Best Gloves For Goalkeepers (With Finger Protection)
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So you are in the market for some new goalkeeper gloves!
But not just any old gloves will do – chances are you have been playing as a goalkeeper for a while and know that you need the best gloves WITH finger protection.
Those fast-flying balls are no joke, and one strong strike that slips past your fingers could take you out of the game… literally. Ouch!
The easiest way to prevent this is by picking up the best pair of goalkeeper gloves with finger protection that you can find.
But, with so much on the market these days, it is hard to find out what is truly the best.
And, you don’t really have the luxury of trying them all out or, rather, finding out that the pair you bought is far from the best through an injury!
In this post, we are going to go over some of the best professional standard goalkeeper gloves, their unique features, and why people rate them so highly.
We will also touch on some issues or cons about them, so you have a balanced view before making that important decision.
At A Glance: Best Gloves For Goalkeepers
(With Finger Protection)
Average Padded Gloves Vs. Goalkeeper Specific Gloves With Finger Protection
Over the years, soccer technology has advanced immensely. One of the sections in the market which has significantly benefitted from that is protective gear.
When we think of protective gear for soccer, we tend to focus mainly on shin guards; however, goalkeepers are flying in the air and throwing themselves down on the firm ground as well as awaiting the stricken ball coming at them.
As such, protective gear specifically made for goalkeepers has been very popular as it is able to target all those weak areas that generic sports gear has.
One of these weaknesses is that generic padded gloves are built to cover a variety of exercises and conditions but not soccer-specific occurrences.
Enter Finger Protection / Finger Saves…
This is simply reinforcement within the gloves which was designed to avoid sprain caused by excessive extroversion.
Some gloves can be purchased either without these, with these (fixed) or removable, so you will want to ensure that if you are buying gloves with finger protection for the first time, you try and get a pair with removable finger saves.
This way, if you are worried about natural hand or finger strength development, you can remove these now and then or just test it out to see if you like it or not.
Do Goalkeeper Gloves With Finger Protection Actually Work?
The construction and technology of most gloves with finger protection has been tested over and over again, improved, and then tested some more.
You can rest assured that they do the job they claim to and protect both your wrists and fingers.
In fact, they work so well that many people consider them to be a negative instead of a positive.
This notion comes up when discussing youth soccer and whether or not youth players should use them because they will be absorbing all of the force, thus not allowing your fingers to develop strength on their own.
This point is obviously very debatable, so this will be down to preference.
Again, if in doubt, buy a pair with removable support frames.
Top 3 Best Gloves For Goalkeepers (With Finger Protection) Review:
Renegade GK Triton Goalie Gloves With Microbe-Guard Pro-Tek Fingersaves
Renegade is an American company and is the official goalkeeper glove of both the NPSL and WPSL, the largest soccer leagues in the U.S so with that kind of endorsement, you know you are getting a reputed and truth-worthy brand and product.
Not only that but Renegade offer great customer service and seem to really care about the customers experience.
That being said, they made a variety of different gloves which range from a level 5, professional grade to a level 2, competition.
The triton is a level 2 and ranges in size from 5-11 making them the perfect youth soccer training glove.
They feature Hard Ground, German Dura Grip 3+3MM technology in the palm area as well as Endo-Tek Pro fingersave technology like it’s cousins, the Renegade GK Fury.
So, in no way is this a lesser product being put in the “level 2” category.
Gloves in the Triton series receive an average of 4.5 out of 5 star ratings across multiple retail platforms, with people praising the comfortability, price and durability as leading factors in their star rating.
PROS:
- Removable Pro-Tec Fingersaves as standard.
- Affordable high quality pair of gloves for all player levels.
- Very comfortable and secure fit.
- Excellent grip and control. Goalkeepers have said this has been a huge confidence booster.
- The gloves are unisex with a wider size variety of 5-11.
- Perfect upgrade from standard goalkeeper gloves.
- These are the first antimicrobial, pretreated goalkeeper gloves made.
CONS:
- Still relatively new on the market, nobody can confirm whether they last years or just a couple of soccer seasons yet.
- Customers have mentioned the inner palm and fingertips wearing out sooner than expected.
What stands out the most about the Renegade GK Fury Gloves is the style and various available colors.
They also range in sizes from 7-11 making them suitable for both youth and adult goalkeepers.
These roll-cut, negative gloves come complete with Endo-Tek Pro fingersaves and 4+3MM German Giga Grip palm support.
In other words, these are exceptionally strong, well-made and durable gloves.
The 6D Super Mesh across the body means no sweaty, clammy hands during play but retain flexibility when extending your fingers and going for a save.
PROS:
- High quality build with excellent ball grip for making those tough saves.
- 5/5 for comfort and natural fitting around fingers.
- Still retains flexibility while absorbing shock with the Endo-Tek Pro Fingersaves technology.
- Renegade offers 100% satisfaction guaranteed on glove purchases via their Amazon page.
CONS:
- They need to be moisturised or dampened. This helps keep them from cracking and helps them last longer. Many people will not know that.
The Storelli Gladiator Pro Goalkeeper Gloves get my final vote and here is why…
As I mentioned previously, I think the best way to go when choosing a new pair of gloves with finger protection, is to find a pair that allows you to remove the fingersaves at a whim. The Storellis let you do just that. You have to option of buying either of the three:
- 2.0 Fixed Spines
- 2.0 No Spines
- New 3.0 Removeable Spines
This is a huge plus because this also means that you will essentially be able to use them for multiple sports if you wish to.
The body of the gloves are made of 82% Nylon and 18% Spandex while the padding is made of 100% urethane foam.
These super reinforced gloves allow you to remove all 5 finger spines if you wish to and have been designed with a breathable mesh along the fingers to stop your hands from getting uncomfortable and sweaty.
These are perfect for aggressive play and can be used in all weathers throughout the year.
PROS:
- Removable finger protection (all 5 fingers).
- Very sturdy and supportive padding and palm padding.
- Excellent grip and supportive wrist design.
- Durable and long-lasting foam in comparison to competitor gloves which have been known to fall apart.
- Comes with a nice storage bag to preserve them.
- Over 5 years on the market and the good reviews and reputation keeps growing.
CONS:
- The price. There is a lot cheaper on the market.
Goalkeeper Glove FAQs
Do professional goalkeepers use fingersaves?
Many professional players say they do not used gloves with finger saves due to the resistance and suggest they get in the way of getting a good grasp on the ball. Conversely others say they like the resistance and that it only gives them a more secure grip.
Overall the general consensus is that the extra support fingersaves gives the glove is worth it for continuous high impact games and a more snug and secure fit.
Should you wear fingersave gloves all the time?
It is recommended that you train without fingersaves now and then, especially for younger goalkeepers as this will allow your hands to continue to strengthen and not become too dependent on the finger protection. It is entirely up to you if you will use separate glove interchangeably throughout the season or buy a pair with removable spines.
Conclusion
Many people have said that the finger protection has been an upgrade with regards to their training and matches. Goalkeepers have reported that they no longer feel pain or risk injury with these gloves with fingersaves and can confidently play their position.
This is important to mention as critics have said finger protection in gloves might not be the best route to take. However, the majority of customers speak highly of and recommend gloves with finger saves; especially in comparison to their previous gloves without them.
The Storelli Gladiators won the editor’s pick as they make this purchase decision a lot easier and you have the opportunity to purchase a very high quality pair of gloves and test them out with and without the finger protection.
