Rinat Fenix Superior JD Professional Review - The Best Rinat Option?

Rinat Fenix Superior JD Professional Review – The Best Rinat Option?

Rinat is one of the brands that I’ve used the most over the years. To their credit they’ve tried to adapt their models to modern trends. In doing so though they haven’t gone completely outside what they usually do. So what you’re typically going to find from them are decent gloves at reasonable prices with certain ties to tradition. For example, they’ve kept the strap in all of their models. For years, they’ve actually tried to experiment with the thinner gloves that prioritize mobility. These Rinat Fenix Superior JD Professional are a good combination of a traditional glove with some modern touches. You get what you expect out of Rinat gloves!

If you’ve never worn Rinat gloves, what you can expect is a glove that’s comfortable across the board. Of course, it’s a good idea to make sure that you pick a model that fits your hands, and style of play in specific. Perhaps these Rinat Fenix Superior JD Professional gloves will not necessarily be a great fit for someone with thicker hands. The good thing is that you can find all sorts of glove cuts within the Rinat brand. So if you like the grip on these gloves you’ll be able to find something that suits you. It’s clear though that this particular model was made to prioritize mobility. It features the same latex palm as virtually all of the models in the Rinat brand. 

Rinat Fenix Superior JD Professional – Grip

The grip on Rinat gloves is the typical above average with no use on it. As you continue to use the glove the grip is going to drastically decrease. Especially if you’re not active about glove care. A lot of times when you’re using these gloves every single day you can’t be that active. That’s one of the concerns that I certainly have when it comes to these gloves. For at least half of my pro career I used Rinat gloves. That was ten years ago at the very least. The grip on Rinat gloves has not made a massive jump from then to today. That is a concern if you’re coming from Reusch, Adidas, or Uhlsport premium gloves. You’re going to feel the drop in quality for sure. 

Now, if you’re coming from 20 dollar gloves this is going to be a major step forward. That’s why I usually end these articles talking about whom the particular pair of gloves that I have in my hands for the day work best for. When you just buy these gloves all you’re going to need to do is get them a little wet, and you’re going to have some pretty decent grip. The worst thing that you can do after that is stuff them in your bag and not allow them to see the light of day. If you want to keep that decent grip longer, allow them to dry in the shade. You’ll feel the loss of grip typically even before the glove completely rips apart.      

Mobility For Lack Of Finger Protection?

This is basically the bet that you’re making when you go with these types of gloves. I don’t mean this as a shot at these Rinat gloves. At the end of the day all of the modern slim gloves that we can find out there are forgoing elements that could benefit finger protection. What does this mean in the grand scheme of things? Basically this means that these gloves are going to be better suited for goalkeepers that are looking to prioritize finger movement over finger protection. I’ve done a couple of articles where I’ve essentially had to research this topic. What I can say without a doubt is that most modern goalkeepers prefer gloves with a lack of finger protection.

With that in mind it may be fair to say that these particular gloves are better suited for older goalkeepers who have been in this for a while. Finger injuries are a concern for goalkeepers for sure. I’ve been through my fair share of injuries. The problem with switching to gloves with finger spines is that you lose a lot of that mobility. When push comes to shove if you’re trying to move up in the world of goalkeeping and play in better teams you’ll happily forgo safety for better performance. Again this is not meant as a knock on these gloves. However, this heavy emphasis on mobility while forgoing finger protection clearly dictates that these gloves are meant for advanced goalkeepers.    

The Fit Is Perfect For Medium To Slim Hands

A lot of these modern gloves that favor mobility as I was just referencing have gotten really thin. Particularly when it comes to the fingers of the glove. While I’m not suggesting that there are goalkeepers that are going to be able to fill out the gloves completely, they can get a bit tight for someone who has thicker hands. Even if you’re not necessarily filling out the glove completely it can feel uncomfortable for you if you’re accustomed to wearing a wider glove. Again that’s not necessarily something that’s unique to this glove. A lot of the modern gloves out there are going to have a similar design. 

