Best Baseball Glove Oils and Alternatives- Buyers and Users Guide (2023)
Nowadays, quality baseball and softball gloves can come with a hefty price tag. The next step after making such a purchase, is to make it game ready.
There are different methods used by baseball players on how to break in a new glove. One of the most popular methods is using some type of glove oil.
Making sure to break in your glove with a high quality baseball glove oil can speed up the process and make it last for years.
Lets take a look at what makes a good glove oil and which are the best on the market. Also we will discuss some advantages and disadvantages of using a glove oil as well as some alternatives. Lets find the best oil for your new glove!
What is glove oil?
Baseball glove oil is a type leather conditioner that can be used to speed up the break in process of a new baseball glove. Baseball gloves are made of different grades of animal hide, also known as leather.
When baseball gloves are manufactured, the leather is quite stiff. The glove has to go through a break in process to be able to be used for playing catch or a baseball game.
The best baseball glove oils are made from natural ingredients and sometimes a few additives such as vitamin E. The oil works by breaking down and softening the leather fibers allowing them to become more pliable.
Glove oil also helps preserve your baseball glove by keeping the leather soft and hydrated, in turn keeping a baseball glove in great condition.
What is glove oil made of?
Glove oils or leather conditioning oils are essentially made of different types of fats that have been collected, or rendered, from different types of manufacturing processes.
Most of these oils are animal by-products which are collected from other process. I have listed the two most common oil types used in the main ingredients of a high quality glove oil.
Mink Oil
Mink oil is a fat that comes from an animal know as a mink, which is in the weasel family. Minks are highly sought after for their luxurious fur.
Mink oil is rendered from the fat of a mink during the process of harvesting their fur. Mink fur can be found in clothing, medical and cosmetic products.
The oil can be found in many hand moisturizers and shoe products. The properties of mink oil allow it to restore the moisture to leather, while also repelling excessive moisture keeping them water resistant.
Many leather boot conditioners contain mink oil.
Since high end baseball glove are made of leather, mink oil can be used as a baseball glove oil during the break in process and as a glove treatment through out the season.
Here is a high quality mink oil paste from Fiebings.
Neatsfoot oil
“Neat” is an old english word that stood for cattle. Neatsfoot oil is a type of oily fat found in the legs and feet of cattle, not the hooves.
During the slaughter process, the fat is rendered during a boiling process and skimmed off the top for collection.
The fat remains a liquid at room temperature allowing it to be used for many leather conditioning purposes. In the old days Neatsfoot oil was used as a hand moisturizer.
Today Neatsfoot oil is used for many leather products including baseball gloves and horse saddles.
Here is a high quality Neatsfoot oil that can by used on different leather products.
How to properly use glove oil to break in a baseball glove.
First, I would recommend checking with your glove manufacturer about their recommended break in process.
If you decide to use glove oil to break in your leather gloves the best way is to use it sparingly. I don’t know if you have ever heard the saying, “a little goes a long way.”
For the best results, take a piece of cloth or a clean rag and apply a small amount of oil to it. Then take the rag and work it onto the surface of the glove in a small circular motions.
Be sure to get between the fingers and around the laces. Making sure to cover all of the leather parts of the glove.
The key here is to thoroughly apply to the entire leather surfaces, but with just a thin coat. One of the major drawbacks of using a glove oil is that applying to much of it can really increase the weight of the glove and also change the color.
After applying the oil, some players like to let it sit and dry with a ball inside the glove while wrapped with a rubber band. After allowing the glove to sit in a dry place, the best thing to do is play catch.
If you are unable to play catch with someone, the next best thing is to get a glove mallet and work the hinge points and the glove pocket.
The process of applying the oil shouldn’t be repeated more than a few times or you’ll risk over soaking the leather. If you do have excess oil, be sure to wipe it up with a dry unused rag.
How to use glove oil to restore an old baseball glove.
If you come across an old glove or have had a baseball glove for a long time and have never conditioned it. Chances are that the leather may be showing signs of distress.
Much like our skin when it gets dry during the winter. The leather tends to lose hydration and starts cracking.
Using oil products on old gloves can help to restore the look and feel of the leather much like it was when new.
Using glove oil on an old baseball glove is much like that of a new glove. Of course an old glove is already broken in, but the leather still needs to be conditioned.
Using the same methods as a new glove, take a rag and apply small amount of oil to the rag and then to the glove leather. Cover the glove thoroughly with a light coat and allow the glove to dry.
This can help the glove shine for many years to come.
Where can I find a high quality glove oil?
Most sporting good stores will carry a glove oil if they carry baseball or softball gloves.
However, these are cheap options and are often times not a quality glove oil.
Most of them don’t even list the ingredients.
Its best to go down to one of your local hardware stores or tack stores, if your looking for something that you can trust.
Look for a pure neatsfoot oil or mink oil.
Glove oil vs Glove conditioner
Glove oil is great for the main purpose of breaking in a new leather baseball glove.
Although it can be used to maintain a baseball glove, glove conditioner is better suited for this job.
Glove oil helps to soften the leather of the glove and prepare it for use. While a quality glove conditioner will help clean your baseball glove and also preserve the leather.
What are disadvantages of using glove oil?
There are three distinct disadvantages to using glove oil.
First, lower end glove oils that you find in sporting goods stores tend to be made of synthetic materials. These types of oils can damage your glove more than help it.
Most cheap glove oils or leather oils will not show an ingredients list on the container. Be sure to check the ingredients list before you purchase.
Second, using too much oil can leave your baseball glove feeling heavy and uncomfortable. Some players may like this feeling, but most do not.
Thirdly, if you have lighter colored leather on your baseball glove, a glove oil may change its coloration. You may want to choose an alternative product if this going to be a concern for you. Such as a petroleum based product.
What are some glove oil alternatives?
Maybe you’re not to crazy about the manufacturing process of these animal based glove oils or you want to just try something a little different.
There are some good alternatives to glove oil. Some of these being shaving cream, petroleum jelly, coconut oil and olive oil, lanolin oil.
Final Thought!
A good rule of thumb to think about is that if you take good care of your glove it will take good care of you on the baseball field. Be sure to use a good quality leather oil or a high quality alternative and you’ll be happy for years to come.
