Reusch Waorani WC Deluxe G2 LTD Ortho-Tec Goalkeeper Gloves - model 3470901

Reusch Waorani WC Deluxe G2 LTD Ortho-Tec Goalkeeper Gloves - model 3470901

Appearance: Honestly, I was a little disappointed in the color scheme.  They look great and the colors really pop, but I was expecting something obnoxious and outlandish like the last work cup gloves they came out with - Reusch XOSA Pro X1 Ortho Tec Soccer Goalkeeper Gloves - model 3170885. That being said, they do look great and the colors really are crisp and bold, just not as crazy as I was hoping. That being said, these are the gloves the Reusch-sponsored keepers will be wearing in the World Cup in Brazil.

Performance: The scary thing is I reviewed the regular Waorani gloves last month and thought they were unbelievable but these gloves are amazing. Reusch is often called the Cadillac of Goalkeeper Gloves and once you get your hands into these, you will completely understand why. The pre-curved fingers make the gloves feel broken in the first time you put them one. It allows your hands to be at their normally relaxed position. The polyurethane fingersavers are supportive and do take a little breaking in, but that takes no time. The best way to do so before you even get out on the pitch is to put the gloves on and make 100 or so full tight fists - fully opening and closing your hands. The Catch Control™ feature on the palms basically mimics your fingerprint for added grip. You can easily palm a soccer ball with these gloves even if you couldn't before. If you want the best goalkeeper gloves on the planet, then you need to buy these.

Rating: 10/10

 

Goalshot Academy 8x24 Soccer Training Goal Net - model 27469

Goalshot Academy 8x24 Soccer Training Goal Net - model 27469

Performance: This is something every coach, every weekend warrior, every parent with a soccer-playing child must own. Sometimes you don't want to stand in goal and be a shooting target, or maybe you're just out kicking the ball around by yourself and need targets to shoot at. With the Goalshot, you just strap it up to any full size (8' x 24') goal and you instantly have a professional-level shooting drill. Whether you're working on your upper-v shots or your back corner pk's, this thing is not only a great coaching tool, but lots of fun too. Made from high-strength knit netting, you'll get everything you need to set this net up in minutes. All you need is a couple of soccer ball packages and you've got hours of entertainment.

Rating: 9/10

adidas F50 adizero TRX Running Glow/Earth Green/Solar Zest Firm Ground Soccer Cleats - model D67119

adidas F50 adizero TRX Running Glow/Earth Green/Solar Zest Firm Ground Soccer Cleats - model D67119

Appearance: I'm a sucker for bright colors and neon so these were right up my alley.  They come from adidas' new Earth line that also feature the adidas F50 adizero TRX Running Glow/Earth Green/Solar Zest Firm Ground Soccer Cleats - model D67119, adidas Nitrocharge 1.0 TRX FG Earth Green/Running White/Solar Zest Soccer Cleats - model F32766 , and adidas Predator Absolion LZ TRX FG Running White/Earth Green/Solar Zest Soccer Cleats - model F32555. The F50's are definitely my favorite of the bunch. They are bright, but not overwhelmingly so. The upper is made from what adidas is calling a "Hybridtouch" which combines all the best qualities of leather such as breathability, flexibility and durability of leather, with the lightweight aspect of synthetics.

Performance: Not a whole lot you won't like when you put these on. They are streamlined and fit like a glove. People always ask me if that's a good thing and it definitely is. You don't want your foot sliding around in your shoe, but at the same time, you don't want them pinching your toes. Obviously, every foot is going to fit differently in each shoe, but I have a slightly wide foot, and these fit great! The clean toe box gives you a great shooting surface and the SPEEDTRAXION outsole cleats give ample traction for lateral movements and sudden stops. Go the extra distance and spring for the adidas Bluetooth Smart Compatible miCoach Speed Cell - model G75090 which helps you track your top speed, burst speed, total distance and game time. You won't be disappointed with these boots!

