In-Depth UA Highlight Glove Review: Performance Tested

Introduction

Welcome to our review of the UA Highlight Gloves for 2024. These gloves are designed to enhance your performance on the field. In this article, we'll dive into their fit, breathability, protection, durability, grip, style, and recommended positions. We’ll start with the unboxing and share our first impressions. 

Then, we’ll break down each feature in detail, discussing the pros and cons based on our tests. Stay tuned to find out if these gloves live up to the hype. Let’s uncover everything you need to know about the UA Highlight Gloves!

Unboxing and First Impressions

Unboxing the UA Highlight Gloves for 2024 is a satisfying experience. The packaging is sleek and professional, giving a premium feel right from the start. 

Upon opening, the gloves impress with their modern design and sturdy build. The combination of materials feels high-quality, with a mix of neoprene, mesh, and padding. The black color looks sharp, though it might get hot in the sun. 

The gloves feel durable and well-made, promising good performance on the field. Overall, the initial impression is positive, indicating that these gloves are built to last and perform.

Fit

Fingers

The fit of the UA Highlight Gloves is impressive, with a snug feel that enhances control. The fingers are well-designed, providing a comfortable and secure fit without restricting movement.

When you make a fist, the grip bunches up slightly but not enough to affect performance.

Strap

The strap closure system is effective, offering a customizable fit around the wrist. There’s a perfect amount of room in the ABC of the hand, ensuring stability during intense play. The strap holds well, keeping the gloves in place without feeling too tight.

Hand Fit

Overall, the gloves fit well across the hand, offering a balanced blend of comfort and support. The materials conform nicely to the shape of the hand, providing a close fit that doesn't feel too restrictive.

Thumb and Back of Hand Pads

One minor issue is the thumb pad, which is slightly off-centered from the knuckle, making thumb movement a bit awkward. Additionally, the back of hand pads extend over the knuckles. Initially, this seemed like it might be a problem, but it didn’t affect comfort or movement during use.

Breathability

Perforations

The UA Highlight Gloves incorporate several breathability features to combat heat buildup. Perforations are strategically placed on the back of the hand, allowing air to flow through and keep your hands cooler. These small holes help reduce sweat accumulation during intense play.

Mesh Areas

Mesh areas are another key feature, particularly on the fingers and around the cuff. The mesh provides additional ventilation, enhancing overall breathability. The combination of mesh and perforations aims to improve airflow and keep your hands comfortable.

Personal Experience

Wearing these gloves in the sun, they still felt quite hot, especially because they are black. Despite the perforations and mesh, the padding retains some heat.

While the gloves are designed to be breathable, the dark color and thick padding can make them warmer than expected in sunny conditions. However, the efforts to enhance ventilation through perforations and mesh are noticeable and do provide some relief compared to fully padded gloves without such features.

Protection

Padding Placement

The UA Highlight Gloves feature comprehensive padding designed to protect key areas of the hand. The padding is strategically placed to cover the thumb, back of the hand, and fingers, offering robust protection without compromising flexibility.

Thumb Pad

The thumb pad is large and firm, providing substantial protection against impacts. However, its slightly off-centered position from the knuckle can make thumb movement a bit awkward. Despite this, the padding effectively shields the thumb during play.

Back of Hand Pads

There are three pads on the back of the hand that overlap the knuckles. Initially, this seemed like it might hinder movement, but in practice, it didn’t pose any issues. The pads are thick and sturdy, absorbing impacts well and protecting the knuckles effectively.

Finger Pads

Each finger is equipped with a single long pad segmented for better flexibility. This design allows for good dexterity while ensuring the fingers are well-protected. The segmented sections work well to maintain movement without sacrificing safety.

Comparison with Other Big Skill Gloves

Compared to other big skill gloves, the UA Highlight Gloves hold up well in terms of protection. The pads are thicker and firmer, offering a higher level of safety. While many big skill gloves use thin pads, the Highlight Gloves' more substantial padding sets them apart, providing better impact resistance and overall protection.

Durability

Vent Holes and Cuff Reinforcement

The UA Highlight Gloves raise some concerns regarding durability, particularly with the vent holes and cuff reinforcement.

While the vent holes on the fingers are reinforced to prevent tearing, the same attention wasn’t given to the cuff area. Stretching the cuff reveals potential weak spots that may wear out over time, especially with frequent use.

Grip Durability

The grip on these gloves is designed for receivers, featuring Under Armour’s glue grip. This type of grip is excellent for catching and handling the ball, providing strong adhesion and control.

However, its durability can be a concern for positions involving heavy contact and frequent gripping, such as linemen. The receiver grip is likely to wear down quickly under the stress of intense play, leading to reduced effectiveness over time.

Unsuitability for Linemen

The grip’s design makes it less suitable for linemen. Linemen require gloves with more robust, long-lasting grip material that can withstand constant pressure and friction.

The receiver grip on the UA Highlight Gloves is softer and more prone to wearing out, making it less ideal for the demands of line play. Linemen would be better served by gloves specifically designed for their position, with stronger, more durable grip features.

Grip

The UA Highlight Gloves feature Under Armour’s glue grip, renowned for its adhesive properties that enhance ball control. During testing, the grip proved effective, providing a secure hold and confident handling.

Whether catching passes or securing the ball during play, the grip performed well, delivering consistent results. However, it’s important to note that the durability of this grip may vary based on position and usage. For receivers and skill positions, the grip offers excellent performance.

Yet, for linemen or positions requiring sustained contact, durability concerns may arise over prolonged use.

Style

The UA Highlight Gloves share design similarities with the F9 gloves, featuring a sleek aesthetic with horizontal lines on the palm and back of hand.

The black color scheme, while classic, may seem generic for some, though it exudes a professional look. These gloves are exclusively available to UA-sponsored schools, lacking a public release and variety in colors. This limited availability raises concerns about market accessibility and consumer choice.

Conclusion

The UA Highlight Gloves for 2024 offer a compelling blend of performance and design. With their snug fit, effective grip, and solid protection, they cater well to big skill positions on the field.

Despite concerns over durability in certain areas and limited market availability, these gloves excel in delivering comfort and control. 

Whether you’re a receiver making crucial catches or a linebacker delivering tackles, the UA Highlight Gloves provide the necessary support. Share your thoughts on these gloves in the comments below!