Top 10 Goalkeeper Gloves for 2026

Best Goalkeeper Gloves by Category:

Best Overall: Reusch Attrakt Gold X Evolution Cut

Best Hybrid Cut: adidas Predator Pro Hybrid

Best for Wet Weather: Nike Phantom Elite

Best Budget (€40-€80): adidas Copa Pro

Best Negative Cut: Puma Future Ultimate NC

Best Finger Protection: Uhlsport Powerline Supergrip+ HN

Here at Unisport, we've been debating goalkeeper gloves for years now, and the conversations always come back to the same question: which pair would you grab if you had a cup final tomorrow morning? Everyone has opinions about latex compounds and cut types, but the only thing that tells you anything is pulling a pair on and seeing whether you trust them when a striker is through on goal.

We put every glove in this ranking through grip tests in the dry, spray tests in the wet, wore them until the latex started looking tired, and kept track of whether what you're paying matches what you're getting. Some gloves looked brilliant on paper but lost their tackiness faster than we'd have liked. Others surprised us by holding grip well beyond where we expected the latex to give up.

Top 10 Goalkeeper Gloves for 2026

#1: Reusch Attrakt Gold X Evolution Cut

The Gold X latex compound Reusch developed for their professional keepers delivers grip rivalling anything else on the market right now, and the Evolution Cut construction creates a catching area generous enough that you're not worrying about balls spinning out on one-handed saves. We found ourselves reaching for these more than any other pair during testing.

Alisson uses Reusch Attrakts when he's between the sticks for Liverpool and Brazil, though his pair runs the Duo latex rather than Gold X. They use the same Evolution Cut shape, but different foam compound. Unai Simón at Athletic Bilbao and with Spain trusts the same cut, as does Dominik Livakovic for Fenerbahçe and Croatia. You won't be waiting weeks for these to break in either—the preshaped fingers feel right from your first warmup. Reusch stuck their GluePrint technology onto the Gold X foam for 2025, and you notice it most when someone absolutely leathers one at you and the ball stays put instead of bouncing off your palms.

Cut

Evolution Cut (hybrid providing large catching area)

Brand

Reusch

Type

Match

Grip Rating

9.5/10

Durability Score

8/10

Best For

Match keepers who want elite grip on natural grass and don't mind replacing gloves when the latex wears

Worn By

Alisson Becker (Liverpool, Brazil), Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao, Spain), Dominik Livakovic (Fenerbahçe, Croatia), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace, England)

#2: adidas Predator Pro Hybrid

Hybrid cut is what happens when you can't decide between negative and roll finger, so you get both. Negative through the palm for that tight fit, roll finger wrapping around the fingertips for extra latex where you're parrying shots and punching crosses. URG 2.0 foam at 3.5mm thick with cushioning underneath kept its grip longer than we expected for latex this soft.

Neuer's been in adidas Predators for Bayern and Germany since forever, and ter Stegen at Barcelona goes specifically for the Hybrid version rather than pure negative. No strap on these—just knit that slips on and silicone bits across the backhand for when you're punching. Adidas calls it High Definition StrikeSkin.

Cut

Hybrid (Negative-Roll combination)

Brand

adidas

Type

Match

Grip Rating

9/10

Durability Score

8.5/10

Best For

Keepers wanting versatility between tight fit and latex coverage, works well across different conditions

Worn By

Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich, Germany), Marc-André ter Stegen (Barcelona, Germany)

#3: Nike Vapor Grip3

Grip3 is Nike's way of stopping your fingers from spreading apart on impact, with generous extra foam wrapping around your thumb, forefinger, and pinky keeps everything together when you're getting hit with powerful shots. The ACC treatment on the palm means grip stays fairly consistent whether you're playing in sunshine or a downpour, which isn't something you can say about most gloves once moisture gets involved.

Courtois had these on for Real Madrid and Belgium before he linked up with Elite Sport for his own signature model, and the Grip3 construction served him well enough during those Bernabéu nights when the whole stadium held its breath every time someone hit one towards his goal.

Cut

Negative

Brand

Nike

Type

Match

Grip Rating

8.5/10

Durability Score

8/10

Best For

All-weather keepers facing variable conditions who want consistent grip whether dry or wet

Worn By

Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid, Belgium) - historical

#4: Uhlsport Powerline Supergrip+ HN

Half-negative cut is Uhlsport's signature approach, running internal seams through part of the finger construction to give you negative cut benefits with slightly more room than full negative designs offer. If pure negative gloves have always pinched your fingers a bit too much, half-negative might sort you out.

Supergrip+ is the good stuff from Uhlsport, with colour-neutral natural latex mixed with sticky particles that grab the ball. Dry conditions? These are as tacky as anything Reusch or adidas make, though you'll burn through them quicker because soft foam is soft foam regardless of the badge on the wrist. The Dual Fix closure has this wing-shaped wrap around your wrist that holds better than a single strap.

