With England’s recent success on an international level, it’s never been a better time to play some football. Whether you’re just getting back into training or you've never played the position before, every good team needs a good goalie, and every good goalie needs a great pair of goalkeeper gloves.
Alongside our guide to features like sizing, grip, finger savers and finger protection, we’ve taken a look at some of the best goalie gloves in the world worn by top keepers like Hugo Lloris, Wojciech Szczesny and Unai Simón. So, after you’ve finished singing “it’s coming home” for the hundredth time, why not check out our picks from Amazon, eBay and Decathlon and get ready to channel your inner Gordon Banks?
Quick List - Top Goalkeeper Gloves
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There are a few things you’ll want to consider when picking a pair of goalkeeper gloves, like making sure they fit comfortably and have the right cut. You’ll also want to check what your gloves are made out of to ensure they’re of the best quality possible, otherwise you’ll find yourself picking the ball out of the net rather than catching it in the air.
It may go without saying, but making sure your gloves have a good fit is crucial to your performance between the sticks. If they’re too tight they will be uncomfortable to wear, but too big and you’ll be flapping at anything coming your way.
Just like football boots, goalie gloves have their own sizes, with 4 being the smallest (and intended for kids aged 6-7 rather than adults) and 11 being the largest. It's a good idea to get the tape measure out and consult a sizing chart, though generally, an 8 or 9 is usually around the right size for the average male adult and 7 for women.
Nearly all goalie gloves will have a strap to secure around your wrist, usually with Velcro, but you’ll want to pay attention to the cut of your gloves as that can affect their fit. We’ll go into more detail below, but once you find out your glove size, you can make small adjustments accordingly – just as you would with a brand of shoe you know runs a little narrow.
A roll finger creates a rounded glove that is more form-fitting. Due to their shape, these are a good choice if you’re after something a bit less bulky that also gives you more contact with the ball. They're something of a middle ground between a flat cut and a negative cut.
The modern choice for top professionals is the negative cut, as they have the snuggest fit and the truest fit to that of an ungloved hand. However, they also wear out the quickest of the three we’ve mentioned and the stitching is on the inside of the glove, so they may take a little getting used to if you haven’t worn this style before.
The best goalkeeper gloves are usually made from a mixture of foam and latex to provide the right balance between comfort and performance. You’ll want to make sure that your gloves have a good quality latex in the palm to give you the best control of the ball and enough foam in the fingers to protect you from injury.
When it comes to latex, there are a few different types to look out for. At the bottom end is your regular latex, then it moves up in terms of quality like so: Super Soft, Mega Grip, Giga Grip and Contact Latex. These are the most common around, but there are plenty of new materials being developed that have their own unique properties, so this is by no means an exclusive list.
Generally, the more expensive the glove, the better quality latex in the palm, but if you’re looking for a cheaper option for casual play, you can also opt for rubber instead. The control isn’t quite to the same standard, but rubber gloves are more durable and longer-lasting so are worth considering if you’re not playing at a high level.
It might not be quite as important as the palm, but what the back of your glove is made of is still of some importance to its overall quality. The material needs to be flexible and durable while being comfortable to wear, so you'll often find it's made of latex foams and neoprene.
A neoprene glove would be our no. 1 pick as it is often favoured by top pros and is probably the most comfortable material out there at the moment. If you're looking at the cheaper end of the spectrum, look out for EVA or high foam options.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Reusch Pure Contact 3 | ![]() | The Brand of Choice for World Cup Winner Hugo Lloris | |
2 | Retrix 1.0 Goalkeeper Gloves | ![]() | One for Kids, Youth and Adults Who Take Their Goalkeeping Seriously | |
3 | Reusch Attrakt Gold | ![]() | Worn by the Spanish, French, Polish and Croatian Keepers at Euro 2020 | |
4 | Renegade GK Fury Inferno | ![]() | From an Excellent and Hugely Popular US Glove Manufacturer | |
5 | Reusch Pure Contact Silver | ![]() | An Ultralight Glove That's Almost Like a Second Skin | |
6 | Kipsta F100 | ![]() | Cheap and Cheerful While Offering Great Control | |
7 | Mitre Magnetite | ![]() | An Affordable Yet Reliable Option for Beginners | |
8 | Sportout Goalie Gloves | ![]() | Stay Safe With an Improved Finger Protection System | |
9 | Victo Connect Grip Goalie Gloves | ![]() | Four Flashy Designs for Those Who Need a Secondary Pair | |
10 | Kipsta F500 | ![]() | Good Grip on a Budget |
With a new generation of G3 Ultra Soft Latex and lightweight neoprene back, the Pure Contact 3 has it all when it comes to grip, agility, lightness and breathability. At this price, these are an incredible bargain for a brand endorsed by World Cup winning goalie Hugo Lloris.
