Whether you are selling a stick online or sending one to a friend or family member as a gift, there are times where you might need to ship a hockey stick across the country or even internationally. You may even need to ship it to a tournament or game if you have no space.
While shipping something small is as easy as tossing it in a box you have at home, the same can’t be said for a hockey stick. Their large size and awkward shape can make shipping a little more complicated than that in some cases.
Thankfully, there are some tips out there that can help you properly secure and ship your hockey stick, to make sure it arrives at its destination without any damage.
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How to Prepare Your Stick for Shipping
Before actually shipping a stick, it is important to prepare it for shipping. The shipping process for items can be a difficult one, as boxes and items are often thrown around without a lot of care. If you aren’t careful, your stick could get scraped, broken, or damaged in another way.
When preparing your hockey stick to be shipped, there are a few different ways you can ensure it is protected and will survive the trip with little to no damage.
Use Bubble Wrap
Using bubble wrap to wrap your stick before shipping makes a ton of sense. Bubble wrap can protect the stick and soften any blows it might receive from other boxes or collisions with any walls.
Wrap the entirety of the stick quite tightly, and then consider using some packing tape to ensure everything stays in place and is secure. Without taping the wrap, it could come undone and fall off, leaving your hockey stick in a vulnerable position.
However, if you plan to only use bubble wrap, you need to be careful. You need to ensure all areas of the stick are properly protected. For added protection, you should consider doubling up on the bubble wrap on areas like the blade, heel, and end of the stick.
Also, this bubble wrap may not protect the stick from elements like rain or snow, so keep that in mind. If you are shipping multiple sticks, consider using saran wrap to keep them together, too.
Add Some Cardboard
If you want to add a bit more protection to the stick, consider wrapping the blade in cardboard and taping it down. This will prevent it from being bent or hit and scuffed. If you are so inclined, you could do the same for the entire stick, not only the blade.
While this cardboard can be great for stopping scratches and surface damage, it is not as effective on impact as bubble wrap, so consider putting some bubble wrap on top of the taped cardboard for even better security.
While cardboard is great, it can become much weaker and lose its form if it gets wet. As a result, consider wrapping the stick in some kind of thick plastic, such as a large garbage bag. This won’t do much more added impact protection but can keep the elements away.
Utilize a Stick Box or Bag
One of the best options for shipping a stick safely is to use a dedicated stick box or bag. These will easily fit your stick and protect it during its long journey. The box or bag will often be large and rectangular, and should easily be able to fit your hockey stick inside without any issues.
Of course, you still want to wrap the stick in plastic or bubble wrap, but having a dedicated stick bag or box can ensure optimal protection all around the stick. Some of these may even be able to ship multiple sticks if you need to.
Take Shipping Time, Cost, and Insurance into Account
Once the stick is securely packaged and has the shipping label in place, it can simply be taken to a post office or shipping company to be shipped. However, when shipping anything (hockey stick or otherwise), there are some other things you need to take into account.
This includes shipping time, the cost of shipping, and even insurance. If your recipient needs the stick at a certain time, be sure to send it far enough in advance to ensure it arrives on time. Also, familiarize yourself with the cost of shipping a hockey stick, as the costs can potentially be high.
If the stick is quite expensive, you might even want to consider insurance for your equipment. This can save you if the stick is damaged or if it is lost somewhere in transit.
Also, it couldn’t hurt to ask the airline or shipping service you are using what they recommend when it comes to shipping hockey equipment, to ensure you do everything by the book.
After reading this guide, you should know exactly how to best ship a hockey stick in a manner that is affordable, safe, and secure. Is there anything I missed that you feel would have provided more value in this guide? If so, don’t hesitate to let me know in a comment.
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