Cut

Half-Negative

Brand

Uhlsport

Type

Match

Grip Rating

9/10

Durability Score

7.5/10

Best For

Keepers with slightly wider fingers who find negative cut too restrictive but still want close fit

Worn By

Professional endorsements across European leagues

#5: Puma Future Ultimate NC

Puma designed the Future Ultimate around wrist support, with the 3D knitted backhand varying in thickness and elasticity across different zones based on how professional keepers tape their wrists before matches. Elite+ Dual Grip latex includes sticky particles, adding tackiness in all weather conditions, and the negative cut runs true through the fingers.

Pickford's got these on for Everton and England, Ederson wears the Future line for City and Brazil, and Oblak at Atlético and with Slovenia rounds out a keeper roster that's hard to argue with. Sommer at Inter and with Switzerland is another one.

Cut

Negative

Brand

Puma

Type

Match

Grip Rating

8.5/10

Durability Score

8/10

Best For

Keepers who want wrist support without tape and prefer tight negative fit through the fingers

Worn By

Jordan Pickford (Everton, England), Ederson (Manchester City, Brazil), Jan Oblak (Atlético Madrid, Slovenia), Yann Sommer (Inter Milan, Switzerland)

#6: adidas Predator Pro

Same URG 2.0 latex as the Hybrid version, different cut philosophy. Pure negative construction here, with seams sitting inside the glove to create that second-skin fit some keepers prefer. Less latex coverage than hybrid alternatives, but more direct ball contact through the palm.

Silicone bits on the knit backhand help when you're punching crosses, and going strapless shaves off a few grams. Around 80% of adidas-sponsored goalkeepers apparently wear negative cut, and the Predator Pro represents their flagship option in that construction style.

Cut

Negative

Brand

adidas

Type

Match

Grip Rating

9/10

Durability Score

8/10

Best For

Keepers who want maximum ball feel and have slim hands that suit negative cut construction

Worn By

adidas professional goalkeeper roster

#7: Reusch Attrakt Freegel Infinity

If you're spending most of your time on 3G or 4G pitches, you already know that fancy match-grade latex turns to confetti after a few weeks on rubber crumb. Reusch built the Infinity foam specifically for keepers in your situation, and we wore these on artificial turf for a solid stretch without watching the palms disintegrate the way softer compounds do.

Henderson's got these for Palace and England, which makes sense given how often he's off his line and sprawling across the turf. Freegel on the backhand keeps the punching zone light without adding bulk where you don't need it.

Cut

Negative (Evolution Negative)

Brand

Reusch

Type

Match / Training

Grip Rating

8/10

Durability Score

9/10

Best For

Keepers who train and play primarily on artificial turf where standard latex wears quickly

Worn By

Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace, England)

#8: Nike Phantom Elite

ACC technology returns here with Nike's hybrid cut construction, targeting keepers who want all-conditions grip in a fit offering more coverage than pure negative designs. Contact+ latex on the palm provides cushioning during hard shots, and we found these particularly impressive during wet weather testing where other gloves started losing their tackiness.

Cut

Hybrid

Brand

Nike

Type

Match

Grip Rating

8.5/10

Durability Score

8/10

Best For

Wet weather specialists who play in the UK, Scandinavia, or anywhere with frequent rain

Worn By

Nike professional goalkeeper roster

#9: Uhlsport Fangmaschine Supersoft

Supersoft foam does exactly what the name suggests, it's grippy as anything but won't last as long as the harder compounds before the latex starts looking sad. Worth it if you'd rather have sticky palms now and replace sooner. The half-negative cut gives your fingers room to breathe without going full roll finger baggy, and the Finger Surround tech wraps latex around your digits in a way that gives you more gripping surface than standard glove shapes.

Cut

Half-Negative

Brand

Uhlsport

Type

Match / Training

Grip Rating

8.5/10

Durability Score

7/10

Best For

Keepers on a budget who still want match-grade grip and don't mind replacing gloves more frequently

Worn By

Uhlsport professional roster

#10: adidas Copa Pro

Interestingly, adidas stuck the same latex on these that they use for the gloves costing twice as much. Eighty quid gets you match-grade foam at what most brands charge for training gloves, and there's no catch. Negative cut because that's what most keepers want these days, no fancy tech or gimmicks, just solid construction with professional-grade stickiness on your palms.

