Best Goalkeeper Gloves of 2024
Last Updated on September 18, 2023 by Darron Dennis
If you a goalkeeper, or you know someone who is, and you want to get a pair of gloves, then you have come to the right place. This post is aimed at showing you the best gloves, that will up your goalkeeping performance in a soccer game.
There is no arguing the importance of a goalkeeper in a game of soccer, and one of the things that makes a goalkeeper good is the accessories he has, one of which is the pair of gloves, our topic of discussion.
A goalie’s hands are the most important physical attribute for success in the game after one’s mental support. Therefore, the most important equipment facing a goalie is their gloves.
One general rule of thumb to remember is that the big players — Nike, Adidas, Puma, Under Armour, Umbro — don’t dominate goalkeeping like they do in the rest of football.
The goalkeeper gloves produced by many smaller, specialist brands offer equal (and often better) specifications — without the premium price tag. Whatever brand of GK gloves you decide to buy, look for the following attributes.
GOALKEEPER GLOVE TIPS
As a goalkeeper, you can do your best to take off your gloves, but latex is a soft product that inevitably shows wear and abrasion after time. This should not stop you from taking care of your gloves. The better you care for them, the longer they will last.
- It is a good idea to have two pairs of gloves, one for match play and one for training. This way you do not wear out your match gloves during training.
- To get the most grip out of your gloves, before use you should dampen the palms with water.
- Avoid unnecessary abrasion. Do not allow the latex of your palm to touch the Velcro on your wrist strap when taking off your gloves. In training, do not get up using your palms, instead of push yourself up with your fist.
- After training, wash your gloves in warm water and allow them to dry naturally. It is important to treat your gloves gently. Do not use a scrubber or apply heat to dry your gloves. Drying out natural moisture from your gloves will weaken their durability and grip by making them brittle.
- Store your gloves in a cool environment. Do not leave them out in a hot, dry environment (such as the hot car or laying out in the sun).
Table of Contents
BUYER’S GUIDE
One general rule of thumb to remember is that the big players — Nike, Adidas, Puma, Under Armour, Umbro — don’t dominate goalkeeping like they do in the rest of football.
The goalkeeper gloves produced by many smaller, specialist brands offer equal (and often better) specifications — without the premium price tag.
Whatever brand of GK gloves you decide to buy, look for the following attributes.
Performance
The performance of your goalkeeper gloves is determined by the materials used to manufacture them, and how they’re put together. I’ve written two posts to help you:
- Goalkeeper Glove Latex Types. It’s the single most important feature of your gloves. The quality of the latex palms influences how much grip and control you have of the ball.
- Goalkeeper Glove Cuts. This describes the way the materials — the latex palms and backhand — have been stitched together. Your glove cut can impact your level of comfort, flexibility, and “feeling” of the ball. But it’s mainly a matter of preference. The gloves should be flexible in a way, to allow keepers to grab bottles of water in the pitch.
Comfort & Fit
Comfort is subjective. Goalkeepers tend to prefer a cut type offered by a specific brand, in a particular size (which isn’t necessarily the one recommended by the size guidelines).
Generally, premium-priced goalkeeper gloves feel softer, more padded, with noticeably higher quality inner materials. However, some glove lines won’t ever fit your hand shape correctly, no matter what size you try. So the perfect ‘feel’ is not always linked to price.
Value for Money
Value is determined by the performance of your gloves about their durability. Striking this balance is the key to getting a good deal.
The general advice I give is to shop within the £25-40 price bracket. This way you’ll be able to dodge:
- Low quality ‘flat cuts’. These are the entry-level gloves (such as the Nike FA16’s) typically sold in sports shops. They’re made from cheap materials, offering weak grip and minimal hand protection. They’re also prone to ripping and wearing out pretty fast.
- Over-priced specs with little payoff. Expensive gloves provide an upgrade in performance that’s somewhat negligible unless you play at a very high level, under consistent conditions. Furthermore, that hefty price tag doesn’t guarantee the gloves will last any longer than slightly cheaper models.
- Hyped up new lines. Every year glove brands release new designs to help capture their share of the market. But the fact is, there’s often the next-to-no difference between many new models and their predecessors. You’re often better off buying last year’s line (and the same goes for football boots).
Which glove cut should you choose?
No goalkeeper glove guide without mentioning glove cuts. When you’re trying to decide on your new goalkeeper gloves, you have to choose from a vast number of glove cuts. Below, you will see a few rules of thumb regarding each cut:
Flat cut
is a traditional cut where the seams are on the outside of the fingers and the palm is completely flat. This gives a large catching area with spacious fingers. If you want a looser fit, this cut is an excellent choice.
Negative Cut
is a newer cut where the seams are on the inside of the glove. This cut provides a tight fit and great ball control as if you were catching bare-handed.
