Gloves are easily the second most important pad to the helmet but you have many more options.  We have already cut the bad ones out but you still have some decisions to make….this will help you out.

1. Are expensive gloves really better then the cheap ones?  Yes, they really are.   In fact if there is any pad you shouldn’t skimp on it is your gloves.  The quality of the palm, the number of joints in the fingers, the amount of padding, and the quality of the material are the factors making some gloves more expensive.  If you try some gloves on in the store you will really feel the difference.  That being said, good gloves won’t make you a better player but bad gloves may hinder your game a little. 

Jeez, gloves are expensive and I am still growing, what should I do?

We pretty much take the same stance for everything (except Arm pads) where it pertains to growing players.  You don’t need the nicest gloves out there because the game is just not as physical for youth players.  Most gloves come with very similar protection so you should really focus on size and flexibility.  Stay in the middle of the road since cheap gloves will not allow to grip the stick as well.

Why do the some brands feel better in the store while others feel stiffer?

We understand that to be true for a few reasons.  First, lacrosse gloves can be made to fit right off the shelf and be ready to play.  However, they feel extremely right off the bat because the material is thinner.  You know what thinner material means in lacrosse….much more prone to wear and tear.  The gloves that feel a little stiffer will eventually break in and may just be more durable in the long run.  No company admits any of this to be true but I think logic is pretty useful here. 

Why is every thing else small, medium, and large but gloves are measured in inches? 

Here is a chart that should help you:

4’6” (90 lbs) and under: 8”

4’6”-5’0” (90lbs-115lbs): 10”

5’0”-5’6” (115lbs-150lbs): 12”

5’6”-up  (150lbs-up) 13”

13” is the largest they go.  Every once in a while a company comes out with a 13.5” though.

Does it matter what color lacrosse gloves I wear?

It just might so check with your coach!  It is a rule in the NFHS that the gloves need to match the dominate color of the uniform so before you run out and by the pink snake skin Warrior gloves you may want to reconsider.  Your guess is as good as ours how strictly they enforce the rules but you just stick with what the rules say. 

Middle School and youth guys, get the pink ones!!  Why not?!