Cut

Negative

Brand

adidas

Type

Training / Match

Grip Rating

8/10

Durability Score

8.5/10

Best For

Budget-conscious keepers who want professional-grade latex without spending €130+

Worn By

adidas academy and professional roster

Category Winners

Best Grip: Reusch Attrakt Gold X Evolution Cut

It's all about the foam compound when you're chasing grip, and Gold X is about as tacky as anything on the market right now. We ran these through 90-minute sessions and they held above 90% grip retention when other gloves were already starting to feel less sticky as the palms warmed up.

Playing mostly on grass and want your gloves to feel like flypaper? Gold X is your answer. If you're on artificial and worried about the foam shredding, the Infinity compound trades some stickiness for longevity.

Best for Wet Weather: Nike Phantom Elite

Rain sorts the good gloves from the rubbish ones pretty quickly. Most latex goes slick when it's saturated because water fills all the tiny pores in the foam and kills the tackiness. Nike's ACC treatment does something clever to the palm surface that stops this happening, giving you consistency whether you're bone dry or absolutely drenched.

If you're regularly playing in the wet, get gloves with aqua-specific latex or ACC. Standard foam will let you down exactly when you need it most.

Best Budget (€40-€80): adidas Copa Pro

Cheap gloves don't have to be rubbish, and the Copa Pro is proof. Eighty quid gets you the same latex adidas puts on gloves costing twice as much, which means you can replace them regularly instead of nursing a dead pair for months. If you need match gloves that won't clean out your wallet, this is the obvious pick.

Best Finger Protection: Uhlsport Powerline Supergrip+ HN

Kids still learning the ropes, keepers coming back from bent fingers, anyone who's had that horrible moment where your digit goes the wrong way during a save and you feel it for weeks afterwards, you should understand that finger protection is worth considering. The Powerline has removable spines running along the back of each finger that spread out the impact force instead of concentrating it at the joint. Half-negative cut keeps you connected to the ball even with the extra construction in there.

Best Negative Cut: Puma Future Ultimate NC

Negative cut puts the seams inside so there's nothing between your hand and the foam, giving you as close to barehand as you can get while still wearing gloves. The Future Ultimate NC nails that tight fit and adds wrist support through the knitted backhand without making you tape up before every match. Got slim hands and want to feel every bit of the ball when you're catching? This is the one.

Best Hybrid Cut: adidas Predator Pro Hybrid

Hybrid takes the snug palm from negative cut and adds roll finger latex coverage around the tips of your fingers. Tight where you want precision, protected where you want insurance. The Predator Pro Hybrid does this as well as anything we've worn.

Unisport's Picks by Keeper Type

Best for Professional/Elite Keepers

Top Pick: Reusch Attrakt Gold X Evolution Cut Alternative: adidas Predator Pro Hybrid

At this level you're not compromising on latex quality, full stop. Reusch edges it on pure stickiness while the adidas copes better when conditions are mixed, so pick based on whether raw grip or all-weather consistency matters more for how you play.

Best for Youth/Junior Keepers

Top Pick: Uhlsport Powerline Supergrip+ HN (Junior sizes) Alternative: adidas Predator League Fingersave

Young keepers are still figuring out catching technique, and finger spines give them a bit of insurance while they're learning. Half-negative on the Powerline means growing hands fit comfortably without swimming around inside the glove.

Best for Training

Top Pick: adidas Copa Pro Alternative: Reusch Attrakt Freegel Infinity

Training gloves get hammered. You want foam that survives regular beatings, not the soft stuff that feels amazing for two weeks then looks like it went through a blender. Copa Pro gives you professional latex at prices that won't sting when you need fresh pairs, while the Infinity is the smart choice if you're training on 3G or 4G.

Best for Wet Conditions Specialists

Top Pick: Nike Phantom Elite Alternative: Nike Vapor Grip3

When other gloves go slick in the rain, ACC keeps gripping. If you're somewhere that gets hammered with wet weather most weeks, these won't let you down when it matters.

Best for Artificial Turf

Top Pick: Reusch Attrakt Freegel Infinity Alternative: Uhlsport Powerline Absolutgrip HN

Rubber crumb eats soft latex for breakfast. Infinity and Absolutgrip foams are built tougher so they survive regular sessions on 3G and 4G without looking like they've been dragged across sandpaper.

How to Choose the Right Goalkeeper Gloves

Cut Type Decision

Want that tight second-skin feeling with maximum ball contact? Go negative. After more latex coverage and a bigger catching area? Roll finger's your style. Can't decide and want a bit of both? Hybrid splits the difference. And if negative feels too squeezy on your fingers but roll finger seems too loose, half-negative sits right in the middle.

Latex Type by Condition

Dry weather calls for contact latex: sticky compounds built to grab the ball when there's no moisture involved. Rainy conditions need aqua latex or ACC-treated palms because standard foam goes slick when it's wet. Playing in all sorts? Dual-compound foams try to do both reasonably well. And if you're mostly on 4G or 3G, get abrasion-resistant latex or watch your expensive gloves turn to shreds within weeks.

