they belonged in a movie. It didn’t take much to fall in love with the city of Sofia.

After our first tour of the city and a brief break at our hotel in the city center, Nikolay once again arrived to pick us up for practice. The moment was finally here. With american pop music blasting and Nikolay’s car loaded up with a mix of lacrosse gear and sponsored protein products we embarked for the field. Rolling up to the field the first thing to notice was the view. Surrounding the field was the most gorgeous mountain range I had ever seen with several soviet era apartment buildings adding context to where we were and the history of the area. The field was scattered with players of all ages, skill levels, and lacrosse experience all eager to meet us for the first time. Each player promptly greeted us with excitement and a desire to learn more about the game. This was the moment it all sank in. I was blessed with the opportunity to help these players and this country reach the global lacrosse stage for the first time in history. What a powerful moment.

After the introductions, practice began and the journey truly got its start. I was amazed by the skill of many of the players. When I asked how long or where these players had gotten their experience the answers ranged from local pickup lacrosse to long weekends traveling europe just to have the opportunity to play a few games. The dedication was remarkable. We take for granted the access to lacrosse here in the United States, that became very clear. These players were willing to pour their funds into any opportunity or chance to play this game which fueled their international and Olympic aspirations.

After our first night we truly settled into the country and culture and got to work through the following days. From film breakdowns in the Bulgaria Lacrosse office to a walking tour of popular wall ball spots it was all so incredible. Outside of lacrosse we saw so many stunning historic landmarks like the Rila Monastery which was founded in the 10th century, The St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral, and the National Palace of Culture among many other breathtaking landmarks. To see these locations was to truly gain an education and understanding of the country I was helping represent on the global lacrosse stage. When the time comes it will be a privilege and honor to dawn the Bulgarian Flag as a coach of this fine team during competition.

Following a full week of National team camp, sightseeing and a diplomatic trip to the Embassy we engaged in a wonderful team dinner and celebration. There couldn’t have been a more perfect night to cap the remarkable first ever Bulgarian National Lacrosse Camp. A feeling of success, happiness, and optimism for the future of Bulgarian lacrosse fueled the night’s conversations. While the trip may have been coming to an end it was just the start of my journey with Bulgarian Lacrosse. Now focus has shifted to remote coaching, practice planning, logistical planning, and recruiting my staff for the upcoming European Championships to take place in Hungary next summer. There is a long road ahead but I now know that there is nothing that Bulgaria Lacrosse cannot accomplish.

If you would like to support Bulgaria Lacrosse and our journey to the European Championships we have set up a GoFundMe link. Funds will go towards uniforms, player travel, accommodations, and the overall operation of the team’s trip to Hungary.

We are also actively seeking several North American based Bulgarian Passport holding players to join our journey next summer. If you have a parent or grandparent who was born in Bulgaria we would love to hear from you! Please reach out to bulgariaheritagelax@gmail.com

Go Bulgaria!

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When we think about hottest looks and sharpest lacrosse uniforms over the past couple seasons, our minds don’t automatically jump to our friends in the Ivy League. The Ivy League is home to some of the best classic lacrosse looks along with some tasteful new introductions to the uniform game over the past several years.

In this article, I will break down the winners and the losers of lacrosse uniform design in the Ivy League and why you shouldn’t sleep on the Ivy when it comes to sharp looking uniforms.

Ivy League Lacrosse Conference Uniform Rankings

7. Harvard

By no means does Harvard have a bad look this season, they simply just lack a lot of the common design elements I look for in lacrosse today. I can once again respect their desire to stick with the simple yet iconic look they have gone with throughout history. However, I would have liked to see just a bit more creativity, especially when it comes to the uniforms and helmets.

The helmets in my mind are cool with the school crest but just look far too plain without any other design elements present. The jerseys are the same design we have seen for a while now with the exception of maybe a slightly different font choice. Of the two uniform choices this year, I feel a bit more drawn to the white and crimson lettering. The colored collars are a nice touch as well on this year’s offering from Nike.

Again, just a bit more creativity is what I’m looking for.

6. Brown

While I never thought I’d say I would l like a predominantly solid brown jersey, I can officially say my mind has been changed. While Brown has both white and brown jerseys, their design elements are similar enough to break them down as one uniform design. From the red accent lines to the oversized numbers in an awesome font in the front, these jerseys look pretty decent.

On top of these jerseys, Brown has also been rocking the latest and greatest from Cascade in a chrome look. A color blend I wouldn’t have expected but one that I can appreciate regardless. The red cages on the helmet also add just a bit of extra flare for creativity. Brown is another team I look forward to seeing their upcoming uniform and gear designs.

5. Cornell

In full disclosure I have never been a fan of the gear and uniform combos from Cornell in the past so this opinion may be a bit swayed in one direction. With that being said Cornell has surely stuck to their classic look this season with just a bit of modern flare likely due to the new uniform design for the year from Nike.

Coming in both red and white, the Cornell uniforms feature almost the exact same design with alternate colors. The red is my favorite of the two as it goes well with the white shorts. Design is limited on these jerseys as they only really feature the lettering and logo in an alternate color from the main jersey color.

Why are these where they are on my list? Simply because they execute the classic look very well. I am in no way in love with these uniforms but I can totally understand and respect the history and culture that has gone into this Ivy League lacrosse historic look. Not much to mention on the gear side as they are rocking very simple Nike designs from everything I can tell. 

4. Yale

Yale starts the theme of close ties on my uniform ranking list. Starting with Yale and onward, you will notice a lot of these teams stick with a classic look that can also lack creativity at times due to the desire to stick with a timeless appearance.

Yale being an Under Armour school is rocking the latest UA uniforms this season. So far, I have seen an all navy blue with white accents version and the opposite in an all white with navy accents version. While I do like this classic look and truly appreciate it, I would like to see a bit more creativity especially in the alternate uniforms.

Of the two uniform options, the navy blue version is my favorite look as it can be better matched with white shorts from what I’ve seen. These Under Armour uniforms also feature a different colored collar from the rest of the uniform that I’m not a huge fan of due to it’s somewhat strange layout.

All in all, Yale still holds strong with a classic and pretty timeless look that they are clearly going for. I can respect the desire to stick with a timeless look when coming from a program like Yale. Yale also gets extra points in my book over the rest of the list for rocking Gait gear and gloves. Love seeing Gait gloves back in the men’s game. 

3. Dartmouth

Dartmouth is bringing the heat this year in the Ivy league. I have always thought Dartmouth had a good look on the uniform side of things, but this year they stepped it up to a whole new level. Even though I have Dartmouth third on my rankings, they truly have one of the best looks out there this year in my opinion.

Their white sleeveless Nike uniforms may be my favorite look of theirs this year. The all white combo with white shorts and forest green lettering on the uniform just flows together so well. Even their helmets are attention grabbing this year with a green and black look that features a chrome green logo on the side. Their black alternate uniforms also impress with a design very similar to Princeton but in Dartmouth colors of course.

Nike did Dartmouth good this year with some awesome designs that stand out in the Ivy league.

2. Penn

Next on the list is the University of Pennsylvania. I’m sure I will get knocked by some readers for this pick but hear me out first.

Penn incorporates a similar Nike uniform design to the Princeton uniform but this time in red, white, and blue which is very hard to dislike. I have enjoyed Penn’s uniforms the past couple seasons and I think a lot of people tend to overlook them. Big fan of their navy uniforms with white and blue accent features along the sleeve and collar. A classic look with a bit of an updated feel from their past uniforms. Penn is also an STX school like Princeton therefore their gear is quite similar but again in an extra patriotic colorway.

Do yourself a favor and check out the team Instagram for their team gloves. Red fade with blue cuffs?! Too clean. Looking forward to seeing where Penn takes their uniform designs in the future. 

1. Princeton

The Princeton Tigers have always known how to rock orange and black the right way. This season is no exception. Their white Nike uniforms in my opinion are one of the cleanest looks in all of college lacrosse.

From the larger font choice on the front to the Princeton crest shining on the collar, you really can’t go wrong with this look. Lastly, the orange Nike swoosh on the shoulder is just too clean. I know it’s a mandatory design element but in the Princeton shade of orange it really pops along with the black and orange striped sleeves. Their alternate uniforms also get a strong rating in an all orange and all black version of the white uniforms described above.

Being an STX school Princeton also features all the latest and greatest STX gloves and gear. Extra big fan of their orange fade STX gloves. Very clean look. 

ACC LACROSSE: UNIFORM RANKINGS

BIG TEN LACROSSE: UNIFORM RANKINGS

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Big Ten lacrosse is back which means crazy uniform reveals and impressive team issued gear drops. For those of you who appreciate lacrosse gear and uniforms, I have the perfect article for you.

Each week I will rank the uniforms and gear from conferences all across college lacrosse. Every level, every uniform, and all the little details in order to crown each conference with a winner of which team has the most drip.

Starting off this series will be the Big Ten. The Big Ten is comprised of six D1 powerhouse teams in Ohio State, Michigan, Johns Hopkins, Maryland, Penn State, and Rutgers.

Just looking at some of these schools and their attention to athletic detail and design, I think it goes without saying that these are some of the often most impressive uniforms and gear amongst all of college lacrosse. This year the race for best dressed begins now.

BIG TEN LACROSSE Conference Gear Ranking

6. Rutgers

Rutgers is the only Adidas uniform team on this list. I think we can all remember the insanely tight fitting ugly Adidas jerseys of the past.

However, Adidas has made some major improvements in their jerseys over the past few years. Rutgers seems to be rocking red and white jerseys for the year which do have some pop to their look.

There are just a few things about the uniforms that grabbed the bottom spot on this list. Not a fan of the opposite color stitching that goes across the jersey. For example, the white uniforms have visible red stitching all across the jersey as a design element. The other big thing about these uniforms that I’m not in love with is the font choice and proximity to the collar of the uniform.

Again, everyone is going to have their own preferences, but this is just my quick take on the look.

5. Penn State

Penn State is another team that really tends to go with a classic look each season. While some may appreciate this consistency year in and year out, I personally would love to see Penn State spice it up a bit with possibly a new alternate uniform.

Their classic white uniforms are the only ones that I’ve seen so far for this season, and they are very much that, classic. Great look that really wraps together the iconic Penn State feel. I think the all white uniforms with the white helmet will be a cool icey look this season.

Big fan of their Maverik Rome all white with blue accent gloves but not as much of a fan of their M5 gloves as they just have a bit too much color in the wrong areas for my liking. Not saying they are a bad look, but the all white Rome gloves are surely their cleanest look.

4. Maryland

This past weekend we saw Maryland take on High Point which was quite an awesome uniform matchup between these two teams. Maryland has dropped all their uniform/gear looks and combinations for the season unlike a lot of other teams . These include red, white, and black jersey and short combos.

While the white is a great classic look and the black kit is a clean alternative look, I must say that the red uniforms catch my eye the most. Under Armour did a great job with these and I love the very realistic looking Maryland flag along the trim of each arm and the bottom of each side of the shorts.

The red jersey, white short, and white helmet combination is also one that’s growing on me. Whatever combination Maryland rocks this year I guarantee that the Terps will be looking clean with any of these options.