It comes back to what I was referencing in regard to mobility. What glove manufacturers in this case Rinat are trying to achieve is a tighter fit across the board. Essentially this should help you feel like you’re not even wearing a glove in a sense! In a lot of ways years ago goalkeepers gloves tried to extend the surface with which you’d be able to catch a ball. So this led to them making wider gloves. These days what the industry has gone towards is creating gloves that have a more natural feel to them. Ultimately there’s no right or wrong answer here it comes down to what you like or don’t like in your gloves. If you’re looking at the Rinat Fenix Superior JD Professional goalkeeper gloves as an option it’s probably because the thinner glove is not an issue for you.   

Durability Is The Big Issue With These Gloves

Durability is going to be an issue with all Rinat gloves except their turf line of gloves. As I mentioned before in this article they’ve pretty much used the same latex and palm concept for the better part of a decade. When you’re using these gloves on a daily basis or in a very rough field they are not going to hold up too well. What you can do is be very active about glove care to try and extend their lifespan as best you can. One of the main reasons why these gloves take a lot of wear and tear is because they need to be damp to have the best grip. After the game though you at least need to make sure that they dry out accordingly.

If you just stuff them in your bag like a lot of us do they are not going to last long at all. Actually since they were probably damp when you stuffed them in your bag you’re going to create a stink bomb in that bag. Ideally you’ll keep them in their separate casing until you get home. This is so that they don’t stick up the rest of the bag. Once you get home you can have them dry out in the shade. Once they’re dry put them back in the case they come with. This process is going to allow you to extend their lifespan. Don’t expect long lasting gloves though. Especially if you’re going to be using them on a daily basis.   

At This Price Are They A Good Buy?

This is perhaps the toughest thing when it comes to these gloves. Rinat gloves in general are a good buy at a decent price for both practice and games. Especially if you’re a goalkeeper who plays consistently. They are a great buy at 60 dollars, but I’ve seen the Rinat Fenix Superior JD Professional gloves go for anywhere from 70 to 85 dollars. At that 85 dollar range I would certainly be more reluctant to make the purchase. That’s not necessarily because there are a ton of better options within that range from 70 to 85 dollars. It’s actually quite an awkward range where you’re typically going to find failed high-end gloves that have been discounted to that price.

It all comes down to perspective. If you’re currently buying 100 dollar practice gloves that wear out in about 3 months dropping down to 75–80 dollars can make sense. Particularly when you look at the long term savings that you’re going to have. If you’re coming from 40 dollar gloves, and you want to make the jump to a professional model that boasts better features these gloves can be a good stepping stone. Ultimately you’re probably going to want to move into the 100 dollar range. As I’m writing this out I’m realizing the price is not that bad. As I mentioned though, I can get them locally for less. So maybe I have a biased opinion on that front.     

Rinat Fenix Superior JD Professional – Who Are They A Good Fit For?

I kind of got ahead of this part of the articles that I love to end with. In any case, these Rinat Fenix Superior JD Professional gloves are seemingly a good fit for the goalkeeper who is serious about training and needs a decent pair of gloves for everyday use. They are by no means the most complete glove out there. For 70 or 80 dollars they are more of a bargain deal. You’ll be getting some high-end amenities without having to break the bank. Would I love to say that these gloves are more durable than they actually are? For sure, that would make them one of the best practice gloves on the market. That’s just not the case. 

They can also be a good glove for the Sunday league player that doesn’t put in any extra work throughout the week. If it’s just Sundays that you’re using them on they can last a lot longer. Maybe we’re looking at 6 months still in decent shape. In daily use you’re looking at 2 or 3 months tops. The price isn’t as steep for someone who is coming from buying 40 or 50 dollar gloves. Yes, I realize it’s almost double, but when you take into account that premium gloves go for over one hundred 75 dollars isn’t as bad. With this in mind, I’m actually rather comfortable saying that these gloves have quite a wide market. You can use them for both games and practice. 

If you’re ready to purchase a pair of Rinat Fenix Superior JD Professional goalkeeper gloves be sure to use my link. This can help me continue creating this type of content for you!