I have been a goalkeeper for around ten years and I play to a good Sunday League standard. As such, I always try to find a pair of gloves that complement my ability whilst at the same time recognising that as an amateur player, I can't afford a new pair every game! Usually, I tend to target the top end of the market, spending around £50-£60 on a new pair of gloves. Whilst this is by no means the worst pair of gloves that I have had, they are also some distance from the best.
Features:
These gloves feature finger spines, based on the model pioneered by Addidas Fingersave. They are held in place in velcro sealed pocket, thus providing the option to remove from certained fingers as desired. The thumb spine does not have this option; I personally prefer a thumb spine but for keepers who don't, it can't be removed. The backhand is quite tough and hardwearing and is made from a hardened version of the material used on the palm, making it quite easy to clean. The palm is a 3mm latex construct that has a flat rather than wrap-around thumb and is stitched with rigid side seams, making it more liable to split down the edges/ impede catching if not correctly positioned.
Wearing:
In terms of comfort I was rather disappointed. The wrist support is proabably slightly too short and so doesn't provide the amount of support that my current Sells gloves can (they use a double wrap bandage). The spines might be too long and therefore when the fist is clenched they tend to dig in to the back of the hand making this position uncomfortable. However, the spines support the fingers very well am I didn't suffer from any hand related injuries whilst wearing these gloves. The palm, however, was the biggest let down for me. I was orignally attracted to these gloves because of a claim by the manufacturer that they were very durable. The palm of an average glove tends to disintegrate, through washing and use, after 4 months and becoming unreliable in terms of grip at 6 months. This process occurred after 3 and 5 months respectively in my case.
Appearance:
In general terms, the appearance of the gloves was very smart and proffessional, a black and grey colour scheme making them attractive to the eye. These colours also meant that after prolonged use, the dirt was not so evident as it could have been with gloves that use liughter colourschemes.
Overall:
These gloves weren't bad, but I certainly wouldn't give them a glowing recommendation. My current gloves, Sells Adhesion Ultra Guard, have performed much better in all circumstances (they can be purchased for about £55 from www.prodirectsoccer.com).
More details
Price
£50
Control
Good
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