On the gear side Maryland is also a Maverik school and went with a very flashy type look. Solid Maryland red Maverik gloves really stand out in these uniform combinations. I appreciate the one color flare that really ties the whole outfit together.

3. Michigan

As I mentioned earlier the Big Ten is known for pretty classic jerseys with a sharp look. Michigan is a perfect example of this timeless look in their jersey designs.

This past weekend we saw Michigan take on Bellarmine rocking their brand new white uniforms. These are a simple yet elegant looking uniform featuring blue and maize perfectly sized lettering and numbers. On the back of the jerseys is a very detailed two color Michigan “M” which one can really appreciate.

I would love to talk about the other kits that Michigan has worn in years past, but considering these are new white uniforms only time will tell if their navy and maize kits get a tune up as well.

Michigan is a Maverik school and has some pretty sharp looking gear to go along with their uniforms. Their gloves in particular are great with a navy blue center and white outers along with an almost oversized awesome looking Michigan “M”. Again, these aren’t a crazy flashy look but instead a super well executed classic look that you just can’t go wrong with.

Don’t even get me started on the helmets.

2. Ohio State

Ohio State is always a front runner in uniform design and attention to detail. While I’m sure we haven’t seen all of the Ohio State uniform options for the year yet, the ones that we have seen in years past are pretty awesome.

This past weekend we got to see Ohio State take on Detroit Mercy in which Ohio State was rocking their classic sleeveless Nike uniforms. White being the main color with some well placed red accents along the top of the jersey and lettering. Big fan of the letters being white with a red outline as it gives the uniform just a bit of a sharper look.

However, I feel a bit undecided on sleeveless uniforms this year. Are they still in style or are they a fad that should be long gone? Let me know your thoughts.

As of now, I feel like well designed sleeveless jerseys like these look sharp but the margin of error in rocking a sleeveless uniform is much smaller when compared to classic jerseys.

Also pictured on the Ohio State Men’s Lacrosse Instagram is their blackout/dark grey uniforms. These things look awesome and will be a great alternative for the year as they always are.

Gear wise STX hooked them up from head to toe in the latest and greatest releases.

1. JOhns Hopkins

Full disclosure, I’ve always been a big fan of Hopkins and their uniform game. However, this year they seem to be even further ahead than the rest of Big Ten lacrosse in the uniform game.

Most teams in the conference will choose to go with a simple classic look from their jersey provider while Hopkins went with a slightly more futuristic look this season.

Their Under Armour uniforms feature the classic Hopkins blue as the main color with white numbers. Along the sleeve is an American flag and three white and black lines to give the jersey all the more flair. The collar of these uniforms is white but features a different design with a sharper more aggressive look as you may be able to see in uniform photos.

On the gear side their STX Surgeon RZR gloves add a great aspect to their overall look with another very modern/possibly even futuristic look.

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Applying tape to a lacrosse stick can be an hour-long science or a pregame ritual, depending on how you look at it. Some players never even use tape at all. It’s all up to preference, but the meaning and design within the preference is what makes each player’s tape style so different and intentional.

Whether you’re a player who stays up the night before getting your stick ready or the one who throws his gear in the car and forgets about it, I think you’ll enjoy this breakdown on how to tape a lacrosse stick. If you’re new to our amazing lacrosse community, then maybe you’ll find a bit of new insight all about tape.

Tape a Lacrosse Stick: The Many Methods

The Criss-Cross

The Criss-Cross was one of my favorites throughout middle and high school. It consists of thin pieces of tape being wound around the handle from two different directions to form the criss-cross design.

This is a great option for someone who maybe likes a little less tape or already has a sandblasted grip covered shaft. This has always been one for swag points as well, because it just downright looks cool. However, be prepared to tape and re-tape often with this style, because it’ll wear down quickly.

The Candy Cane

The Candy Cane is basically just half the process of the Criss-Cross discussed above. You take a thin section of tape and wind it around the shaft to the desired area of coverage.

I don’t see this style much anymore just because it doesn’t really offer that much grip. However, if it suits your taste, I say give it a go. This one may also be an option before the game when you only have one roll of tape between the team and need to conserve.

The Quarter Coverage

This is a popular one among many players as it requires little attention to detail and time. This tape job will cover around a quarter of the shaft, mainly focusing on the bottom half of the handle. After finding or making a good end cap, wind the tape around the bottom portion of the shaft enough to fit one hand on at least. It’s an old design but always a good one for those poles who love to one-hand cradle.

The Half Solid

Just like the Quarter Coverage, this tape job doesn’t really required all that much attention to detail aside from making sure the tape is laying flat against the shaft without any bumps. To accomplish this tape job, you will simply cover half the in a layer of tape. You can go a bit higher up if you’d like as well as it offers that much more grip.

This is a great one for your box players out there – it will last longer and hold up to checks much better.

The Mummy

All jokes aside, this one is simply covering your entire handle with a layer of tape. This is a bit of a rare one, however I have been seeing it more and more in the box game. It offers a ton of grip with little maintenance and can make any unwanted handle graphics disappear quickly.

Butt End / End Cap / Knob

If you’re like me, you probably can’t stand the standard rubber butt ends. They are awkward and annoying.

If you choose to tape your own knob or butt end on, I suggest several things. First, make sure the hole on the end of the handle is covered with something that will stay there. You can even cut down a rubber end cap before taping over it. This is a rule that many officials will check for. I would also suggest doing this slowly and with attention. Find your style and tape width and go for it.

What Type of Tape Should You Use for Your Lacrosse Stick?

I always suggest getting a roll of solid hockey tape whenever you get a chance. Many players get stuck trying to use generic athletic grip tape when in reality, yhat’s not what you need on lacrosse stick.

If you’re willing to pay the price and/or live near a hockey store, Howie’s makes some great hockey tape. Aside from that, I would suggest heading to your nearest sports store or even grabbing some good ol’ hockey tape online. I normally pick up a five-pack whenever I have the chance just to play it safe.

Always stay away from any type of rubber grip tape or anything that looks like it should go on a baseball bat. Many brands have tried to sell “lacrosse grip tape” that has simply been rebranded baseball bat grips. Just stick with hockey tape or even lacrosse-sized tape from StringKing.

Tips & Tricks

After taping your handle to the desired area of coverage, I highly suggest throwing a ring of electrical tape around the top of your tape to make sure the tape will stay in place and to eliminate any friction that could tear the tape away from the handle. This is a box trick I learned several years back and now use constantly.

I also suggest adding rings of normal tape around areas you want your hands to sit while cradling and shooting. These rings of tape will act as a mental reminder and also add a bit of extra grip in key moments.

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Are you that player who always wants to have the freshest cleats each lacrosse season, or maybe you’re looking to replace your favorite cleats you’ve used for the last four years that finally blew out on you? No matter what the reason may be for why you need a new pair of lacrosse cleats, I have you covered with some of the hottest releases to up your game and style.

Before we jump in, let’s sort a few qualifications out for what will be eligible for this list in the first place. Throughout recent years, we’ve seen a rise in lacrosse-specific cleats, but even with the increased options, there still really aren’t a ton of cleats out there that are specific to our sport.

Lacrosse players will often opt to go for lighter football cleats that allow them to dodge, cut, and move well. Some players even find soccer cleats that work well for them. Much like the rest of the gear in lacrosse, it’s totally up to the player’s preference. This list will primarily feature lacrosse-specific cleats, but I will also mix in several football cleats that often cross over into lacrosse.

Lacrosse Cleats Buyers Guide 2021-22

Nike Alpha Huarache 7 Elite Cleats

Nike, the sneaker king, has been making turf shoes and cleats for quite a while. With each of its releases in the Huarache line, I have noticed improved quality and construction every year. The simple fact is Nike knows sports, and it knows how to design products to help players perform at their highest level.

These new Huarache cleats surely accomplish that. From the high-knit cuff keeping your ankles secure to the flywire lacing system, these cleats impress. These are a great option for any player looking for a pair of cleats to rely on!

Nike Vapor Edge Pro

Much like the Huaraches, Nike didn’t cut any corners with these Vapor Edge Pro cleats. From what I’ve seen, these have been very popular recently across all levels, and I’m personally a big fan of not only the look of these cleats but also the design features. Despite being a lower-styled cleat, they do feature an upper sock to increase ankle stability. Likely the most attractive and innovative feature of these cleats is the ghost lacing system that sits below the top layer allowing for extra security, locking your foot into the cleat and a very clean look. Again, these are a great option for any player looking for a new pair of cleats!

New Balance Freeze LX 3.0

Likely the most well-known of lacrosse cleats manufacturers, New Balance has always brought some incredible lacrosse-specific options. I even came across a football player wearing New Balance lacrosse cleats once because of their optimal amount of traction.

This newest version of the Freeze cleats brings many great features that we’ve grown to love in past versions, along with many new ones and a very new look. Being a mid-to-high-style cleat, these will offer quite a bit of needed ankle support, plus a fully-knit upper for a very comfortable, snug fit. Much like the last versions of the Freeze cleats, these bring quite a bit of lacrosse technology to the molded plate along the bottom that was designed specifically for lacrosse movements. These are all-around well-built cleats that won’t let you down on the field!

Under Armour Spotlight Cleats

I have always personally been a fan of Under Armour cleats on the lacrosse field. While they have only ever produced a few cleats for lacrosse, I do see a huge amount of their football styles crossing into the lacrosse game.

The Spotlight cleats are a great low-cut option for anyone looking for a nicely built and designed cleat. I can tell you from personal experience that these hug the foot perfectly to allow stability while dodging and cutting. These also feature some great insoles for foot comfort while playing. Make sure to give these a look when it comes down to buying your new cleats!

Under Armour Highlight Cleats

While they can be harder to find nowadays, the UA Highlight cleats have been a constant the past several years across a lot of the game. Whether you’re looking for the most amount of ankle support and stability or wanting something that truly locks the foot in, the Highlight cleats are always a great option.

Keep in mind while looking for these that there have been several releases and variations since the original, so make sure you find what you want. I will also add that in my opinion, these have some of the best durability I have seen out of any cleat I’ve used. I’m going on three years of college ball with my current pair. If you’re willing to do some digging, I highly suggest looking into these cleats if you haven’t already!

Fit & Feel Are King

While this isn’t a long or extensive list of all the cleat options out there, I hope it helped guide you in the right direction. Keep in mind that lacrosse cleats are all about preference, feel, and fit. I highly suggest trying a pair on in person if you can, even if you aren’t purchasing from that particular store. Shop around and find a pair that fits and feels best for you! Comfort goes a long way in lacrosse cleats.

Need More Help with Your 2021-22 Gear?

We have specialized buyers guides for the 2021-22 season coming your way the next few weeks, from mesh to helmets and more. Everything you need will be covered in our guides. Take a look at what we have prepared for you!

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Have you ever had trouble deciding on what arm protection to purchase? Or maybe just confused about all the different names and options? No worries, I have you covered with all the hottest lacrosse arm protection, including arm guards, arm pads, and elbow caps for those who like minimal protection and optimal movement.

First things first, let’s quickly break down the three categories of arm protection:

Arm Guards are typically bulkier pads that cover the majority of the arm. These will often offer the most protection of the three categories, therefore catering to attack and sometimes offensive midfielders. These are also a favorite in the box game to soak up all the checks. Because these are the largest of the three pads, they do often cut down on mobility, which is why you rarely see anyone outside of attack wearing them.

