Here Are the 8 Best Vegan Baseball Gloves

When most people hear the words “baseball glove,” they picture a leather glove. And indeed, if you go shopping for baseball gloves, you’ll quickly find hundreds of leather options.

Obviously, this doesn’t sit well with us vegan baseball players. However, there are more and more synthetic vegan options coming out all the time.

Below are the 8 best vegan baseball gloves that prove how synthetic leather can be even more robust, flexible, and durable when compared to traditional genuine leather gloves.

We’re also including a detailed buying guide below that, to help you make the right purchase!

Top 2 Glove Choices

Best Glove For Beginners: Franklin Sports Field Master Baseball Glove

Known for making reliable yet affordable baseball gloves, Franklin Sports also produces models that are vegan!

Made from premium synthetic leather, the Field Master Baseball Glove (Amazon link) is designed to mimic the performance of a real leather mitt—minus the cruelty part.

It’s also soft, lightweight, and very responsive, which makes the break-in quick and easy.

This baseball glove comes with an adjustable wrist strap to give you a proper fit. It’s available in both right and left throw versions, as well as four color options.

Pros

• Short break-in period
• Great for beginners
• Outstanding value for the money

Cons

• Not the top of the line for advanced players

Best for Serious Players: Wilson A2000 SuperSkin Baseball Glove Series

For players who don’t want to compromise on quality, the Wilson A2000 Baseball Glove (Amazon link) may be just what you need!

This glove is definitely on the higher end of the spectrum, made using the best quality possible of synthetic leather. The material is called SuperSkin, created by Wilson.

Being twice as strong as traditional leather, SuperSkin allows for long-term service. But don’t worry, it’s also half the weight to provide the ultimate freedom and flexibility.

Note that the Wilson glove isn’t 100% vegan due to the presence of a minor percentage of stock-leather. But it still offers incredible performance that you may want to try since it’s practically all vegan.

Pros

• High-quality construction
• Twice as strong as regular leather
• Pedroia Fit to accommodate players with small hands

Cons

• Expensive
• Not 100% vegan

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6 More Great Gloves

Rawlings Renegade Baseball Glove Series

Designed to suit players in all positions, this baseball glove from the Rawlings Renegade Series (Amazon link) has an impressive construction to back up its versatility claim.

The core is made using synthetic leather to ensure durability, while the pro mesh back provides optimal flexibility, balance, and shape retention.

Moreover, the built-in high-density padding adds extra protection and comfort for your palm and fingers.

This glove arrives as 90% factory break-in, meaning that you won’t have to deal with a painfully long break-in period. It’s available in right and left throw versions.

Pros

• Very lightweight
• Suitable for all positions
• Authentic design

Cons

• No color options

Franklin Sports Ready to Play Baseball Glove

The Franklin Sports Ready to Play Baseball Glove (Amazon link) is an excellent choice for all the younger players out there.

Thanks to its sturdy synthetic leather and lightweight mesh design, this glove provides maximum comfort, breathability, and stability for little athletes.

The incorporated materials are very soft to ensure a brief break-in period for quick action. The wrist features an adjustable closure to achieve a snug fit. This glove comes in multiple fun colors to suit boys and girls.

Pros

• Soft yet sturdy
• Includes a foam baseball
• Affordable

Cons

• Runs a bit big

Rawlings Players Series Youth Baseball Gloves

Sporting an arched basket-web design, the Rawlings Players Series Youth Baseball Glove (Amazon link) is an all-synthetic, vegan option that’s strong, durable, and stays in shape even after extended periods of play.

This glove is perfect for young players from ages 3 to 9. Thanks to the soft materials of the shell and lining, this baseball glove is both comfortable and flexible to help players catch the ball easier. Moreover, the added Velcro straps enable a customized fit for each player.

This glove is also available in right and left throw configurations, with an array of vibrant colors to suit all tastes.

Pros

• Holds its shape after long periods of play
• Impressive durability
• Velcro straps for an adjustable fit

Cons

• Runs a bit small

Franklin Sports Meshtek Baseball Glove and Foam

Another reliable candidate from Franklin Sports, the Meshtek Baseball Glove (Amazon link) is ideal for kids interested in learning the sport.

It features a lightweight, technical construction that makes the glove super comfortable and ultra-flexible.

In fact, the soft material used in this glove requires almost no break-in period, so it’s ready for action whenever you are. It offers left and right-hand throw options, with a selection of bright colors to liven up the field!

Pros

• Perfect for kids
• Lightweight Meshtek construction
• Bright colors

Cons

• Not very sturdy

Franklin Sports Youth Fielding Baseball Glove

Making one last stop at Franklin Sports—this brand just keeps on giving vegan alternatives and we’re all for it!

Similar to their previously-mentioned Ready To Play model, this youth fielding glove (Amazon link) is soft, lightweight, and all-around comfortable.

It’s meant for younger players, so the flexible construction will ensure easy playing.

