The Best Lacrosse Gloves to Protect Your Fingers
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Brine King Match 3X Lacrosse Gloves -
Maverik M3 Lacrosse Gloves -
Warrior EVO 2019 Lacrosse Gloves -
Cell III Lacrosse Gloves -
STX Lacrosse Cell 4 Mens Lacrosse Glove -
Buyer's Guide
Lacrosse gloves protect your hands and finger, two of the most important parts of the body, so it's important to have a pair you can trust when things get brutal out there. When looking for a good pair of gloves, it's all about protection, comfort, ventilation and durability. The way the glove fits on your hand, the materials that they're made of and if they allow your hand to breathe, in addition to the type of padding inside of the glove. These are all important determining factors for choosing a pair right for your type of game. We've chosen each of our picks for best lacrosse gloves in 2022 based along these factors to find the best options available on the market at the moment.
Detailing the Best Lacrosse Glove of 2022
Brine King Match 3X Lacrosse Gloves - Best Lacrosse Gloves Overall
Brand new for the 2015 catalog, the Brine King V takes everything that you loved about the ever popular line and improved upon it in every way. The company's Arch-Tech backhand combines total flexibility with airflow and protection for your hand. Increased impact absorption is available along the backs of the fingers and they put particular emphasis on keeping the backhand safe from harm.
The palm uses Ax Suede and gives it mesh inserts, so the glove breathes fully, meaning it will wear comfortably on your hand. It's also water-resistant and the glove is equipped with a ventilator fresh liner to keep your hand dry and the glove itself free of “funk” after prolonged use.
Maverik M3 Lacrosse Gloves - Runner Up
Maverik's newest version of their popular Maybach glove, the M3, combines everything that was great about the previous glove but with better cooling and ventilation. The three most important updates here are the Ax Suede palm, the Flowcool venting, and something called 37.5 technology. All of these are designed to give you more airflow in and out of the glove to let your hands breathe more freely.
That Ax Suede palm gives you better shaft touch and control and the addition of the Flowcoo component makes sure the air that gets in the glove disperses the heat that's already inside of it more evenly and thoroughly. Best of all, they feel practically broken in right out of the box. Yes, they are that comfortable and the fabric that Maverik has been using in these new gloves makes all the difference.
There's also almost no break-in time needed with the M3. One more thing that's really cool about these gloves is that the wealth of customization options available to design your very own unique look.
Warrior EVO 2019 Lacrosse Gloves - Honorable Mention
The next step in the evolution of Warrior's EVO product line sees them offering a lacrosse glove that also uses the Ax Suede along the palm, a thin layer of fabric that improves the feel of your stick and affords greater control. The company's patented Truvents venting method improves better, more consistent airflow through the palm to the backhand which means your hands stay dry and cool much longer than normal.
The EVO has an internal wrist cuff designed for total mobility while keeping your backhand and wrist well guarded during gameplay. The cuff is connected to the body of the glove via elastic straps so it maneuvers with the natural movement of your wrist for better comfort and flexibility when things get a little rough on the field.
Cell III Lacrosse Gloves - Consider
The Cell II was already a pretty great glove, but STX is never satisfied and so they've made some upgrades for their newest version of the Cell line. They upped the ante on the flexibility, using special stretch zones to increase your movement in the glove, particularly around the thumb and other areas that see the most flex.
Seamless palm vents make sure the gloves don't retain heat and your hands stay cool. Dual-density foam has been placed throughout the glove for better impact absorption as well as polyethylene plastic board that bolsters the sensitive areas of the hand for maximum security. This pick also offers a number of customization options so you can make the glove look just the way you like it.
STX Lacrosse Cell 4 Mens Lacrosse Glove - Best Lacrosse Gloves
Thin and sleek looking, I wondered just how much protection these gloves would really provide. After taking a few whacks from a buddy's stick, I was quite happy with the results. I couldn't believe how well they absorbed the impact with such a little amount of material covering my hands. But the biggest distinction to the K18 II's is their grip.
The textured mesh palms come with rubber strips that run up the index finger and across the middle of your palm. This allows them all to bond to your shaft, so maneuvering them along the stick to change position takes some getting used to.
There are drawbacks however. The plastic thumb pad sometimes gets caught on the knuckle of the glove which limited some flexibility. These gloves are also a snug fit so if you like some extra wiggle room inside, you may want to move up from your usual glove size.
Buyer's Guide
Best Lacrosse Glove Buying Guide
Here’s a comprehensive guide covering everything you need to know before getting lacrosse gloves.
