Best Goalkeeper Gloves without Finger Protection – 2024

Some goalkeepers prefer a lighter glove with more flexibility and natural ball feel. In this article you'll find a list of the best goalkeeper gloves without finger protections.  

You have more options for goalkeeper gloves than ever before, and even small brands can compete with the major established brands with their goalkeeper glove offerings. With so many good goalkeeper gloves out there, it can be difficult to choose your next pair. In this article, I use my expertise as a former professional goalkeeper to recommend the top picks for goalkeeper gloves without finger protection. 

Some goalkeepers like the extra support and security that fingersave or finger protection gloves provide (see recommendations here). Others like a lighter, more agile, more natural feeling glove that doesn't restrict hand speed or ball feel. This article is for those goalkeepers who prefer the latter (like myself). 

The glove recommendations are mainly focused on gloves for matches. You should buy a cheaper pair (or use an old pair of match gloves) for everyday training. Match gloves like these aren't made to take the daily abuse of training, and given that most of them are fairly expensive, you probably want to save some money by going with a dedicated pair specifically for training. Unless you have a huge budget or are a professional player, then you can do what you want. 

1. Elite - Revolution II Combi Gloves

Details

Our top pick goes to a relatively smaller brand who has some big players on board, including Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibault Courtois. His glove of choice is the Elite Revolution II Combi Gloves, and for good reason. These boast some seriously high performance features in a frame that balances light weight and flexibility, with just enough support for the rigors of the position. 

Pros

These gloves offer unparalleled grip and feel - the GTech Pro latex is good enough for goalkeepers at the highest level. The hybrid negative roll-cut, with extended latex coverage on the thumb, fingers, and outside of the hand, offers optimal ball contact that mimics the shape and feel of your hand. If you get your hand to the ball, these gloves make sure whatever part makes contact gives you ultimate control. 

The backhand is made up of a moisture wicking fabric to keep your palms dry and to reduce internal slippage of the glove. The rubber inserts on the backhand give you lightweight support and extra control for punching, without adding too much bulk.

The gloves strike the perfect balance of lightweight flexibility for a second-skin feel, while providing the grip, cushion, and support for handling the hardest shots. 

Cons

These gloves are fairly lightweight and may not work for keepers who prefer more backhand support. The price tag is high, which is to be expected with this level of performance (we'll review some other high-quality options with a friendlier price tag later in this article). 

2. Sells - Contour Aqua Fit

Details

Another small brand based out of England, Sells is well-known among elite goalkeepers for producing top of the line gloves. Premier League goalkeepers have been wearing this brand for years. With English origins, they know how to make a glove that performs exceptionally in wet weather. In fact, I have a pair myself for wet conditions.

The pair we recommend from Sells is their top of the line Contour Aqua Fit model, which features everything you'd want in a top performing glove - a hybrid negative surround cut, high-tech moisture wicking fabric, and memory foam cushioning. 

Pros

You will not find a better glove for grip and performance in wet weather, with its Adhesion Ultra Latex. I personally love the fusion surround cut, as it offers optimal ball contact with the latex palm, as well as a tight fit for closer ball feel. The memory foam backing of the palm also takes the sting out of hard shots, so you can control the ball better whether you choose to catch or parry. 

The moisture wicking fabric reduces internal slippage and regulates temperature whether it's hot or cold. 

Cons

These gloves are pricey. Unless you have a huge budget or play at a very high level, gloves specific to wet weather will be a luxury. The other gloves in this article will offer good to very good grip in wet weather too. But if you must have the best, these are it. 

3. Uhlsport - Comfort Absolutgrip HN

Details

The next entry on our list, and our favorite for best value, comes from Uhlsport, a well-established German brand traditionally known for creating state of the art, groundbreaking goalkeeper glove technology. 

The Comfort Absolutgrip is no exception. This model utilizes a number of high-end technologies that come in at a reasonable price point. You get very solid, all-weather, durable grip with the Absolutgrip latex, formulated specifically for all-around play. The glove also offers great support without too much added bulk or weight. 

