A hockey goalie glove, also known as a catch glove or catcher, is a specialized mitt engineered to protect the hand and trap high-speed pucks. Goalie equipment makers today engineer gloves in several variations to suit different goaltending styles and fit preferences. Using our comprehensive guide, you’ll be able to identify the type of goalie glove you or your child needs to dominate the crease.
Everything You Need To Know To Buy & Fit a Hockey Goalie Glove
Our handy hockey goalie glove buying and fitting guide includes all the information you need to buy and size a mitt. Here’s what you can expect to learn:
Anatomy of Hockey Goalie Catch Gloves
A goalie glove features external and internal sections engineered to serve different purposes. The outer portion offers protection for the hands and fingers and comes with performance-boosting tech. The inner part is all about comfort and adjustability for the player. To make incredible saves and speedy traps, a goalie must know the parts of a glove like the back of their hand. Once you have a firm grasp on what makes up a mitt, you'll understand what to look for when choosing a new one. Here's a brief rundown of the ins and outs of a catch glove:
External Glove Parts- Backhand:A glove’s backhand features protective foams that shield against slashes. Some models come with high-end pads engineered to redirect pucks and sticks from reaching the goalie’s fingers.
- Cuff:A glove cuff covers the area from the player’s wrist to their palm. The glove’s outer cuff features an extended board that protects the goalie’s wrist from taking on damage. Cuffs feature stiff foams and PE reinforcements for ultimate protection of the joint. Cuffs come in one- and two-piece constructions. A one-piece cuff serves as a mini-blocking board to redirect the puck. A two-piece cuff offers more flexibility for comfortable catching.
- Palm: A glove’s palm extends from the cuff to the base of the fingers. The palm features a break angle which determines where the player’s hand is when it closes around the puck. Depending on the palm’s break angle, the player can use it to block the puck or direct it into the pocket.
- Pocket: The netted portion between the thumb and index finger is called the pocket. This net comes in single- and double-T constructions and serves as the glove’s catching surface. A single-T pocket offers a traditional fit and comfortable feel. A double-T pocket features a wide, deep catching surface to trap the puck securely.
Internal Glove Parts- Inner Glove: The inner glove covers the goalie’s hand. This portion of the glove is adjustable over the backhand.
- Finger Stalls: When a goalie puts on a glove, their fingers fit into the finger stalls.
- Thumb Loop: The goalie’s thumb slides through the thumb loop into its own stall. The loop offers critical leverage to the thumb, making it easier to close the pocket.
- Inner Cuff: This portion of the cuff fastens the glove to the goalie’s wrist according to their fit preferences.
How To Choose a Hockey Goalie Glove
A goalie chooses a catch glove with a construction that best suits their gameplay. Types of pockets, different palm creases, and varying wrist styles each offer unique advantages. If you tend to play a hybrid/reactive style in the crease, reach for a flexible, double-T catcher with a two-piece cuff ideal for awesome in-air catches. The player who dominates in the butterfly position can't go wrong outfitted in a glove with a solid cuff designed for blocking.
As is true of almost all hockey protective equipment, the deciding factors in the right catcher depend on the player's personal preferences. Since the break angle governs the position of your hand when it closes around the puck, it’s the variable that often ends up determining where you should start when choosing the best catch glove for your style of play.
Goalie Glove Break Angles
The break angle is the portion of the glove that folds together to secure the puck. The break determines where the goalie’s palm closes and how it grips. Each angle offers benefits suited to different goaltending styles and fit preferences. Modern gloves come in three degrees: 60°, 75°, and 90°.
60-Degree Break AngleA 60° angle is the most common break found on gloves today. A 60-degree break works similarly to a baseball glove, with the thumb and fingers positioned more upright to pinch around the puck. This style of catcher is ideal for the dexterous player who prefers snatching the puck out of the air instead of redirecting it.
75-Degree Break AngleThe 75° angle serves as a middle ground between 60° and 90° options. A 75° break places the pocket T closer to the thumb, making it easier to form a traditional fist. This versatile style benefits the goalie who keeps their hand in a steep position when in stance.
90-Degree Break AngleThe traditional 90° angle offers a feel that’s familiar to old-school goalies. These tried and true gloves close in a way so that the fingertips meet the heel of the palm, squeezing together to make a thumbs-up sign inside the mitt. The goalie who places their hand in the handshake position when in stance will appreciate a 90° break.
Ultimately, comfort is key when it comes to break angles. If your hand doesn’t feel comfortable closing the glove, you’ve got the wrong angle. We recommend goalies try each style to determine which feels most natural to use.
Goalie Glove Pocket Types
While a goalie chooses a break angle for comfort, the glove pocket is all about performance. The different types are determined by the number of T-shaped supports in the net. These posts create structure in the net and help the goalie control the puck once it’s trapped.
Single-T Pocket GloveA single-T pocket features one large support in the center of the net. The single beam creates a resounding impact once struck, letting the goalie know to close the glove and trap the puck. Some goalies prefer this style for its efficiency in alerting them when a catch can be made.
Double-T Pocket GloveThe double-T style features a wide net supported by two posts. This structure creates a deep pocket with extra slack to deaden puck rotation, preventing rebounds. Many goalies opt for a double-T glove for added peace of mind when making saves.
Another consideration when choosing a pocket is net material. Catch glove webbing features either traditional nylon lacing or cotton skate laces. Both materials support the pocket, but cotton options offer a bit more give to help secure the puck upon impact.
