As one of the key pieces of a goalkeeper’s “armor,” goalkeeper gloves have been around for over a century, officially becoming part of football regulations in 1875. Despite continuous advancements in materials and manufacturing techniques, gloves have remained largely reliant on traditional molding and manual assembly, making personalized customization and fine-tuned performance difficult to achieve.
Now, sports equipment manufacturer Reusch has partnered with 3D printing company Carbon to launch the world’s first goalkeeper gloves with a 3D-printed strike zone. Leveraging its Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) technology, Carbon created a lattice structure that delivers high elasticity, tear resistance, and energy absorption—what Reusch calls “the heart of the glove.”
Building on this foundation, Reusch integrated several proprietary technologies:Fusion Grip Latex for all-weather grip,Evolution Negative Cut for a second-skin-like control feel,AdaptiveFlex closure system that balances wrist stability and flexibility.
Christian Hilber, Goalkeeper Product Manager at Reusch, stated:“Compared to traditional rubber or latex, the 3D-printed lattice provides superior rebound and energy return, while being lighter and more flexible. We designed around performance limits, combining 3D-printed backhands with our proprietary tech to create a product that blends functionality and futuristic design.”
Jiaqi Ren, Application Development Engineer at Carbon, added:“For decades, backhand panels were mostly made using dipped latex. Now, 3D-printed lattices give gloves a whole new design language and enhanced energy damping, better protecting the back of the hand. I believe we’ve only scratched the surface of this technology’s potential.”
This limited-edition glove was released globally last month at a price of approximately $200 USD. For Carbon, this marks another bold foray into the sports equipment sector. Few 3D printing companies are playing in this space—BO LEE being a notable exception, especially in the 3D-printed footwear market, where it has firmly secured a leading position.