The negative cut and wrapped thumb create an incredibly tight and direct fit, meaning you'll be in full control between the sticks. There really isn't a glove anywhere close to this quality in the same price range, so act fast!
If you're looking for a great pair of entry gloves for a child or young adult who's serious about their football, then this offering from Rectrix is well worth the cost of entry as it has the widest size range on our list – from the smallest 4 to the largest 11, in fact.
Its Contact latex palm is one of the best in the business too and is a steal at this price point. The quick-use Velcro latex strap is easy to adjust, providing great wrist support, and it even comes with a little carry case to keep your gloves neatly stored away.
The Attrakt Golds from Reusch feature a unique palm latex makeup that's the choice of many of the word's best keepers, with four international goalies choosing this as their glove of choice for Euro 2020.
With an exclusive DuraGuard patch on the palm and finger protection, these are some of the most durable gloves on the market today and are well worth the investment if you want to share the same gloves as some of the greats.
Renegade aren't as well known in Europe as they are in the U.S, but they make excellent goalkeeper gloves of the highest quality and are the official glove of both the NSPL and WSPL over in the States.
The Giga Grip Latex used in the Fury Inferno, which is easily the best named glove on this list, is one of the most superior there is, only bested by contact latex. As well as offering great protection on the field, the Micro-Fresh technology found in this glove also kills 99.9% of bacteria in a 24-hour period.
This won't be the last time you see the name Reusch on this list. The German goalkeeping glove brand has been in the business since 1974 and make some of the best gloves in the world, several of which are favoured by many international goalkeepers.
The Pure Contact Silvers are an extremely light and flexible pair of gloves that are designed for those regularly playing and training with a club. Coming in half sizes too, if you're after a great pair for those Sunday League or weekly 5-a-side matches, you can't go wrong with this choice.
The Kipsta F100's are the cheapest pair of gloves on our list, and while you won't see any Premier League stoppers wearing them anytime soon, these are a great option if affordability is a priority. We think you cannot do much better for under £10.
In terms of protection, these budget gloves won't take much of the sting out of a powerful shot, but will serve you well for catching and throwing the ball. If you fancy trying out your luck in goal, these are well worth picking up.
If you grew up in England playing football, we guarantee you'll have some fond memories of kicking around a Mitre ball in a park or youth league. Their gloves are very much like their balls, providing an affordable and reliable way to play.
These gloves might not be the fanciest nor the pair filled with the most features, but they are durable and long-lasting, giving you plenty of protection while playing. Plus, it may be nostalgia, but we also love their retro style.
When it comes to goalie gloves, you want to make sure your hands are safe. While you can't stop that 15 stone centre back clattering into you every corner of every Sunday League game, you can protect your hands from potential damage.
This offering from Sportout features an improved finger save system that prevents your fingers from bending back, as well as a layer of super thick latex and foam. If you're after protection, these are great gloves, but just like the F500, investing a little more or less seems to be a sensible choice.
These gloves are very much a bargain option, featuring rubber palms and a thick protective back. The roll cut is a nice surprise though, as it means that the fit is a lot snugger than most other flat budget options.
The colourful designs are nice too, although unless you're hoping to dazzle the opposing striker into missing, they don't affect performance! Nonetheless, we think these gloves would make an effective secondary pair for more casual games or leagues where you don't want to wear out your main gloves.
The Kipsta F500's share many similarities with their younger sibling the F100, which you'll find a couple of places below – it gives you some great ball control at a reasonable price, for example. However, it also shares some of its drawbacks.
While a good starter pair to consider, at around the £20 mark you should expect a little more protection from a goalkeeping glove. It's in an unfortunate spot where spending a little more will get you a far better glove, and you won't lose out on much if you spend a little less.
Looking for more guides to help you find the best equipment for your Sunday sessions? From the best boots to the best ways to roll out those muscles post-game, we've got you covered with the articles below.
Once you've found the right pair of goalkeeping gloves, you'll feel invincible between the sticks, and when it comes to goalkeeping, confidence is everything. We hope you've been able to find that perfect pair here and wish you all the best in your upcoming games!
Author: David Sexton
No. 1: Reusch|Pure Contact 3
No. 2: Retrix|1.0 Goalkeeper Gloves
No. 3: Reusch|Attrakt Gold
No. 4: Renegade GK|Fury Inferno
No. 5: Reusch|Pure Contact Silver
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