Nike Total90 Confidence Goal Keeper Gloves

The Total 90 Confidence ($150) is Nike's top glove.  It is a comfortable, adjustable item that runs true to size.  The confidence is flexible in fitment and movement.

What makes the Total-Ninety Confidence different than other gloves is adjustability.  The glove allows the fingers to be shortened (yellow tab) for tight fitment.  This helps with grip and punching.  The top of the wrist can also be cinched with the small strap.  This help prevent the glove from slipping around on the hand adding confidence (therefore the name).  The final strap tightens the glove at the gauntlet like most other gloves.

Beyond the adjustability, this is an excellent glove.  The palm is 6mm latex placing it on the thicker side.  Thicker padding can improve grip and durability.  This also gives extra protection for catches, but can make it difficult to close the palm especially in cold or wet weather.  The embossed creases and pre-curved Bio-Align technology overcome the padding thickness.  The palm also has vents further improving flexibility and comfort.

The backhand is also padded.  It is embossed to improve flexibility.  The combination of padding and the shape of the embossing makes for a flat power center for punches.  A flat surface is more likely to deflect the ball in the direction of hands travel than a round surface.  The glove has no bones also adding to the flexibility.  This also assists in providing the stable punching surface.  However, it removes one of the greatest safety innovations for the keeper.  AVID Soccer strongly recommends keepers under age 17 and/or playing below the elite level to use boned gloves for protection.

The fingers also have some ventilation making these black gloves comfortable in hotter climates.  We also found that the extra ventilation allowed the gloves to dry more quickly in wet conditions reducing the amount of mildew and "glove stink" that tends to follow goal keepers.

AVID Soccer Equipment Review Nike Total 90 Confidence

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