It used to be simple. You either played on mud or on cinders. Anyone who has experienced a cinder pitch remembers the burnt hips and gloves that looked like they had been attacked by a grater after two training sessions. Times have moved on and cinders have been replaced by modern artificial turf. It is green, soft and looks great. But make no mistake – for goalkeeper gloves, it is still the biggest challenge.
Today, artificial turf is no longer just a topic for winter training. According to statistics, hundreds of new pitches with 3rd and 4th generation artificial surfaces have been built in the last 10 years. For many clubs, it is now the main training area for 10 months of the year.
What does this mean for you? That your gloves face the "enemy" much more often than before.
Why is artificial turf a "killer" of latex?
When you catch on natural grass, the latex of the palm slides on blades full of water. On artificial turf, it is different. Here are the three main reasons why gloves wear out faster:
- High friction and heat: Artificial turf is essentially plastic (polyethylene). When the palm comes into contact with the surface, huge friction is created. Did you know that during a fast jump, the temperature at the point of contact can briefly increase so that the fine pores of the latex literally bake?
- Sandpaper in the grass: To keep the grass standing, silica sand or rubber granulate is poured into it. These tiny balls act as a micro-abrasive. They get into the palm and mechanically grind the latex piece by piece.
- Dry surface: Artificial turf is rarely ideally wet. Dry plastic "scuffs" much more than wet grass.
The solution called HG 2.0: What is the trick?
At BU1, we responded to this with the HG (Hard Ground) 2.0 range. We won"t promise you miracles – even the best gloves in the world will wear out on artificial turf sooner or later. But with HG 2.0 we are meeting that challenge.
- Denser latex mixture: The palm of the HG 2.0 models is not as "spongy" as purely match models. It has a more closed structure that better resists tearing and abrasion.
- Balanced grip: It often happens that "durable" gloves are indeed durable but they slip like plastic. HG 2.0 maintains a great grip, so you can rely on them even in a sharp match.
Our tips for extending the life of (not only) HG gloves:
1. "Waking up" after unpacking
New gloves have an invisible film from production on them so they don"t dry out in the box. Gently wash them in lukewarm water before the first training session. This will "open" the pores of the latex and activate the grip. Without this, they will slip on the artificial turf.
2. Getting up through the fists
This is the simplest trick that costs you nothing. When you get up from the ground, try to lean on your clenched fists instead of open palms. The back of the glove (backhand) will lean on the surface, which is much less prone to damage than the precious latex on the palm.
3. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize
Even on artificial turf, wet latex lives longer. Keep a bottle of water by the goal and moisten your palms occasionally. Water reduces the friction and heat that destroys the latex.
Our specialists for your training:
- BU1 Light HG 2.0. – Adult: Lightness and durability in one. Ideal for goalkeepers who spend several days a week on artificial turf and want a model that lasts longer than standard "match gloves".
- Junior BU1 Light HG 2.0 – Junior: For children, artificial turf is the hardest because they often lean on their palms when moving on the ground. The HG variant will help them enjoy the game longer without worn-out fingers.
Artificial turf no longer has to mean the end of your favorite gloves. Just choose the right "weapon" and know how to take care of it!
