This is a topic that I’ve talked about on this site quite a few times. We’re going to be taking a deeper dive today, though, to try and figure out where you can find value items. As with many industries, there’s no denying the fact that brand-name products are going to be more expensive when it comes to goalkeeper gear. Now, there’s a unique element to this in the soccer goalie marketplace that’s important to point out.
Big brands like Adidas and Nike also have lines of cheaper products. That’s specifically the case with goalkeeper gloves. In most cases, though, those Nike gloves that you can get for 30 dollars aren’t going to be a quality option. There’s an argument to be made that you can get the same pair of gloves from a no-name brand for 10 dollars. The only difference is that the first pair is going to have a Nike swoosh, and the other ones won’t. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t value products within the soccer goalie marketplace.
The big challenge, though, that people who are new to the position face is figuring out where these value products are hiding. Most of them are actually quite easy to find on Amazon or goalie specialty stores. What I mean by hard to find is essentially knowing what to buy. With the rise of online shopping, many people no longer walk into a store and get a chance to look at gear and try it on. When it comes to soccer goalie gear sometimes the problem is all of these items are no longer in stores. Therefore, online shopping is your only option. Hence, the importance of this article.
Getting Value Out of Goalkeeper Gloves
Brand-name gloves that are actually going to help you improve your game are typically worth north of 100 dollars; when I’m talking about brand-name gloves, I’m referencing Adidas, Nike, Reusch, and Uhlsport. There are some brands that sell their top-tier gloves for less, and I’m going to get to that point in a bit.
One of the elements, though, that can help you find value in goalkeeper gloves is looking for gloves with thicker palms. There are a few reasons for this. In fact, I’d say all beginners should start out wearing goalkeeper gloves with thicker palms. What that’s going to do is help you reduce how much of the impact of the shot you’re actually going to feel.
Another thing that tends to be important when picking gloves is durability. In most cases, thicker gloves are going to last longer than thinner ones. If your idea of value is mixed with durability, it could be a good idea to try the turf line of gloves from the Rinat brand. These gloves are going to provide quite a bit less grip than their professional line counterparts. They are made though, to not rip as easily on rough fields.
When you wear gloves that don’t rip as easily, they can last longer. The specific types of gloves that I’m referencing are also less expensive since they are from a Mexican manufacturer that can make their products for very low prices. If you don’t remember anything I just mentioned, just know that if you’re looking for a value pick in goalkeeper gloves, going with thicker gloves from a lesser-known brand may be a good two steps to take to achieve your goal.
Knowing Some of the Brands That Provide Value
I already threw out one of my favorite brands to find value, which is Rinat. The great thing about this particular brand is that you can find good deals on virtually all of their products. They are a brand that not only sells gloves, but jerseys, pants, leggings, and everything in between. The downside is that sometimes their US stock isn’t great.
Storelli is another one of those brands that fits the bill as one where you can find value. It’s an Italian brand, but I haven’t seen some of the same issues with stock on their products that I have experienced with Rinat. They also sell jerseys, gloves, and everything in-between. Another cool thing about this brand is that you can find plenty of their products being sold in kids’ sizes. The same thing goes for Rinat.
There are a few more brands, like Renegade, that sell decent-quality gloves at typically lower prices. If you’re looking for a bigger brand name that tends to sell gloves at lower prices, I would look into the Puma brand as one of the top options. They’ve had trouble keeping up with the likes of Adidas and Nike in the soccer goalie market. What they’ve decided to do in many cases is lower their prices.
Is Buying Adidas or Nike Gear a Bad Idea?
From what I’ve said so far, I would understand if people got this idea. Therefore, it’s important to clarify a few things. There are plenty of Adidas items for example, where I really like their design. For years and years, I really liked the design of their goalkeeper pants, for example. I felt it was simple and elegant. The same could be said about their jerseys. There’s no question that their glove line is competent.
Let’s keep in mind that this is a brand that’s been making goalkeeper gear for ages. When it comes to Nike, I have always felt that their glove designs are made to look cool. However, they are not always designed with the best interest of the goalkeeper in mind. The main influence for their goalkeeper gloves is more their American football glove line than anything else. That’s why they were one of the first to go with the skin-tight goalkeeper gloves.
What they may have failed to realize is that a kicked ball is always going to pick up more speed than one that is thrown. Therefore, the need to mitigate the impact of the ball hitting your hands is not relevant in American football. To their credit, they are a brand that’s more willing to push the envelope. From time to time, their jersey designs are a bit more unique. They go through phases where they’re kind of plain then they spice things up a bit.
The bottom line is I’m not saying, “don’t buy from these brands.” What I am saying is that many times, the brand name is worth more than the product. There’s more value to be had outside of these two brands. If you fall in love with any of their products, though, especially from the higher-cost options, you’re not necessarily going to go wrong.
Goalkeepers Will Benefit From Padded Pants or Leggings
One of the main things to keep in mind as you navigate the soccer goalie marketplace is that as a goalkeeper, you’re going to need more gear than a regular player. That’s one of the main reasons I never actually got the Adidas pants that I said earlier looked really elegant. It just seemed like an expense that wasn’t going to pay off for me. The leggings and pants that I do have lasted north of 10 years!
If you can find good deals on pants that last half of that you’re going to be in a good spot. At times, the price for pants and padded leggings isn’t what’s going to dictate their durability. In this situation, I would always look for the value deal. Here’s the main reason why I say this.
Suppose that the Adidas pants that I was talking about cost 100 dollars. Yet you find something from Storelli or another one of the brands that I mentioned at 40 or 50. If you get two sets instead of one, you’re going to be better off, obviously. If you’re really new to the entire goalkeeper experience, you may be surprised by the massive price difference. This is pretty much what you can expect to find, though, from one brand to the next. That’s why I preach this sense of finding value so much. It becomes something that’s super important, particularly if you’re a college goalkeeper on a budget or a parent trying to find good deals on gear!
Is Going Cheap on Cleats a Good Idea?
At this point, you may be thinking that all of my tips revolve around finding good deals, and this means going cheap on different items. That’s not necessarily the case; I talk about this a lot in the goalkeeper glove reviews that I do. You can’t necessarily expect the same type of quality in some cases from items that are so far apart in price. However, when you can find, for example, 50-dollar gloves that can get in the ring with something that costs you 150, you’ve struck gold.
How does this apply to cleats? A lot of the same concepts actually apply here. What you need to find when it comes to cleats, though, is a set that works for where you usually play. That means for example, if you play in a lot of turf fields, I would not recommend getting cleats with long and hard spikes. That’s going to put you at a greater risk of injury. If you find the right type of cleats, the brand may not be as important.
Usually, when it comes to cleats, though, some of the lower-priced options are going to be much harder. That’s the case even with the Nike and Adidas options. Just like with gloves, they run different lines, with the softest option usually being the most expensive. If the cleats are just too hard for you, that’s not going to be comfortable. In that situation, I’d be more willing to splurge a bit more. Keep in mind that cleats for a goalkeeper can last for years! That’s why spending more money on cleats is a better investment than doing so on gloves that you’re going to need to switch out in 3 months.
