STX Cell VI Lacrosse Goalie Gloves – Full Review
By Coach Damon
August 18, 2025
This post is sponsored by LacrosseMonkey.
If I had a dime for every time I broke my thumb as a lacrosse goalie. I’d have exactly $0.10. But it was an extremely painful 10 cents and something that is far too common with today’s lacrosse goalies.
So when it comes to protective equipment, finding a great pair of lacrosse goalie gloves is so important.
And at the heart of every glove review lies the same simple question: how well do they protect your thumbs?
The STX Cell VI (or STX Cell 6) goalie gloves aim to answer that with a sleek design, sleek colorways, and an upgraded thumb system that UVA goalie Mel Josephson swears by.
After taking a deep dive into her experience with these gloves, here’s everything you need to know before adding the STX Cell VI goalie gloves to your gear bag.
STX Cell VI Thumb Protection: The Lockbox Advantage
If you’ve ever played goalie, you know the thumb is your weak spot. So many goalies have badly sprained or broken their thumbs attempting to defend the nets.
First let me say – no goalie glove is perfect. Ask the internet goalies for their opinion on any glove on the market:
And you’ll inevitably get a young baller who suffered a tragedy in the gloves:
That being said, I do think the STX Cell VI offer the best thumb protection on the market right now.
They call the thumb technology the innovative hard shell Lock Box and when you put on the glove for the first time you’ll notice the hard protective thumb case is deeper than most.
I like this design as it offers protection on the pad of the thumb, not just the tip.
A few goalies did mention that because your thumb is more covered in this thumb protection setup you lose a little feel on the shaft:
Personally, I guess given how I setup with my top hand in my stance, this didn’t bother me at all and so I will gladly take the extra protection.
Like other thumb protection models its designed to not bend back in the event of a direct impact.
Mel Josephson, who trains daily, notes that this Lockbox design is far superior to the hard “exoskeleton” plastic found on some other models like STX Surgeon RZR2 goalie gloves seen below:
This type of thumb protection requires severe break in and then its very fragile – prone to snapping when it with a direct shot.
Overall, the thumb protection of the STX Cell VI goalie glove is the best I’ve tried.
STX Cell VI: Durability and Wear
Like all gloves, durability is a factor.
While the thumbs hold up well, the Cell VIs do show wear on the thumb, the stitching and fingertips after a few months of heavy, daily use. Players who grip more with their fingers (rather than their palms) may notice this sooner.
Many goalies mentioned the same thing so we do have to knock the Cell VI down a few points for their lack of durability.
Mel had used her gloves for about ½ a season and already had some ripping on the thumb:
The stitching of the palm was also starting to show wear:
As a D1 athlete Mel is practing for several hours every day, so your gloves may last longer if you’re a more casual player.
But worth nothing that other goalie gloves show better durability than the STX Cell VI.
Customization and Style
The STX Cell VI come in an all white or an all black colorway.
The white colorway features splashes of neon green and the inside lining of the glove is the same color. While looks pretty clean if you ask me.
STX has always been a leader in customization, and the STX Cell VI goalie gloves are no exception.
Mel showed off her custom Virginia orange and blue colorway version complete with their colors, school name, and sword logo:
Whether you’re rocking clean all-white or a flashy blue-and-orange colorway with team insignias, the gloves look sharp right out of the box.
STX Cell IV Break-In and Fit
Another good feature is how quickly these gloves break in.
Some goalie gloves feel stiff at first, but the Cell VIs are game-ready almost immediately—often after just one practice.
Fit-wise, Josephson prefers a looser large size, even though she could technically wear a medium. This gives her flexibility to slip in a brace or thumb splint if needed—something she couldn’t manage with bulkier, tighter-fitted models.
I will say its important that you get the right fit. Remember the larger protective thumb box – well if your thumb slips out of that, it’s 100% exposed. With the right fit I think its avoidable but if your thumb can move too much this might happen:
Below is the sizing chart. At 5’8″, 165lbs, I went with size large and they fit me just perfect.
Back-of-Hand and Palm Protection
On the backhand and fingers, the Cell VI offers protection on par with other top goalie gloves like the Maverik Max.
You’ll feel secure against direct shots, though angled hits to the sides of the fingers can still sting—a limitation true across most brands.
The cuff is versatile, with the option to wear it open for freedom of movement or closed for a snugger fit.
Mel mentioned goalies on her team even use the cuff as a stash spot for mouthguards—a practical little bonus.
As for the palms, the suede-and-mesh combo provides solid grip. Players using taped or gripped sticks won’t notice much difference, but it’s durable enough for heavy play (with some wear expected over time).
STX Cell 6 Price and Value
At around $160, the STX Cell VI isn’t the cheapest option on the market.
But when you weigh the cost against potential thumb injuries—or worse, surgery—it’s a worthwhile investment.
Here is the going rate for different lacrosse goalie gloves as of this writing:
Goalie gear is expensive, and gloves are often the first piece to wear out.
But the protection, customization, and quick break-in make these gloves a strong contender for best value in their category.
Note: you can sometimes find used pairs on places like SidelineSwap.com for less money.
STX Cell VI Goalie Gloves Video Review
Here is my video review of the Cell 6 goalie gloves featuring UVa goalie Mel Josephson:
Final Verdict
The STX Cell VI goalie gloves strike an impressive balance between style, comfort, and safety.
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Strengths: Excellent thumb protection, customizable looks, quick break-in, flexible cuff options, mid range price tag.
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Weaknesses: Durability in stitching/fingers after extended heavy use, less direct stick feel for thumb-grippers.
For goalies who prioritize thumb safety—and let’s be honest, that should be all of us—the STX Cell VI is one of the most reliable options available.
Anyone use the STX Cell VI goalie gloves? Leave me your feedback with a comment down below.
Until next time,
Coach Damon
P.S. Anything you think is missing from this STX Cell VI goalie gloves review? Leave me a comment down below.
