Why Naked Hockey

Naked Hockey is a British independent brand built around field hockey, founded in 2018 on a single conviction: that serious players deserve equipment designed without compromise, from a brand that actually cares about the game.

Sticks are where everything starts. But Naked Hockey also makes teamwear for some of the biggest clubs in world hockey, and we are growing into padel with the same philosophy: performance without excess.

What the mainstream gets wrong

Most field hockey equipment comes from brands that treat it as one product line among many. The same company making your stick is making boots for a dozen other sports, apparel for mass retail, and equipment for disciplines that have nothing to do with field hockey. Decisions about construction, materials, and performance get made at a distance from the game.

The result is sticks that are good enough. Engineered to a price point, marketed to a broad audience, and designed not to offend anyone rather than to genuinely serve the player who trains three times a week and takes their game seriously.

Naked Hockey was started because three people who had played hockey their whole lives were tired of that. They connected with none of the brands in the sport. Not the philosophy, not the products, not the values. So they built something different.

What we do differently

We work with the premier field hockey manufacturer in the world. Every construction decision, from carbon percentage to composite layup to bow position, is made specifically for field hockey and specifically for players who want to understand why their stick is built the way it is.

Our design philosophy is minimalist. Clean graphics, no unnecessary branding, nothing on the stick that does not serve a purpose. The name Naked comes from this: strip back everything that does not need to be there, and what is left performs better.

We are also specific about what we tell players. Carbon percentage is stated clearly, not hidden behind marketing labels. Bow position is given in millimetres. If you ask us why a stick is built a particular way, we can answer.

Felix Denayer, co-founder

Felix Denayer is a co-founder and shareholder in Naked Hockey. He captained Belgium's Red Lions to Olympic gold and is one of the most decorated players in the history of international field hockey. He spent two decades competing at the highest level of the game, demanding more from his equipment than the mainstream market was built to offer.

Felix retired from international hockey in 2025 and from club hockey in 2026. His involvement in Naked Hockey goes beyond endorsement. The sticks are built around what he required at the highest level: specific carbon construction, precise bow profiles, and the performance consistency that international competition demands.

When Felix joined in 2020 he did not want a standard sponsorship deal. He understood what the brand was trying to do and became part of building it. That relationship is why Naked Hockey's range is informed by elite-level insight rather than marketing assumptions about what players want.

Teamwear

Naked Hockey designs and manufactures teamwear for clubs at every level, from grassroots to some of the biggest clubs in world hockey. The 26/27 collection includes playing kits, training ranges, midlayers, softshell jackets, and the Naked Robe, all built with technical fabrics engineered for performance and durability across a full season.

Every kit is fully custom. Clubs work directly with us on design, colours, and fit, with responsible material options including recycled polyester certified to the Global Recycled Standard and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified fabric routes available on request.

Find out more on our teamwear page or get in touch at team@nkdhockey.com.

Who we are built for

Naked Hockey is for players who think carefully about their equipment. Club players who compete regularly and want a stick that will last a full season and perform under pressure. Developing players who want to understand what they are buying rather than just follow a brand name. Elite athletes who need construction quality that matches their level.

We are not trying to be the biggest brand in field hockey. We are trying to be the most credible one for the players who care most about the game.

Where we are now

Naked Hockey is based in the United Kingdom. We have global distributors across every major field hockey market and are stocked in leading hockey retailers worldwide. Our range covers sticks, protective equipment, teamwear, padel equipment, and accessories.

Everything we make starts with the question a serious player would ask: is this actually the best way to build it?

Browse our full stick range or read more in our guides section about how to choose the right stick for your position and playing style.