adidas Predator Pro Hybrid Strap GK Gloves

Iron Met./Black/Lucid Red

Unrivalled Grip, commonly known as URG, is adi’s top-tier soft latex. It’s numbered in order of grip versus durability: URG 1.0 is the flagship, pro-level formula with the highest level of grip but the lowest durability; URG 2.0 provides an excellent level of grip and lasts longer; URG 3.0 is designed for durability and consistent performance.

Hybrid cut goalkeeper gloves combine elements of other glove cuts to create a unique, customisable fit. This style is born out of the desire to capitalise on the benefits of various cuts, such as flat palm, negative, or roll finger cuts. For instance, a hybrid glove may have a flat palm cut on the pinky and index fingers for increased surface area, while the middle fingers may feature a negative cut for a tighter fit and better ball control. Hybrid cut gloves offer a tailored fit and feel that can cater to the individual preferences of goalkeepers, making them a popular choice.

As you’d expect from a brand so deeply rooted in the game, the 3-Stripes have a long and storied history in goalkeeper gloves, going all the way back to the 1970s and the introduction of the first latex palms.

Older keepers might remember one such glove, the Curkovic. Typical of adidas at the time, rather than come up with a fancy brand name for the glove, they sought out and worked with an individual player, tweaked the design to the athlete’s preference, then simply named it after them instead. The keeper in question here was the Serb, Ivan Curkovic, who won multiple titles with Saint-Etienne in the 70s and 80s, and the glove itself was something of a trendsetter. Pro goalkeepers across Europe saw the “Curko” gripping the ball with ease and set about securing their own pairs.

In subsequent years, though their approach to naming gloves changed, star keepers kept lining up to put the 3-Stripes on their hands. Germany’s Toni Schumacher wore adidas gloves on the world stage in 1982, as did Oliver Kahn in 1997, and then France’s Fabian Barthez in ’98. All three were absolute classic designs – true heritage, which adi have celebrated in various ways over the decades. Special mention too for FingerSave, perhaps the most well-known protective spine technology. An important development in goalkeeping that’s protected the digits of some legendary keepers, including Edwin van der Sar and Petr Cech, FingerSave remains in use today as an option on many adidas gloves.

Now, the likes of Manuel Neuer, Emi Martinez, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen fly the flag for the 3-Stripes, showing off the next-level fit and performance of the latest Predator model. The Pred’s the glove to go for if you like the modern, streamlined style of glove, while its stablemate, the Copa, offers a more traditional feel.