Catch Glove Cuff Styles
Don’t neglect the cuff when choosing a glove. Makers design two styles of cuffs to suit butterfly and reactive goalies alike. Single-piece cuffs feature wide, seamless boards with dense padding engineered to serve as a miniature blocking board. The goalie who prefers to redirect the puck rather than catch it will appreciate a one-piece construction. The hybrid player who catches and traps every chance they get should reach for an option with a two-piece wrist. These cuffs come in lightweight foams separated by a seam for ultimate flexibility at the joint.
Just as hockey goalie blockers feature curves, so do most catchers. A glove’s curve helps deflect the puck away from the player and the net. The locations of these bends vary. Some curves are found at the bottom of the cuff by the forearm, and others appear at the side by the thumb. Select mitts come with curves at both of these points. The ideal spot for a cuff's curve depends on personal preference and where your hand rests while in stance.
Regular Versus Full Right Goalie Catch Gloves
Now that you know the different types of gloves, it's time to choose the perfect model. But before filling your cart, consider which hand will wear the catcher. This may seem like an insignificant detail, but it's not one to overlook. If you order a catch glove for the wrong side, you’re off the ice until the correct one arrives. A hockey goalie glove is worn on the player’s non-dominant hand. To keep things easy, brands break it down into two categories, regular and full right.
- A regular hockey goalie glove is worn on the left hand
- A full right hockey goalie glove is worn on the right hand
Hockey Goalie Glove Sizes
The only way a catcher will protect your palm from the stinging impact of a puck or your backhand from a slashing stick is if it fits properly. Luckily, goalie gloves are easy to measure for, and the size generally corresponds to the player’s age. The four size categories include:
- Youth: 3 to 6 years old; 4 3⁄4–5 5⁄8 in.
- Junior: 7 to 12 years old; 5 5⁄8–6 1⁄4 in.
- Intermediate: 12 to 14 years old; 6 1⁄4–7 in.
- Senior: ages 13 and up; 7–8 3⁄8 in.
While the relationship between age and size isn’t 100% reliable, it does serve as a solid starting point for the shopper. Once you determine which of the four categories a goalie's age falls into, verify that option is correct with a simple measurement. Some goalies will find their age and size fall within two different categories. In these instances, you should always use a player’s measurement rather than age.
How Do I Measure for Hockey Goalie Gloves?
Measure the goalie’s hand in inches from the base of the palm to the tip of the middle finger. This number will fall into one of the four size categories listed above. If you find that a young player's hand sits right between two sizes, opt for the larger category.
How a Goalie Catch Glove Should Fit
A goalie glove should offer a snug fit that doesn’t feel restrictive. If you can close the catcher once you put it on, you’ve got the right size. There should be no more than ¼ to ½ inch of space between the player’s fingers and the end of the stalls. Any extra wiggle room and you won’t have enough leverage to close the palm. A properly fastened inner cuff won’t allow the mitt to come loose or fall off, even when shaking it.
Between the outer and inner cuffs, goalie gloves come with a fair amount of adjustability to suit player preferences. The inner cuff determines how snug the finger stalls fit. The tighter the strap, the closer the palm will be to the fingers. For more air cushioning at the goalie’s fingers and the glove’s palm, leave the cuff loose.
How To Break in a Hockey Goalie Glove
Hockey goalie gloves always feel stiff the first time they’re worn. To speed up the breaking-in process, you can apply heat in two different ways.
Baking In-StoreHead over to your nearest Pure Hockey or Pure Goalie store and a member of our staff can put your goalie glove into one of our skate baking ovens to start the break-in process. After the glove is in the oven for 8–10 minutes, the heat softens the leathers and foams in the palm of the glove. While it’s warm, open and close the glove repeatedly.
Hair Dryer MethodIf you don’t have a skate bake oven, the hair dryer method is the safest alternative. Using a hair dryer on medium heat, warm the inner and outer break area of the glove. Maintain an even, medium heat, and keep the hair dryer moving, since high heat concentrated in one area may damage the gear. Patience and constant motion work best. Once the glove is warm inside and out, put your hand inside and flex repeatedly.
Hockey Goalie Glove Care
Regular maintenance and proper storage can prolong the life of your catcher. Ultimately, the lifespan of a goalie glove depends on the frequency of use and the amount of care it receives. You’ll know it’s time to replace a catch glove once you can see physical signs of wear and tear.
The easiest way to care for any hockey equipment is storing it correctly. We recommend specially designed goalie bags for toting bulky gear. The protective cases feature weather-resistant materials to keep pads dry, rain or shine. Some carriers feature a ventilated construction, allowing the goalie glove inside it to dry out after sweaty games.
Make sure to wash your hockey goalie catch glove after each use. Don’t soak a catcher or run it through the washer, as it won’t be able to dry fully. All you have to do is wipe down the interior and exterior of the glove with a warm, damp cloth. Then, allow the mitt to air dry completely. Regularly cleaning a glove prevents the buildup of bacteria. Occasional use of equipment care accessories, including gear-safe sprays, will help eliminate hard-to-remove odors.
That’s everything you need to know about goalie catch gloves. The other Pure Goalie equipment guides offer full breakdowns of all of the gear in your kit. Once you’re ready to place an order, you’ll get the most competitive prices on catch gloves, thanks to our Low-Price Guarantee.