Arm Pads vary in size a bit but most commonly cover a bit less of the arm and feature less protection or at least reduced protection in certain areas when compared to the guards. These tend to be the favorite of offensive midfielders but also occasionally show up at attack and defense. These are the one-stop-shop-type pad in the sense that you realistically could play anywhere with them.

Arm / Elbow Caps are the smallest and least protective of the three options but do offer by far the most mobility and full range of motion. These are common for many defensive midfielders now and long poles as they need less protection generally when compared to attack. If you want the most mobility and don’t need as much protection, these are a great bet for you!

Congrats, you’ve now earned your degree in lacrosse arm protection categories! Let me break down the top options from each category to make your shopping experience easier.

Each of these options has been assigned a protection rating from 1-5. The most protective pads will feature a 5, while the least protective will feature a 1. This isn’t a knock on the quality of the product, it’s simply a scale to help you decide what will fit your protection style and playing needs the best. I repeat, this score is not meant to evaluate the quality of the product – it’s merely to measure how protective you can expect the arm protection to be when you’re playing lacrosse.

Lacrosse Arm Protection Buyers Guide 2021-22

STX Cell 5 Arm Guard – Protection Rating 4

The new lacrosse arm guards in the legendary STX Cell line of protection bring both quality and protection. Featuring softer upper and lower protection for flexibility and a hard shell floating elbow cup, these will be a more flexible option for arm guards.

They rank in at a 4 on the protection scale simply because they are made of a majority of a softer protective material, meaning they will absorb most of the impact but you may still feel a bit. I personally have used many of the STX Cell arm guards in my life and loved every generation. A great option for a player looking for protection without sacrificing too much flexibility!

Maverik Max Arm Guard – Protection Rating 5

These things rock. As someone who plays attack in field and forward in box, I love what these pads offer on the protection side. With a harder foam protection system surrounding this pad known as Anaform, this will be one of the most protective pads on this list while still being very light weight. Maverik has been a leader in protection for quite a bit of time and doesn’t disappoint with these elbow guards at all. Highly suggest these looking for great protection!

True Zerolyte Arm Guards – Protection Rating 4

I’ve been rocking these arm guards from True Temper Lacrosse for a few months now and love the protection I’ve been getting out of them. Most of the pad is made up of a softer protective material with key impact areas being reinforced with a harder protective material known as Hexashield. These also feature a floating protective elbow cap to ensure protection from any checks to the elbow.

These rank at a 4 on the protective scale because of softer protective material through most the pads, making them quite a bit more flexible and comfortable. If you’re an offensive player looking for the right amount of protection when dodging, I suggest giving these a look!

Nike Vapor Elite Arm Pads 2021 – Protection Rating 3.5

A surprise contender coming in hot from Nike! The Vapor Elite 2021 pads not only feature some sick Nike designs but also have a great protective padding system in place. A harder shock absorbent foam encapsulates most of the upper and lower padding areas with a flatter-style floating cap to deflect checks. One can also love the two-strap system placed at the top and bottom of each pad, as we know arm protection can slide all over the place while playing lacrosse. These are a great option for someone looking for a less restrictive design with quite a bit of protection!

Maverik Max Arm Pad – Protection Rating 4

The arm pad version of the Maverik Max protective line brings together a lot of desired features, including a longer arm sleeve to ensure comfort and less pad sliding as well as hard foam protection placed around the pad in impact areas. If you’re looking for a comfortable pad that won’t break down, this could be a very good option for you. I’m personally a big fan of the Anaform padding around this pad as it’s very flexible and lightweight, allowing the player to play protected without any restriction to their mobility.

STX Cell 5 Arm Pad – Protection Rating 3.5

The Cell 5 line brings some great offerings to the arm pad protection market with these, from the 360+ Strap lock system ensuring your pads stay locked in place to the GeoFlex II protection surrounding the pad for comfort and protection.

These pads get a bit of a lower protection score simply because they don’t have a hard, protective elbow cap and are made primarily of softer protective padding. These are a great option for a two-way midfielder or any player looking for lots of comfort and flexibility!

STX Cell 5 Elbow Pad – Protection Rating 3

Big fan of these as far as elbow pads go. A lot of times with elbow caps, pads get overlooked from a design perspective as they are looked at as the most minimal of arm protection, but that’s simply not the case with these. These beauties feature a tight-fitting Lycra sleeve to reduce slipping along with the foam padding to absorb shock. If you’re a defender or LSM looking for elbow protection and comfort, these are the way to go!

Maverik Max Elbow Pad – Protection Rating 2

Much like the rest of the Maverik Max arm protective line, these elbow pads have everything you could possibly need. These feature an elongated sleeve in order to fully grip your arm and keep the elbow cap/pad in the right area, along with a well-placed bicep strap that – believe it or not – a lot of elbow pads don’t have. These simple yet strategic design elements go a long way. Solid purchase option right here!

Warrior Burn Pro Elbow Pad – Protection Rating 2

This simple yet effective pad gets the job done and looks good doing so. The smaller size of this pad covers just the elbow and allows for full mobility while playing. I can see this being a big, mean long pole’s dream of an elbow pad. Give this a look if you want a clean looking and effective elbow pad!

Need More Help with Your 2021-22 Gear?

We have specialized buyers guides for the 2021-22 season coming your way the next few weeks, from mesh to helmets and more. Everything you need will be covered in our guides. Take a look at what we have prepared for you!

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Are you looking to get a new lacrosse shaft for your gamer or maybe just looking to add to the collection?

Are there too many good choices to choose from on the market today?

No matter your situation, I have you covered with more information on many of the latest handle releases. Because of how many handles are released each year, I have decided to focus on the top and most popular releases from each company without going down the rabbit hole of never-ending lacrosse shafts.

Lacrosse Shafts Buyers Guide 2021-22

ECD Lacrosse

Carbon 3.0

The Carbon 3.0 brings all the great features of the previous ECD Carbon generation and a whole lot of new ones to an all-around, well-rounded handle. Most notable is the ECD’s Impact+ system, which has been increased in key areas to make this their strongest carbon handle to date.

Another important feature to note about this new handle is the sliding end cap to allow for a custom end cap configuration. This handle is also a Flex5 level, meaning it will flex to offer a bit of extra strength for your shot but won’t overflex, affecting your game in negative ways. You really can’t go wrong with a good ECD Carbon handle.

Carbon MTX

Are you a physical player who needs a shaft to match your lacrosse game and strength? The Carbon MTX is essentially a bulked-up version of the other Carbons with some added features at a more premium price point. This handle features reinforced TeXtreme in the right areas to make it an even more durable handle. Unlike the Carbon 3.0, this handle is a Flex1, meaning it won’t have as much give or flex, allowing it to be a bit stronger when checking or taking checks. It’s a great option for more aggressive playing styles!

True Temper Lacrosse

Smoke

Weighing in at just 156 grams, the Smoke handle is not only lightweight and durable but also offers a level of uniqueness most other lacrosse shafts don’t have. Each smoke handle has a different look to its design, meaning that each handle is a one-of-one in its appearance.

This handle is reinforced through up to 25 carbon fiber layers to ensure it can hold up to any checks thrown its way. It is a SmartFLX level 6, meaning it’s among True’s medium flex handles but just below the PowerFLX highest durability level. If you’re looking to mix it up with a very unique and durable handle, this might be the one for you!

ZeroLyte

Weighing in at just 136 grams, the ZeroLyte handle might just be the lightest carbon fiber handle I have ever used. It reminds me a lot of the old Gait Ices in a carbon fiber format. Despite the weight, this handle still packs quite a punch from its durability end.

Another aspect of this handle that must be mentioned is its rougher texture that gives it a bit of a sandpaper feel in the gloves. This handle sits at the PowerFLX level 8, meaning that it is one of True’s most flexible handles while still offering optimal durability. For all you light handle lovers out there, this is very much worth checking out!

HZRDUS Heavy

Are you a box lacrosse enthusiast or just want a shaft that can hold up to any checks? The HZRDUS Heavy is a box lacrosse player’s dream with its strong feel and crazy durability.

Made out of HD Heavy Composite, this piece sets a new standard for durability in lacrosse handles. I can tell you from personal experience that it is one mean handle both for laying cross checks and taking the occasional monster check. While you lose a bit of the light weight feature of other handles, it’s well worth it when it comes to durability. I suggest any box check this out when looking to make their next purchase.

Maverik

Hyperdrive

This updated and stronger version of the beloved Hyperlite brings both lightweight and durability to a dodging attackman or speedy midfielder. This new addition to the Maverik handle lineup promises to fit any elite level player with its design and bead-blasted grip for added handle feel. If you loved the Hyperlite and are ready for a great upgrade, this is undoubtedly the handle for you.

Wonderboy

A common name for any lacrosse player, the updated Wonderboy shaft brings you all the needed features at a great price point. While this may not be the newest release on the list, I felt like it couldn’t be excluded – it really brings one of the best values to the lacrosse handle market.

This newest edition of the Wonderboy brings a new design and reduced weight while still offering its classic durability and grip shape. Despite only being a 9000 alloy handle, I would suggest anyone who hasn’t used a Wonderboy grab one to add to their collection or maybe even use as their gamer.

STX

Sci-Ti X+

I can still remember using my first STX Sci-Ti handle and immediately falling in love with the thing. If you play attack or midfield, this updated Sci-Ti handle is something you just have to check out.

This handle features double-wall thickness to ensure you can take any check that comes your way while still remaining extremely light weight for dodging and shooting. The X-Grip of this handle is designed for the handle to create added control to your game and put you at a bit of an advantage simply through it’s intelligent design.

Fiber X

From PLL players to the college level, this handle has made quite the impact quickly. This composite offering from STX brings the desired durability and weight for an elite level. Without any flex, this handle is able to offer a consistent release and added level of strength similar to how a well-built metal handle would typically perform. However, the most desirable features about this handle are likely its weight and design elements, like targeted grip zones to bring you just enough added grip in crucial areas. This is a great composite handle for a player looking to push their game to the next level.

Warrior

Burn Carbon XP

Xtreme power? You betcha. Warrior claims that this handle brings a new level of power to your shot through a composite design with increased levels of flex in the right areas. This handle also features Warrior’s Dot Matrix grip system for added shot and passing control. The Speed Die shape is also present for a softer and more comfortable-feeling handle that won’t cut into your hands when putting all your power behind a shot. This lacrosse shaft brings a lot of new and desirable features to the Warrior lineup! Surely a quality handle very worth giving a look.

Evo Krypto Pro

Looking for a more classic metal handle with all the features you need in your game? This updated version of the all-time classic Kryptolyte handle brings you everything you could need in a well-priced lacrosse shaft. While it might not be the most technology-packed or flashiest handle on the market, you can trust it to get the job done and then some. Durability and its competitive weight make this handle a classic and great option!

Evo Carbon QX

At only 130 grams, you will be hard-pressed to find another handle at this weight that won’t sacrifice durability. Much like the Carbon XP, Warrior has brought its stiffness to this handle as well ensuring your passes are accurate and your release point stays the same each time. With this handle, you won’t have to worry about what head will and won’t fit like a lot of other carbon handles – this one is completely hollow, ensuring any head will fit perfectly. Last but not least, this beauty was designed and developed in North America, which you gotta love! Add this to your lacrosse wish list as you won’t want to miss out on this great shaft.