Sizing

Get a tape measure, run it from the base of your palm to the tip of your middle finger, then check the brand's sizing chart because they all run slightly different. You want them snug without crushing your fingers, so the tips should reach the end without curling up. Too baggy and the glove shifts around when you're diving. Too tight and you're losing circulation before halftime.

Break-In Period

Softer latex is ready to go almost immediately, while firmer compounds need a few sessions before the foam loosens up and moulds to your hand shape. Bit of advice: give new gloves a quick rinse in lukewarm water before your first wear. Activates the latex and washes off any factory residue that might mess with the grip.

Comparison at a Glance

Reusch Attrakt Gold X Evolution Cut: Evolution Cut, Grip 9.5/10, Durability 8/10, €120, Match keepers on grass, Alisson Becker

adidas Predator Pro Hybrid: Hybrid, Grip 9/10, Durability 8.5/10, €130, Versatile keepers, Manuel Neuer

Nike Vapor Grip3: Negative, Grip 8.5/10, Durability 8/10, €130, Variable conditions, Thibaut Courtois (historical)

Uhlsport Powerline Supergrip+ HN: Half-Negative, Grip 9/10, Durability 7.5/10, €110, Wider fingers

Puma Future Ultimate NC: Negative, Grip 8.5/10, Durability 8/10, €120, Wrist support, Jordan Pickford

adidas Predator Pro: Negative, Grip 9/10, Durability 8/10, €130, Ball feel, adidas roster

Reusch Attrakt Freegel Infinity: Negative, Grip 8/10, Durability 9/10, €100, Artificial turf, Dean Henderson

Nike Phantom Elite: Hybrid, Grip 8.5/10, Durability 8/10, €140, Wet weather

Uhlsport Fangmaschine Supersoft: Half-Negative, Grip 8.5/10, Durability 7/10, €90, Budget grip

adidas Copa Pro: Negative, Grip 8/10, Durability 8.5/10, €80, Best value

Conclusion

Gold X earned the top spot because the grip held up match after match while other gloves started losing their edge. Evolution Cut gives you enough catching surface that one-handed saves don't feel like a gamble, and the preshaped fingers mean you're comfortable from your first session instead of waiting weeks for the foam to soften up.

The real crux of it is, the best glove is whichever one fits your hand and suits how you play. Slim fingers and want to feel everything? Negative cut. Need something that handles a bit of everything? Hybrid's your friend. Fingers a bit wider and finding negative gloves uncomfortable? Half-negative gives you room without going baggy.

We wore these until the latex looked rough, then kept going to see how long the grip held up. What we found is in these rankings, but your hands aren't our hands and your pitches aren't our pitches, so we would highly recommend trying before you commit if you can.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which goalkeeper gloves have the best grip?

Gold X from Reusch came out on top in our grip tests—they worked with their pro keepers to get the compound as sticky as possible in dry conditions. When it's wet, Nike's ACC-treated gloves hold their tackiness better than most because the palm treatment stops moisture killing the grip the way it does with standard latex.

What are the best goalkeeper gloves for rain?

Nike Phantom Elite and Vapor Grip3 both have that All Conditions Control treatment on the palms. When regular latex goes slippery in the rain, ACC keeps working. Most standard foam struggles once it's soaked through, but these hold up.

Negative cut vs roll finger: which is better?

It really depends what you're after. Negative stitches the seams inside so your hand sits right against the foam for a snugger fit and more ball contact, so suits keepers with slim hands who want to feel everything. Roll finger wraps latex around your fingertips for more coverage and a bigger catching area, which is handy if you'd rather have some forgiveness when saves aren't landing perfectly clean.

How should goalkeeper gloves fit?

Tight enough that they're not moving around, loose enough that your fingers aren't going numb. Tips should reach the end of each finger without bunching up. Make a fist, and if the glove's fighting you, they're too small. If there's loads of material bunching in the palm, too big.

How do I clean goalkeeper gloves?

Lukewarm water after every session, nothing harsher than that or you'll wreck the latex. No washing machines, no radiators, no leaving them on the windowsill in direct sun. Just rinse the muck off and let them air dry somewhere out of the heat.

What gloves does Alisson Becker wear?

Alisson's in Reusch Attrakt Duo Evolution gloves for Liverpool and Brazil. Duo foam has a bit more cushioning than Gold X, while the Evolution Cut shape is identical to what we've ranked at number one.

What gloves does Manuel Neuer wear?

Neuer wears adidas Predator Pro for Bayern and Germany, usually negative cut with URG 2.0 latex. Adidas makes several Predator configurations so his exact spec varies, but that's the general setup.