Paul Hall
The right glove is certainly one of the key ingredients of good defensive performance in baseball.
It boosts your confidence on the field, makes you feel more comfortable, and helps you make plays constantly and cleanly.
However, as anyone who’s ever played baseball knows, to perform to their fullest potential, gloves need to be broken in and regularly maintained.
Especially if you want them to serve you for a long time.
The best way to make sure that your glove will thrive and last long enough that you can even pass it on to your kids is using the glove conditioner.
Still, finding the best baseball glove conditioner can be tricky, with so many different options available on the market.
To help you narrow your choice and find the right one for you, I’ve compiled the list of the best products in this category along with the pros and cons for each one.
Last update on 2023-05-15 at 22:40 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Table of Contents
Wilson Pro Stock Glove Conditioner
- Country Of Origin : United States
- The Package Height Of The Product Is 1 Inches
- The Package Length Of The Product Is 1 Inches
- The Package Width Of The Product Is 1 Inches
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Wilson have made a name for themselves as one of the leading sports equipment manufacturers and their baseball glove conditioner certainly lives up to this reputation.
It’s definitely one of the top products when it comes to extending the life of your glove, and keeping it fresh, clean, and flexible.
Pro Stock conditioner works great for moisturizing stiff old gloves, that you may have forgotten in some garage corner and bringing a new life into them.
It will even revive that characteristic leather scent that every ball player loves so much.
Made from natural materials, including lanolin and Vitamin E, and fully manufactured in the US, this conditioner brings double benefits, both softening the leather and making the glove last longer.
It’s fairly easy to use and requires nothing more than occasional light application.
Whether you’re looking to revive an old mitt or maintain your everyday glove throughout the season, Wilson Pro Stick Glove Conditioner should definitely be among the products on top of your list.
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Rawlings Gold Glove Butter
- BREAK-IN ASSISTANT | Designed to help break-in any baseball or softball glove
- SOFTENS, PROTECTS & RESTORES | Glove treatment that treats leather ball gloves without adding weight
- EASY TO APPLY | With cloth, sponge, or hands
- IDEAL FOR ALL BASEBALL & SOFTBALL GLOVES
- 2 OZ. CAN
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Gold Glove Butter from Rawlings, another major player in the baseball equipment industry, is certainly worth your consideration when looking for the best baseball glove conditioner.
A top-shelf product in every way, it’s one of the favorite conditioners of pro players and is specifically manufactured for use with high-end gloves.
The paste-based substance is great even for the finest-grade leather gloves and successfully protects, softens, moisturizes, and brings them back to life.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can’t use it with any leather baseball glove and still get excellent results.
While its intended primary use is the maintenance of softball gloves, Rawlings Gold Glove Butter will also work wonders on your baseball mittens.
The conditioner is made from synthetic materials which may turn off some users who prefer all-natural products.
However, its specially designed formula is more than likely to change their minds.
Clear in color, it will ensure that after prolonged applications, your glove will preserve its natural tone and overall appearance.
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Nokona NLT Classic Leather Glove Conditioner
- KEEP YOUR GLOVE LOOKING ITS BEST: Nokona Leather Treatment Classic Glove Conditioner is ideal for breaking in, cleaning,...
- A LONG TIME FAVORITE: Used for over 50 years, we swear by it. Unlike liquefied oils, NLT Classic will not soak into the...
- BREAKS THE GLOVE IN: Breaking in a new glove is oftentimes a long and tiresome experience. Start playing your best again...
- AMERICAN BALLGLOVES: Nokona is focused on the future, applying many of the same principles that have guided our past...
- PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS: Package contains (1) Nokona Glove Conditioner Treatment. Used for cleaning, maintaining, or...
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If you’re looking for a tried and tested product to maintain your gloves, look no further than Nokona NLT Classic Leather Glove Conditioner.
In use for over half a century, this Nokona's classic conditioner will perform with both brand-new and years-old gloves.
It shortens the break-in time and softens the gloves you’ve just bought.
However, NLT Classic also protects and prolongs the lifespan of gloves that have been used regularly for years.
In addition to this, it freshens up the glove’s appearance giving it a fresh and rejuvenated look.
Perhaps the best thing about Nokona’s conditioner is that it doesn’t soak the padding like some more liquified glove treatment products.
Made with paraffin and mineral oil and with a petroleum jelly-like consistency, it works to protect and soften the glove in a natural and safe way, with no danger to the glove’s integrity and shape.
Even though it comes in a tiny tube, the package will likely last you a while, as even the smallest amounts of conditioner can have significant effects.