Nike

Vapor Composite

The Vapor Composite is Nike’s lightweight composite handle that will fit the needs of any player. Weighing in at five ounces, this shaft brings the lightweight and sleek Nike design we all know and love. From youth players looking for a new handle to the expert players looking to add to their collection, Nike has created a great composite offering.

Epoch

Dragonfly Elite II

From the first Dragonfly release hitting the lacrosse market to the latest technology innovations from Epoch, they never disappoint. The Elite II handle is their most elite handle to date, ranking in at the highest technology level they currently offer.

With the New Reactive Technology of this handle, it brings a great amount of feel and durability to a very clean-looking handle. If you’re an elite-level player looking into trying something new, this is very much worth your attention.

Dragonfly Pro II

Coming in just behind the Elite II handle, the Pro II shaft brings over a lot of the great features of the Elite at a slightly lower price point and different design. This handle comes in at a 4 on Epoch’s technology level. No matter your playing level, this is a great option for any player looking to pick up a new handle!

Dragonfly Select II

Lastly, the Dragonfly Select II is Epoch’s most affordable option for players looking to see what Epoch is all about. Despite the lower price point, this handle still brings a lot of Epoch’s great technology and design features. I highly suggest this handle for younger players looking to grab a durability and technologically-advanced handle.

StringKing

Composite Pro

StringKing’s composite option brings a great level of player preference into each handle. This handle comes in 4 weigh options based on suggested age and playing level to ensure each player is getting the right handle for their game. This is also a great option as it comes in their specific faceoff option and in defensive length as well. You also have to love the simplicity of StringKing’s solid color designs.

Metal 3 Pro

StringKing also has you covered with the Metal 3 Pro shaft for all you metal handle lovers out there. Much like the rest of StringKing’s handles, this option comes in four weight options to tailor to your game and playing level. It’s an all-around, well-rounded lightweight and durable handle you can rely on!

A Series

Last but not least, StringKing’s value option brings the same reliability of all their other options at three different weight options to choose from. Much like the other two choices, this one is a great, well-designed handle that puts an emphasis on quality and simplistic aesthetic design elements.

Need More Help with Your 2021-22 Gear?

We have specialized buyers guides for the 2021-22 season coming your way the next few weeks, from mesh to helmets and more. Everything you need will be covered in our guides. Take a look at what we have prepared for you!

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While this may not be the longest or most product-packed buyers guide, shoulder pads are the most important piece of gear for your safety this upcoming lacrosse season.

Under the new shoulder pad ruling, players across levels (including college lacrosse) will be required to wear shoulder pads with the new NOCSAE ND200 approval in order to play. This move comes in order to increase the safety of players and create additional needed protection for the chest and heart.

Therefore, it’s time to ditch those cut-down shoulder pad liners you’ve been using for the past five seasons and maybe even got from your older cousin who played. It’s time to invest in a piece of equipment that will keep you safer and healthier in order to play the game we all love for longer.

While there aren’t too many offerings out there that fit this standard yet, I’m here to break down a few of the top offerings from your favorite trusted brands.

Lacrosse shoulder pads Buyers Guide 2021-22

Maverik Max EKG Speed Shoulder Pad

Maverik has made trusted protective gear for many, many years, but its latest additions to the shoulder pad world make an even bigger protective impact. The Maverik Max EKG Speed Shoulder pads feature several safety attributes, including EKG (External Kardic Guard) technology as visible on the front of the shoulder pad. Despite having added protection, these shoulder pads are still quite streamline to fit any player’s playing style.

Another awesome feature in these pads is the ANAFORM padding to protect both the spine and chest from any checks or shots that may come your way. These are a great option as you enter the shoulder pad buying market as they are ND200 certified.

Looking for something with a bit more protection and size? Here are a few other shoulder pads from Maverik that are also ND200 certified:

• Maverik M5 EKG Shoulder Pads
• Maverik MX EKG Shoulder Pads
• Maverik M5 EKG Speed Pad

True Temper Lacrosse Zerolyte Shoulder Pad Liner

While True Temper is still a new contender in the protection game, it put together a great new option with the Zerolyte Shoulder Pad Liner that meets the new NOCSAE ND200 standard. I personally have used these pads for several months now and really like the weight and flexibility of the pad. I personally prefer the liner style as it offers me the most flexibility in my game.

The front of this pad features advanced ZRB technology to offer you the most protection to the chest area. The Zerolyte shoulder pad liner is yet another great option when shopping for your new pickup this season.

STX Cell V Shoulder Pad Liner

Looking for something really low profile that won’t slow you down? These Cell V Shoulder Pad Liners from STX might just be the option for you. Meeting the new NOCSAE standard and remaining lightweight and extremely mobile seems like a great mix to me, not to mention they are an updated version of the always-loved Cell protection line. With the GeoFlex II protection in these pads, you’re sure to be safe in the hands of STX.

These even feature a seven-point stretch zone system to allow you to customize and move these pads to your ultimate comfort. There’s not much to dislike about these pads at all. Give these a look when making your next lacrosse safety purchase!

Looking for an STX pad with even more added protection? Check out the STX Cell Shoulder Pads or the Stx Shadow Pro Shoulder Pads.

Warrior Evo Shoulder Pad

Chances are, no matter how long you’ve played, you have used a pair of Warrior shoulder pads at one point or another. Maybe they were your favorites? Maybe they are your go to brand? The good news for you is that Warrior brings a great new offering to the table in the Evo Shoulder Pad that meets the NOCSAE ND200 certification. From the sleek design to the impact sternum protection, these will suit almost any player this season.

These pads also feature Wartech liner to keep you extra cool and ventilated while playing. I personally love the design of these pads simply because of how customizable they are with multiple removable padding sections. Surely another great option to add to your list!

Nike Vapor Shoulder Pad Liner

Nike has you covered with protection and style in their new Nike Vapor Liners. From the solid color design of these to the Nike swoosh front and center, these things look mean.

Style points for sure, but that’s not why we’re here. These Liners are NOCSAE ND200 certified and feature a sternum protection system that won’t restrict the player at all to encourage comfort while playing. We all know how annoying it can be to wear a pair of uncomfortable shoulder pads, but with these you won’t even have to worry about that.

Their minimalistic safety design offers the right protection in the right areas without any added fluff to get in your way. Big thumbs up to Nike on these Shoulder Pad Liners! Bonus points for all you Nike buffs as well.

Again I know there aren’t many options out there at the moment for the new ND200 certification, but don’t let that drive you away from some of these great options listed above. Unlike a lot of our other gear, a new pair of certified shoulder pads this season is an absolute must in order to stay safe and keep playing the game. I suggest trying several different shoulder pads on before buying if you can as each person will have their own fit preferences when it comes to shoulder pads. Get a pair you feel comfortable and safe in. Good luck, and happy shoulder pad hunting!

Need More Help with Your 2021-22 Gear?

We have specialized buyers guides for the 2021-22 season coming your way the next few weeks, from mesh to helmets and more. Everything you need will be covered in our guides. Take a look at what we have prepared for you!

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Lacrosse gear is constantly changing. However, the one piece of gear that seems to change and develop the fastest is heads, with their newest releases and versions dropping yearly if not more often. This can be hard to keep up with or stay in tune with what head will be best for your game. Lucky for you I’m here to break down several of the latest and hottest releases for your 2021-22 lacrosse heads buyers guide.

Lacrosse Heads Buyers Guide 2021-22

STX Hyper Power

STX has always made some of the best and most well-designed heads on the market. The Hyper Power is no exception from that trend with several key attributes to like.

Updated from the STX Ultra Power, the Hyper Power features a reinforced power ramp to increase a shooter’s speed and accuracy. Along with that impactful update, the Hyper Power also has quite a few well-placed sidewall holes to ensure that stringing this head is a dream.

Whatever your favorite feature may be in the new Hyper Power, I can assure you that this will be a quality head for you on the offensive end.

Warrior Burn XP-O or D

If you’ve been around the game the last several years, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ve seen or used a Warrior Burn before. The good news is the Burn just got so much better.

The Warrior XP-O for offense or XP-D for defense brings a new specific head in the Burn line for the demands of each position. Both versions feature several updates to the Burn line, from a redesigned and reinforced throat to Sym-Flex added throughout the head for reinforcement when picking up ground balls and shooting.

Whether you’re a hard hitting defender or maybe a quick, shifty attackman, I suggest giving the new Burn XP heads a try!

ECD Mirage 2.0

ECD has done it again with another great release. This time it comes in the form of an updated Mirage head.

The Mirage 2.0 has been around now for a bit and has swept the lacrosse world by storm since its release. I’ve seen Mirage 2.0s being used in both field and box over the past several months with glowing reviews from their users. This head is truly a shooters dream, as they say in their marketing. If you haven’t checked one of these beauties out yet, I would very much suggest you do!

Maverik Tank 2

This new version of the Tank from Maverik brings one big thing to the table: strength.

I recently got my hands on one of these heads, and let’s just say that from an offensive perspective, I was scared to be on a field with one of these things. Just by looking at the sidewall structure of this head, you can get an idea of how reinforced it is with strength and durability. Along with the desirable durability, the Tank 2 has a face shape that you can’t not like. I have no doubt this will be a defensive monster for years to come.

True Temper HZRDUS

The True Temper HZRDUS brings a lot to love to the table, from its familiar face shape to a massive number of sidewall holes and stringing options. Along with these key features, the head weighs in at just 4.9 ounces even with its beefed up throat to guarantee strength.

I’ve been using this head now for several months and can promise that like many other heads on this list, you just simply can’t go wrong with it. If you’re an attackman or midfielder looking to become even more of an offensive threat, I highly encourage giving this one a try.

Nike L3

The Nike L3 is the newest addition in the well-known Nike Lakota line. From its sharp design to tighter face shape, this head brings several major desirable updates that will make your game that much better. The L3 also features the exclusive PowerForm for ideal stiffness and increased durability in key areas.

This head is sure to be a major weapon for any midfielder out there looking to score or defend on the opposite side. The Lakota has been trusted for years, and this latest addition is no different. A solid choice all around!

Need More Help with Your 2021-22 Gear?

We have specialized buyers guides for the 2021-22 season coming your way the next few weeks, from mesh to helmets and more. Everything you need will be covered in our guides. Take a look at what we have prepared for you!

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Whether you’re a fan of International Sixes lacrosse or not, I think one thing we can admit after the Super Sixes tournament at US Lacrosse Headquarters this past weekend, is that those uniforms were sharp.

Being the gear guy here, I would be missing an opportunity if I didn’t give you an entire article dedicated to the uniforms of the USA, Canada, and Haudenosaunee Nationals from this past weekend. From the deep meaning of some of these uniforms to the crazy Canadian design, this is the article for you uniform and gear junkies.

Super Sixes Uniform Review

Like many of you out there in the lacrosse world, I knew this Super Sixes tournament was going on and planned to watch a bit just to see what was going on. What I didn’t expect was the flashy gear and uniforms.

