This part of our guide focuses on the equipment, gear, accessories, and other products associated with rinkball. This winter ball sport combines elements of bandy, rink bandy, and ice hockey.
Rinkball originated as a practice drill for bandy players in Sweden but became a separate game in the 1990s. It is most popular in Finland, where it is known as kaukalopallo (kävelyjääpallo). It is sometimes known as ice ball, salsahockey, and pallopeli.
In this part of our guide, we will focus on the products, manufacturers, and retailers serving the rinkball market. Additional information and resources for the sport itself can be found in the corresponding category within our Sports & Recreation area.
Like other sports, rinkball players require specific equipment to participate in the sport. Field players wear helmets, neck guards, ice skates, and rinkball sticks.
The rinkball stick is a sport-specific design, shorter than an ice hockey stick, and made to handle the smaller, blue bandy ball used in the game. The ball is slightly smaller than the one used in bandy, and is designed for optimal performance on the ice.
Although body checking is prohibited in rinkball, players still need to safeguard themselves from potential injuries. This includes gloves, shoulder pads, elbow pads, shin guards, and jock guards. Unlike in ice hockey, goalies do not use a stick; instead, they have an additional glove on their non-glove hand to handle the ball.
In addition to the essential equipment, rinkball players often use various accessories to enhance their performance and comfort. These include mouthguards, cut-resistant socks, visors, and skate accessories. Bags and backpacks explicitly designed for rinkball gear are also popular among players, providing convenient storage and transport options.
Rinkball is a niche sport, but the market is served by several manufacturers and retailers who specialize in producing and distributing the necessary equipment and gear. A leading company in this market is Tackla, a Finnish brand known for its high-quality rinkball sticks, protective gear, and accessories. Tackla offers a wide range of products, including the Tackla Air 1051 Rinkball Stick, which is made from a composite of carbon and glass fiber for optimal balance and impact resistance.
Other manufacturers and retailers also contribute to the rinkball market, providing players with a variety of options to choose from. As the sport continues to grow in popularity, the demand for rinkball equipment and gear will likely increase, further expanding the niche market and providing additional options for players.
Recommended Resources
Based in Finland, Tackla produces and distributes gear, accessories, and apparel for various sports, such as hockey, downhill skating, bandy, and rinkball. Tackla catalogs may be viewed through the company's website, and an online contact form is available for inquiries or requests for additional information. For rinkball, Tackla offers its own line of rinkball sticks, equipment bags, pants, girdles, jerseys, gloves, elbow pads, shin guards, linesman and referee jackets, and socks.
https://tacklaeurope.com/
Founded in Finland in 1961, the company was initially known as Saimaan Urheilupuki, but it later began using the marketing name TACKLA. The company produced sportswear, including ice hockey pants, equipping professional hockey teams in the NHL and the Finnish and Swedish national leagues, and supplying sports equipment and apparel. The company also produces rinkball sticks, pants, jerseys, socks, and equipment bags, which may be purchased from its e-commerce website.
https://tackla.eu/
