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 my that the a2000 was some what soft and wouldn't last as long as my pro preferred. So I did some reading and found out that the mass produced a2000 are all broke in prior to sale. So I ended up getting a custom one and added the pro stiff leather. Now when some people say they broke their glove in, in under two weeks that tells me that 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 rec-amend one of the gold gloves made buy rawlings or a heart of the hide.
At this level of quality, Rawlings and Wilson are neck and neck. I personally prefer the heart of the hide but Wilson has many great colors and specs, too. The way to break in a glove is to play catch. Put a fair amount (more than usual) of lanolin based glove conditioner on when you first get your new glove and throw into it with a weighted ball. At night, put a little bit more in and put a softball in it and wrap it around with a belt repeat this but without the glove conditioner after a couple of days. For some reason, Wilson really pushes for the hot water method, which is a better way to speed up the process, but still the water messes up your leather. Only do the hot water method if you're willing to get a new glove every year. Never put your glove in the microwave nor steam it. If you really insist, then out on a protectant so your glove won't totally die, but the heat in these two methods KILLS your glove. I also don't recommend using non lanolin based oil or conditioner. Like ...more
Been playing professionally since 2007 and I've used Mizuno Pro, Wilson A2000, Nike Pro, and Rawlings heart of the hide and Rawlings Pro Preferred. I've played all over the world and have tried different brands from everywhere... Rawlings Pro Preferred is the best glove on the market. The leather quality, the glove shapes, patterns of web, feel during a game and life span of the product makes it the best. Rawlings won me over after years of blood sweat and tears on and off the field and anyone who plays seriously needs a serious piece of leather to match. Don't take my word for it... try it.
I have hade many Rawlings gloves. I have had 3 to this date and the 4th to come. Rawlings has very durable leather. The one I have now I have been using for 3 year. I play AAU, Middle School, Babe Ruth and their All Stars. I have played well over 125 games with this glove, and it looks like new and never had to be re-lace it before. But Rawlings just doesn't just have some of the finest gloves, there bats are great and are comparable to TPX, Easton, and more. But that is not only coming from me but from some of the top collages in the US. Overall, I think Rawlings is the best Glove brand out their and will be for a while.
I have an A2000 hinged web from the 80s and it 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 thick heavy and supple. The pocket is deep and any ball hitting the pocket gets bounced back into the glove. 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 hundred bucks for my A2000 which is over 30 years old.
1980 A2000 best glove ever made.
I think Wilson's are by far the best. They are super good looking and perform amazing. I have a custom a2000 and love it. The a2k is also amazing and the leather is great. I would recommend using conditioner on the laces because they are not the best. I think it's also really cool that the Wilson brand uses things like YouTube and Instagram more that other companies. That is how I decided which model to get. It is really cool that they do this because they can answer questions and watching their videos really makes you want to get one of their gloves. Overall, I think Wilson is the best.
I have had 2 Mizuno glove and a Rawlings Sandler outfielder glove. After I had my second Mizuno glove break mid season on me I stopwd getting their gloves. As I am in middle school I don't want to have to spend 200 plus on a baseball glove, and I don't plan to play that much in high school. I bought a Wilson a800 optima for $89. The Optima broke in within a week of which each day apon returning from school I played catch with it and pounded it with a ball. UT broke in so quick that I was worried the leather would not hold up for that long. The pocket was really shalom at first and hard to catch with but in a few days after it broke in the pocked became deeper, still shallow enough to transfer well with but deep enough to catch the ball in. The glove held up for the rest of the season and for many nights playing catch with friends. The glove has shown no signs and wear after 3/4 of a season, which was no surprise due to the high quality leather it was made of.
