Started The Cricket Gloves Hunt
Okay so my kid suddenly tells me cricket practice starts next week and his old gloves look like a dog chewed on ’em. Need new ones. No way I’m spending a fortune on gear he’ll outgrow or wreck by summer. Goal: decent cricket gloves under 100 bucks. Easy, right? Hah.
First thing I did was hit my local sports stores. Grabbed my phone, searched “cricket gear near me”. Drove to that big sporting goods chain you all know. Found the cricket section – it was tiny! Like, two bats, maybe three gloves total, all over $120. Asked the guy working there, “Yo, anything cheaper?” He shrugged. “Not really, mate. Cricket ain’t big here.” Useless. Checked another smaller local spot. Same deal. Felt like hitting a brick wall.
The Online Dig Begins
Fine. Time for the internet. Opened up my laptop. First stop: the giant online marketplace everyone uses. Typed in “cricket gloves under 100”. Okay, tons popped up. But man, sorting through that? Nightmare. Half looked like cheap plastic junk shipped from overseas – reviews saying “stitching fell apart first practice.” No thanks. The brands I vaguely recognized? Prices magically jumped to $129.99 the second I clicked. Classic bait-and-switch feeling. Felt annoyed.
Tried the official websites of the cricket brands I know – Kookaburra, Gray-Nicolls, SS. Straight up depressing. Their entry-level gloves started around $110-$130. Looked like paying for the name mostly. Thought about some online specialty cricket shops. Found one or two with decent reps. Searched their glove sections specifically filtering “low to high” price. Scrolled… and scrolled… hit $80? Nope, just accessories. Most cheap stuff was kids’ size or just glove liners. Pure padding, not actual protective gloves. Almost threw my laptop.
Stumbling on Possibilities
Remembered that big-box discount chain everyone walks through for groceries. Their online sports section is messy, but sometimes you find a gem. Searched “cricket gloves”. Boom! Saw a pair of Slazenger V100s listed for $49.99? Had to double-check. Wasn’t a youth size? Nope, adult! Even in stock at my local store? Said it was. Couldn’t believe it. Slazenger ain’t top-tier but decent for casual play. Worth a shot.
Also spotted that giant French sports retailer. Knew they had cricket stuff online even if local stores don’t. Went to their site. Found their own in-house cricket brand – basic but gets the job done. A simple pair of leather-palm gloves? $39.99. Wow. Reviews were okay – “good for price,” “lasted a season.” Another contender.
What Worked In The End
Drove straight to the discount chain. Wanted to see and feel the Slazengers before pulling the trigger. Found ’em buried near the soccer gear. Honestly, for $50, they felt way better than expected. Leather in the right spots, decent padding. Palm felt stiff but break-in-able. Kid tried ’em on – fit good, felt protective enough. Snagged ’em instantly. Also peeked at that French brand pair online again later – solid backup plan if these failed.
The Verdict
Finding actually protective adult cricket gloves under $100 feels like a treasure hunt sometimes. But they ARE out there! Here’s the real deal:
- Big Discount Box Stores: Don’t sleep on these. Their websites and in-store clearance sections can have insane deals on decent brands like Slazenger. Found mine here for $50.
- Major Sports Retails Chains: Mostly a bust for budget cricket gear locally, their online clearance might surprise you if you dig deep and filter hard.
- Value Brands & Their Homes: Slazenger and those store brands from big sports retailers are often where the under-$100 magic happens. Focus here first.
- Relentless Searching & Filtering: Use “cricket gloves under 100”, “cricket gloves cheap”, filter PRICE low-to-high on every site. Be prepared to wade through trash.
Would I trust some random online seller with 3-star reviews for $25? Heck no. Spend the $50-$80 on something basic from a known name or decent store brand. Got mine sorted without selling a kidney. Good luck!
