Soccer goalie gloves are crucial for any goalkeeper’s performance. I’ve played soccer my entire life at a competitive level playing NCAA soccer and then semi-professionally in the United States. In this guide, I’ll discuss different types of soccer goalie gloves and some of the options available to purchase.
When you’re shopping for soccer goalie gloves the first step is to figure out the type of goalie gloves you’re searching for. There are four different types: weatherproof gloves, finger protection gloves, match gloves and training gloves.
Weather proof goalie gloves are exactly what they sound like. You want to break these gloves out on a rainy day or if the surface is slick. They’re made with a special material that makes them a bit stickier when wet, which allows you to get a great grip on the ball and help secure any situation when you need to catch the ball.
The next type of soccer goalie gloves are called finger protection gloves. If you’ve had problems in net with hyper-extending any of your fingers, then a pair of these are exactly what you need. They’re made to protect your fingers from any impact or hyperextension. Even if your fingers get stepped on during a play, the padding provided will help protect your fingers.
Then there are match gloves. This is probably the most popular type of soccer goalie gloves with are used for both training and match play purposes. They offer a ton of dexterity and you’ll have a great feel with these goalie gloves. Of course there are many different types that vary in quality, but a good pair of match gloves will usually provide the best grip and still give you the protection you need to keep your hands safe.
The final type of goalie gloves available are called training gloves. I’d recommend these to beginners and for training purposes only. Expect them to get scuffed up and worn down during practice, so generally don’t spend as much on these as you would for the other styles mentioned. They’re actually more durable then the other gloves, so they’ll last many practice sessions.
Pricing for soccer goalie gloves will vary depending on the quality. You can easily find a pair of gloves for $25.00 but expect them to come with very little padding. They will probably not last a very long time either if you’re using them consistently. Then there are the gloves in the $100+ range. My favorite pair of gloves are made by Reusch and are called the Goaliator’s. The grip is superb, they’re extremely flexible, and it uses air mesh to allow air to flow keeping the gloves very comfortable. The threading and wrist cuff allow for the wrists and hands to remain extremely flexible.
Some of the other top gloves on the market are made by Adidas and Uhlsport. One of Adidas’s top sellers is the FS Alround glove priced at $124.00. Ulsport has a great glove priced in the mid-range at $54.00 called the Ergonomic Soft SF goalkeeper glove.
A great way to find a pair of soccer goalie gloves is by searching soccer.com or any other specialty soccer website. I always recommend going to a soccer specialty store if possible to try the gloves on. If they don’t carry the style you’re looking for, at least you’ll be able to get your size. Good luck with your new gloves!