How Do I Know What Goalkeeper Gloves to Pick?
If you are reading this then you at some point have had the question of what gloves to pick? Here are the 3 areas we will review to make the best pick for you.
- How much do I want to spend?
- What fit do I want?
- What durability level do I want?
1. How much do I want to spend?
This is a massive question and the first one you need to make a decision on. Goalkeeper Gloves can start at $25 and go all the way up to $200. Never buy a glove under $45 as it is pointless and they won't function or last. $45 is a base that can get you a quality glove that can hold up and have actual functional materials available. Also Never buy a glove over $150 because gloves are not meant to last forever and need to be replaced often. This puts our price range from $45-$150. This is still a very large range and so next we want to decide what level we are at? If I am a beginner goalkeeper and I have played one or two years then stay close to the $45-$60 range to make sure you are wanting to commit. If you are a high-end goalkeeper and you need the best of the best this is where your range gets very large. Buying from big companies such as Nike, Adidas, Uhlsport, Reusch are all great choices but you will also be paying high dollar amounts of $120-$150. If you are looking for the best quality then finding a company like BetterGoalkeeping where you can buy direct will save you a massive about of money. Buying direct can drop that $120 glove down to $60-$75 and you can get a glove made out of the same materials and very close to the same quality for half the price.
2. What fit do I want?
Style and fit changes from goalkeeper to the goalkeeper but there are a few things that can help make these decisions. First, don't buy a glove overly big. Parents get caught in this trap all the time. They think their child will outgrow the glove. Trust us that hands do not grow that fast and you will wear the glove out before they outgrow them. So buy a glove that fits. What is a good fit then? When you are done growing a good fit is usually a snug fit. We don't want a loose glove that moves around on us when we catch the ball. We also don't want a glove too tight as this will cause too much stress on the glove and make it not last as long. The best way to tell if the glove fits look at the backhand(back of the glove). If the glove is bulky on the back of your hand or around the wrist then it's going to be too big. Also, pinch the end of the glove on your index finger. You should never have more space than the width of your finger. Finally, once the glove is on grab around the wrist of the glove and move it up and down. The glove should not move around on your hand.
3. What durability level do I want?
Our final question that will help you pick a glove is on durability. There are some amazing gloves out there that have a high level of durability and can last forever. This sounds awesome a glove that can last forever, however, this also means this glove will have very poor grip. The higher the durability the lower the grip you will have. You need to decide what level of durability you want and this will break down what category to shop in. Check out our article on Durability for more details of what level of durability I should have.