Things to Consider Before Buying Lacrosse Gloves
You will need to keep the following considerations in mind:
Grip
Most lacrosse gloves come with a suede palm for a solid grip, even when moist. You can also find a textured palm and a wrapped stick to reduce slipping and enhance control. Some lacrosse glove models feature rubberized non-slip inserts at the palm that adds more padding and control to the stick. The glove should be lightweight and should have an ergonomic design for maximum grip.
Protection
Lacrosse gloves should protect the palm, wrist, and fingers from the front and back, both sides. Expect the palms, the back, and the fingers should be covered with thick padding. Palms should stay unpadded for better control and grip on the stick.
Some models also feature a wrist guard and thumb reinforcements with thicker padding. Generally, the thicker the padding, the better the protection. You can also find dual-density, layered ones with modern technologies that harden under pressure.
Ventilation
Ventilation is very important, you don’t want your hands soaked in sweat affecting your game. Moisture can also accelerate the rate of wear and tear, add more weight and give your hands and gloves a nasty smell.
Look for gloves with sufficient vents for air circulation to keep them safe from odor and make them long-lasting. They will keep your hands cool and give you a better grip on the stick. You can get gloves with targeted finger vents or mesh on the palm area for better ventilation.
Size
It’s crucial to choose the right size for your lacrosse gloves. A lacrosse glove should fit snugly around your fingers. This gives all the segments and padding proper space to set into their right position on your hand. It will loosen as you use it
Different Gloves for Different Positions Lacrosse consists of four playing positions; attacker, goalkeeper, midfielder, and defender. You need to shop according to the position you’re playing at. Here’s a brief guide to tell you the best glove for different lacrosse positions:
Attacker
The player at this position is responsible for scoring goals and offense. The attacker needs excellent shooting, passing, and protecting skills which can only be executed with a pair of thick padded lacrosse gloves. You need ample padding to cushion the impact, thumb flexibility and dexterity is another important consideration.
Goalkeeper
Goalkeepers receive the most number of hard, high-velocity blows. Players at this position need special goalie lacrosse gloves with reinforced thumbs and exoskeleton to reduce hyperextension. Goalie gloves for lacrosse come with thick cuffs and padding at the palm to soften the impact of the shots.
Midfielder
The midfielder works on both the offense and the defense. They make quick transitions from defense to offense for attackers to bring it to the goal. Players at this position require gloves that offer excellent flexibility, dexterity, and protection.
Defender
The player at a defense position needs highly protective gloves with a strong grip. These players also use long sticks that require proper grip for them to not slip off of their hands during the game.
Tips to Maintain Lacrosse Gloves
Here are some useful tips to keep your lacrosse gloves in a good shape:
- If they’re safe for machine wash, wash them at the lowest cycle with a standard detergent that doesn’t contain bleach.
- To avoid the smell, use a mild detergent and hand wash the outsides of the glove, the soapy water will seep inside and remove odor from the glove.
- Don’t scrub the surface when you’re cleaning off dirt, pour warm water, and use your fingertips to scrape it off.
- Always air dry the gloves if they are wet or washed.
- Rub some leather conditioner on your palms to preserve leather palms.
How to Break into Your Lacrosse Gloves?
Every new sports gear item needs to be broken in first before you can use them on the field. This goes for players at all positions, whether you’re a goalie or a field player, it’s a must.
Lacrosse gloves come out stiff when you unpack them, you will have to break into them through actual drills and practice. You can use the traditional soaking method or put them under the mattress, but these hacks aren’t as effective as the real practice game.
You can also simply wear them for the most part of your day and carry on doing all the mundane activities of the day. This will manipulate the shape and help you achieve malleability and softness.
Practicing with your new, stiff lacrosse gloves on will loosen them just by the right areas without any damage. Another way of loosening them up is to pour hot (around 150 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit) water on the palm and fingers to make it softer.
You can apply some leather conditioner on the palms as well to make them more flexible and feel easier on the skin. Other methods include using mink oil and massaging the glove in a kneading motion.
Conclusion
Lacrosse gloves come in a huge variety of styles, designs, fits, and prices. You need to carefully pick the right size, and consider the functionality as well. They shouldn’t be too tight or too loose, neither should they make your hands sweat profusely. Moreover, you should also consider the position you’re playing at to determine the actual amount of protection, weight, and padding you’ll be needing.
Making a choice with so many boxes to tick can become overwhelming. This is why we’ve researched and picked the best lacrosse gloves in 2021 for you and jotted a brief guide to help you break into them without damage.
Best Lacrosse Gloves FAQs
Some frequently asked questions are:
How long will my lacrosse gloves last?
Lacrosse gloves can last around 12 to 18 months.
How to make lacrosse gloves less stiff?
You can pour a minimal amount of hot water over the area you want to make softer or use glove oil.
Can I wash my lacrosse gloves?
You can, by simply spraying them inside and outside with a sports gear disinfectant spray and letting them air dry.