Roll Finger Cut
is a popular cut where the latex is rolled around the fingers, causing a larger amount of latex and a better latex-to-ball-contact. This cut also gives a tight fit and great ball control.
Hybrid Cuts are very different but they all have in common that they combine different glove cuts to improve the grip.
Choosing the right cut is a matter of preferences and you might have to try the different kinds to really know what you prefer.
Which glove latex should you choose?
The latex is a very important feature in goalkeeper gloves, but it can seem like quite a jungle to navigate through the many different types.
Important rules of thumb are:
- The softer the latex, the better the grip
- The harder the latex, the better the endurance
- The thicker the latex, the better the protection
- The thinner the latex, the more ball control
Often latex types are divided into Soft Grip, Super Soft Grip, Mega/Giga Grip, and Contact/Supreme Grip.
The Soft Grip
latex is mainly for starters and juniors. The latex is durable and comfortable but doesn’t provide the best grip. This however can help the young goalkeepers work on improving their catching skills.
The Super Soft Grip
latex is the natural upgrade from the Soft Grip. It’s suitable for ambitious beginners and advanced goalkeepers. The grip is way better than that of the Soft Grip and the comfort and durability are just as good.
The Mega/Giga Grip
latex is an elite latex used in the top models and many of the best take-downs. Again, the grip is way better than the Super Soft Grip. The latex is very sticky and comfortable but not very resistant.
The Contact/Supreme Grip
has the absolute best grip available and the latex is sticky and very comfortable. This latex is naturally the most expensive but also the least durable. Some brands add granulates to the latex to enhance the grip even further.
The Aqua Grip
latex is amazing when the rain is pouring, and it’s a great idea to add a pair of Aqua Grip Gloves to your glove collection.
BEST GOALKEEPER GLOVES
NAMES | FEATURES | WHERE TO BUY | |
Adidas Pred Pro |
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GET IT NOW | |
Puma One Grip 1 |
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Storelli Exoshield Gladiator Pro 2 |
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UHLSPORT Radar Control SuperGrip |
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GET IT NOW | |
Sport out Youth and Adult Goalkeeper Gloves |
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GET IT NOW |
Adidas Pred Pro
It’s your area. Own it. Made for games, these goalkeeper gloves have 3.5 mm of cushioning in the palm to absorb impacts and super-grippy latex that clings to the ball in all conditions. Their flexible knit backhand includes a silicone element for improved punching.
A detachable wrist strap lets you choose between a locked-in and a natural feel. The fingers are cut for a snug, natural fit.
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Puma One Grip 1
With their 4mm Ultimate Grip Latex Palm, these goalie gloves give you ultimate grip, rain, or shine. The hybrid finger construction and twin thumb wrap offer a supreme fit and top-level ball contact, while the anatomical design naturally molds to the shape of your hand.
The embossed latex on the back provides extra protection and grip, while the airplane on the body allows the skin to breathe. The gloves can be fastened in place via the full-length wrist strap and we’ve provided a mesh carry bag to take to and from practice.
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Storelli Exoshield Gladiator Pro 2
Unfortunately, one of the biggest complaints about these is that they are not durable. The palms of these GK gloves wear out quickly, especially during turf play: better suited to indoor soccer. The material is not as durable as one would like, with it wearing out too quickly for the price paid.
The size of Storelli Exoshield offered is somewhat limited and it has been reported that the glove sizes come up too small. This makes them not suitable for larger or smaller hands as they do not fit comfortably.
The backhand is made of 3.5mm latex with special polybutylene punch zones to protect it from further impact. They come with removable finger spines with protecting against further injury and can be customized for comfort. Laced with a breathable mesh that helps keep the hands cool.
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UHLSPORT Radar Control SuperGrip
On the upside, there are several benefits that this glove offers. You would definitely love the superb grip that these gloves provide. They are brilliant in providing you the perfect grip for your game. As these gloves are highly flexible, you will not face any difficulties regarding the movement of your hands. With high protection, these gloves will efficiently secure you from impacts and bruises.
The breathable nature of this garment allows air to flow smoothly, keeping your hands dry. In this way, you will not lose the grip of your hands as well. The 3D embossed design on these gloves also contributes to enhancing the hold that these provide. With the optimal fitting, they will give you comfort while you play the game. The semi-elastic strap lets you easily stretch them for fitting and freely moving.
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Sport out Youth and Adult Goalkeeper Gloves
Strong Grip for The Toughest Saves, with Finger Spines to Give Splendid Protection to Prevent Injuries,3 Colors.
These goalkeeper gloves have anti-slip and wear-resistant latex palms which can give you extremely strong control and grip when handling the ball even in wet conditions. Meanwhile, the unique positive cut design gives you the best ball contact for the toughest saves in play.
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Conclusion
We have come to the end of this review, as goalkeepers, or aspiring goalkeepers, you will definitely need one of these, they are durable and reliable, when you want them to be, you have no reason to fear going for one of them.