The Nike match goalkeeper gloves have been around for a while now, and there are quite a few reasons why that’s the case. In many respects Nike has seen that if something works they don’t need to change it. That’s saying quite a lot because Nike are usually more inclined to come up with completely new designs for their gloves. Then again they may be doing that because they just can’t find a model that’s able to consistently keep particularly in the premium glove market. The Nike Match goalkeeper gloves though fall in that lower tier price range. They compete with a lot of non brand name products, and that’s why they’ve found themselves a market.
I wanted to get this information out there about Nike and their bit of recent history with goalkeeper gloves to give you a sense of who these gloves are mostly aimed at. These are gloves that are meant for the novice keeper, maybe even kids who are getting into this. The idea is that you won’t want to go out and spend 80 dollars or 100 dollars on goalkeeper gloves if you don’t even know that you’re going to like the position or not. With a lot of no name brands out there making the cheap end of the goalkeeper gloves available online that Nike swoosh can carry some weight. I do feel ultimately it leads to plenty of sales for the brand. Now does that mean that these Nike Match goalkeeper gloves are a good buy? We’ll see about that!
Nike Match Goalkeeper Gloves Grip
I did one of these reviews recently where I talked about the difference between grip in some of the lower priced gloves, and the premium gloves. Essentially the conclusion that I came to is that most of these gloves in the middle or the beginning of the pay scale are not going to be nowhere near as sticky as premium goalkeeper gloves. That’s just not going to happen, so evaluating them for grip they would traditionally fall short every single time. With these Nike Match gloves I could say that they are not going to be as sticky as the Nike Vapors when they are brand new. The comparison wouldn’t even close and wouldn’t frankly be all that fair.
With these types of gloves what I like to evaluate is the glove cut, and the thickness of the palm. What happens with very cheap gloves is that the cut is sometimes completely squared. The problem with those gloves is that you won’t be able to grip the ball naturally because your fingers are not going to bend like they naturally would. For me these Nike gloves do feature a more natural cut, and a thicker palm area. All of that is going to give you the chance to grip the ball nicely if you have a good catching technique. Without the stickiness that you can get from some of the modern gloves I would say these gloves won’t do you any extra favors. You have to really catch the ball; it won’t just stick to your glove.
How Do These Gloves Tend To Fit
For me, they fit great, but I do have to be honest they are not the best fit for people who have thicker hands. The problem tends to be that the finger slots on the gloves are not wide enough. For some goalkeepers that’s a positive element to the glove because as I mentioned in the grip section it allows you to really bend your fingers naturally and wrap them around the ball to make clean catches. If your fingers are a bit wider though you may have a tough time getting your hands into the gloves. Would it make sense in this situation to go for gloves that are maybe a size bigger than what you usually wear?
I think that could be an option. Gloves do tend to get a bit wider as you go up the size scale. Trying to get gloves that are a size too big or a size bigger than your regular size can be a good compromise. I’ve had this issue happen to me the other way around. In that case if the gloves are too wide you try a size under your regular size, but that can make your fingers be too tight at the top. That’s going to be uncomfortable all the way through. With gloves that are a bit too loose on the top you’ll have the tendency to pull the glove down while you’re using them. You may be ok all things considered.
Pros & Cons Of The Nike Match Goalkeeper Gloves
Pros
For the price that you’re paying these are decent gloves. You may not be getting anything special, but these are a pair of gloves that can serve you very well as training gloves. I know that they are literally called match gloves. As I just mentioned you’ll have grip with these gloves if you have a good catching technique. The gloves themselves though are not going to give you any freebies. To be honest with modern premium gloves you are going to get some freebies. In the sense that the grip is so good that the ball is just going to stick there. Modern goalkeepers probably don’t appreciate this as much as they should. They don’t realize it wasn’t too long ago when no gloves granted you freebies.
Cons
You know when you buy this glove that there are better gloves out there. Now, for the price that you’re going to be paying which is around 40 dollars they are very decent gloves. If you compare them directly to the types of gloves that you can buy at that price or lower, these are right up there as the top deal within that price range. There’s that fact that they may be a bit too thin for some people. Also, this issue that I’m referencing now. You know in your heart that you’re wearing these gloves because they are a good deal. Not because they are the gloves that you would wear if you could buy something better within this range.
Which Type of Goalkeeper Is Going To Benefit From These Gloves?
This is kind of a realization that I’ve come to through writing these reviews. Not every glove is going to be fit for every single goalkeeper. I’m not talking about money or the fact that the color scheme is not up your alley. It’s about the fit, and how they feel in every aspect of the game. For example, for me these gloves are just thick enough to the point where I can deal with the burn from a hard shot while wearing them. There are other options out there that cost more, and we can consider premium gloves that I would wear consistently because I would have to ice my hands after every practice or games. That comes down to what I like, and the type of hands that I have.
In this case I think these Nike Match gloves are a great buy for a goalkeeper who loves to have that sense of freedom with the glove. They are a light glove you won’t feel your hands heavy with these gloves. Also, someone who isn’t interested in the sticky grip that new models provide, because he or she is confident in their catching technique. These can be perfect practice gloves for a couple of reasons. One, literally the price is right! Also, they are durable enough to be used every single day and perform well. At the same time though they force you to develop your catching technique that’s good from training gloves.
Does It Make Sense To Buy These Gloves Over No Name Brand Models?
The problem with this dilemma is that I just said you won’t get any freebies from any of these gloves. In the sense that neither these gloves nor any of the 30 dollar and under gloves give you a ton of grip. There are some Select gloves in the 30s range that I would contend could make it interesting if we matched them up with these Nike Match goalkeeper gloves. The difference for me is that these Nike gloves feature a decently made palm area that’s thick enough to the point where you’re not going to be feeling the burn from a hard shot as much. Some of the cheaper options that I’ve seen and tried out may look even better than these Nike gloves in the pictures.
When you wear them though you realize that it’s like having a thin piece of paper protecting your hands from the incoming shot. Another aspect that I think evens the playing field and could push it in the Nike Match goalkeeper gloves’ favor is the durability aspect. These gloves are reasonably durable. They can last more or less the same as some premium gloves. Just as long as you’re proactive about glove care. The no name brand options can rip apart day one. So just on the durability element alone you could make up the 20 dollar difference there. One pair of these lasts the same as two pairs of the other ones. Durability is very subjective though, and that’s the problem!
Ultimately Is That A Yes or A No On The Nike Match Goalkeeper Gloves?
Let me put it this way, if I was still training every single day, which I may do in the near future if I can finally get some time off work, I would look into these gloves. Maybe I wouldn’t play games with them. They would be the gloves though that I would take to training. Why would I do that? The price tag on these gloves make it so even if they aren’t as durable as some other options it’s not going to hurt my wallet to get new ones. If you’re still dependent on parent money to buy gloves it’s an easier ask to say I need 40 dollars for new gloves every 2 or 3 months than I need 100 or 150.
There is some value in my opinion to the flaws or the lack of “extras” that these gloves feature! I like the fact that I have to go to training and do my very best to perfect my catching technique. That’s what you should be doing in training. Otherwise, on a rainy day when your brand new premium gloves are made mortal you can lose your grip and your self confidence in your ability to catch the ball rather quickly. As with many of the other gloves that I’ve reviewed I understand they may be a better option for some goalkeepers than for others. These can have a wider appeal though as training gloves!
If you want to purchase a pair of Nike Match Goalkeeper Gloves be sure to use my links! They help me continue creating no nonsense reviews like this one!
