Top 10 Best Baseball Glove Brands
I own a Pro Preferred and an A2000. In my opinion, these are two of the best gloves you can buy. Many of my friends told me that the A2000 was somewhat soft and wouldn't last as long as my Pro Preferred. So, I did some reading and found out that the mass-produced A2000s are all broken in prior to sale. So, I ended up getting a custom one and added the Pro Stiff leather.
When some people say they broke their glove in under two weeks, that tells me it will be a pancake in a year. Also, if you have a child that you are looking to buy a ball glove for, I would recommend one of the Gold Gloves made by Rawlings or a Heart of the Hide.
I have an A2000 hinged web from the '80s, and it is the best glove I've ever owned. I don't know what it is about the leather from the '70s and '80s, but this glove is not only broken in but also thick, heavy, and supple. The pocket is deep, and any ball hitting the pocket gets bounced back into the glove. It's hard to drop a ball with this glove. I sometimes think it's magic.
I've only had to restring the web and the fingers because the original strings were a little thin. But after the new strings, this glove is badass! I've had several people offer me a couple of hundred bucks for my A2000, which is over 30 years old. The 1980 A2000 is the best glove ever made.
I've owned a Mizuno MVP Series, a Rawlings Heart of the Hide, and I have used a Wilson A2000 on many occasions, but I really preferred the Mizuno, even though it was a lesser model in Mizuno's lineup. Now that I play at a higher level, I will be choosing the Mizuno Global Elite VOP as the glove I use.
The Mizuno had a better and softer inside to it, which made a big difference for me. In other gloves, my hands would start to get sweaty and make it uncomfortable. The Mizuno kept my hands dry.
I own a Mizuno Global Elite, and it is the best and most comfortable glove on this planet! Ever since I started using my Mizuno Global Elite, all the other gloves I've worn have felt so uncomfortable. With my Global Elite, I've felt so confident about myself in the field, and I've rarely made any mistakes. I'm never ever going to buy another glove from another brand again.
Hands down, Nokona is the best glove I have ever used. It feels great, offers custom options, a choice of leathers and colors, is USA-made, and you can call and talk to the factory. They offer warranties and do repairs if ever needed. I was so impressed that I bought one for myself.
Before I could leave with it, my son came up to me with another Nokona glove on his hand and said, "I really like this." He had the most serious look on his face, saying, "This is the glove!" How could I say no, knowing this glove will last a lifetime?
The most important issue to me is the warranty. None of the other glove companies offer a lifetime warranty. If your leather becomes damaged, your glove is done. So, when you buy any other glove and you spend upwards of $500, realize that if you damage the leather, there goes your money down the drain. If you want a glove for life, buy a Nokona. Nothing else is even close. Oh, and it's the last American-made glove company. Imagine that!
I purchased an Akadema catcher's glove for my son on the advice of his coach, and I must say, it is an extremely high-quality glove. I chose the Akadema glove primarily because of the padding between the thumb and index finger. My son had been experiencing pain in this area after catching. We tried using a glove insert, which provided some relief but did not completely solve the problem.
As the boys are growing older, they are encountering pitchers who throw at much faster speeds, ranging from 75-90 mph. The Akadema catcher's glove was the solution we needed. The glove functions excellently, and the internal padding is superb. My son loves it, and I would definitely recommend Akadema gloves.
The classic C2 from 44 Pro offers great leather, particularly for youth players. The level of customization is incredible. You can choose any size, color, web pattern, leather type, and even add a player's name or number. There are essentially no limits - use your imagination, and they will create it. As a very satisfied customer, I highly recommend them.
The only challenge is the break-in period, as the high-quality leather makes the glove quite stiff initially. However, if you wait for their holiday sales, you will be rewarded with a beautiful, professional glove tailored exactly to your specifications. It will be a unique, one-of-a-kind piece. We have tried the top four brands on your list, and 44 Pro surpasses them all, hands down!
I have the Omaha Pro Series 11.50, and I love it. I've had it for five years, and it's amazing. It's broken in perfectly and is a very strong glove. It has never been relaced or had any other problems. Anyone looking for a strong, comfortable glove needs a Louisville Slugger glove.
