For the best possible performance, a skilled goalie needs a great pair of goalkeeper gloves. These not only protect the fingers from injury when they bat away a speeding ball, but the palm latex prevents a saved ball from slipping out of the goalie's reach. They also need to be comfortable to allow the player to stay focused on the game.

A poor fit can cost a team the game, while great gloves boost confidence. So, what makes a great pair of goalkeeper gloves, and what are the top picks on the market for everyone from amateur goalkeepers to seasoned pros?

Our Favorites

• Best Overall: Storelli Gladiator Pro 3
• Best Flex & Fit: Storelli Silencer Menace
• Best for Youth: Reusch Attrakt Junior
• Best for Wet Conditions: Uhlsport Absolutgrip Reflex
• Best Value: KEEPERsport Champ NC

Best Goalkeeper Gloves

With these criteria in mind, we have gathered a list of the five best goalkeeper gloves for amateurs, professionals, and even smaller hands.

Best Overall: Storelli Gladiator Pro 3

If you are looking for a professional goalkeeper glove, the Storelli Gladiator Pro 3 should be your top choice. It is a negative-cut glove with a snug fit made with 3mm of contact foam and 3.5 mm of German latex for maximum protection and grip in both wet and dry weather. While these gloves are on the pricier side, they will last with proper care.

This pair of gloves has five integrated spines built into the glove for finger protection, but they are removable for when you need more flexibility. The long cuff with an adjustable elastic strap and Velcro closure means that the glove always feels secure and is relatively easy to put on and take off.

This glove is ideal for serious competitors and college-level players. If you are looking for something more affordable, Storelli offers a range of goalkeeper gloves.

Best for Flexibility & Style: Storelli Silencer Menace

If you love the quality of Storelli but appreciate significant flexibility, the Silencer Menace is a top choice. These are featherweight gloves with a negative hybrid cut made from pro-grade German latex that feels like wearing nothing but a grip, which also extends over the backhand. They come with finger gussets for removable finger protection and feel like a second skin without the spines.

These gloves are designed for keepers who rely on speed and hand mobility to defend their goal. Pair them with Storelli's goalkeeper leggings and goalkeeper pants.

Best Youth Option: Reusch Attrakt Junior

If you are buying for a junior, Reusch Attrakt Junior are top-quality goalkeeper gloves, similar to Adult Attrakt gloves, but designed for smaller hands and are more affordable. They combine a flat palm cut with outer seams that enlarge the palm surface for a larger ball contact area for the Attrakt grip latex. They are made from synthetic latex for impact absorption, and the open wrist closure is easy for kids to manage themselves. Finger strength is enhanced on all five fingers, so no broken fingers for young players.

These gloves are ideal for under-14s with growing hands and developing skills.

Best All-Weather Grip: Uhlsport Absolutgrip Reflex

If playing in wet and slippery conditions is often a concern, the Uhlsport Absolutgrip Reflex can help you meet that challenge. The gloves feature a negative reflex cut and patented cushioning for outstanding grip in all weather conditions. The glove body is made from functional neoprene for flexibility, breathability, and maximum comfort, plus tackiness even in the rain. A dual thumb and side wrap fix system means that the gloves stay secure.

Choose Uhlsport goalkeeper gloves if you play in wet climates or on more slippery turf fields.

Best Value: KEEPERsport Champ NC

If you want the best combination of affordability and quality, check out the KEEPERsport Champ NC goalkeeper gloves. The gloves feature soft-tech material and a negative cut for maximum snugness and comfort. The 4mm supreme claw latex offers excellent grip, and the latex wrap on the thumb provides a maximum surface area. Silicone elements are used on the backhand for better control when punching. It features a pull loop entry for ease of putting on and a circumferential latex strap for an adjustable fit.

These gloves are ideal for intermediate players looking for cheap goalkeeper gloves that are still of excellent quality.

What Makes a Great Goalkeeper Glove?

Great goalkeeper gloves offer the right combination of grip, fit, and protection so that you can comfortably defend the goal without risking your fingers.

Grip Quality

The better the grip, the better the glove. This statement is true in most cases. For advanced and professional players, maximum grip across the palm surface means better performance. It can make the difference between a ball traveling 90 miles per hour sticking in your hands or bouncing into the goal behind you. Gloves made with high-performance latex palms can maintain ball contact, even in wet weather, with no slipping or sliding.

The backhand of goalkeeper gloves should also have gripping latex for better ball control when punching away shots at goal.

However, the better the grip, the more expensive the gloves tend to be. Young and beginner players can benefit from more affordable gloves with less grip, as it forces them to improve their saving ability and develop proper catching technique. They can make a great pair of training gloves, with a gripper pair of match gloves.

