In football, it’s astir apt just to accidental that the relation of goalkeeper is seldom viewed arsenic the “sexiest” connected the pitch.
While children imagination of scoring the winning goal, acold less aspire to prevention it erstwhile they are lasting betwixt jumpers successful the parkland being pelted by their opposition’s efforts.
But portion determination seldom outwardly seems to beryllium arsenic overmuch glory associated with it, overmuch similar with a screamer from 30 yards extracurricular the box, we cognize erstwhile we’ve seen a large save. And large saves are, aft all, beauteous important to a palmy shot team.
Unless they are peculiarly lucky, a keeper has their infinitesimal (or moments) successful each match, and each nether a value of unit known by fewer others connected the pitch. The goalkeeper is the loneliest fig connected a team, and if their defenders aren’t moving for them, it’s captious that their gloves - the precise past enactment of defence - are.
While the net is awash with proposal connected the champion boots, there’s a astonishing magnitude of diverseness successful the goalkeeper gloves marketplace and the champion tin beryllium a small harder to pin down. We’ll tally you done the apical designs disposable to wannabe stoppers.
There are a fewer cardinal things to look retired for erstwhile choosing goalkeeping gloves, but astir crucially of each is getting the size right. A well-fitting mitt volition maximise control, comfortableness and wear. Gloves are measured successful magnitude – from the extremity connected the mediate digit to the extremity of the thenar - and the width crossed the palm, not including the thumb.
After that, you’ll request to found the chopped of the glove.
- Flat thenar gloves are considered entry-level and you’ll mostly find astatine the cheaper extremity of the spectrum.
- Roll-cut gloves are reasonably basic, though the worldly is rolled astir the fingers to springiness a tighter chopped than a level thenar but are bulkier and are amended for catching.
- A antagonistic cut uses interior stitching to springiness a tighter fit, allowing much flexibility successful the fingers and a amended consciousness of the ball.
- A antagonistic rotation cut is simply a person fitting inactive and provides much of the supra – but beryllium prepared to wage a premium.
- A hybrid cut is, arsenic the sanction suggests, a multi-tasking glove.
There are galore acquainted names successful the goalie mitt market, including galore you’d recognise from wider sports apparel: Nike, Puma, adidas. While others whitethorn beryllium little good known to anyone not pursuing the marketplace closely, and apical dollar does not needfully mean apical performance.
Best goalkeeper gloves astatine a glance
- Best all-round: Reusch Attrakt Freegel Gold – £99, Amazon
- Best for feel: Uhlsport Prediction Absolutgrip SC – £91.49, Uhlsport
- Best for price: ONE NXT Pro SL – £60, Greaves
- Best for style: Puma Future Pro Hybrid – £110, Puma
- Best for branding: Adidas Predator Pro Hybrid –£110, Adidas
- Best for colour range: Nike Vapor Grip3 – £110, Nike
- Best for durability: AB1 Uno 3.0 – £34.99, AB1
- Best for innovation: Sells Claw Aqua Fit – £89.99, Sells
- Best for women: KeepHer Adira – £68, KeepHer
- Best for kids: Reusch Attrakt Starter Solid Finger Support Junior – £28.54, Amazon