Louisville Slugger is very underrated. They produce high-quality, long-lasting gloves that both perform well and look great. They also don't have the steep price tag of other glove companies.
I have an 11.75 Flare Flex that is the best glove I have ever owned. It broke in very quickly and fits your hand perfectly. I would definitely suggest this glove if you are a utility player.
This company mainly focuses on catchers' equipment, so if you field, you'll likely want a Rawlings, Wilson, etc. But if you play catcher, the only glove you'd want is a Heart of the Hide or an All-Star CM3000. The CM3000 is the best catchers' mitt in the world, but it is $100 more than a Heart of the Hide catchers'.
This glove brand is top 6 at least. Their catcher's mitts are outstanding and last forever. Having had one for years, I still love to throw with it. It sounds great when you catch the ball, and when you form it, it stays formed. It takes a while to break in, but when you do, it's totally worth it.
The Easton 1200 baseball glove is lightweight and very comfortable to wear. My son has the Easton Titan 1100 youth glove, which is also very lightweight and comfortable. The leather is soft, so breaking in the glove is easy. It's pretty much ready to use, if you ask me. I got it at Kmart for $20.00. The price is right for me, and I am very happy with Easton. We use the glove for throwing to each other a couple of times a week.
I had a hard time choosing which Easton to buy. All are very nice gloves. Some gloves sting when you catch a ball, but not Easton. The leather is thicker on the fingers, which is outstanding. Have fun!
All these posts were clearly made prior to the release of the new Swingman Series from Nike. It's Ken Griffey Jr.'s new line. It's an exceptional glove - incredibly comfortable and made from very high-quality leather. It looks great, too.
I love my 12-inch Nike Diamond Elite Edge glove. It came basically already broken in, and three years later, it is just as great as the day I got it. Plus, it looks great.
I have owned a Nike outfield glove for a while now, and it's still looking clean and is very comfortable!
SSK is by far the best variety of gloves with awesome models and variety. Great color choices. This is a true pro model glove not only in the major leagues but in the Japanese major league as well. The standard glove is great to break in, and it comes in a soft model as well, which is still better than Nokona when Nokona gets all flimsy after a few seasons of use.
I love my SSK. I used a Wilson A2K through high school before switching to SSK, and I'll be sticking with SSK. It feels softer, more flexible, more comfortable, and has lasted just as long. It is still going strong.
Vinci gloves are second to none. I own five of them, and after my friends saw mine, most of them ordered a couple for themselves. Vinci does not skimp on materials and stands firmly behind their products. Many MLB players use and wear Vinci gloves without any compensation. They choose these gloves because they are simply the best on the market.
While brands like Rawlings, Wilson, and L.S. pay players or provide free gear just for wearing their gloves, players who choose not to sell out to the highest bidder often opt for Vinci. They prefer Vinci for the superior quality and performance the gloves offer.
I have always used Pro Preferred gloves or A2000s, but I bought a Marucci first base mitt after my Pro Preferred mitt had balls go through it after the webbing got loose (which was tightened many times until one of the laces broke). The Marucci is by far a higher-quality glove even though I purchased it because of the web design.
I bought one of these gloves at Perfect Game in Atlanta, and it is by far one of the highest quality, underrated gloves. I have owned everything from A2Ks to Heart of the Hides, but this glove is easily the best and most durable I have ever owned.
Zett gloves should not be in the 28th spot. They have much better quality than Easton or Worth gloves.
Nice quality glove. So far, it's working out well.
I own a lot of gloves, and these gloves are as nice as any A2K or Pro Preferred. The Outfield 12.75 Allout series is insane. It is an absolute tank. The 12-inch Dyersville model with its heavy oil leather and canvas back is also very sweet and can be had for $150. My son's 11.5 Caliente infield model is super thick and soft.
I also feel the inside of the Insignias is the best material out there. It is a moisture-wicking, almost rubber-type material for the palm that seems to stay intact and is very comfortable, keeping the glove in place. This glove company should be top 5, right there with the big 3 and Nokona. I believe Insignia used to make Nokona gloves and then branched out on their own.
