Play Test: adidas Pred.Pro Neuer GK Gloves
Manuel Neuer has been a dominant force between the sticks this season, helping to secure the Bundesliga title for Bayern Munich while playing an integral part in the Bavarian's successful Champions League campaign. So as the season closes, we decided to play-test the gloves which have played a big part in the German's fantastic season.
Originally designed to match his Bayern Munich lime green jersey, the adidas Pred.Pro Neuer GK gloves come with a fantastic design which really stands out and compliments most club colours. The only design issue we weren't keen on was the "Manuel Neuer" personalisation - at least it saves having to think of a quirky name for yourself!
Slipping the gloves on for the first time, you immediately notice the comfort of the neoprene wrist entry and the wrap-around bandage wrist strap. Designed to adjust to the individuals needs and wrist measurements, the strap increases the comfort and gives you additional support. It is also designed with individual fit adjustments to ensure the best fit is given. Each of these features were spot on.
The cut of the Pred.Pro Neuer GK gloves is the new adidas Seamless Touch cut, which is an engineered, in-hand pattern that takes the negative cut a step further, using latex gussets to provide and ensure a seamless contact area. The cut gives a closer feel and provides a larger contact area by having stitching on the inside as opposed to external stitching.
This was one of the first times we have worn a negatively cut glove and it was a surprise to see how snug and comfortable the fit was. It's easy to see why they're fast becoming the preferred choice for many of the world's top goal keepers.
The adidas Pred.Pro Neuer gloves also feature a double thumb wrap which is there to increase the stability around the thumb as well as give a tight fit from the top to the bottom side. This was a massive help, especially from a comfort point of view.
The palm itself features the euro 2012 3.5mm latex which we found extremely grippy in both wet and dry conditions while giving us added confidence when it came to our handling. During distribution exercises the point of release is always crucial and the quality of the palm helped to keep complete control of the ball.
The palm also features 4mm of foam cushioning to act as a shock absorber from the more powerful shots. Despite not being designed with a complex punching zone, the latex backhand of the gloves provided a good abrasive area for punching the ball clear, without over complicating the backhand.
As we experienced throughout the test, the latex performed brilliantly in dry and hot conditions. The latex gussets come with aerated holes to give breathability to the fingers, which we found particularly helpful throughout the first half of the test. For the second half we decided to soak the gloves to see how they performed under wet conditions.
The grip of the glove was absolutely flawless throughout. It held up especially well throughout the crossing exercises - an area where every goalkeeper needs complete confidence in his gloves. All adidas gloves now come with their own bottle of glove wash which meant after the final exercise, our gloves were washed down in preparation for the weekend! 
The adidas Pred.Pro Neuer gloves are a real simple but effective effort from adidas which aren't packed with gimmicks and technology, but offer extreme comfort and excellent grip. We always felt in total control of the ball and the comfort provided by the wrist strap was second to none. All in all we were massively impressed and at under £60 this glove provides real value for money and would definitely be a smart purchase. 
The adidas Pred.Pro Neuer gloves are available to order now at online stockists including Pro-Direct Soccer.