Rating: 10/10

Diadora DD-NA 2 GLX 14 Firm Ground Soccer Cleats - model 158956

Feel: Much like its first generation predecessor, the Diadora DD-NA GLX 14 Firm Ground Soccer Cleats - model 158455-C024, this DD-NA 2 has the feel and comfort of leather with the lightweight aspect of a synthetic.  To minimize the heat retention that plagues most synthetics is the patented NET Breathing System that allows ventilation through the outsole. If you haven't seen this in person, it's the silver mesh-line material you can see on the cleat bottoms (see 2nd picture below). This is a similar technology employed by Kenneth Cole on their high-end dress shoes. That being said, it does work and it does keep the cleats comfortable and ventilated.

Performance: Extremely aggressive stud pattern which will take some getting used to, but if you need traction, you won't be disappointed. Even with a smooth upper surface, you still get excellent touch on the soccer ball with every strike. The Diadora DD-NA 2 GLX 14 Firm Ground Soccer Cleats - model 158956 does seem to be more flexible that its previous generation and they will stand out with their bold colors.

Rating: 9/10

Dr. Cool Cold Compression Wrap - model DC-WRP40

Dr. Cool Cold Compression Wrap - model DC-WRP40

Performance: Dr. Cool Cold Compression Wraps combine ice and compression in one flexible wrap that comes in a bunch of color options. These can be used dry as a compression wrap to support and protect various body parts during activities, or you can freeze them and apply cold to combine cold and compression to reduce swelling and speed recovery mid or post-activity. All you have to do is wet the wrap and throw it in the freezer.  Once you've had it in there for at least 20 minutes, you can take it out and apply to the injured area.  It stays around 40 degrees for 20-30 minutes and really does a great job combining cold and compression.  The fast that these are reusable and pretty durable (even machine washable), makes the $29.99 sale price a steal of a deal.

Rating: 8/10

 

Brine King Premiere 6X Goalkeeper Gloves - model SSGKGP64

Brine King Premiere 6X Goalkeeper Gloves - model SSGKGP64

Performance: Some of you may not know this because Reusch, Nike, Sells, and adidas are what most of the pros where, but Brine makes some pretty sick gloves.  These new King Premiere 6X's are awesome. First thing you'll notice is that they look intimidating. They are black with some electric blue contrasts with black palms. Well the highlights don't end there. If you're like me then you'll like a glove that hugs your hand and this does exactly that. They are well padded and the fingersave "Backbones" are going to do their job. At first, they seem a little stiff, but putting them on and making about 100 open and closed fists will help loosen them up before you step on the field. They palms do a great job on almost any surface and doesn't seem to lose much of it's tackiness even when wet.

Feel: These gloves are not meant to be worn "loose-fitting." They are well padded, yet provide plenty of flexibility in the backhand thanks to the vented gussets. Like I mentioned above, these fingersavers are going to do their job. You're not going to forget they're there, but let's be honest, if you're wearing gloves with finger protection, you want to know you're being protected.


Rating: 8.5/10

BowNet 8' x 24' Soccer Goal - model BN8x24

BowNet 8' x 24' Soccer Goal - model BN8x24

Performance: I know this goal might be overkill for many of you, but if you live anywhere where fields with goals are hard to come by, this might not be a bad investment for you. First of all, these set up in about 3 minutes. If you have someone to help you out, you can realistically get this up and running in less than 2 minutes. Once it's up, we wanted to make sure it could take a beating so I let a dozen high schoolers take their best shot at knocking it over. Surprisingly, it held up extremely well.  It does flex upon impact which kind of cradles the ball from bouncing right out,. but what really makes it stand apart from others on the market is the fact that it has sidewalls that allow players to shoot into like regulation goals. Bownet makes several size goals and the most popular is the BowNet 5' x 10' Soccer Goal - model BN5x10, but we figured if the 8' x 24' could hold up then we had no doubt the smaller ones would do the job. Overall, great product, solid construction, and affordable price.

Rating: 9/10