My Rico glove is the best glove I have ever seen and used. The leather is high quality, and all of the gloves are $199. Rico gloves are exactly like 44 gloves but better. I strongly dislike the shape of 44 gloves. They don't look like a traditional glove.
A lot of my friends have 44 gloves, and when they are taking grounders, the ball just pops right out of the glove because of the poor design. Rico gloves are incredible. The glove I would compare it to is the Rawlings Pro Preferred or Wilson A2K.
My Rico was customized to my liking for a great price of $215 and arrived at my house in five weeks. It's easily the best-looking glove I have ever had, let alone seen on a field. The leather is extremely strong and very moldable. The pocket is deep as well. By far, it's the best glove on the market!
To say Capire is very underrated is an understatement. I own their lower-end "Classic" model, and if this is their lower-end glove, then I am dumbfounded. My Classic 13" model is lighter in weight than my three other brands of Kip leather gloves of the same size I own. I mean, it's not even close. I just cannot put this thing down, and my other gloves are just being neglected.
I still wonder if Capire sent me a Kip leather glove that was stamped "Classic" by mistake.
Capire Classic Series is the best baseball glove in the world. Although not too many people have heard about this brand, it's really the best glove in the world. Capire is a custom glove brand. My Capire Classic Series has very strong leather and an excellent feel. The cool thing is that it's 100% designed by myself. They offer 15 leather colors for customization. Very beautiful, very unique, only belonging to me.
Sadly, the A2000 gets all the hype as a great glove, but I believe that is only because of their marketing. I've had an A2000 and did like it very much, but it simply doesn't last, and the break-in period is quite difficult.
The Shoeless Joe glove is a great-looking glove made with the best leather and built to last. This is why the company backs their gloves with a great warranty. If you ever have an issue, just ship them the glove, and they will refurbish it to its original condition, no questions asked.
Another great attribute of this glove is that you can literally buy it off the shelf and use it that very same day. It is basically already broken in for you. Lastly, don't just go with something because everyone else uses it. Try this glove out. I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised.
I can't speak highly enough about Spalding Pro Select gloves. Full-grain Kip leather that's stiff and hard when new but breaks in soft and supple. I've always been a Rawlings guy, but these Pro Select gloves are easily a match for my HOH. I've purchased two in the last month, an 11.25 and an 11.75. If you're looking for a less expensive top-of-the-line, pro-quality glove, I highly recommend giving Spalding a try.
Spalding offers a range of baseball gloves that cater to any player, professional or recreational. They also offer products for youth team sports in their Rookie Gear line. They were the original gloves of the major leagues as well.
I've had a Boombah for three years now and just got a new Rawlings Gamer. I immediately hated the Gamer and sent it back, and I am using my Boombah. Boombah is a great glove for its price, and I highly recommend it.
Kelley gloves are awesome!
Great fit for any age player, from age 7 to 70. Over 200 different gloves to choose from. Just check them out at arlington.kelleyusa.com or visit any of the Kelley retail stores.
Great leather, great construction, great feel. Awesome glove!
Great gloves! Very durable and well-constructed!
I recently purchased a Barraza first base mitt. It's a great glove! I also own an A2000, and I have to say the Barraza beats the Wilson in my opinion. The leather is better, and the construction is top-notch. Never mind that strong leather smell! I don't remember my A2000 giving off such a fresh and strong scent.
It's definitely easier to break in compared to the A2000. I really like the web design over the traditional double-piece open design. One downfall is that the glove is heavier than the A2000, but it is also a bigger size glove. We'll see how the weights match up on the smaller glove.
I took a chance on this glove, and I'm glad I did. The price point was very attractive too. It was roughly $185 brand new, which was considerably cheaper than the Wilson. I picked up a display model without tags for $100. It was a steal! Don't sleep on this glove!
I give it a 9 out of 10.
Great glove. It has really taken a beating. I don't think you can buy them any longer. What a terrible shame.