Football gear list: what a full kit really costs

American football has a reputation for being expensive, yet nobody ever puts a figure on it. We took the list of pieces the rulebook makes compulsory, then the lowest price recorded for each on our own product pages between 27 September and 18 October 2026. The answer fits in a single sum.

What the rulebook requires, and what it leaves open

The IFAF publishes the rulebook applied by its member federations. Article 1-4-3 sets out the compulsory kit: helmet, hip pads, jersey, knee pads, mouthguard, trousers, shoulder pads, socks and thigh guards. That is the baseline to budget for, long before any question of brand.

A few points in the same article bear directly on the bill:

• the helmet must carry a facemask and a 4- or 6-point chin strap, all fastened while the ball is in play;
• hip pads must include a tailbone protector, which points towards a full girdle rather than loose pads;
• knee pads must be covered by the trousers, with no protection worn on the outside;
• the mouthguard is intra-oral and clearly coloured, neither white nor transparent.

Gloves, visors and rib protectors, on the other hand, go unmentioned: they are comfort or position purchases, not obligations. Boots are likewise missing from the 1-4-3 list, even though their shape is regulated elsewhere. All of these sit in our football protection pages and across the rest of the catalogue.

The price of each piece at European retailers

Each line gives the lowest price recorded on a published product page, then the dearest model in the same collection. The readings date from 27 September to 18 October 2026.

Socks are now counted, with one caveat: only one of the two models in our catalogue carries a price recorded at a European retailer; the other, sold in packs of three, has no offer yet. The cheapest mouthguard was on sale the day it was recorded; budget closer to twenty euros outside promotions.

The helmet decides the budget

Two figures tell the story: helmet and shoulder pads together account for €816.80 of the €1,014.50 cheapest total, or 81%. Saving ten euros on a mouthguard changes nothing; choosing one helmet over another changes everything.

Compare like with like, though. The Riddell SpeedFlex is advertised at €459.90, but European retailers sell it without a facemask. Add an SF-2BD-SW facemask at €128.91 and a CAM·LOC Hard Cup chin strap at €20.74, and the helmet is ready to play for €609.55. The Schutt F7 AiR comes with its carbon steel facemask and Fusion Hardcup chin strap for €539.95: €69.60 less, despite the higher sticker price.

So check three things in any listing: whether the facemask is included, whether the chin strap is, and whether both fit the shell. The facemasks and chin straps in our catalogue belong to a specific helmet platform and are not interchangeable. Our guide to choosing a helmet covers certification and sizing.

Two sums, from plain to lavish

These figures apply to new, branded kit, which is what we list. They include no licence, no club subscription and no loaned equipment: we publish retailer prices and nothing else.

What the rulebook does not require

These pieces join the budget by position or preference, never by obligation:

• gloves: €54.95 to €79.90 across our football gloves;
• visor: €29 to €98.99 depending on whether it is plain polycarbonate or an Oakley lens, in visors;
• rib protector: €79.95 for the model that mounts on the shoulder pads, in rib protectors;
• backplate: €59.90 among the backplates;
• ball: €29.95 to €149.90 across our American footballs.

The same model, shop to shop

On an identical reference, the gap between European retailers often exceeds the gap between two models. A few readings from the catalogue:

The brand's own shop is not always the cheapest: on the Wilson The Duke it carried the highest price of the day. Before checking out, compare at least three retailers and confirm actual availability, since several of the lowest prices in our catalogue applied to items shown as out of stock. The same reflex pays off on cleats, where the spreads are widest.

FAQ

Which piece costs the most?
The helmet, by a distance. The models in our catalogue run from €459.90 to €911.99, with or without facemask and chin strap depending on the brand.

Are boots compulsory?
They do not appear in the article 1-4-3 list. The rulebook does govern their shape, however: a stud may not exceed half an inch, and non-removable studs are never metal.

Do I need gloves to start?
No, the rulebook does not require them. If worn, they must carry the "NF/NCAA Specifications" label, unless they are plain unaltered cloth.

Does a second-hand helmet save money?
The rulebook requires the warning label and NOCSAE certification, and a reconditioned helmet must be recertified. A helmet without those markings cannot be used in a match at any price.

Sources

• IFAF, Football Rules and Interpretations, 2026 edition: full rulebook
• Prices and availability: readings taken between 27 September and 18 October 2026 on our own product pages, from the European retailers named on each one.