Handball Gear: The Complete Handball Equipment List

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The night before the first practice of the season: court shoes at the bottom of the closet, a ball that’s sticky from last year’s resin, knee pads that might still fit, and a goalkeeper asking whether padded pants are allowed. Handball doesn’t need much, but the right handball gear makes the game safer and more fun. Here’s a simple handball equipment list: indoor court shoes, the right ball by size and resin, knee and ankle supports that fit the rules, goalkeeper protection, and the recovery kit for tournament weekends.

Prices change often. The prices below are what we saw at the maker or a major retailer in October 2026; check the current price before you buy.

The quick checklist: indoor court shoes, a ball of the right size, resin and cleaner if your gym allows resin, knee pads, an ankle brace if you’ve sprained an ankle before, a clear or single-color mouthguard, a water bottle, and slides for after the game. Leave jewelry and watches at home: under the IHF rules, helmets, face masks, gloves (even for goalkeepers), rings, earrings and necklaces aren’t allowed, though small earrings or flat rings can be taped over.

Our top picks

Indoor court shoes

The IHF rules only say players must wear sports shoes, but handball means sprints, sharp cuts, jump shots and hard landings on a gym floor, so you want indoor court shoes with grippy rubber soles and good side-to-side support, not running shoes. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ fit tips work well:

• Shop late in the day, when feet are at their biggest, and wear your game socks (and your brace, if you wear one).
• Leave about half an inch between your longest toe and the end of the shoe, with room to wiggle your toes.
• The heel should be held firmly. Lace the shoes up fully when you try them.
• Keep court shoes for the court so the soles stay grippy, and check kids’ fit every season.

Shoes sold as handball, volleyball or indoor court shoes are built for this; models change every year and fit is personal, so we don’t push one shoe. Buy the pair that feels secure on a hard lateral step.

Handballs by size and resin

Size	Who	Resin ball	Resin-free ball	Good picks
Mini	Kids up to about 8	Not set by the rules; small, light, soft		Kempa Gecko, size 0 (about $52)
1	Girls 8–14, boys 8–12	50–52 cm, 290–330 g	49–51 cm, 290–315 g	Molten D60, size 1 (about $63)
2	Women, girls 14+, boys 12–16	54–56 cm, 325–375 g	51.5–53.5 cm, 300–325 g	Most makers sell their match and training balls in size 2 as well; check the size in the listing
3	Men and boys 16+	58–60 cm, 425–475 g	55.5–57.5 cm, 400–425 g	Molten 5000 (about $82), Select Solera v24 (about $61)

The IHF rules set two versions of each size, one for play with resin and one, a little smaller and lighter, for play without it. Match balls: the Molten 5000 is a hand-stitched ball with a synthetic-leather cover, and the size 3 listing calls it the official ball of the IHF (about $82, seen October 2026). The Select Solera v24 is a hand-stitched, EHF-approved training ball that the listing says grips well with or without resin, a smart pick if your gym bans resin (size 3, about $61). For the Champions League look, the Select Replica EHF Champions League v24 (size 3, about $107) is the EHF-approved training replica of the Champions League match ball. Youth balls: the Molten D60, size 1 is IHF approved and made for play without resin, and the Kempa Gecko comes in size 0, the smallest size, for young children, with an extra foam layer for a soft feel. A small pump with a gauge, like the eBall pump (about $22), keeps balls properly inflated.

Check the Molten 5000 price on Amazon

Resin and resin cleaner

Resin is the sticky wax players rub on their fingertips for grip, and IHF rules allow it to be kept only on the shoes and applied to the fingers. Your gym may have its own rules about resin, so ask your club first. The Erima Trimona 2.0 is a classic natural-resin wax with strong grip, sold in a 250 g tub (about $62) and a 500 g tub (about $94), seen October 2026. Resin builds up on balls, so a resin cleaner helps: smear it on, wait, and rinse with warm water.

Check the Erima Trimona 2.0 price on Amazon

Knee pads and knee supports

Handball players fall, slide and dive on hard floors, and goalkeepers drop into splits all game. The IHF’s protective-equipment rules allow knee protectors and neoprene sleeves of soft, thin material in any color, including ones with a single large pad; hard parts must be fully covered with padding. Three good options:

• Rehband knee pads: 5 mm padded neoprene sleeves that the maker developed with handball and volleyball players, sold as a pair, about $70. Rehband became USA Team Handball’s official protective-equipment supplier in 2026.
• McDavid Hex knee sleeves: extended compression leg sleeves with built-in hex padding over the knee, a pair for about $45.
• Bauerfeind GenuTrain: a knitted knee support with a gel pad around the kneecap, about $100, for players who want support more than padding. Check with the referee that any stays are covered before games.