I have owned many different baseball gloves including the A2k, a2000, rawlings pro preferred, rawlings heart of the hide and the nokona blood line. I would put the A2K far above all of these others. If I had no price limit then I would definitely get this glove due to the top of the line leather, the deer skin lining and the superior factory shape. Many people I know like to buy the a2000 because you can get them in any color of the rainbow however I found that the leather dried out and the color faded very fast, even while I was applying Wilson a2000 glove butter. I f your price range is around one hundred then I would recommend the mizuno MVP. but whatever decision you make don't spend less than one hundred dollars because it will be a piece of crap
I've owned a Mizuno MVP Series, 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. Now I play at a higher level and I will be choosing Mizuno Global Elite VOP as the glove I use. The Mizuno had a better and softer inside to it and it made a big difference for me, as in the 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 gonna buy another glove from another brand ever again.
All of my mizuno gloves fit and break in to form my hand, and the game like affect that enables you to be quick on releases makes this brand a must buy. I have a Wilson A2000 that is good, but no mizuno pro limited series. Even the cheaper gloves are great.
I've owned other, cheaper gloves but my mizuno GFN 1250, 12.5 in. Glove felt/ still feels better than any glove I've ever worn. Thank you Larry "chipper" Jones for opening my eyes to mizuno brand gloves. My son or daughter will own one when I reproduce offspring laugh out loud.
Hands down Nokona is the Best Glove I have every used. Feels great, custom options, choice of leathers, colors, USA made, can call and talk to factory, warranties, and they do repairs if ever needed. I was so impressed, 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". But, he had the most serious look on his face, "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 if $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 collect gloves for a hobby, and by far the most I have in my collection are Nokona's with 20. The overall fit and finish is a combination old school feel and current tanning technology in steer, buffalo, & kangaroo. They don't market worth a lick so no pro's on contract but they are still superior gloves. Light on the palm padding unless your order them up with palm padding.
I have a Nokona catcher's mitt made of kangaroo leather I bought in the early 90's. It has gotten a ton of use and still looks fantastic, has held it's shape, and has never needed repairs. It was in game ready shape when I bought it and has never failed me. It is simply the best glove out of the more than 60 I have from all eras and manufacturers.
I bought my son an Akadema catcher's glove on the advice of my son's coach. I must say, extremely high quality glove. The reason I bought the Akadema glove is because of the padding between the thumb and index finger. My son had been complaining that the area between his thumb and index finger was hurting him after catching. We tried a glove insert and that helped a little bit, but did not solve the problem. As the boys are getting older, the speeds at which the pitchers pitch is getting much faster. He now catches for pitchers throwing 75-90 mph. The Akadema catcher's glove was the cure. The glove functions great and the padding inside is superb. My son loves it. I would definitely recommend Akadema gloves.
Akadema is not a mass-producer of gloves relying on marketing and paid sponsors. What they do is build a fantastic glove with the lightest, tightest grain leather you will find. It feels like it should cost twice as much as it does. Everyone I know who uses an Akadema, will NOT use any other glove afterwards. They just perform unbelievably well on the field, look and feel great, and are sturdy but light. It feels like you're wearing a $1000 piece of high end fashion accessory. The Torino line in particular uses Italian Kip Leather from baby cows. It is SO supple, matte, and tight grained. Just like a second skin that grips balls like glue. It has barely any noticeable weight to it, does not slide around on your hand, and stays soft and supple while keeping its shape like it was custom fitted to your hand.
Hands down Akadema gloves are the best. Awesome customer service from the company and extremely high quality gloves that last. If you are serious about baseball or softball then it's time you stepped up to the quality gloves Akadema makes. Other glove manufacturers make decent gloves too, but tend to flood the market with so many models that it's hard to tell which ones are good and which are entry level models with a low price tag that are just there to entice you to buy that product. Wilson, Rawlings and Mizuno expect to sell 100,000 gloves this year and don't really care if you are satisfied with the glove. Akadema is happy to sell a fraction of that and want you to be completely satisfied with their product. All of their baseball and softball products are head and shoulders above the rest.
