Since the beginning of the 2018 World Cup we've been spoilt by daily football boot releases. New colourways, new silos, new technologies. But one innovation that has crept through quietly and probably deserves a bit more fuss, is Nike's first ever strapless goalkeeper glove.
The Mercurial Touch Elite has been worn by a few Nike goalkeepers over the summer, including Jack Butland, and the new design has been installed as the top level glove option for Nike's 'keepers this season. The recent "Raised on Concrete" colourway backing that up. Packing an intriguing aesthetic, the glove is the result of Nike designers basically sitting around a table and starting the design of the goalkeeper glove from scratch.
Nike questioned why a glove needs straps, why it needs bulky padding on the top of the hand, why it needs multiple components, and the result is pretty damn futuristic. Like something you'd do the gardening with on Mars.
Nike looked at a wide spectrum of sports, including surfing, baseball, American football and golf to design the Mercurial Touch Elite glove. The result is a glove that delivers everything goalkeepers need and removes anything they don’t in an innovative design tuned to the modern game.
The Nike Mercurial Touch Elite gloves look, fit and feel different than previous styles. By reducing the bulk and stiffness of traditional mitts, the gloves are designed to unleash the ultimate potential of a goalkeeper's hands. The strap has been replaced by a flexible wrist cuff that extends from the joint to the lower forearm for mobility and comfort.
The glove’s minimalist approach weighs in at 33% lighter and 47% thinner than previous gloves. Punch prints on the third and fourth knuckle provide a barrier and won't bunch up, and they lay close to the hand, even with full extension. Clever, them boys and girls at Nike, aren't they?
Pick up the Nike Mercurial Touch Elite GK Gloves from prodirectsoccer.com
