What Is Sports Equipment Called? Common Terms and Categories Explained

When you walk into a sporting goods store, you see racks of balls, bats, helmets, shoes, and pads. You might hear someone say, "Grab your gear," or "Don’t forget your equipment." But what’s the real difference between these words? Is there even one? The truth is, people use terms like sports equipment, athletic gear, and sporting goods almost interchangeably - but they’re not always the same. Understanding what each term means helps you shop smarter, talk more accurately, and even find better deals online.

What Exactly Is Sports Equipment?

Sports equipment is any physical item designed specifically for use in a sport or physical activity. This includes everything from a simple tennis ball to a full set of hockey armor. The key is function: if it’s made to help you play, train, or compete in a sport, it’s sports equipment.

Think about basketball. The ball, the hoop, the backboard, the court lines - all are equipment. But so are the sneakers you wear, the wristbands you use to soak up sweat, and the water bottle you keep on the bench. Even the scoreboard and the timer count as equipment because they’re essential to running the game properly.

Not everything you use during a workout qualifies. A yoga mat? Yes. A regular towel? Only if it’s specifically designed for sweat absorption in sports settings. A water bottle? Only if it’s a sports bottle with a flip-top or hydration pack design. The line is blurry, but the rule is simple: if it’s built for sport, it’s equipment.

Athletic Gear: What’s the Difference?

People often say "athletic gear" when they mean clothes and wearable items. That’s mostly true. Athletic gear is the clothing and personal accessories worn during physical activity. Think jerseys, shorts, sports bras, compression socks, headbands, and even performance underwear.

While athletic gear overlaps with sports equipment, it’s usually not the main tool of the sport. A baseball bat is equipment. The glove you wear to catch the ball? Also equipment - because it’s a specialized tool. But the shirt you wear under it? That’s gear. The difference matters when you’re shopping. If you need new cleats, you’re looking for equipment. If you need moisture-wicking shorts, you’re shopping for gear.

Some items blur the line. Running tights with built-in compression? Gear. But if they have embedded sensors to track your stride? Now they’re smart equipment. The tech changes the category.

Sporting Goods: The Big-Tent Term

Sporting goods is the broadest term of all. It covers everything sold in a store that’s used for sports, recreation, or fitness. That includes equipment, gear, and even things like exercise mats, resistance bands, and foam rollers - even if they’re not used in official games.

Most retail stores use "sporting goods" as their official label because it’s inclusive. A store called "Sporting Goods Depot" sells basketballs (equipment), running shoes (gear), and kettlebells (fitness tools). All of it falls under sporting goods.

Think of it like this: all sports equipment and athletic gear are sporting goods, but not all sporting goods are used in competitive sports. A jump rope you use at home? Sporting goods. A regulation volleyball used in a high school match? Also sporting goods. But only the volleyball is sports equipment.

Exercise Equipment: Not Always for Sports

Exercise equipment is a separate category, often confused with sports equipment. Exercise equipment is anything designed to help you train your body, regardless of whether it’s tied to a sport. Treadmills, ellipticals, weight machines, dumbbells, and resistance bands fall here.

A kettlebell can be both. If you’re using it for CrossFit or Olympic lifting, it’s sports equipment. If you’re doing general strength training at the gym, it’s exercise equipment. The context changes the label.

Most gyms label their machines as "exercise equipment" because they’re not used in competitions. But if you’re training for a triathlon, your stationary bike becomes sports equipment. The same object, different purpose.

Common Examples by Sport

Here’s how the terms break down in real-world use:

• Baseball: Bat (equipment), glove (equipment), cleats (gear), batting helmet (equipment), catcher’s mask (equipment)
• Soccer: Ball (equipment), cleats (gear), shin guards (equipment), goalkeeper gloves (equipment), team jersey (gear)
• Swimming: Goggles (gear), swim cap (gear), kickboard (equipment), lane rope (equipment), pull buoy (equipment)
• Running: Running shoes (gear), hydration belt (gear), heart rate monitor (equipment), foam roller (exercise equipment)
• Tennis: Racket (equipment), tennis balls (equipment), wrist sweatband (gear), court lines (equipment)

Notice how gear is almost always worn on the body. Equipment is held, placed, or used to interact with the game. Exercise equipment is usually stationary or used for conditioning, not competition.

Why Does the Terminology Matter?

It matters because it affects what you find when you search online. If you type "best sports equipment for basketball," you’ll get results for balls, hoops, and backboards. If you search for "best athletic gear for basketball," you’ll see jerseys, socks, and compression shorts.

Manufacturers use these terms differently. Nike markets its basketball shoes as "athletic gear." Wilson markets its basketballs as "sports equipment." Amazon and Walmart use "sporting goods" as their category filter. Knowing the right term helps you cut through the noise.

It also matters for safety and regulation. In organized sports, equipment often has strict standards. A baseball bat used in high school play must meet BBCOR certification. A soccer ball for FIFA matches must be size 5 and have a specific bounce height. Gear doesn’t usually have these rules - unless it’s a protective item like a helmet.

What About Smart Gear and Tech?

Technology is changing the game. Wearables like smart wristbands that track your heart rate, GPS watches that map your run, or even smart basketballs that measure spin and arc? These blur the lines.

Is a smart basketball sports equipment? Yes - because it’s used to play the game, and it has sensors that affect performance. Is a Fitbit athletic gear? Technically yes - it’s worn on the body. But it’s also exercise equipment because it tracks data for training.

Today, many products fall into multiple categories. The industry hasn’t fully standardized terms yet. So when you’re shopping, read the product description. Look for keywords like "designed for competition," "performance tracking," or "regulation size." That tells you more than the label.

Final Takeaway

There’s no single correct answer to "What is sports equipment called?" because there isn’t just one term. But here’s the simplest way to remember:

• Sports equipment: Tools you use to play the game - balls, bats, rackets, pads, hoops.
• Athletic gear: Clothes and wearables - shoes, shirts, socks, headbands.
• Sporting goods: The umbrella term - everything sold in a sports store.
• Exercise equipment: Machines and tools for training, not playing - treadmills, weights, resistance bands.

Next time you’re buying gear, ask yourself: "Am I getting something to wear, or something to play with?" That’ll tell you exactly what you’re looking for - and save you time, money, and confusion.