The night before games started, I noticed some leaked photos hit the lacrosse social media world that quickly captured my attention and made me long to be there in person.

Canada

The first thing that jumped out on Instagram were the Team Canada uniforms, done up by Mike Schanz from Tama Lacrosse. With the colorway and design, they almost reminded me of something the Chaos would be sporting in the PLL.

These uniforms featured more detail than anything I have seen in a long time. From the two-toned text to the jagged black-and-red design, they were almost reminding me of a shark attack.

The last aspect of these I really liked from a design standpoint was the sponsor’s logo placement. Gait Lacrosse, Tama Lacrosse, and the Canadian logo were all featured at the bottom of the jerseys, offering a nice color contrast.

These Super Sixes uniforms get a solid A+ international uniform rating. Also, the black Warrior lids acted as a nice bit of accent to the uniforms.

USA

While the U.S. didn’t bring anything groundbreakingly new to the table, one still has to respect the beauty in simplicity. Navy blue uniforms with white and red lettering always makes for such a classy look. The coolest aspect of the Team USA outfit was its white Cascade XRS helmets with the American flag decals.

These get a respectful and always B+ rating for their respect to a classic design.

Haudenosaunee Nationals

The Haudenosaunee Nationals brought some serious uniform heat this past weekend at the Super Sixes. Not only did these uniforms look gorgeous, but they also held great meaning. Instead of the traditional yellow, the uniforms were orange to honor those lives lost in residential schools.

“Our men will be wearing these uniforms for the Super Sixes event this October, in an effort to continue the conversation on Residential schools,” the Haudenosaunee Nationals posted on Instagram. “As an organization, we are thankful for the allies who have used their voice to speak up and speak out.”

I love when a uniform can honor or bring up a pressing issue within its design like it did here.

On the design side, I loved the sleeveless uniforms here from ZimaGear. I rarely enjoy sleeveless uniforms, but the design and color choices here really made for an incredible uniform set from the Haudenosaunee Nationals.

These get a solid A+ uniform rating for design and the incorporation of a very important and meaningful topic that more people need to know about.

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Welcome to quite possibly the most important buyers guide of them all: the lacrosse helmet buyers guide.

One thing we all need is a good, reliable helmet. This is more than a requirement to play our lacrosse and to do so safely. From concussion and head injury prevention to overall comfort, there are so many important factors when choosing your next brain protector. There are helmets we’ve loved, such as the Pro7, and helmets that we’ve hated, but I think everyone will be happy with the modern options below. 

No matter what helmet you decide on this upcoming season, always put comfort and safety first. I always suggest finding a place to try on the helmet you want, or even ask your teammate to test theirs out to ensure comfort and fit first.

Yes, I will even get into aesthetic design elements that are pushing the style of lacrosse forward. After all, “Look good, play good, feel good.” 

Lacrosse Helmet Buyers Guide 2021-22

Cascade S

The now second-newest offering from the helmet legends does more than impress. The Cascade S helmet not only pushed Cascade into the modern game but solidified it even more so as the helmet leader in the lacrosse industry. I have personally used this helmet during the college season for two years and have nothing bad to say.

From a protection standpoint, this helmet is cutting edge with it’s GEN4 EPP protection strategically placed in the upper front of the helmet. On top of GEN4 EPP tech, the S helmet also offers NV3 foam placed throughout the helmet to reduce impact to the head. Finally, this helmet clearly wins style points with its aggressive front-leaning design that will cater to anyone’s helmet tilt preferences.

You can’t go wrong with this one or any of the other Cascade helmets, for that matter. 

Cascade xrS

The very recently-released Cascade XRS is quickly taking the game by storm. From PLL games this summer to major DI fall ball, we are seeing this brand-new piece of protection technology pop up all over the place. The most noticeable update featured in this helmet is the exterior double jawbone. This is the outside jaw piece that wraps both high and low on the XRS. This one feature alone will make the game that much safer.

Along with many other updates, the 360 fit covers all areas of the head, making the helmet more comfortable and also reduces any impact points that existed in prior helmets. Needless to say, this is the most technologically-advanced helmet to ever break into the lacrosse world – an option you can’t go wrong with when choosing your next helmet. 

warrior burn

Over the past years, Warrior has released many different lacrosse helmets, but the Warrior Burn is by far their best without any question. This is another helmet popping up all over the college game from major DI schools to the smaller schools that prefer Warrior gear and want to keep a consistent look.

My personal favorite feature of this helmet is the AdaptFit270 system that allows players a truly custom fit helmet by simply adjusting a small area on the back of the helmet. Along with a unique fit system, the Burn helmet also brings many incredible protection features such as JAWS protection, preventing any injuries to the jaw area and the Vionic protection system placed throughout the helmet to reduce possibility of head injuries. I will also add that this helmet wins some major design points in my mind with its clean and streamline look. Again, this is another great option on this buyers guide as you look to purchase your next helmet. 

stx rival

Last but not least, STX Rival’s offering brings together the design of STX and the protection and knowledge of football helmet giant Schutt. This helmet was made popular last season on the college level with teams like Ohio State and North Carolina sporting this flashy new STX bucket.

I should also add North Carolina won major style points with their chrome and Carolina blue Rival last season. Style aside, this helmet is a monster when it comes to protection, with features like Schutt TPU cushioning which offers elite protection that has been designed to make a difference. Another great option for both safety and style! 

Need More Help with Your 2021-22 Gear?

We have specialized buyers guides for the 2021-22 season coming your way the next few weeks, from mesh to helmets and more. Everything you need will be covered in our guides. Take a look at what we have prepared for you!

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Whether you’re a stringer like me or would just like to know what type of mesh to buy when getting your head strung for this lacrosse season, I have you covered in this buyers guide.

For as long as I can remember, I have been stringing my own heads and the heads of many other players. I have come across mesh I love and mesh I, well, really don’t love. I can confidently say this list is composed of some of the best types of mesh to hit the market.

What qualifies as a good mesh, you may ask?

For me, there are several main factors that make a mesh good. The first, and one I feel gets overlooked a lot, is durability. Good meshes will last months and even several seasons in some cases. However, I will always suggest re-stringing a mesh that is showing signs of wear at the end of each season to ensure you don’t run into any mid-game mesh blowouts. Durability in mesh can come from a tight weave within the mesh or even just quality materials. This was an important factor in my decisions for this lacrosse mesh buyers guide.

The second qualification for a good mesh, and likely the most important to me, is consistency. I want mesh that won’t bag out because the material loosens up, and I surely don’t want mesh that will just give up at the first sign of bad weather. We all know lacrosse is a sport that encounters a good amount of bad weather early in the season. Make sure to choose a mesh that will hold up well in all conditions.

The last qualification is string-ability. This is one I think all avid stringers can agree on. A well-built mesh should never start to fray or come apart just from stringing. I personally love to pull my knots down tight when stringing, and I can sadly tell you there have been meshes that start to come apart just from stringing. Luckily, this buyers guide will ensure you steer clear of issues like this with your lacrosse mesh!

Now that we have our criteria out of the way, let’s get into the buyers guide and the top mesh for the 2021-22 lacrosse season.

Lacrosse Mesh Buyers Guide 2021-22

ECD Hero Mesh 3.0 Semi-Soft

I can remember when ECD dropped its first Hero Mesh – it was amazing. Lucky for you, this 3.0 version of Hero Mesh is even better. I can confidently say that this mesh checks off all my boxes for a good mesh and then some.

My favorite elements of this mesh are the weight and durability. While being insanely light and easy to break in, it’s also extremely durable. ECD also makes the claim that this mesh is 10 times more water repellent than the 2.0. That alone is pretty incredible. Needless to say, this is a mesh you can trust.

StringKing Type 4S

StringKing has become synonymous with quality and elite products since taking over a good chunk of the mesh game years back. It’s one of my favorite choices when looking for a mesh that will last all season starting with that snowy February weather. Through my three years of college lacrosse so far, I can tell you that StringKing mesh has always been in at least one of my sticks at all times and in the sticks of many other college players.

Not much more needs to be explained here aside from that StringKing is always a quality choice that is sure to impress. I will also add that 4S and other generations of StringKing mesh come in “X” and “S” versions. X is more of a semi-hard, while S is more semi-soft. The choice is yours!

Warrior Iso Warp Mesh

The newcomer to this list, the Warp Mesh introduces many new mesh elements in the lacrosse game. The Iso Warp mesh is an 8-Diamond mesh through most of the mesh but also features wider diamonds for more feel and control along the channel area of the mesh.

This is essentially an adaptation of Warrior’s Warp series of heads but in mesh form to allow for far more customization and stringing options. This mesh also features added durability and weather to ensure the player won’t have to worry about their pocket. I am very excited to see this mesh used this coming season!

Jimalax Prime Semi-Soft Mesh

The stringing supplies giant brings an affordable and quality offering to the market with Prime Mesh. Much like the other meshes on this list, this is a weatherproof quality mesh.

What separates this mesh from others? Price point. Coming in at roughly 10 bucks less, this is an affordable and quality choice whether you’re learning to string or throwing it in your college game stick.

Need More Help with Your 2021-22 Gear?

We have specialized buyers guides for the 2021-22 season coming your way the next few weeks, from mesh to helmets and more. Everything you need will be covered in our guides. Take a look at what we have prepared for you!

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I love buying lacrosse gear (a lot), and I’m a fan of lacrosse-based guides. This week, I took a look at some of the best lacrosse gloves on the market for the 2021-22 season and put them together in this buyers guide.

I’ve broken down five gloves to consider this year when making your next big purchase. What qualifies for this list, you may ask? I focused on recently-released gloves that have become available in the past year or so and are commonly offered across major lacrosse retailers. I also focused on gloves with a competitive price point when compared to other gloves on the market. While I love the elite gloves that can cost $150+, I left those off this list to appeal to a larger audience.

Let’s take a look at some of the top lacrosse gloves for buyers in 2021-22.

Lacrosse Gloves Buyers Guide for 2021-22

Warrior Burn Pro Gloves

The Warrior Burn Pro gloves offer many great reasons to choose them for your upcoming season. The ImpaxLT molded foam along the back of the glove offers elite protection from any checks that may come your way while still staying lightweight.

Along with protection, these gloves feature optimal ventilation with the TruventTM system placed throughout them. These gloves also win style points with a very streamline design that honestly just looks pretty sweet.

Maverik M5 Gloves

From the PLL to college lacrosse, these were a hot commodity this past season. Maverik has always been known to make some great gloves but really stepped it up with these, utilizing several key features.

The Flowcool vent on the back allows for increased airflow, the all-time class AxSuede palms give the best feel, and the adjustable cuff allows the player a sense of customization when choosing how to rock their cuffs. These are just several of the key features that make these M5 gloves from Maverik a great option.

STX Cell 5 Gloves

Let’s be honest; we’ve all owned a pair of STX Cell gloves at one point or another. The Cell 5 gloves offer many of the same features we have all loved, while also upgrading several areas to advance the Cell glove line. The Power Fit system built into the glove creates added space in key areas for comfort and crucial movement while playing. These also feature GeoFlex II padding for increased protection in areas you need i t most. The bonus feature in these is the Guard Lock, which allows you to store your mouthguard safely with your gloves.

