As a goalkeeper, your duties on the pitch vary greatly to that of outfield players. For the duration of most matches, you are going to use your hands much more than you will use your feet. However, there is still a huge need for keepers to wear good quality boots. Not convinced? Keep reading this article as we will explain why and tell you exactly which are the best football boots for goalkeepers.
Why keepers need a quality pair of football boots.
We’re not saying that if you’re a keeper and you wear a tatty pair of old Diadoras, you will concede eight goals and not be able to kick the ball passed your own penalty box. What a good, quality pair of football boots does do though, is give you a reliable platform to minimise the number of errors that you will make in your game while helping you play at an optimum level of performance.
The lack of participation for the majority of most matches by keepers means that when they are called upon, they are expected to do what they have to do without any mistakes. Imagine a simple back pass being played to your keeper. Nobody would think twice about them kicking it up the pitch, however, with pitches deteriorating during the winter especially, slipping may be a prominent issue. In order to prevent this, a decent pair of boots is needed, ones which are stable and have proper studs. For this reason, it is better to avoid boots designed for wingers such as the
Nike Hypervenoms. These boots are tailored to enhance pace, and are therefore more flimsy and lightweight than other models.
As a keeper, providing you don’t share the same bloodline as that crazy Colombian keeper who used to go on crazy runs with the ball, you are not going to be taking on opponents and performing skills. Therefore, you do not need those flashy multicoloured boots that are so frequently associated with forwards and tricksters. A simple pair of black and boring boots will suffice. You see some keepers wearing Ace Purecontrols, and it is like buying a Ferrari and not exceeding 40 MPH. The firepower is there, but it is just not needed.
Stability is also vital for keepers when making saves. When fully extending for a dive, the feet must first be planted in order to give a sufficient base to push off from. Therefore, stud configuration is key. Firstly, the correct type of boot and stud must be worn to suit the surface – see our boot guide here. But also, certain boots have more studs than others. It may be important to get boots with more than the classic six-stud configuration, as it will enable you to push off from more angles while maintaining high levels of stability.
Which football boots are best for goalkeepers?
We would recommend a pair of the Adidas Goletto vis if you are a goalkeeper in need of boots. This is because they are not flashy and full of innovative tech that is useless for keepers. An ankle collar for instance, has its positives, but for goalkeepers it is just pointless and may distract during a match. The Golettos have no distinctive features, but still remain a very decent boot.
The synthetic leather upper gives structure and great support and durability to the boot, something that as we mentioned is vital. The boot also has ten studs, ensuring that grip is enhanced to an absolute maximum. These boots really are perfect for goalkeepers.
