GLOVE REVIEW: Elite Sport Coraza GK Gloves

Time for a GK glove review. As I previously mentioned in my Camaleon preview, I discovered Elite Sport gloves on soccer.com and picked a pair of Corazas to try. I have since gone through three pairs of Corazas, and I can tell you now that they are great gloves!

(picture credit: Elite Sport USA via Facebook)

The Corazas I am reviewing here we used over a ten-week period from August to October of 2016. They were mostly used indoors, with a couple of outdoor games here and there. I played at least three games per week, sometimes as many as five, so we're looking at something like 40 games total, give or take a few.

PROS:
Durable - the Corazas hold up very well to punishment, especially from artificial surfaces.
Good Grip - with proper care (clean your gloves!) and wetting, the grip lasts game after game.
Double Wrapped Thumb - that extra bit of foam is your friend.
Secure - the wide wrist cuff and strap keep your gloves in place, no constant adjusting.
Removeable Spines - nice to be able to take them out or replace damaged spines.
Affordable - at around $60 USD, these gloves are a true bargain.

CONS:
Not Very Flashy - the gray/yellow design is rather tame, but still tasteful.
One Catastrophic Failure - my second pair suffered a 2-3" tear at the base of the palm where the foam meets the cuff. That was a major bummer, but I also think it was due to a bad landing/poor form where I landed with my weight on my palm on a field turf playing surface. I would gladly buy another pair of Corazas with no hesitation.

SUMMARY:
Overall, the Coraza is an outstanding glove. They have held up extremely well to the punishment of playing indoors on artificial surfaces. The grip is good right out of the bag and holds up well week in and week out. They feel good on my hands, and I like the wide wrist strap. The seams and stitching were solid (with the one exception noted above). You could use the Coraza for training and matches and expect them to perform well and last a long time.

The following pictures were taken after I retired my Corazas. I hope they show you exactly what my gloves look like after extensive use. They were washed with glove wash:

Many saves later...

More wear & tear on the L hand

Wear & tear on the R hand

L hand, back side wear

R hand, back side wear

L hand, close up of palm & thumb wear

L hand, close up of finger wear

R hand, close up of palm & thumb wear

R hand, close up of finger wear

R hand, back side wear & tear

R hand, back side of thumb

L hand, back side of thumb

KEEPER LIT: Small Time: A Life in the Football Wilderness

Keeper Lit is my version of a GK's book club. And for my first KL selection, I'm choosing a story that is one I can relate to on many levels.

Small Time: A Life in the Football Wilderness (available on amazon.com) is Justin Bryant's story of his goalkeeping life. It is a fascinating story, very well-written, and brutally honest. Justin and I are the same age, and I wish I had been good enough as a young keeper to embark on a similar adventure, even if it was a rough one at times.

For those of us who are destined to be rec league keepers, Small Time provides an eye-opening look into the world of professional trials and locker rooms, coaches and teammates, and being a stranger in a strange land. For every Kasey Keller and Tim Howard, there are plenty of Justin Bryants out there. And I guess that's what makes Small Time such a compelling read for me, as I can more closely relate to Justin's story.

My only complaint is that it is on the short end of the reading spectrum (174 pages), but for $10 or less, I still consider it money well-spent. For those of you who decide to pick it up, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Happy reading,

TK

GLOVE PREVIEW: Elite Sport Camaleon GK Gloves

I first discovered Elite Sport gloves whilst browsing through the glove selection on soccer.com when I needed a replacement for my Diadora Stiles (don't laugh, they were only $15 per pair). My needs are pretty simple: functionality, durability, and affordability. I am a big fan and long-time user of Uhlsport and Adidas gloves, but their prices for their better gloves are spendy ($100+ to me is spendy). So I started reading reviews, and then the selection from Elite Sport caught my eye. I decided to give the Coraza a try, and three pairs later, I'm a believer. I'll be writing up a long-term review on those very soon. But now, the Camaleon:

Out of the bag, they look great! I tried them on and inspected them for fit & finish and found no issues.

The colors are bright and vibrant, and the wide cuffs and straps keep them securely in place with no constant adjusting to distract me during a game.

The palms and fingers were perfect, no defects in the foam or seams. I prefer the double-wrapped thumb for the extra grip. The plastic protective layer is still in place on these gloves, which explains the shiny appearance.

There are removable spines in the fingers, but not in the thumb. I only use gloves with spines, but that's just my personal preference as I'm mainly an indoor keeper.

I've only used my Camaleons in three games last week, but I have four games this week and possibly a drop-in session on Friday night, so they are going to see plenty of use in the coming weeks. Initial impression is very favorable, as they were very grippy right out of the bag and have held up very well in their first game use. I'll be sure to follow up with a full review once I have played enough games to justify a full review.

Elite Sport Camaleon GK gloves are available at soccer.com, keeperstop.com, and other retailers worldwide.

Welcome to the KKB!

Hello and welcome to the Keepers Kit Bag, my blog for all things goalkeeping. Specifically, I will be posting product reviews, information, and news for equipment specific to the position of goalkeeping. You can also expect news and stories regarding goalkeepers around the world, and a few of my own personal observations from time to time.

My product reviews are for you, my fellow keepers (or your coaches, parents, or anyone else involved in the buying process of your equipment). They are honest and unbiased, because I know what it's like to spend my hard-earned dollars on my own gear that has not lived up to expectations. The reviews will include before and after pictures, how long a product was used, and a detailed breakdown of how the product performed. Questions, comments, and feedback are always welcome!

Ah, but who am I? My name is Tom Kristensen, and I have been a goalkeeper since I was 11. I have been playing for 39 years now, so I've had the chance to use a LOT of different goalkeeping gear over the decades. Here is a picture of what my first pair of keeper gloves looked like back in 1978:

(picture credit: eBay seller dms62)

That's right, a pair of fabric gloves with a mesh of rubber (?) on the palms! They got soggy and heavy in a heartbeat, and felt like they were constantly slipping off. But they provided a sense of security, if not a wee bit of extra grip. Of course, once the rubber started to peel off, they were  just plain gloves.

I have no professional experience as a goalkeeper, unless you count my one college trial and one semi-pro trial as such. More on that another time, perhaps. I currently play indoor soccer on three men's teams and one coed team, and substitute here and there as needed.

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope what you find on these pages will be useful to you.

Happy goalkeeping!

TK