Akadema might not currently be one of the kings of gloves (wilson rawlings and mizuno with nokona close behind) but in the next 5-10 years akadema may very well be. However, akadema has to stop cancelling series over and over and over. Akadema also has to recreate their glove's desig because their is little padding and their gloves get floppy. I would love to see akadema coming out with a high-quality steerhide glove to rival Heart of the hide and a2000 so we wont have to buy a custom glove to get high quality steerhide. Lastly and most importantly, Akadema needs to make itself known. You rarely ever see them in stores and although they have many great gloves they don't sell nearly as much because no one knows about them. Akadema is still a great glove company and you should check them out.
Great leather on the classic C2 for youth players. Customization is off the hook! You could make any size, color, web, leather, add players name and or number. Basically no limits use your imagination and they'll make it! Very happy customer! Break in is the only challenge because the leather is very good and that makes for a very stiff glove initially. Wait until they have holiday sales and you will be rewarded with a beautiful professional glove the way YOU want it! A unique one of a kind! We've had the top 4 on your list and 44 by far tops them hands down!
44 Pro is a great company which I found on Instagram I ordered my catchers mitt and infield glove from them. Great quality leather for a great price. I play college baseball and let me tell you I make a lot of other players turn and look at my glove!
I found out about 44 pro gloves on twitter, so my buddy and I got one, we are both college players and we love the quality of these gloves. I was skeptical because of the cheap price, but these are not cheap made gloves at all.
I just ordered my first 44 pro and am not disappointed I was looking to get an a2000 when I stumbled upon 44 pro and I'm so glad I did. They are amazing quality with prices that can't be beat. I would puck this over any Wilson Any day
I have the Omaha Pro series 11.50 and I love it. I have had it for five years and it is amazing. It is broken in perfectly and it is a very strong glove. It has never been relaced or have any other problems with it. Anyone looking for a strong comfortable glove need 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 a 11.75 Flare Flex that is the best glove that I have ever owned. It broke in very quick, and it fits to your hand perfectly, I would definitely suggest this glove if you are a utility player.
Best Glove! 10x better then Mizuno and Nokona! Rawlings is probably the best glove you can buy but 2nd is Flare by Louisville Slugger. These 2 brands take baseball to a whole new level!
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 a $100 more than a heart of the hide catchers.
This glove brandis top 6 at least. Their catchers mitts are outstanding and last for forever. I, having had one for years, still love to throw with it. It sounds great when you catch the ball, and when you form it, it stays formed. Takes a while to break in, but when you do, it's totally worth it.
Mostly make Catcher gear and mitts. Apparently they made fielder gloves in the 70s and 80s. I have a 11.5 allstar system seven. Took tome to break in but is now my favourite glove fits bigger than an 11.5 A2K which is smaller than just about every other brand of the same size
Extremely high quality leather for half the price of a Wilson A2k or Rawlings Pro-preffered. You cannot go wrong with one of these gloves
Easton 1200 baseball glove is light weight and very comfortable to wear. My son has the Easton Titan 1100 youth glove which is also very light weight and comfortable. Leather is soft so breaking the glove in its pretty much ready to use if you ask me. Kmart for 20.00 the price is right for me very happy with Easton. We use the glove for throwing to each other couple times a week. Had a hard time chosing which Easton to buy all very nice gloves. Some gloves sting when you catch a ball not Easton the leather is thicker on the fingers which is outstanding. Have fun!
Great gloves. Mako limited edition is top of the line in quality and feel. Son uses youth Mako and loves it.
Just got a stealth speed STX13 and it is the best glove that I have ever used!
Easton has helped my performance with my hitting, the light bat got me my first homerun and it was a walk- off homerun.

All these posts were clearly posted prior to the release of the new Swingman series from Nike. Its Ken Griffey Jr's new line. Its an exceptional glove. Incredibly comfortable and made from very high quality leather. It looks badass, too.
I love my 12 inch Nike Diamond Elite Edge glove. Came basically already broke 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 its still looking clean and its still very comfy!