Glove Cut

The goalie glove cut refers to how the manufacturer constructed the glove, and it will influence how it fits and feels on your hand. There are four basic goalie glove cuts, though many brands have their own unique names and variations.

• Flat cut, also known as the traditional cut, uses a single piece of flat material to create a flat palm. This provides a looser fit that allows for good finger movement within the glove.
• Roll-cut gloves, also known as gun-cut gloves, include a rolled finger construction. The sides of the palm wrap or roll around the fingers. This provides a larger contact area, but a tighter fit overall, giving greater control.
• Negative cut has seams that sit on the inside of the glove with gussets between the palm and backhand of the glove. Negative cuts provide a tighter fit and better control, which is ideal for goalies with smaller hands.
• Hybrid-cut soccer gloves are a combination of the above.

The best cut depends on individual preference, but negative-cut gloves tend to offer superior grip.

Snug & Secure Fit

As a general rule, you want your goalkeeper gloves to be tight, so they fit like a second skin, but you don't want them to be so tight that you can't bend your fingers and benefit from full-hand maneuverability. Finding the right fit is a combination of glove size and cut and is usually a case of trying until you find what fits best.

The way the glove is secured around your wrist also makes a difference and can determine how easy they are to use. The wrist strap, similar to that of boxing gloves, needs to both secure the glove and allow you to manage and adjust the fit of the other single glove when necessary. There are a variety of different closures, including hook and loop, puller, puller tab, and bandage strap. These allow you to adjust for snugness more than strapless gloves.

Protection

Fingersaves are pieces of plastic inserted into the glove’s fingers that stabilize your fingertips so they don’t bend back too far when you save the ball. The middle fingers tend to be especially vulnerable because they are longer than the other digits and bear the brunt of impacts.

Some people don't like them because they can restrict hand movement, but gloves with finger protection are essential to protect young goalkeepers from injury. Gloves with removable finger spines are an option if you want the best of both worlds for practice versus games.

Durability

Of course, if you invest in a fantastic pair of gloves, you want them to last as long as possible, so durable construction is a consideration. Features like a reinforced backhand will last longer, and choose materials such as German latex that are both grippy and durable. Proper care can also make a big difference to the lifespan of your gloves. If you think you have found the perfect gloves, it is worth investing in glove balm to maintain them.

How to Care for Goalkeeper Gloves

Proper care will extend the life of your gloves and also improve their grip.

Care starts before you first pull on your gloves. Pre-wash your new gloves before using them and let them dry naturally. This removes any preservatives that were used during the remanufacturing process and activates the latex for maximum grip.

You can occasionally dampen the latex of your gloves while playing to enhance the grip, as latex isn't meant to be dry.

Always wash your gloves after a match, to get them ready for their next use. Start by removing loose dirt and wiping down to remove sweat. Prepare a tub of lukewarm water with a mild soap or specialist glove wash and wash the gloves using the submerge-squeeze-soak method. Make sure you remove protection from the finger gussets first. Replace the soapy water with clean water and repeat the process to remove all the soap. Never put your gloves in the washing machine or use soaps with harsh chemicals.

Always let your gloves air dry lying flat, and avoid leaving them in direct sunlight or letting the latex dry out too much. Excessive dryness will damage the latex over time. Investing in a good glove balm that you can periodically rub into the latex can also extend the life of your gloves.

Where to Shop for Reliable Goalkeeper Gear

While you can get goalkeeper gloves at most sports stores and marketplaces, if you want elite gloves with a range of sizing, it is best to engage with specialist retailers. If you know a brand that you like, you can usually find the widest range of sizes and options if you buy directly. Brands like Storelli also sell soccer goalie equipment for enthusiasts, including goalie keeper jerseys.

FAQs

What is the best goalkeeper glove brand?

Storelli, Reusch, and Uhlsport are among the best goalkeeper glove brands because they offer a range of styles for different preferences, all made from top-quality materials. Big sports brands like Adidas, Nike, and Puma also make great gloves, which you will often see on your favorite professional goalkeepers.

Is Glove glu illegal in football?

Glove glu is legal in football, including professional leagues. The spray can rejuvenate the grip of the latex of older gloves. It is argued that it actually evens the playing field, keeping teams that can't afford to buy new gloves regularly from being at a disadvantage.

What gloves does Alisson use?

Alisson Becker, the goalkeeper for Liverpool FC and the Brazilian National Team, currently wears Reusch Attrakt Gold X Evolution. They feature world-class Reusch Gold X latex and a special evolution cut, which offers a wider latex area.