From the new features to the most classic features of the Cell line of gloves, these Cell 5 gloves seem to be a very solid option.

True Temper Zerolyte Gloves 

While True Temper is still somewhat new to the lacrosse protection world, I think these Zerolyte gloves will attract anyone’s attention. From the low profile fit that grips to your hand to the insanely lightweight and protective design, these are very worth considering this season when looking to purchase your next pair of gloves. They also feature the favorite AXSuede Quattro palms that offer the most feel while playing.

Gait Field Glove

Gait’s newest glove offering in the Gait Field Glove impresses from the design and protection to the three-piece cuff system. On the protection side of these gloves, they feature hard plastic placed around high-impact areas to ensure hard slap checks won’t result in injured hands. I personally see these playing a big role in the box lacrosse world, particularly due to the style and design that reminds most of older, classic gloves.

Looking to Spend More or Buy Older?

Perhaps you’re able and willing to drop a bit more cash on your new lacrosse gloves for the 2021-22 campaign. If you’re open to spending $150+ on gloves this season, I’d recommend looking into the STX Surgeon RZR gloves, Maverik Max gloves, and Warrior Evo QX gloves.

If you’re looking for slightly-older gloves and want some advice on what to check out, I wrote about what I consider to be the five-best modern lacrosse gloves last month.

How Should I Maintain My Gloves?

Lacrosse gloves can pretty quickly become disgusting, and it’s important to take care of them so they can last longer and give you more bang for your buck. But you have to be careful. How dirty they are affects how you should clean them, plus what they’re made out of. Don’t enter the situation blindly.

Then comes a big question in the modern game: should I cut the palms out of my gloves? That’s a personal choice (although some leagues and levels don’t allow it), and you need to weigh the pros and cons before taking the scissors to your precious piece of equipment.

Need More Help with Your 2021-22 Gear?

We have specialized buyers guides for the 2021-22 season coming your way the next few weeks, from mesh to helmets and more. Everything you need will be covered in our guides. Take a look at what we have prepared for you!

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It’s not easy, but I’ve embarked on explaining my top-25 lacrosse heads of all time.

How many years have you played lacrosse? 

How many different heads have you used? 

How many have you loved, and how many have you hated? 

Over the years of playing, I have compiled my personal list of the top-25 lacrosse heads. Some of these are new, and some not so much. All are totally opinion based from both using these heads in games or stringing them up for friends and teammates. I should also add that these are in no particular order as I would have too many close ties. I hope you’ll find a few on here that maybe you too have liked or used in the past. Maybe you’ll even see your all-time favorite on this list. 

Now to present my top-25 lacrosse head list…

Tucker La Belle’s Top 25 Lacrosse Heads

25: STX Proton U

Quite possibly the most-underrated head on this entire list. If you ever owned one of these, you know why it made it in here. A work horse of a head that had no flashy elements yet could be used by almost any position, if strung correctly.

24: Maverik Tank

Let’s just say it wasn’t called the Tank for no reason. Maverik’s prime defensive offering for a long time brought durability and strength to a well-designed defensive head.

23: Epoch Hawk

The original head from Epoch that introduced a different sidewall design and face shape compared to many other lacrosse heads of the time. This one gets on the list for innovation and development. 

22: Warrior Rabil 2X

The only player signature head I will likely ever mention in a favorite list of any kind. This head was just a classic for many players during the big era of Rabil being with Warrior. I can remember a lot of players in high school using these heads and particularly liking the weight and design elements. It says something if Rabil continued using this head after separating from Warrior. Again, just a well-built head.

21: Maverik Centrik U

To me, he Centrik U was one of the best Maverik lacrosse heads to be released. I found this head to be very durable and had just enough stringing holes to have some options. I appreciate that this head was simple yet well built without adding too many fancy design elements. 

20: ECD Rebel Offense

I personally haven’t used one of these, but I have strung a few with complete ease. I love having a company that appreciates stringing jump into the head game and think about how a head will string up.

19: STX Surgeon 10 500

The update that was needed to the Surgeon, from lighter weight to different material. This version of the Surgeon brought the head into the modern era with sharper design elements and better stringing options. 

18: STX X10

Simply put, the STX 10 was a very solidly-built head. I’ve seen it on the offensive head pinched in the box game, and I’ve seen poles using it in the field game. Versatile, well built, and an all-time classic without question.

17: Nike Lakota 2

My personal favorite updated version of the Nike Lakota. The Lakota 2 brought an X-spec legal-face shape and a bulked-up throat. While the bulked up throat may seem like just a minor update I found it to add quite a bit of stability to the head.

16: Warrior Evo 5

The GOAT? Pretty close, in my opinion. A close tie between the Evo 5 and Evo 4 for me, but I loved the development and thought put into the Evo 5. The addition of a bit narrower face shape and longer throat made the Evo 5 quite the offensive weapon. I will also add the throat jewel was very clean with what looks to be injection-molded plastic. 

15: True Temper HZDRUS

One of the newer lacrosse heads on this list but what I believe will become a classic over the years. A face shape that seems to be a hybrid of an Under Armour Command and one of my favorites, the Evo 5. If you’re a stringer who likes options for creativity, this may just be the head for you.

14: Stringking Mark 1

This head was the big bid into the lacrosse head game by the mesh giant StringKing. I personally found this head to be particularly good for the box game as it had a more narrow face shape that could easily take a good box pinch. Since the original Mark 1, there have been newer versions released that get better and better each time.

13: Warrior OG Blade

Very little need to describe why this is on the list. It’s a classic and true gem in the history of lacrosse heads. The OG Blade was a weapon of choice for so many FOGOs for so long. It was re-released under a new version several years back but still not the same as the original coveted OG Blade. 

12: STX Stallion

Ah yes, the good ol’ STX Stallion. This head was and still is one of my favorites. From the original version and its different-textured areas to the way it took a nice mid-pocket, this head was sick. Much like the other heads, the Stallion lives on through many updated versions. Most notable of the newer versions in my mind was the Stallion U 550, which complied with newer spec rules and also took a mid-pocket very well. 

11: Under Armour Command X

Now this was a head you either loved or hated. I personally had a special affection for this head as it was durable, easy to string, and dyed quite well, in my experience. This updated version of the Command was also a major improvement on the original, which featured a much more matte finish plastic and had some warping/pinching issues over time.

10: Nike Lakota

The original Lakota was a major bid in the lacrosse game for Nike. It came in several colors, including a volt (neon yellow) colorway that players seemed to particularly like. While it had its durability issues over time, it was still a major head at the time. The updates made to newer versions have even further cemented the Lakota series in the lacrosse world. 

9: STX Surgeon

As we know now, there are many many versions of the STX Surgeon that have been released over the years. From the X6 spec to the Surgeon 900, Surgeon heads have always been an lacrosse attackman’s dream. The original Surgeon had a very sharp and aggressive face shape that featured a heavier smooth plastic build. It was a tight face shape that flared up at the top, allowing for a lot of ball control before the X-spec heads kicked in. It was especially lethal with two U shooters and a nylon.

8: STX Super Power

I can’t lie to you: the first time I saw a Super Power, I thought it was the strangest-looking head I had ever seen. It had a strange futuristic look to it with a very short throat and limited stringing holes. Despite these unusual design attributes, it became a quick classic for many players at the time. While it had its stringing challenges, it was a very trustworthy head.

7: Maverik Optik U

Maverik has always been known to make quality heads and gear, but one head that I feel gets often overlooked is the Optik U. This head wasn’t flashy or over designed, but it did the job and then some. For a lot of players I know, it was their first U spec head they used. I personally appreciated the face shape and large top string holes for triangle top strings. 

6: STX Hammer

The weapon of choice for so many defenders. A head that allowed for monster checks and easy ground ball battles. When I think of defensive lacrosse heads to include on this list, the Hammer belongs in the top 25 with no questions asked. Like many heads, it has been updated since it’s original release for added durability and less warping; however, the original Hammer is one still used by many players I come across.

5: Brine Clutch X

Easily the best head Brine has ever produced in my mind. I should also note that if I left this head off the list, I have several friends who would immediately remind me I forgot about their favorite head. All jokes aside, the Brine Clutch X held up to the test of time. I can recall seeing these heads used from my early days of playing all the way up to the last several weeks at IBLA Nationals. A truly timeless head. I will also add that the Clutch X carved out a solid section in the game when the college spec heads kicked in as well. 

4: Warrior Evo 4x

While I loved the whole Warrior Evolution series, the 4x has a special place in my heart. This was the ideal head for an attackman for quite a bit of time. It made picking off passes a dream, with a wider X-spec face shape but still had the durability to hold up to major checks. This was also the dream head for a mid/low pocket that allowed for great one-handed cradling.

3: Warrior Noz X

This is a personal classic to me. Back in early high school, my brother and I traded one of these back and forth at least five times. The Noz X is one of those heads every lacrosse gear head has had in their collection at some point or another, so it has to be in the top 25. From the hollowed out sections of this head to cut down weight to the boxy face shape that took U shooters so well, this head was incredible.

2: Nike CEO

Best name for a lacrosse head award winner? Possibly. The CEO was the coveted gem of faceoff guys and midfielders for such a long time. I can remember players in high school trading three or four heads just to get their hands on one CEO. This head brought a new aggressive face shape to the game that many players loved. I still see many original CEOs floating around. 

1: Gait Torq

A true classic that belongs on anyone’s top lacrosse heads list. The original Gait Torq dominated the box and field game with its unusual but loveable design. From the amount of sidewall holes to the bulked up throat, this is a head for the history books.

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We can all appreciate a good-looking jersey, but the ones that stuck with us through the years are often some of the best. Through the last few years of pro lacrosse, I came up with what I think are the five best jerseys to grace the grass and turf.

Represented in this list are two MLL teams, two PLL squads, and an NLL side.

5 Best Pro Lacrosse Jerseys of the Last Few Years

Ohio Machine Black Alternates (2018)

I think we can all remember how cool some of the iconic Ohio Machine jerseys were. To me, one of the coolest was their black alternate jersey released in 2018. From the grey machine gears designed into the sleeves to the machine blue with white-outlined numbers, these things were sweet. Also important to note was the two-color collar that New Balance integrated. Big fan of the design all around on these jerseys.

Atlanta Blaze Orange Classics (2018ish)

I LOVED a lot about the Atlanta Blaze and their design ability, from jerseys to social media. However, one Blaze jersey in particular jumped out to me when thinking of the five best pro lacrosse fits: the bright orange Blaze jersey with black sleeves is one of my all time favorites.

Pairing this look with the orange chrome helmets made these things even cooler. This jersey also featured black and red accents to really give the viewers a Blaze image impression. You would be hard pressed to find a fan who saw these jersey colors and didn’t instantly think of the Blaze. It’s important to note that the Blaze’s all red and even their bright yellow jerseys were also quiet cool.

Cannons LC Dark Blues (2021)

I felt that the Cannons LC had some pressure to impress with their uniforms during their first PLL season as the first MLL team to cross over, and impress they did by releasing two uniforms, both paying homage to the MLL roots of the club.

My favorite of the two is the navy/dark blue alternate that reminded me of the MLL days but also offered a modern twist with the blue smoke working its way up the bottom half of the jersey. I will also note that I’m a big fan of the two-colored stripes going around each sleeve. It’s a classy look for sure, and I’m excited to see what next year’s Cannons jersey will look like.

