Alright so today I wanna talk about something I actually spent weeks messing around with – these Rivals goalkeeper gloves. Yeah, heard a lot of talk, mostly online, about them being a solid pick. Figured instead of just nodding along, why not grab a pair myself and really beat ’em up in some real training? See what’s actually good.
Getting Started – The Hunt
First off, I gotta find these things. Wasn’t as simple as walking into my usual sports shop. Seems like they’re kinda popular right now? Hit up a few local places, no luck. Ended up ordering online – pretty straightforward, just picked my size.
A few days later, the box arrived. Felt pretty excited, like unwrapping a new tool. The gloves themselves looked… well, honestly, kinda cool. Bright colors, that chunky look I associate with keepers who mean business. They felt lighter in my hand than I expected though.
The Real Test – Mud, Sweat, and Saves
Took them straight to training that night. Got weird looks from the lads – “Trying new gear, huh?” They were chuckling, but I just shrugged.
- First Touch: Stuck my hand in and pulled those latex fingers snug. Gotta say, the wrap-around wrist strap felt beefy and secure right away. Cinched it down tight, didn’t feel like it was gonna slip.
- First Save: Early drill, catching hard shots from close range. Whoof. The palm latex? Grip was insane right from the kickoff. Ball didn’t squirm at all. Slapped a really wet one and it just stuck, like glue. Honestly surprised me. We were training after rain, ground messy, ball slick, but it didn’t matter. That grip held.
- Going Ground: Now, diving low, smothering shots? This is where padding matters, right? Plunged down hard a few times onto that slightly-too-hard ground we train on. Felt that impact, but the padding around the backhand and those finger spines? Yeah, took the sting out. Didn’t feel like my hand was gonna bend backwards either – those spines do work.
- Comfort Factor: After about 30 minutes, sweaty hands territory. Thought, “Okay, here’s where stuff gets slippery inside the glove.” But nah, that liner inside actually wicked the sweat away decently. Didn’t feel swampy or like my hand was swimming. Just kinda… stayed comfortably damp?
Weeks Later – Still Holding Up?
Okay, so initial rush was great. But cheap gloves fall apart fast. Used them solidly for a few weeks now, probably 10-12 hard sessions, plus a couple muddy Sunday league games. Here’s the real talk:
- Durability: Look, the latex on the palm? It’s definitely worn down where I land most, friction points. Showing signs of use, no doubt. But it hasn’t ripped! No tears, no chunks falling off. Still provides good grip, way better than cheaper pairs I’ve burned through faster. Seems built tougher.
- Wrist Strap: Still cinches down rock solid. Velcro hasn’t lost its bite. That secure feel? Still there every time.
- Comfort Continued: The liner inside held up. Still comfy. No seams ripping inside, no weird rubbing spots suddenly appearing. Shape still feels good.
The Verdict After Grinding
So yeah, based on actually using these things week in, week out, getting them filthy, making saves, dealing with knocks… I get the hype now. It ain’t just talk.
They aren’t magic gloves that last forever – you gotta expect wear on the latex. But for the price point? The grip on day one (and honestly, weeks later) was shockingly good. The protection diving around? Seriously helps. They just feel like they’re actually designed for someone throwing their body and hands at a football.
They worked for me. Simple as that. Made saves easier, took the fear out of diving on rough ground, and didn’t fall to pieces before I got my money’s worth. Would I grab another pair? Yeah, actually planning on it.