Nike has great gloves that feel smooth and easy to break in. It fits my hand at a great price!
Ssk is by far the best variety of gloves 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 and still going strong.
SSK's gloves are the real deal. They provide the same gloves that the pros use unlike other companies who imitate the pro gloves.
The custom gloves are awesome! Get to choose the exact design you want for only $220 dollars, it's a major steal!
Vinci gloves are second to none. I own 5 of them and after my friends saw mine most of them have ordered a couple for themselves. They don't skimp on materials and they stand behind their products. There are MLB players using and wearing Vinci gloves and they don't get compensated to do so. They wear them because they are simply the best glove out there! So while Rawlings, Wilson and L.S. pay players or give them free gear just to wear their gloves, the players who don't sell their soul to the highest bidder go with Vinci and the best product available.
Great customer service, some the most comfortable leather on the market, expert craftsmanship, and attention to ever changing consumer wants is what sets this company apart. They provide beautiful gloves at an affordable price and spare nothing to make it one the most comfortable gloves you will ever wear. If you are on the fence, don't be. The 22 series is great for the cost conscious buyer, but for the extra dough, the kip leather gloves are phenomenal. You will not want to go anywhere else.
I have tried Mizuno, Kelley and Nokona. In my opinion; Vinci makes a superior glove. Not only that; but they listen to their customers and work with them. You don't get any run around. They stand behind their gloves 100% and customer satisfaction is second to none. Skeptical? Check them out for yourself at VinciPro or go to SoftballFans and do some reading. Better yet; play with one and find out why Vinci owners love their gloves.
Vinci is amazing. Great company. Craftsmanship and customer service are exceptional. I've had a Vinci softball glove for 7 years and still love it. My step daughter had 2 so far. A fast pitch catchers mitt and first basemans glove. The softball gloves are amazing and don't feel like baseball gloves with larger pockets. Also have 3 pair of their sunglasses. That way I never have to settle for just one color
I have always used pro preferred gloves, or A200's but I bought a Mizuno first base mitt after my pro preferred mitt had balls go through it after the webbing would get loose (which was tightened many times until one of the laces broke). And 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 A2K's to Heart of the Hides but this glove is the easily the best and most durable I have ever owned
Marucci is probably #4 or #5 on that list. Very good quality gloves.
Needs to be higher on the list!
Zett gloves should not be on the 28 spot. Much better quality than Easton or Worth gloves.
Nice quality glove, so far it's working out.
I own a lot of gloves, these gloves are as nice as any a2k or pro preferred, the outfield 12.75 allout series is insane, it is a absolute tank. The 12 inch dyersville modle with its heavy oil leather and canvas back is also very sweet and can be had for 150 bucks. My sons 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 moister wicking almost rubber type material for the palm that seems to stay intact and is very comfortable and keeps glove put. 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 here own.
Great quality glove with great patterns and different colors. Also the glove is made in completely in the U.S! They list exactly where each component of the glove comes from. You can also order a custom glove and receive it 10 days.
Awesome glove that is very durable. Use for infield, outfield, and pitcher. I love this mitt. Very cool designs. Best glove to buy. The buffalo hide is very nice.
Awesome glove that is very durable and last a long time. Very cool designs! The buffalo hide is amazing. I recommended this glove for everybody. Great mitt.
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 the are taking grounders the ball just pops right out of the glove because of the poor design. Rico gloves incredible gloves. The glove I would compare it to is Rawlings pro preferred or wilson A2K.
My Rico was customized to my liking for a great price of $215 and was at my house in 5 weeks. Easily the best looking glove I have ever had let alone see on a field. The leather is extremely strong and very moldable, the pocket is deep as well. By far the best glove on the market!
Can't beat a Rico. Great customizing for a great price. My son has Wilson a2000 infielders glove and a Rico outfielders glove. Both are great but like the Rico better. For the price can customize to any color or size you want.
