Adidas. Nike. Diadora. So many choices. The major soccer retailers have created so many options for you in shoes that they decided it was a good idea to confuse you with goalkeeper gloves too. As a former keeper I know the struggles of seeing all the options but not knowing the difference from one glove to the next. Let me give you a quick run down to help you with your decision.

What to expect from gloves:

  • Some gloves come pre-curved so that your hands have a similar shape when you are holding the ball. Other lower level gloves will be flat, but both will require some working in to get them how you like them.
  • The palm surface should be a little sticky to where the ball seems to ‘stick’ to your gloves a bit.
  • Gloves can come with either a full wrap around strap or a half strap around your wrist. Personally I like the full wrap because it feels tighter and fits closer to the hand.
  • When looking for the right size, make sure that they fit snuggly and to give the tips of your fingers a little room at their ends. Most gloves will come with a sizing chart if you don’t know your size.

For the longest time I used Adidas keeper gloves. They feature the ‘Fingersave’ technology in each finger but the thumb. ‘Fingersave’ technology are plastic pieces intended to prevent your fingers from bending backwards on a hard shot. While this I a great idea, they have a tendency to break down over time. Since their inception though, Adidas has improved their build to make them more durable. Nike has the T90 Spyne which is their version of the ‘Fingersaves’. Breathability has become big in gloves recently also. Nike’s Vapor Glove provides a breathable backhand and most Adidas gloves have Climacool technology between each finger. Both Nike and Adidas have quality palms that are durable unless you are especially hard on them.

Diadora and Puma have good gloves also that feature the same aspects that Nike and Adidas do. Puma makes a quality glove for a little less price than Nike or Adidas does. Though I have never used either Diadora or Puma in a game situation, I can tell you that they will indeed get the job done and protect your hands in the process.
 
If I was picking a pair out though I would buy Reusch keeper gloves. Reusch makes nothing but goalkeeper gloves and produces arguably the best one. The Ortho-Tec glove is what I used and they were comfortable and high quality. They also come with the ribs in the fingers for protection and an ultra soft palm. My gloves help up for a long time because the palm was also quite durable. As with some other gloves they come with a wrap-around strap to tighten around your wrist and the palm carries over onto the top of the thumb. The finger area on the backhand provides a strong punching surface as well. And if you come to dislike the finger pieces, they are removable in Reusch gloves.
 
Hopefully my insight will help you make a better decision on the glove that is right for you. Even if the one you choose isn’t the $120 version, all that matters is that it works and feels good to you. Most of all you should remember that the glove doesn’t make the player, the player makes the glove.

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