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Hot Glove Cream Conditioner for Glove Maintenance and Glove Leather Care
- Hot Glove Cream Conditioner is a safe, easy, and effective way to protect and preserve your glove
- Made with Vitamin E and Lanolin which is the number 1 ingredient to preserve and soften leather
- Conditions, Cleans, and Restores in one simple step. Applies easily with a cloth or your hand
- Non-Toxic and Not Flammable and will not add weight to your glove like glove oils
- Repels rain and moisture and revitalizes leather
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Another product based on lanolin and Vitamin E, Hot Glove Cream conditioner provides an all-natural, safe, and efficient way of maintaining your regular gloves and breathing new life into old, forgotten ones.
Lanolin is the leading natural product for leather moisturizing and provides Hot Glove conditioners with a clear advantage over numerous other flammable and toxic glove treatment tools.
It’s very easy to use, non-flammable, and certain to maintain the original shape of the glove with no extra weight or soaked padding.
The Hot Glove’s product will also keep your glove from any damage in rainy and moist conditions.
Hot Glove Cream Conditioner is a part of the company’s line of glove maintenance products, so you can get all you need to care for your mitten from just one manufacturer.
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SARNA Baseball Glove Leather Conditioner
- Designed By Professionals: Baseball and softball players have very personal relationships with their gloves. Treating...
- Superior Formula: We offer a unique, top quality formula that provides constant care and conditioning for baseball...
- Premium Blend: Top quality non-wax based formula that won't clog pores, which otherwise would deteriorate leather by not...
- Non-dying and Non-darkening: Our non-dying, non-darkening formula restores moisture and pliability to frequently used...
- Safe for Use: Our formula is safe to use on all types of leather sports equipment including men's baseball and softball...
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Versatile, easy to use, and effective, SARNA Baseball Glove Leather Conditioner is more than deserving of a spot on my list.
Although primarily designed for use on baseball and softball gloves, this conditioner will bring any leather sporting equipment back to its optimal form.
During the design process, manufacturers used insight from pros and college athletes to make sure this product will answer any needs they may have regarding equipment maintenance.
The result is more than satisfactory, and SARNA's conditioner is easily in the conversation for the best baseball glove conditioner.
The manufacturing process didn’t include anything but premium materials, ensuring that your glove will keep his shape, maintain color, and remain comfortable for as long as you use it.
The non-vax formula makes sure that the condition won’t clog any leather pores, allowing the glove to breathe and stay comfortable even during a long game or practice session.
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Rawlings Glovolium XL Trigger Spray
- BREAK-IN ASSISTANT | Designed to help break-in any baseball or softball glove
- SOFTENS, PROTECTS & RESTORES | Glove treatment that treats leather ball gloves without adding weight
- EASY TO APPLY | With cloth, sponge, or hands
- IDEAL FOR ALL BASEBALL & SOFTBALL GLOVES
- 8 OZ. SPRAY BOTTLE
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Another product from Rawlings appearing on my list, Rawlings Glovolium XL Trigger Spray, as its name says, is the first glove maintenance product here in form of a spray.
Another thing that differs it from other products is that it’s an oil, rather than paste. This means that’s extremely easy to use and apply to the glove.
However, this also means that while it works perfectly for breaking in a new glove, it’s not that great when it comes to revitalizing old ones.
Still, it’s very safe, and its ingredients such as lanolin, natural emollients, and cleaning agents make sure that your glove will remain flexible and crispy clean no matter how much you use it.
While it was developed for use on softball gloves, you can freely apply Rawlings Glovolium Trigger Spray on any type of leather glove you have.
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Glovolium Baseball Glove Oil Breaking Kit
- CONVENIENT KIT FOR BREAKING IN GLOVES : With each purchase you receive one bottle of Glovolium baseball glove leather...
- FOR GLOVE BREAK-IN AND PRESERVING : The glove conditioner oil includes Lanolin and is safe for all leather gloves; This...
- BOTTLES OPTIONS: Each bottle of glove oil is a minimum of 4 ounces; The 4 oz. option is enough for multiple applications...
- GLOVE CARE CLOTH INCLUDED : Use the applicator microfiber cloth (14 x 14 inches) to apply the mitt oil for a more...
- MICROFIBER CLOTH DETAILS : Each cloth from Covey Sports is made of a high-quality microfiber that was carefully selected...
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Glovolium Baseball Glove Oil Breaking Kit from Rawlings/Tanners could be a smart choice as it includes the 4-ounce bottle of glove conditioner oil but also a Covey Sports cloth for easier application.
Based on lanoline and other natural ingredients, the oil is safe for use on any leather glove and other types of sports leather equipment.
It’s a great product that provides everything you need for breaking in the new glove and shaping it to perfectly fit your hand.
The oil can also serve as a pretty decent tool for regular glove maintenance.
The cloth that comes with the kit is made of microfiber ensuring easy and hassle-free application.
Plus, it’s washable so it can be reused as long as you need it.