Redwoods LC Greens (2021)

While there isn’t a ton of variation between the green Redwoods jersey of 2020 and the Redwoods jerseys of 2021, I feel like the commitment to a classic look is what makes them spectacular. The jerseys of 2021 featured a tree print faded behind the team logo with white accent letters and numbers. I’m a big fan of this colorway and attention to detail when putting together a jersey. It’s easy to say these aren’t the flashiest jerseys in the PLL, but they are one of the cleanest.

Halifax Thunderbirds Whites (2019-20)

My favorite NLL jersey is an easy one with this awesome white Halifax Thunderbirds jersey. My favorite feature is the classic three-colored font going across the jersey.

While some would call this simple, I would argue it’s a well-thought-out retro design look. I’m also a big fan of the orange colored collar and two-striped sleeves. This entire look gives me retro design thoughts. I must also add that the rest of the Thunderbirds jerseys are also quite impressive.

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Lacrosse gloves have come a long way over the past couple of years in quality and in design. While some lacrosse gloves have been left in the past, there has certainly been some that stand out among the rest to be the best of the modern era.

From the Brine King to the Maverik Rome, there have been many great glove lines in recent years. Unlike many other pieces of gear, gloves are often customizable and become an extension of the players’ personalities on the field. For all you gearheads like me out there, I think you’ll have a special appreciation for this read.

Disclaimer: These are my own opinions and are in no specific order but rather just a combined list.

Five Best Modern lacrosse gloves

Maverik Rome Gloves

I think we can all remember the day the original Maverik Rome lacrosse gloves dropped. It was elegant yet aggressive with their multicolored leather palms and stitched outer layer. These looked like the gloves a king would wear before entering battle. The Rome gloves were so clean compared to the rest of the gloves on the market at the time.

On top of just looking good, it was rocked by many pro players of the era and had an extra clean look on the LXM Pro Tour. I can distinctly remember players rocking these mittens on the tour and just thinking to myself that I needed a pair more than anything else at the time. After owning a pair of these, I can also say that it offered optimal protection that would rival any other gloves of the era. The original Rome gloves then developed into several other versions, like the Rome NXTs and now the new Rome gloves – all of them just as clean looking as the originals.

True Temper ZeroLyte Gloves

Now these gloves are likely as new to you as they are to myself. Why are these on the list, you may ask? Because the Zerolyte glove represent the future of lightweight yet protective gloves that are form fitting. From the sleek outer layer to the extremely form-fitting palms, these feel like something out of the movie “Tron Legacy.”

However, the biggest reason these lacrosse gloves are on this list is their weight-to-protection ratio. I have fallen in love with how these gloves feel like I’m wearing nothing at all yet barely feel any checks to the hands. While the Zerolyte glove certainly receives style points, the tech behind the glove itself are the reason it made this list. After wearing these gloves all of the IBLA box season, I truly feel that these lacrosse gloves deserve to be recognized as one of the best of the modern era.

Warrior Evo Pro Gloves

Warrior has always been a staple brand in the lacrosse world, and that simply cannot be denied. While its lacrosse gloves have always been coveted and desirable, one pair set a new standard for Warrior glove design for years to come. The Warrior Evo Pro are the company’s elite lacrosse glove line all the way from its price point to its innovative design.

These are gloves worn by the elite, and that’s just as simple as it gets. I can remember when these were first released and seeing a lot of them in the MLL on Ohio Machine players. Right away, I knew they were the future of lacrosse gloves at the time. The Y shaped flexible piece on the back of the glove offered optimal hand movement without sacrificing too much protection….and it looked cool. All jokes aside, I think we can all agree at some point in time we really wanted a pair of these insane-looking gloves.

Brine King V Gloves

These gloves being here might be a surprise to many of you, but I truly feel this list cannot exist without the Brine King V. From the added protection on the molded plastic vents stitched into the gloves to the two-colored thumbs, these represented an industry shift in lacrosse glove design.

The palms were nothing special to write home about, but the attention to detail in the design of these gloves set them aside from other gloves on the market at the time. One of the coolest versions of these gloves to ever release were the Rob Pannell (RP3) editions that mixed in a lot of very clean colors into the design.

Stx Stallion HD Gloves

The Stallion HD gloves were some of the coolest lacrosse gloves I have ever rocked. For most of my high school career, these were my gloves of choice for every practice and game. I have always been a fan of STX gloves and their ability to innovate the industry standard, but these gloves elevated the company’s glove line to a new level.

The glove itself was lightweight and fit well to the hand. While it had some flaws in durability, over time it did do well with protecting the hand and fingers. The HD polymer material used in its construction allowed for it to be as light as possible at the time it was made. The best-looking pair of these gloves was the solid color versions that looked clean with whatever arm pads you paired them with.

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Have you ever wondered what NAIA lacrosse is really like? Do you want to know if playing NAIA lacrosse is for you? Is this the first time you’re hearing about the NAIA?

The good news is that I’m here to give you an insider’s perspective of NAIA lacrosse from what the level of play is like all the way to what you can expect from facilities. 

What’s It Like to Play NAIA Lacrosse? A Player’s Perspective

My name is Tucker La Belle. I’m a Lax All Stars writer and senior captain on the Clarke University men’s lacrosse team. Clarke is a small liberal arts university in Dubuque, Iowa, that competes in the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) as part of the KCAC (Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference).

Background of the NAIA

The NAIA was founded in 1940 and is an alternate athletic governing board to the NCAA. The majority of NAIA schools are smaller liberal arts universities and colleges that would compare to NCAA DII and DIII schools in size, with the exception of a few universities in the NAIA with large enrollment numbers. This last athletic season the NAIA had 249 schools from across the U.S. and even Canada competing in many sports.

What makes the NAIA great is that most NAIA schools offer athletic scholarships that compare well to the NCAA DII level. This is what catches the attention of many athletic recruits, lacrosse players in particular. On the lacrosse side, there are 33 NAIA schools that sponsor lacrosse as a full varsity sport. This means there are great scholarships and often quite a bit of financial support for the programs. 

Why NAIA lacrosse? 

While I was going through my recruiting journey in Ohio, most of my interest was coming from NCAA DII and DIII schools, along with several NAIA schools. At the time, I didn’t know much about NAIA lacrosse and decided to verbally commit to an NCAA DII school my sophomore year of high school.

Fast forward to the start of my senior year, and I got a call from Clarke University. After my first visit to the school, I made the choice to decommit from the NCAA DII school and switch over to the NAIA.

I loved the small campus that had a major emphasis on athletes and college education. Most NAIA schools offer a high level of college education paired with very competitive college athletics. This is what appealed most to me at the time.

After three years of playing in the NAIA, I can tell you that I truly feel like I made the right decision. In the NAIA, athletes are supported as people and students and not just athletes. We aren’t just a number but instead a part of the greater campus community. For me, this community aspect allowed me to become our student body president on last year and this year. Other players also get involved on and off campus through a variety of opportunities. 

Level of play

The NAIA is still new to lacrosse, but I can assure you the level of play is still very much there. With players coming from all across the country and transferring from NCAA schools, the games are as competitive as one could ask for. However, newer NAIA programs can have a period of struggle and will often show scores that only represent the newness of the programs.

In my opinion, most NAIA lacrosse programs sit between the NCAA DII and DIII levels of play in comparison. There are some top-tier NAIA teams that could compete with most teams from both those divisions. For us at Clarke, we often mix in several NCAA DIII games each year, which are often a good benchmark to understand where we sit at for level of competition.

Again, with NAIA teams being across the country levels of play can and will vary every year, but I feel the consistent programs would compete well with the levels of play listed above. This level of play has noticeably increased with every year I’ve played as more and more players discover the NAIA and decide to commit or transfer in.

If you want to continue competing at a high level, get a college education, and also make an impact on your campus, the NAIA might just be for you. 

The Gear

No, I didn’t forget about the gear. How could I?!

I love gear, and each NAIA school has its own gear situation. But I can say that most of the schools really treat the lacrosse teams to quite a bit of lacrosse gear and apparel, many even more than NCAA DII and DIII schools.

While I can’t speak too much to other programs, I can give you a rundown of what we get at Clarke as an example. In my three years here, we have had three pairs of gloves, two helmets, two sets of elbow pads/guards, and two gear bags. On the apparel side, we normally get several long-sleeve workout shirts, several short-sleeve shirts, two pairs of shorts, a polo or quarter zip, and hoodies and sweatpants each year, along with backpacks every two years on average.

Again, that’s just one sample of what our program gets. I know of others that get more and others that get less. It really just depends on the program and their budget. Each team generally has a brand deal with companies such as Warrior, Nike, STX, Maverik, and many others. You can see some images of recent gear hauls above.

Facilities

Facilities are where the NAIA really shines compared to the other two levels referenced. For us here at Clarke, we have two turf fields, two weight rooms, and locker rooms.

Again, this is just a sample from our program. In my three years, I have played at many other schools and have constantly been impressed by the facilities and fields. One in particular I really like is Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri. You can find that pictured below, along with images from Clarke.

Bottom line here is that I promise most people will be very impressed by NAIA lacrosse venues. 

Travel

Travel at the NAIA level is just like other lacrosse programs across most levels: charter buses or school-owned buses, hotels for long road games, meals covered by the school, and athletic trainers at both home and away games. You get everything you could need to focus on the games ahead. 

Practices and team lifts

This is where each program really has its own standard and way of doing things, but I can again do my best to fill you in on my experiences.

In the fall, we normally start after the first week of classes with team bonding and meetings. From there, we jump into a fall practice schedule consisting of three days of lifting and three days of contact practice. Many of these fall days will be doubled up with lifting and practice as well as conditioning exercises outside of practice.

In the spring, we open up the preseason by having the team back on campus two weeks prior to school starting. These two weeks are all lacrosse and getting the team going. Then, depending on game schedules, we will practice four-to-six days a week on average, with fewer days of lifting in season. This seems to be pretty similar across the board for NAIA schools, but I have heard of some who do less or more.  

The challenges

At an NAIA school, you are truly expected to be a student and athlete. Education is important at these schools and often quite competitive. Balancing lacrosse and education can often be a grind and not all are cut out for it. You need to really find a routine fast and put in extra work in the classroom as well as on the field.

Because we have fewer days together in the fall compared to many NCAA programs, players are expected to be conditioning and working out a lot on their own in order to be prepared. Balancing all this has challenged me at times, but with a routine, it will become clockwork.

At this level you aren’t going to be looked at any differently than other students around you. No special treatment or special tutors for the most part. You have what the rest of the students have. This all takes a special amount of dedication to your sport and school work but can be very rewarding. With all that said, if you are serious about your education and continuing lacrosse, the NAIA can be a very good home for you. 

The bottom line

I think the NAIA will continue to grow in lacrosse. From the campus sizes to the athletic support, these schools can make for a great home to continue your sport and education. Just know that you will need to put in lots of extra hours in the weight room and library in order to find your success.

College isn’t easy, and it’s not supposed to be. College lacrosse has made for the best three years of my life thus far, and the NAIA has been a great level for myself and so many other players I know. If this all sounds like it’s up your alley, I highly suggest doing some more research into NAIA lacrosse programs and finding where you could fit in. 