Pads protect against bruises and floor burns; they don’t prevent ligament injuries or fix knee pain. A knee that pops, swells or gives way needs a sports medicine doctor or physical therapist. Our best knee sleeves guide compares more, and the handball injuries page covers the knee in depth.

Check the Rehband knee pads price on Amazon

Ankle braces

Ankle sprains are among the most common handball injuries, and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association recommends a brace or tape for all practices and games for athletes who have sprained an ankle before, plus balance training. Handball has two extra rules: under the IHF regulations, braces and tape must be the same color as your socks, and braces with hard parts are allowed only if those parts are fully covered with padding. Strap braces without hard parts are allowed.

• McDavid 195: a light lace-up with figure-8 straps that mimic athletic tape; fits either foot. The simplest choice under the rules. About $35.
• ASO EVO: a low-profile lace-up stabilizer with a stirrup and figure-8 straps that fits inside most shoes. About $40.
• Active Ankle T2: a rigid hinged shell with a single strap. Because the shell is hard, it needs to be fully padded or wrapped to be legal in handball. About $35.
• Zamst A2-DX: left- or right-specific with molded side guards, Zamst’s strongest support level; the same padding rule applies. About $75.

Braces are support gear, not treatment. If an ankle is swollen, painful to walk on or keeps giving way, see a sports medicine doctor, physical therapist or athletic trainer before you play on it. Our best ankle brace for athletes guide compares more braces.

Check the McDavid 195 price on Amazon

Goalkeeper protection

Handball goalkeepers stop hard shots from close range with their whole body, but the rules keep protection soft: no helmets, face masks or gloves. What is allowed, under the IHF’s equipment regulations: long trousers, tights or undershorts in any color for goalkeepers, soft padded elbow pads, knee pads and shoulder guards, soft nose protection, and a clear or single-color mouthguard. Good starting kit:

• KELME padded goalkeeper pants: long goalkeeper pants with protection pads, sold in kids’, youth and adult sizes, about $34. They’re made for soccer goalkeepers but fit handball’s rule for goalkeeper trousers.
• Knee and elbow pads: soft padded sleeves like the Rehband or McDavid Hex above take the sting out of drops and slides.
• Groin protection: male goalkeepers who want it can wear compression shorts with a cup under their shorts, such as Shock Doctor’s shorts with a Bio-Flex cup (about $20).
• Mouthguard: the Shock Doctor Gel Max comes in youth and adult sizes (about $12); pick a clear or single-color one.

Check the KELME goalkeeper pants price on Amazon

Recovery gear for the bag

After two or three games in a tournament weekend, comfort takes over. Recovery slides like the OOFOS OOahh (about $60, washable, with the APMA Seal of Acceptance) are a bench favorite. Many players carry a small massage gun such as the Hypervolt Go 3 (about $149, 1.6 lb) or a TriggerPoint GRID foam roller (about $40) for calves, quads and upper back. For long days in a warm gym, a 32-ounce Nalgene bottle (about $16) and electrolyte tablets like Nuun Sport, which is Informed Choice certified, help you keep drinking. If you have a heart or kidney condition or high blood pressure, check with your doctor before using electrolyte products. These are comfort tools, not treatment; if something hurts for more than a few days, see a professional. Our best recovery shoes, best massage guns and electrolyte guides compare more, and the handball recovery page covers the routine.

Check the OOFOS OOahh Slide price on Amazon

Check the Hypervolt Go 3 price on Amazon

Back to the handball hub, or see handball rules, youth handball and the best handball wearables. Also play volleyball? See our volleyball gear list, or soccer gear for the outdoor season.

Handball gear questions

What equipment do you need for handball?

Indoor court shoes, a ball of the right size, and a water bottle. Most players add knee pads, an ankle brace if they’ve had a sprain, and a mouthguard; goalkeepers add padded pants and soft elbow and knee pads.

What size handball should I buy?

Size 3 for men and boys 16 and older, size 2 for women, girls 14 and older and boys 12–16, and size 1 for girls 8–14 and boys 8–12. Younger children use smaller mini-handballs.

Do I need resin to play handball?

No. Many players use it for grip at higher levels, but the IHF rules also cover resin-free balls, and your gym may not allow resin. Ask your club, and if resin is out, choose a ball the maker says grips well without it.

Can handball goalkeepers wear gloves or a helmet?

No. Under IHF rules, gloves, helmets and face masks aren’t allowed for any player, goalkeepers included. Goalkeepers can wear long padded pants, soft elbow, knee and shoulder pads, soft nose protection and a clear or single-color mouthguard.

Can I wear an ankle brace in handball?

Yes. Strap and lace-up braces without hard parts are allowed, and braces with hard parts are allowed if those parts are fully padded. Braces and tape must match your sock color.