Ever since the Pro Direct Soccer catalogue came out in the summer I've had my eye on these gloves as I thought they looked beautiful to be honest! After a few months of deciding if I needed another new pair of gloves, the answer came back a resounding yes! So I decided to buy these and have been using them quite often in the last few weeks so now feel I am able to write a review of them.
CUT: Roll Finger. Sorround Cut with Surround Tip Fingers.
FIT: Fit was a little dissapointing to be honest. I rang Pro Direct to ask what size they reccomend as I had troubles with fit with the Absorbs. He told me Selsport always come up small so he said for certain a size 9 would fit perfect! They fit a little on the loose side, but I can live with it.
I now have gloves made by many different companies and several of them are supposed to be the same size, but they all fit different! I really wish there was a standardisation of sizes that all manafacturers use. This way there would be no confusion when it comes to buying gloves. I have a pair of size 8 gloves which fit very loose, and a pair of size 9.5 which are extremley tight, both gloves are the same type and cut aswell!
Anyway, I got a size 9 and they come up big.
LATEX: Selsports 4mm U.P.G Latex.
FEATURES: Has to be said these gloves are packed with features! Body of the glove is a PolarTech Fleece which is very warm and a welcome addition on these cold days.
There is a negative stitched thumb, which has been said on these forums is a very good cut for roll finger gloves and I can honestly say is the best IMHO. Has a great feel to it, and the thumb just doe's not move around at all.
There is a Lycra Flex panel on the base of the thumb which I can not honestly tell you what it is for! It says it is to increase flex, but I feel it would probably be more beneficial if this was placed on the web area of the thumb where a high percentage of glove seams burst.
There is a 'Soft Gel Bar' added for hand to ground protection. I have to be honest and say this is a rediculous idea as I do not ever recall my hand hitting the ground like that. It adds a lot of bulk to the side of the glove and completly defeats the object of a surround cut glove. And, when it is wet and it touches the ball, it is very slippery. It has made the little finger absolutley huge.
Tri Lock wrist strap is however fantastic. Probably one of the best closure systems I have used. The bandage wrist has again, like all my past Selsport gloves, has already lost its elasticity and is very loose, but the closure does keep the glove secure.
The Surround Fingertips are a good idea, but they seem to curve the fingers sideways. You can just make it out in the pics.
The backhand has 30% removed at the wrist end. Apparently to make the glove lighter. I honestly feel a full backhand would make this glove better. The Selsport wrap glove has one of the most comfortable backhands I have ever worn. This reduced backhand makes the gloves quite sloppy near the wrist.
AVAILABILITY: Exclusive to Pro Direct http://soccer.prodirectsport.co.uk/prodinfo.asp?PID=PDS-006-016-464&DEPT=6&BRAND=16
PRICE: £29.99
REVIEW: Been dieing to try these and since just before X-mas I have been filling in for a friend of mine on Saturdays. I have to say the fit is horrible, but not too uncomfortable. I've played in worse before! So not the worlds most comfortable glove, but still have a lot going for them.
One of the first things that strike you when you first get these gloves is just how big they are. Expected them to be very bulky but once they are on they feel just like any other roll finger glove. The little finger is a little on the large side, quite long aswell! It appears the Gel Bar effects the fit of the glove, and I feel this glove would benefit from losing it.
The cosmetics of these gloves are just brilliant. White glove with a maroon and gold contrasting. Just looks superb. They just seem to look like a proper pair of gloves when your wearing them!
Now to the main part, Grip. Just one word, Superb. It is 4mm, and seems to have quite a substantial backing too. The palm is very soft indeed, feels like Adhesion Ultra if Im honest, not quite sure Sells and Selsport would like me to say that, but thats what I think! Just grips very well in all conditions. Keep this palm damp and it is just brilliant. Dry grip was right up there with the best I've used, as was wet grip. In an absolute downpour today they were still gripping just as well as in the dry.
Love the Polartech fleece, it really does keep your hands warm. One of the many features on this glove thats perfect. I know Pro Direct work closely with Selsport and I will say that this is not actually a bad glove at all. But, I think they have gone overboard with adding to many features, some of them really not needed.
DURABILITY: Can not fault them. For such a soft grip they have help up brilliantly. No marks what so ever after 4 and half games. Very impressed.
SUMMARY: Not a bad glove to be honest, just too much going on with it to say its a very good glove. Grip is outstanding, and they look great.
PROS: Grip. Price is quite competetive at £30. Cosmetics.
CONS: Fit is not the best. Just too many features packed into one glove.
RATINGS:
Dry Grip: 5
Wet Grip: 5
Durability: 4
Fit: 3
Cosmetics: 5
Value: 4
Overall: 4
hey good review mate
agree the lycra patch and gel bar make it look a little busy, and would prefer full backhand looks wise.
cant wait to see the 08 models
Very good review! Very detailed, I had my eye on them but I'm not overly keen on Selsport, Ive found them abit average. Sounds like a very good glove apart from the fit. I also think it is a good looking glove but I like quite alot of their latest range.
Dida still needs a team! lol
Why be negative when you can be Positive? Beats me!
Keepers are criticised and praised, its the keepers choice to decide what to listen to.
Just an update.
Used these sunday in the snow and they were awesome. Was using the WGK's but they were not coping well with the snow so I swapped to these and they were perfect.
i've been eyeing these for a while - i've got the wrappa evolve ms7 with the same latex and really like them. do you think the fit would be better if it was the right size?
gkpaul: There is a 'Soft Gel Bar' added for hand to ground protection. I have to be honest and say this is a rediculous idea as I do not ever recall my hand hitting the ground like that. It adds a lot of bulk to the side of the glove and completly defeats the object of a surround cut glove. And, when it is wet and it touches the ball, it is very slippery. It has made the little finger absolutley huge.
I had the same beef with the Eurowrap 6MF which also had a gel bar on the outside of the pinky which made the glove feel loose at that end. I understang gel bars on the tops of the fingers for puching but other than that..it is a feature that takes away from the quality of the glove.
isn't it there just to offer protection when you're making those low saves?
i often get bruises on the outside of my hand and my gloves sometimes cut up in that area if i'd had to make a lot of low saves.
Personally I don't have that problem but I'm pretty sure that's what it's for. I'm sure Selsport (or PDS) call it a Gel Impact Bar...
[Edit] just looked through both catalouges and it states it is for protection but doesnt have a name for it so I just made that name up lol
Yes it is meant to be for protection. But its a pretty solid bar and I can see it hurting your hand more when theres a knock!
I cant see the point of it to be honest, but thats because (as far as I am aware) Ive never suffered from my hand hitting the ground like that. But everyones technique is different so others may not agree with me that its not needed. Just makes the little finger feel so big and baggy.
cheers paul.
i love the upg latex so i'll get the wrappa evolve instead!