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Whether they’re your favorite or not, at some point in your life, I guarantee you suited up with a lacrosse helmet from Cascade. Maybe that bucket even became your all-time favorite that will forever sit on your mantle at your home, maybe it didn’t.

Whatever the case may be, the fact is that Cascade has been in the helmet business for years and come out with a helmet or two over the decades. Let me briefly break down and educate you on where the Cascade lacrosse helmets began and where they are today.

The Evolution of Cascade Lacrosse Helmets

It all started with the Original Cascade helmet. It was an upgraded version of the leather bucket helmets of the years past. This new helmet from Cascade was sleek and trim for the time. It had a facemask that went further down and offered far more protection than anything before. This helmet was revolutionary when it was released and really started the Cascade trend of helmets we see today.

Then came the C2 and CLH2. The C2 was the next in the line of Cascade evolution. It was an upgraded take on the original Cascade helmet that also began to introduce the more modern shape of lacrosse helmets. The C2 also had a visor piece that was often a different color. I thought this was a pretty neat aspect of design in the helmet for the era.

The C2 was quickly pushed aside by a more modern version called the CLH2. This helmet was sick. I can remember having one of these when I first started playing. The CLH2 was the first helmet of most players I ask today. This was a recognizable start of the modern helmet era with it’s sleek design that looked far more streamlined than past helmets.

The CPro was next in the Cascade line. This is one helmet that I feel like was truly just an updated CLH2. It had very similar design features and aspects. Nonetheless it was still an upgrade. It offered new and flashy colors to continue to push lacrosse helmets into the modern era.

Down from the heavens came the CPX. The CPX was one clean helmet with an aggressive facemask that dipped down lower, giving a very aggressive effect. While it still had a similar two-piece shell design to past helmets, it was truly a lot cooler looking. I still see CPX helmets floating around today, and each time I see one, it reminds me how much I loved that helmet.

The true modern era of lacrosse came about with the Cascade CPX-R. We all know this gorgeous helmet. It was only a handful of years back that you could walk to any high school game and see half the team rocking these. These were a hot commodity when I was growing up. We all wanted what the pros wore, and this was it. I still remember a photo of Casey Powell rocking a CPX-R with a visor and immediately wanting to do the same thing. This helmet was a shift to a longer helmet shape with a more aggressive flare and fin in the back of the helmet. This was a clear starting point for the helmets we use today.

The all time favorite Pro-7. The Pro-7 is a helmet I think many people wish Cascade would’ve upgraded to use today. This was closely released to the CPX-R, which created a bit of a helmet rivalry within the company.

Growing up at my high school, we had the option to pick between the two. I can remember a lot of defensive players preferring the Pro-7 because of it’s one-piece helmet design and sturdier mask. I personally loved both for their own reasons, but I still think to this day that the Pro-7 was one of the best built helmets out there. However, I think anyone who used it can agree the strange dial on the side to adjust the size was a bit funky.

The Cascade R helmet. This helmet is so recent that I don’t have too much to say. From what I understand, It was released to be a safer and more technological version of the CPX-R. It was really the turning point for all helmets. It came with more colors and offered a much safer experience, and what more could you need? Oh, and it also came in stock matte colors.

There are still a lot of these being used today, and they have surprisingly held their value from what I’ve seen. I loved this helmet a whole lot and never imagined anyone could improve on what the R offered.  I was wrong.

The Cascade S helmet. The holy grail. The Cascade S is still very recent. In fact, almost everyone but the pro players are using S helmets as of now. I personally switch between two for college and like them a whole lot. However, they seem to have a much more narrow head shape than the R helmets. I’ve noticed that this has led to fewer people wearing them.

Whether you like them or not, this helmet is so slick. From the modern shape to the cool factor, this helmet has it and will have it for many years to come. 

The newborn baby…the XRS. I have yet to try these on or even hold one in my hands, so I don’t have much comment for them. From what I can tell from images, this is an upgraded version of the S helmet. This is supposed to be the safest helmet ever to be made. The safer the helmet, the safer our game becomes. I’m all for this helmet evolution and safety improvements. I can’t wait to get my hands on one of these helmets.

I hope this Cascade history lesson has brought back some good memories or educated you about a lacrosse helmet you never knew about. When will the next helmet be released? One can never truly know. Just know that the evolution of helmets has not even gotten close to an end. We are only at the start.

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When putting together your lacrosse stick, is it better to go for a composite or alloy shaft?

I’m young enough that composite and carbon fiber handles have always been around the game for me. The earliest I can remember is an STX line of composite handles that boasted to be stronger and improve shot speed. That marketing sure did work on 14-year-old me.

On the other hand, alloy and sci-ti or scandium blend handles have ruled the game for a long time. The major selling factor here has been how lightweight they can be. We all remember how light the Gait Ice was – it totally cut down the weight of our sticks all together and made the game feel all the more weightless.

Composite and alloy shafts both have upsides and downsides. Let me break down the major differences and where we sit today in the handle game.

Composite or Alloy Shafts: Which Is Better For Me?

Composite Shafts

Composite handles have developed immensely over the past few years, from the early handles via brands like EPOCH and Warrior to the now vast array of brands in the composite handle game now.

Composite shafts bring several main advantages to lacrosse. In my experience, the biggest is strength. Because of how composite handles are made, they are designed structurally to be stronger by layering the material to make the shafts. In the early days, this made composite handles heavier, but that worry has since gone away with many more lightweight composite shafts hitting the market.

The second and likely most notable feature of composite shafts is that they offer more flex than a traditionally alloy of scandium shaft. Many brands use a flex technology rating on the side of the shaft to indicate how much flex the handle will have. True Temper Lacrosse does this in a very straightforward way by giving the flex of a handle an assigned number. Much like the flex in a golf shaft, the more flex in a lacrosse handle will normally result in more power. I’m not here to say whether that power is consistent or not, but the truth is that composite handles just simply have more flex.

All in all, I see composite shafts being a regular feature in the lacrosse future. The amount of technology going into these handles will also develop over time, likely resulting in more and more well-designed lacrosse handles: smart handles, you could say.

Alloy/Sci-Ti Shafts

Alloy and scandium blend shafts have been a part of the lacrosse world for years and years, far before I was ever born, and were the norm for a long time before carbon fiber and composite handles were introduced. The starting level begins with alloy 7000 handles, which every brand offers, and the elite level are often sci-ti handles, also known as scandium titanium blend handles.

The development and innovation that went into these classic metal based handles cannot be overlooked. From lightweight handles like the previously-mentioned Gait Ice to the higher tech versions like the Dolomite Diamond, all these handles had their years. I personally still love using a well-built sci-ti handle. They are consistent and often inexpensive enough that if they break, they can be easily replaced.

Unlike the composite handles, metal-based handles have far less flex and are designed to have less, but this doesn’t mean that they can’t help with shot speed. Many alloy handles today are light enough to make you forget you’re even holding a lacrosse stick, but the downside is you sacrifice much of the strength.

Have we seen the end of metal-based handles? I surely think not. Lacrosse is a sport that is ever evolving, and so is the gear. For all we know, everyone may be using majority metal-based handles again 10 years down the road. Every type of equipment has its audience and loyal fans. Those fans are what push trends throughout the lacrosse community.

So What’s Better, Composite or Alloy Shafts?

Neither.

Lacrosse is a game of creativity and preferences. The stick someone feels most comfortable using is the true best option for them. While I do prefer composite handles for my game, I still enjoy picking up a sci-ti handle every now and then.

The one thing I can say is that composite handles are generally stronger. Therefore, if you’re an aggressive player who likes to lay some hard check or even a box player, a composite shaft with durability may be the best option.

Try out different handles and discover what’s best for your unique game, and always remember that lacrosse is still evolving. We will continue to see many more handle technologies pop up in the coming years.

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Yes, there’s lacrosse in Iowa, and it’s better than you probably think.

The world is lacrosse is constantly growing. From Japan to Puerto Rico, we are always pleased to hear about its incredible international growth. As the game grows internationally, it also grows in America. Lacrosse has been big for years in traditional hotbeds like New York and Maryland, but it’s started to grow in new and non-traditional locations, too. Some of these states would be considered “flyover” states by those on the coasts, but in my mind, they’re some of the most beautiful and undeveloped states.

One of these states that many would never think of lacrosse in is the beautiful state of Iowa. When I first moved from Ohio to Iowa for college lacrosse, I didn’t know how much lacrosse existed in the state or how much love for the game many people in the state really had. Iowa is known for corn, farming, and the Field of Dreams – you wouldn’t normally think of the state and the sport of lacrosse.

For the past three years, I’ve worked to grow the game in the state and tried to educate myself on the landscape of the already-existing lacrosse in Iowa.

Iowa Lacrosse: The State of the Sport

Youth & High School

First, let’s talk about the youth and high school lacrosse landscapes in Iowa.

Lacrosse seems to have existed the longest in the Des Moines area and other communities closer to Nebraska. Several very solid high school programs play each year in these areas, several of which produce college lacrosse players annually.

On my side of the state closer to Illinois and Wisconsin, lacrosse is growing rapidly. This last year was my first full season coaching high school lacrosse in Iowa. As soon as my college season ended, I shifted all focus to helping with coaching the Dubuque Bulldogs, a local community club program that has fielded a team for several years now. The community club model seems to be the most popular in the area as it allows kids of all ages to get involved and also lets teams enter tournaments across the Midwest.

The love and passion these players have for the game was truly eye opening to me. I have always loved lacrosse since I was young, but while playing the college game, it is often easy to get lost in workouts and practices instead of pure passion for the sport. These kids once again renewed my love for the game, just like I had on day one in fifth grade when I picked up my stick for the first time.

That is the true beauty of being a part of this amazing sport in a state most people would never associate with lacrosse.

College Programs

The other major factor for lacrosse growth in Iowa is the college programs.

When I first committed to Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa, I had no clue how much lacrosse was even in Iowa. I had no real clue about how many other college programs were scattered across the state.

On the men’s side, six varsity programs field teams each year. That includes four NAIA programs and two NCAA Division III outfits. On the club side, the University of Iowa and Iowa State regularly have deep rosters. There are as many women’s programs in Iowa, if not more.

All of these programs are bringing more lacrosse growth and potential to Iowa each and every season. From youth clinics to introducing the sport to new communities, it all helps. In a state of a bit more than three million people, the number of college programs in the state is a surprise to most.

IBLA

Iowa also has an IBLA semi-pro box lacrosse team, the Iowa Dogfish, that I co-founded just over two years ago.

In the past two seasons, we have noticed more and more people in the stands. More people are joining the lacrosse bandwagon, and more people are wanting to be involved in the sport. Those catching on to the game are the future of the sport in the state. Even the people who have casual conversations with me about the PLL in the most unexpected of places have a big part in growing lacrosse in Iowa.

The Future

I know for a fact that Iowa, and many other Midwestern states, are lacrosse states just waiting to happen. It will take lots of hard work and plenty of passion for the game, but the people of Iowa want more lacrosse. If you haven’t coached any lacrosse in a small Midwestern state, I encourage you to do so. It will once again show you why this sport is so incredible.

Get out there and Grow The Game!

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