Guide: All you need to know about latex for goalkeeper gloves
In stead of throwing them out, I donated them to Unisport for latex examination. Read more here where I'll tell you what you need to know to choose the right latex for goalkeeper gloves.
The palm of a goalkeeper glove is made from a layer of foam and a layer of latex. The special latex for goalkeeper gloves that the palm is equipped with is the most important feature of a glove, and no matter how many amazing features the gloves have, it all comes down to the quality of the latex. That's why it is so essential for goalkeepers to know a little about the different types of latex to choose between.
There are a lot of different types and names of latex, and it can seem difficult to navigate through them. Here are a few rules of thumb to get started with:
The softer the latex, the better the grip
The harder the latex, the better the endurance
The thicker the latex, the better the protection
The thinner the latex, the more ball control
If you need more than rules of thumb, read along below where I'll go through the most popular types of latex for goalkeeper gloves. There is not one universal way to categorize the different types of latex so for the sake of simplicity I've divided them into 4 different categories: “Junior and starter”, “Advanced”, “Elite” and “Professional”.
This category of latex for goalkeeper gloves often goes by the name Soft Grip, and it's a latex that you’ll find on junior and starter gloves. The latex offers a nice grip and it is very durable. The latex is often divided into different subcategories based on the thickness of the latex, for instance; Starter Soft, Soft Pro, Soft Advanced etc. This latex is excellent for starters as it gives a rather cheap and durable glove that encourages the goalkeeper to learn essential catching techniques. Gloves equipped with this category of latex:
adidas ACE Training, ACE Junior, Reusch Serathor SG, Uhlsport Eliminator Soft Pro, evoPOWER Vigor Grip 4.3Advanced:
This category of latex for goalkeeper gloves often goes by the name Super Soft Grip and it is an upgrade to the Soft Grip latex. If offers an improved grip compared to the Soft Grip. Gloves with this type of latex are especially suited for young players and amateurs as the price is low, the durability is excellent and the grip is very satisfying. Just like the Soft Grip latex, this type of latex encourages the goalkeeper to train and focus on technique.Gloves equipped with this category of latex:
Adidas ACE Republique, ACE Competition, Reusch Serathor Prime S1, Uhlsport Eliminator Supersoft, Puma evoPOWER Vigor Grip 3.3
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This category of latex for goalkeeper gloves is an excellent upgrade from the Super Soft Grip. This category of latex often goes by the name Mega Grip or Giga Grip and has some of the very best latexes. The grip is notably better, however the durability is not as good as Soft and Super Soft Grip. Latexes in this category have very different names depending on the brands. It is also usually found on some top models as well as all of the best takedowns.
Examples of other names are Absolutgrip (Uhlsport), EVO Zone Tech II (adidas), Ultimate Grip (PUMA), Soft Contact (Select)
Professional:The latexes in this category are absolutely the best available, and the category often goes by the name Contact or Supreme Grip. This latex has the best grip in all conditions, which naturally makes it the most expensive, but also the least durable compared to other types of latex. Some latexes in this category can often be recognized by the small granulates or high grip-elements that are added to the surface for enhanced grip. This latex is perfect for pros and ambitious elite players.
Examples of other names are G2 Ultra Soft (Reusch), Super Grip (Uhlsport), Nova Grip (Select), Elite Grip (PUMA), EVO Zone Tech (adidas)
Gloves equipped with this category of latex:Reusch Serathor Supreme, adidas ACE Trans Pro, PUMA evoSPEED, evoPOWER Super 3, Uhlsport Supergrip
Some brands equip a few of their gloves with an Aqua Grip latex which is for wet conditions. Most of the professional latexes are developed to perform excellently in wet and dry conditions. Aqua Grip is, therefore, an excellent supplement to Super Soft Grip or Mega Grip latex.