Pros

We already mentioned the grip - it's probably the best on the market at this price point, and offers good durability for a match glove. The half-negative cut offers a close fit and optimal ball feel, while the latex padded backhand offers a bit more security for punching and parrying.

The all-black colorway looks good too, depending on your preference. The retail price for these makes them a good value, plus you can sometimes find these on sale - if so, snatch them up quickly! Especially if you are a mid to high level goalkeeper looking for a durable pair of gloves that work well for training and matches. 

Cons

While these gloves are solid and offer a lot of high-end features, the Absolutgrip palm is not quite as tacky or grippy as the highest level gloves. They still offer amazing grip for everyone who is not a high level professional, so for competitive players these will more than meet your needs. 

4. Storelli - Electric Goalkeeper Gloves

Details

Some goalkeepers like having options, especially when it comes to finger protection. Whether you're protecting an old injury or want extra support for training but more mobility for matches, a pair of gloves with customizable finger protection inserts may be right for you. 

The newly released Electric Goalkeeper Gloves from Storelli would be a great option for you. This small brand has produced solid gloves for a few years now - I've owned a pair and been happy with the overall quality, performance, and durability (I only stopped using them when I got a pair of Sells on a massive sale). 

The main feature of the Electric Gloves is the ability to remove the finger protection without creating too much space behind your fingers. Other gloves haven't perfected this level of flexibility with their customizable finger protection options. The negative cut works great with this customization, as they keep the fit natural and ergonomic. 

Pros

Aside from how well these gloves fit both with and without finger protection, the grip is surprisingly good at this price point. Very tacky and soft German Contact Latex. In fact, these are very close to the best value glove in this article, alongside the Uhlsport Absolutgrip gloves. These would match the performance needs of goalkeepers at a very high level.

The extended wrist strap is a nice feature for a little extra security and wrist support, while the rubber backhand punch zone gives you more control while punching. 

These are also available in a few different colorways. Always nice to have some options on that end. 

Cons

These are a great pick at a solid price. They can be a little tight if you plan to wear all of the finger support inserts. If you need the protection from these, either order a size up or consider another pair with permanent protection inserts that will accommodate your size. 

5. Nike VaporGrip 3 Dynamic Fit GK Gloves

Details

Better known for their other products, Nike does make some pretty good goalkeeper gloves. I've owned a few myself but mostly prefer other brands, although many of my goalkeeper friends swear by Nike gloves. Lots of pros use them too. 

Of those models, the VaporGrip 3 Dynamic Fit gloves stand out the most, especially if you are into more minimalist gloves with a natural, lightweight feel. These gloves really aim to give you the most natural feel possible - almost like you're not wearing gloves. Except for the palm - which is a hybrid surround cut for maximum contact surface with the ball. 

Pros

These gloves are shockingly light. For those goalkeepers who value hand speed and a natural feel above all else, these will work well for you. 

The third generation Nike VaporGrip 3 palm offers as good a grip as any glove on the market. For me the standout feature is the textured, stretchy, breathable backhand. This material maximizes comfort and forms perfectly to your hands. It really feels like you're not wearing anything. 

Cons

As these gloves optimize for light weight, mobility, and flexibility, they don't offer much support. These are best for matches only, as the rigors of training may require a more robust glove to protect your hands. 

With top of the line features comes a hefty price tag. These are probably best for high-level goalkeepers or those with a generous budget. 

6. Rinat Santoloco Goalkeeper Gloves

Details

Gloves are expensive! We realize that some of our selections in this article may not fit everyone's budget (although we did aim to pass along the best options... we'll put together a best value article at some point).

The next pair we recommend due to its attractive price tag and solid execution of some higher end features. Coming from a smaller brand Rinat, the Santoloco gloves are our favorite pair under $70.  

Pros

These gloves offer solid grip with German Contact Latex, a higher-end hybrid roll cut for optimum ball contact and feel, and a nicely padded latex back for extra control while punching without adding too much bulk.

Cons

These gloves are more solid than spectacular. They will work fine for even high level goalkeepers, but they don't have the higher tech features of some of the other options on this list.