Most high-quality baseball gloves are made from leather, and when they first roll off the assembly line, they are generally quite stiff and difficult to put on. In order to soften the glove, you will have to invest in the best baseball glove oil that you can find.
But, before we talk about the best oils and conditioners to soften your glove, it's important to understand the need for baseball glove conditioning in the first place.
Why Use Baseball Glove Oils?
Think of good quality baseball gloves as an investment. They are made from high-quality materials, usually leather, and can easily last a long while with minimal maintenance.
1. Breaking in a New Glove
However, understanding the process for breaking in leather gloves is very important. It doesn't matter if you buy the best glove on the market; you will have to break it in.
Make sure that you use the best oil for a baseball glove that you can find. You need to learn how to break in baseball gloves, because every time you buy a new one, you have to make sure that it fits right.
Leather is hard and firm in the beginning. For an average baseball player, this becomes a problem. When you use the glove the first time, creating a curved handhold will be a problem.
Thankfully, buying a decent oil for baseball gloves is not a problem. There are a whole host of different options available to help you break in a new glove.
2. Safety & Injury Prevention
When most people start playing baseball, they don't really think much about their leather gloves. They pay extra attention to their cleats or their bat, but tend to ignore things like their baseball glove.
However, this is an important part of your attire when you are on the field. Oils and conditioners aren't just helpful for breaking in your baseball glove and making it softer to use; they are also necessary for safety.
If you are not able to catch the baseball correctly, there's a strong chance that you will sprain your thumb. If the glove is hard and doesn't have a lot of give, catching will also become a problem.
The hard leather will make it difficult to curl your hand to catch the ball. By applying glove oils before use, you will be able to bring a bit of flexibility in the baseball glove.
It's also important to note that when you wear a new glove without breaking it in, there's a strong chance that your hands will become sore or bruised if it takes lots of abuse from leather gloves.
If you have just invested a decent amount of money on a new glove, you have to ensure that it is flexible enough for use in your next game. With a glove oil, you can do just that.
Difference Between Glove Oil and Glove Conditioner
To put it simply, both glove oils and conditioners are designed to help you break in a baseball glove and maintain them. While most people think the two are the same, that's actually not true.
There's actually a difference between the glove oil and baseball glove conditioner.
1. Breaking in vs Maintenance
To put it simply, baseball glove oil is designed primarily for breaking in the glove. Baseball glove conditioner, on the other hand, is made primarily for maintaining the leather gloves.
When you first buy your baseball gloves, you have to apply the oil on them. The baseball glove will become softer with time, and you will find it much easier to use.
The baseball glove conditioner can also do a similar job to that of the baseball glove oil. However, it's important to note that the conditioner won't be as effective in breaking in the gloves.
Because both oils and conditioners are designed for slightly different purposes, you should avoid using them interchangeably, especially when breaking in your baseball glove.
2. Difference in Pricing
More importantly, you have to understand that a leather glove conditioner is considerably more expensive than a standard baseball glove oil. In fact, they are perhaps some of the most expensive things that you can buy to break in your baseball glove.
There's a huge difference in price between a high-quality leather glove conditioner and leather glove oil.
However, some people claim that a top-shelf baseball glove conditioner actually works better than a glove oil. Again, it's all about personal preference.
Some players like to use the best oils for their leather gloves, often going for mink oil or others. Before you buy glove oil, it might be a wise idea to read a few reviews.
How to Break in Your Baseball Glove
The best way to break in the glove is to make use of a spray applicator in order to apply a thin coat of the glove oil on the surface. The spray applicator is an excellent choice because of how efficient it is.
1. Using a Spray Applicator
The spray applicator also allows for an even application throughout the inner surface and it's incredibly easy to use. If your baseball glove oil doesn't come with one, you can just buy an applicator separately.
The oil will soften the leather of your baseball gloves, and prevent weight gain. If you don't have an applicator, it's best to apply the thin coat of glove oil using conventional means.
Take a small piece of cloth, and apply a small amount. It's best to apply not more than a tiny amount as that's really all you need to use on the leather glove.
2. Applying the Oil
It's pretty easy to apply. Just feel for areas on the leather that are hardened and firm, and use a rubbing motion to get the glove oil on it.
It's best to use the oil on the palm first, and then move to the break point and eventually the web between the fingers. This is a simple technique to use to ensure that the glove oil is spread evenly on the first time of use.
If you use mink oil, be sure to work the oil evenly into the leather. Once you do, you can eventually work the oil on other parts, including the lining on the inside as well. This will moisturize the leather and make the glove quite easy to use.
3. Mistakes to Avoid
A common mistake that people make then applying oil to their baseball gloves is that they apply it directly. That's not a wise idea. The oil is heavily concentrated, and could leave stains behind.
Just add a small amount to a piece of cloth and then apply it. It's also important that you oil the laces to provide some moisturize to them as well.
If you fail to use the baseball oil regularly, the leather glove might start to crack over time, and the webbing is likely to become loose as well. Even the best leather baseball gloves won't last for long without adequate maintenance.
With proper application, your glove will feel more comfortable on your hand and become very easy to use every time you get out on the field.