I bought a Rico and it was very high quality for the price. I think this glove is a Top 5 brand especially for the leather you receive. I am getting another one soon in the Rico Select series horween leather.
To say Capire is a very under-rated an under statement. I own there lower end "Classic" model and if this is their lower end glove then I am dumb-founded. My Classic 13" model is lighter in weight then my 3 other brands of Kip leather gloves of the same size I own. I mean it is not even close. I just can not 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 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 ans excellent feel. The cooling thing is that it's 100% designed by myself. They offer 15 leather colors for customization. Very beautiful, very unique, only belong to me.
Best custom options around! Check out their website, design a glove and you will see why they are the best! You get better custom options for half the price of Wilson or Rawlings! Pro44 is Capire's red headed stepchild!
Capire is very much like 44 Pro, only they are more expensive. I look at what you can get kip leather for. 44 Pro sells a custom kip leather glove for $200, Capire sells theirs for $299. Big price gap there. Good quality, but Capire is pricey
Sadly the A2000 gets all the hype as a great glove, but I believe that is only because of their marketing. I've had a 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, thus the reason the company will actually back 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 with this glove is 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 that is what everyone else uses try this glove out I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised.
I bought a Shoeless Joe glove on a whim despite never having heard of the brand before. I bought the 13" outfield model and use it to play softball. I am very pleasantly surprised by the quality. It's held up well for the last 3-4 years I've had it, and for what I paid, it's an absolute bargain.
I have the 11.5 I Web and it is the best glove I have ever had. Broke it in very quickly and the look is classic. Plus, the quality is great and it feels so right when you put it on. Highly recommend their gloves and will defitnitley buy another one in the near future. Their gloves are addicting.
I bought the catchers mitt five years ago, and I'm still using in two adult leagues. I've owned and used other brands, but this is by far the best. With the top quality leather the glove is game ready when you first use it.
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 first original glove of the major leagues as well.
I think spalding should be up there on the list.
I've had a boombah for 3yrs now and just got a new Rawlings gamer the gamer I immediately hated and sent it back and am using my boombah. Boombah is a great glove for its price and I highly recommend it
Just got a new BB glove. going to give a few weeks to know if I chose a winner?!
Not sure where you are finding 200 different gloves to choose from. I only see their gloves being offered in one color, natural tan leather. Still, they look like good quality gloves
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 go into any of the Kelley retail stores.
Great leather, great construction, great feel. Awesome glove!
Great Gloves! Very durable good construction!
Recently purchased a Barrazza first base mitt. Great glove! I also own an A2000 and I have to say the Barrazza beats out the Wilson in my opinion. The leather is better and construction is top notch. Never mind that strong leather smell! Don't remember my A2000 giving off that fresh and strong of a 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 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 also. Roughly 185 brand new which was a considerable amount cheaper than the Wilson. I picked up a display model without tags for 100 bucks. It was a steal! Don't sleep on this glove!
I give it a 9 out of 10.
Made in Mexico, these gloves blow A2000, and A2k's outa the water! My A2k's brand new barely hinted of leather shen they arrived, the original Rolin/Barraza gloves (I ordered four) made my house smell like 10 cowboys with let her chaps carrying their leather saddles and saddle backs came I to my house! Haven't smelled leather like this since my folks took my to a leather shop in Wyoming! Not only does the glove smell and feel better, it holds its shape and the one I ordered "broken in" was game ready and didn't cost me any more! Half the price of an A2k or HOH. Remember the true Rolin/Barraza has a "b" patch on it!
I own high end Wilson and Rawlings gloves, and my Rolin is every bit as good or maybe slightly better constructed. Extremely well made with the strongest laces I have ever encountered. It was a little stiff when I got it, but has broken in nicely, maintaining it's shape while loosening up.
Great value for the money.
This gloves are build to last! You will get bored of your glove before it tears apart, besides you can customize it from bottom to top. Definitely the best choice you can make!
Great glove... It has really taken a beating. I don't think you can buy them any longer. What a terrible shame.