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Pecard Baseball Glove Conditioner
- For all oil tanned baseball gloves
- Protects against weather damage
- Keeps leather soft and supple, prevents hardening and cracking of leather
- Will not harm stitching
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Once you first use the Pecard Baseball Glove Conditioner, it could easily become your go-to product for keeping your gloves in shape,
It works on all oil-tanned leather gloves and helps them stay supple and crisp.
Pecard's conditioner will ensure that the glove doesn’t crack or harden and that its leather fibers stay soft and flexible for as long as you plan on wearing it.
Plus, it provides protection in all playing conditions, including rain and extreme moisture.
With this product, you also won’t have to worry about the glove’s appearance as it doesn’t affect the coloration of leather or laces.
Still, you should make sure not to use it with gloves that are not made of oil-tanned leather.
It’s important to note that Pecard Baseball Glove Conditioner is also available as part of the kit that includes application cloth.
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Fiebing’s Premium Baseball Glove Oil
- Easy to use spray applicator
- Softens and aids glove break in
- Fiebing's Baseball Glove oil is a compound of neatsfoot and other beneficial oils for softening and preserving leather
- Fiebing is the leader in leather care
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Unlike most of the other manufacturers on the list who offer a wide range of sports equipment,
Fiebing specializes in leather care.
And, this product, intended for baseball glove care, more than justifies the word “premium” in its name.
It will serve you perfectly no matter if you use it on new gloves to break them in or the old ones to keep them soft and flexible.
Similar to Rawlings Glovolium XL Trigger oil, it comes with spray packaging, so even and solid application should be no issue at all.
Using Fiebing's Premium Baseball Glove Oil is quick, simple, and, above all, very effective.
Being a compound of neatsfoot and other beneficial oils, Fiebing’s product easily finds its way to all the nooks and crannies of the glove, absorbs well, and ensures speedy softening.
Plus, it’s non-toxic and perfectly safe for use.
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Difference Between Glove Oil and Glove Conditioner
Glove oil and glove conditioner serve similar purposes and both are essential if you want to have a comfortable, well-fitting, flexible, and durable baseball glove.
However, it’s important to learn the distinctions between the two and how they work to keep your glove in perfect shape.
Use
The most important difference is what they’re mainly used for. Glove oils are designed with the primary intention of helping you break the glove in.
So they’re commonly applied to brand-new gloves to reduce stiffness, make them more flexible, and shape them to better fit your hand.
On the other hand, glove conditioners work to keep your gloves in shape and maintain them during seasonal use.
They can also provide some help with breaking in but are not as impactful as oils.
So, conditioners keep the leather fresh, protect it from damage, and make it moisture resistant.
Ingredients
The main ingredients in glove oil are commonly lanolin, petroleum, and mineral oils. Glove conditioners are usually made using lanolin also, beeswax, or silicone.
This makes oils thinner which allows the leather to absorb them better.
However, this also means that frequent oil use will probably add to the weight of the glove.
How To Choose A Baseball Glove Conditioner Or Oil
When selecting a baseball glove conditioner or oil to purchase, there are a couple of things you should pay attention to.
The first factor is the ease of application.
Logically, thick conditioner balms will be much more complicated to apply than the thinner products that come in spray packaging.
This may not seem like a big deal but during regular maintenance, spreading thick conditioners can quickly become bothersome.
Another thing to pay attention to is how the oil or conditioner affects leather coloring. Some products can alter the color, usually making leather darker.
So if you’re particularly attached to the appearance of your glove, you should find the product that ensures that the color tone remains the same.
In addition, you should think about safety.
Some oils and conditioners may be flammable or have toxic ingredients, so make sure to carefully examine the label to ensure you stay safe.
How do You Break in a Glove with Glove Conditioner?
The best way to break the glove in and shape it to fit your hand is to catch as many balls with it as possible.
With more time and reps the glove will start to take a shape that fits your hand and eventually perfectly suit your hand and your playing style.
However, using glove conditioners and oil can help you speed up this process.
Before applying the product, it’s important to choose manufacturer-approved products or, at least conditioners from reputable companies such as Wilson, Rawlings, or Nokona, for example.
The conditioners and oils should be applied in a thin coating and gently rubbed on the leather in circular motions.
Using too much can lead to saturation, mess with leather’s natural properties, and, eventually ruin the glove.
Also, there’s usually no need to additionally soften the webbing as it will likely break in on its own.
So, your focus should be on the pocket and fingers of the glove.
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Conclusion
The task of shopping for the right baseball glove conditioner or oil should be taken seriously.
A failure to choose the right product may result in a poorly broken in glove that will easily get damaged and serve you much shorter than you may have expected.
So, make sure that you carefully consider your options before selecting the one that you’ll spend your money on.
Hopefully, my list will make this job a bit easier, as all products on it are worthy of your attention.
However, among all these awesome products, my vote goes to Wilson Pro Stock conditioner due to its versatility, ease of application, all-natural ingredients, and ability to revive even the stiffest glove.