4. Points to Remember
There are several points to remember when applying the baseball glove oil. While it's pretty easy to apply, most people make a few common mistakes. Here are a few important points to remember when applying the oil to your leather gloves.
How to Choose the Right Baseball Glove Oil
There are many things to consider if you want to get the right baseball glove oil. Here are some important things to take into account.
1. Ingredients
The ingredients used in the glove oil will tell you quite a bit about how good it is for moisturizing the leather. Always choose a lightweight glove oil so that it doesn't absorb heavily in the leather.
More importantly, it's best to buy a glove oil that's made using natural ingredients, since those prevent staining and usually work much better.
2. Ease of Application
Another important factor to consider is the ease of application. There are two common options available: spray applicators and thick balms.
Some people believe that applying the conditioner or oil through a balm is better than a spray applicator, while others swear by them.
Experts claim that balms require more of an effort in the beginning, as compared to simply spraying the conditioner. If you are traveling, the applicator is by far the best choice. You can just keep it in the bag with you.
However, this primarily depends on you. It's best if you try both methods before deciding on any one.
3. Price
Last but not the least, you have to consider the pricing. The prices vary depending upon whether you choose the oil or the conditioner, though there's not much of a difference between them.
Keep in mind that the most expensive oil is not always the most effective one.
If the cheaper one works just as well, why spend extra? For instance, the Wilson Premium is a very popular choice, and it doesn't cost a lot at all.
If you do buy an expensive one, make sure that it comes with an applicator and other supplies.
4. Water Resistance
Another thing you need to consider is the water-resistance of the oil you use. Most oils offer a mild water-repellent effect that not only extends the lifespan of your glove, but also makes catches a bit easy.
Just don't expect 100% water resistance from any of these oils. Most usually create a thin coating, like the mink oil, making them a suitable choice all around.
The Top 5 Baseball Glove Oils
Now, here are the 5 best oils that you can use with your leather glove.
1. Wilson Premium Glove Oil
The Wilson Premium glove oil is easily the best oil for baseball gloves. It doesn't cost a lot of money and was specially designed for use with catchers' mitts.
It's affordable, it's lightweight, and it comes with an applicator. You really can't ask for more. It works just as well with both new and old leather, and is also quite color friendly.
The only issue is that this oil doesn't come with a cloth, though that's not a big deal. You can use any microfiber cloth of your choice.
The Wilson Premium is the most popular choice right now for people who want an all-rounder oil that works well.
2. Wilson Pro Stock Glove Conditioner
If you have an old glove lying around and want to bring it back to life, the Wilson Pro Stock Glove Conditioner is the best choice. It is arguably the best baseball glove conditioner that moisturizes the leather thoroughly.
It's made in the USA, and works like a charm. However, it's important to realize that this conditioner won't reverse the abuse and damage that your glove has sustained over the years.
However, it will remove the stiffness from the glove and make it more comfortable to wear. It'll simply give it a new leash on life.
It's important to note that after application, you might notice the texture of the leather darkening. As long as you don't care about the color of the leather glove, this is a great choice.
The company's done an excellent job with the fragrance though; this one smells really nice. It's by far one of the best leather moisturizers available in the market.
3. Nokona NLT Classic Leather Glove Conditioner
The Nokona NLT is commonly used by experienced players from the MLB. It's been around for the best part of three decades, and is still the number one choice for people who want to bring their gloves back to life.
At first glance, you will be surprised at just how tiny the tube is. However, just use a little bit of Nokona on your gloves and you will notice the effects right away.
The glove will become softer. The oiling formula has been proven time and again, so this one is not just for removing the stiffness, but also for maintaining the shape of your gloves over a longer time period.
However, some people complain that this one adds a bit of discoloration to their gloves. If that's not something that you are concerned about, the Nokona NLT is an excellent pick.
4. Hot Glove Cream Conditioner
The Hot Glove Cream Conditioner isn't going to help you break in your glove that well. However, if you need a glove conditioner that is going to keep your gloves looking nice and clean, you really can't go wrong with this one.
The Hot Glove Cream Conditioner is safe and light-weight. It also repels moisture and rain and the key ingredients include lanolin oil and vitamin E. You don't have to worry about this oil weighing down your gloves at all.
It creates a tacky surface that greatly improves your catching as well. The mixture of lanolin and vitamin E further help in softening the glove and also helps in preserving their original shape.
5. Hot Glove Treatment Instant Glove Break-In
Whereas the Cream Conditioner is designed for maintenance, the Hot Glove Treatment is ideal for breaking in both new and old baseball mitts.
This is great for reviving your old gloves or breaking in your new ones. It's made in the USA using natural ingredients. It's also completely non-toxic and softens your gloves very quickly.
It doesn't ruin the glove at all, and there have been many very positive results reported with this one. It's incredibly cheap, so it's a pretty decent choice all around.
Conclusion
As you can imagine, there's no shortage of options available in the market for people who are interested in buying a glove oil.
If you need something to break in the gloves, go for a baseball glove oil. If you need to maintain your gloves or revive an old one, the conditioner does the trick.
However, if you want something that does both in an affordable price range, the Wilson Premium Glove Oil is an excellent choice.
Wilson is a household name in the sports industry, and this is by far the best baseball glove oil that you can buy. It offers excellent value for your money and delivers results right away.