CUT : Negative

FIT : Snug

LATEX : High Grade 100% German Super Soft

FEATURES : Bandage Closure, Latex gussets, One piece negative split thumb

REVIEW : I receive lots of gloves that I am DYING to review, but I have to admit this was not the case when Morty contacted me to review the Josef Fischer line. I was never really a fan of the aesthetics of the Josef Fischer line. They seemed droll and out-dated. Much to my surprise however the gloves are a very pleasant surprise. My favourite thing about reviewing gloves for TGB is when I am pleasantly surprised by a performance of gloves, especially gloves I under estimate.

The gloves fit very well in a 9. The square boxing on the gusset stitch reminds me of the R-negative cut HO pioneered and others have used. It is not exactly the same stitch as the Josef Fischer's cut is more slender and less bulky. The thumb works beautifully and will go down as one of my favourite thumbs on any glove past or present. The backhand has a nice padding to it, and gives the glove a comfortable, yet unencumbered feel while on. It is a good compromise between a lightweight glove, but you still know the glove is on.

Josef Fischer’s whole philosophy is that the latex should be the deciding factor when purchasing goalkeeper gloves. The latex on this glove does not have any fancy branding or marketing behind it. No buzz words are used to describe it, or make it eye popping while reading its product description. The latex is a plain old 3mm German Super soft, but the difference between this latex and the 100 others out there that say they use German Super soft is the grade. It is amongst the highest grade I have used in some time. No chemical treatments, no additives that I was aware of.

I knew it was pure when I washed the gloves prior to use, no suds, no cloudy material, no real sediments of any kind washed out of the gloves. I know we throw this term around too much, but the palm really does remind me of the old profi SS's available in the mid to late 80's. Same feel, same fantastic shock absorption without the bulky stiff feeling many of today's thicker palms have. After the wash the gloves were very tacky and dying to get some use. I tested it on two very different balls (Nike Total Omni Premier and the Adidas Tango Espana). Wore them in the wet, dry and even indoors and the greatest compliment I can give is that there was no difference in the grip - NONE. Granted the rain was not a heavy rain, but the field was noticeably wet almost the entire match. I can honestly say the latex alone makes these gloves worth trying.

DURABILITY : Not a mark after 5 uses. Holding up amazingly well considering its soft feel and performance.

SUMMARY : I would recommend this glove to anyone who really wants a glove whose focus is on the palm and not graphics. The latex used is fantastic, and the fit and function make the glove a winner.

PROS : Very good latex, Fit

CONS : Boring look, Hard to find

RATINGS (Out of 10) :
Dry Grip: 8.75
Wet Grip 8.75
Durability: 9.5
Fit: 9
Cushioning: 9

Overall Rating : 9 Grade A

 

CUT : Negative

FIT : Very Snug

LATEX : High Grade 100% German Super Soft

FEATURES : Bandage Closure, Latex gussets, one piece negative split thumb

REVIEW : I was lucky enough to review the second glove in the Josef Fischer line-up, but this review will be fairly short as it really shares a lot of features with the Legende glove.

The main difference between the two models is the fit. While the Legende has a somewhat squared finger and with gussets that have a boxier feel, the Flexi Grip is more of a traditional negative fit. It is slightly snugger than the Legende and lighter. It's lightweight with lots of feel and I would call it a very traditional German Negative Cut glove.

If you prefer a standard negative cut and your preference is for a very snug fit in the fingers, then the Flexi Grip would be a fantastic choice. Latex is again first class as on the Legende and it offered the same performance.

DURABILITY : Very good indeed. Minor wear after 10+ uses.

SUMMARY : If you like a simple glove with a snug fit than take a chance on the Flexi Grip. Performance is fantastic, and Mr Fischer should be commended for his focus on latex performance rather than gimmicks.

PROS : Very good latex, Fit

CONS : Boring look, Hard to find

RATINGS (Out of 10) :
Dry Grip: 8.75
Wet Grip 8.75
Durability: 9.5
Fit: 8.5
Cushioning: 9

Overall Rating : 8.9 Grade B+++ - (Main reason for the slightly lower score was I preferred the fit on the Legende).

 

CUT : Negative

FIT : Snug. True to size in a 9

LATEX : High Grade 100% German Soft

FEATURES : PU with latex gussets, Wrapped thumb, Bandage wrist

REVIEW : The Cat model was actually the first glove I tested in the JF line, and I THOUGHT I had already completed a review, but apparently not (mind is the first thing that goes!).

I chose them to be first because of the excellent fit and comfort level. The glove feels superb on, with a very light feel, but whilst the glove is indeed snug, it is not constrictive. Finger length, width and thumb were all spot on for my wide hands. Wrist is secure, and strap is just the right length. The gloves backhand is an embossed PU, but has a softer feel than many others in its category. I was actually surprised to learn that it was a base line training model and not a mid-level match glove based on the materials and softness of the soft latex palm.

The grip came straight away after a rinse, and I was surprised at the level of tackiness on a basic soft palm. It had little problems with adhering to a clean Adidas Tango football. My interests were peaked after the level of grip before a proper wash, so I decided to throw them into early action. The first use was on a dry grass pitch with just a slight dampening prior to the session. The grip was excellent, especially for a simple soft palm. Shots were held effortlessly and with little worry. This glove actually became my primary training and match glove for dry conditions during the test period because of the confidence I had in its abilities. A tackiness that was far beyond any basic soft latex glove I had ever used if I am honest.

After the great success I had in dry, I had to give them a run in a slight mist during my next use. I had a feeling the glove would not be able to match the dry performance, and I was correct in that assumption. While I love the Cat glove in dry conditions, it is a poor wet weather performer. The grip was slick and untrustworthy, so I ultimately changed after the warm up.

SUMMARY : A winner for dry conditions to be sure. The enhanced durability would make a fantastic choice for an everyday training or indoor glove. Wet weather performance was not good, but to be fair, the glove is not really designed for that purpose.

PROS : Lightweight, Latex gussets (for those who prefer), Excellent fit, Superior dry weather performance, Latex durability

CONS : Hard to find, Wet weather performance, a full Negative Cut thumb would have been nice

RATINGS (Out of 10) :
Dry Grip: 8.50
Wet Grip 5.5
Durability: 9.5
Fit: 8.5
Cushioning: 8

Overall Rating : 8