The hand-formed pocket is designed to accommodate the delicate contours of a child’s hand to achieve a proper fit. In addition to right and left throw versions, this glove also comes in a couple of bold colors to appeal to younger athletes.

Pros

• Flashy design
• Comfortable fit
• Good stitching

Cons

• Quality is honestly not as high as some of the others

Mizuno MVP Prime SE Gloves

Last but surely not least, the Mizuno MVP Prime SE Gloves (Amazon link) are made from bio-leather. The term may give you the impression that genuine leather is used, but bio-leather actually consists of plant fibers (although traces of real leather may be used).

Other than the material, the Mizuno glove has a pattern design that naturally centers the pocket under your index finger to guarantee high versatility when it comes to break-in.

Also, the patent-pending heel flex technology delivers a more forgiving feel for a boost in feel and overall performance.

Complete with an ultra-soft lining and a sturdy edge lace design, this baseball glove makes a solid choice for any serious player.

Pros

• Made from bio-leather
• Incredible attention to detail
• Suitable for serious players

Cons

• Pricey
• May not be 100% vegan

The Anatomy of a Baseball Glove

Before we dive into the various features of vegan baseball gloves, let’s explore the anatomy of a baseball glove so you can have a better understanding of the terms and details we’ll be discussing.

Any baseball glove, be it vegan or not, consists of 4 main parts: the webbing, the fingers, the palm, and the heel. Here’s a basic explanation of each one:

• Webbing – the area between your thumb and fingers is called the webbing. In some models, the webbing is tightly woven, while in other designs it’s left open. This depends on the player’s position and preference.

• Fingers – a baseball glove wouldn’t be complete without the fingers. These extensions provide secure housing for your fingers and thumb.

• Palm – also known as the pocket, the palm is the center of the baseball gloves that you use to catch the ball.

• Heel – this part is found below the palm, just above the point where your hand meets your wrist.

How to Choose a Vegan Baseball Glove

When shopping for leather-free baseball gloves, you need to make sure you’re buying a product that fits your unique requirements. Here are the most important factors to consider:

Throw / Handedness

First things first, pick the right type of throw. The type of throw (sometimes called handedness) means the hand you use for throwing, rather than the hand that wears the glove.

Once you figure out which hand feels more comfortable to throw the ball with, you can buy a glove that’s specifically designed for your handedness:

• Right-hand Throw Gloves – worn on the left hand, RHT gloves are meant for players who throw with their right hands. The RHT gloves are often unlabeled for handedness, or simply labeled as “normal.”

• Left-hand Throw Gloves – these gloves are designed to let you throw with your left hand and catch with your right hand. LHT gloves are almost always labeled as such since they’re not the standard.

Material

After determining your throw, it’s time to think about the material used. This aspect can be frustrating for vegans because the majority of baseball gloves (whether high or low end) are made using genuine leather.

To find vegan alternatives, we must turn to baseball gloves made of synthetic leather.

Admittedly, artificial fabrics such as PU and PVC aren’t the ideal solution since they aren’t exactly environmentally friendly. However, synthetic leather is still the best bet for vegan players due to the lack of baseball glove options made from truly sustainable fabrics at this time.

Pocket Size

Smaller pocket size is suitable for fast releases while larger pockets are more fit for secure catching.

Padding

Extra padding offers better comfort for frequent catching and long wear, whereas less cushioning lets you respond easier after the catch.

Webbing

Closed webs are good for pitchers since they conceal the pitcher’s grip and surprise the batter. They also offer extra support if needed.

On the other hand, open webs provide more flexibility and freedom in the field. They’re particularly useful for outfield players to swiftly track ground balls and floating balls without picking up dirt.

Backing

Similar to webbing, a closed-back glove allows for extra wrist support, while an open back glove gives you more flexibility.

Wrist Adjustments

These are necessary to help you adjust the fit of your glove. Most vegan baseball gloves feature Velcro or D-ring fastening mechanisms for this purpose.

Position

Your position as a player can play a huge role in deciding the kind of baseball glove you end up buying. This is especially true if you’re serious about the game. But if you’re just starting out or you play multiple positions, it’s a good idea to stick to a more versatile glove.

To help you make a better-informed choice, here’s a simple breakdown of baseball gloves by position:

• Catcher – if you’re playing catcher, you should wear baseball mitts rather than conventional gloves to provide extra protection. Unlike gloves, mitts don’t have fingers that are cut separately. They also featured additional padding to absorb energy from the impact of fastballs. Mitts come with deep oval-shaped pockets and closed webbing to boost durability.

• Pitcher – pitchers do a lot of catching on the field, so they need gloves that are large yet lightweight for maximum agility and comfort. Pitcher’s gloves feature wide, deep pockets with closed webbing to enable the player to adjust hand positions without giving away the pitch.

• First Base – since first basemen are needed to act in crucial baseline moments, they require gloves with a large pocket area to make catching easier and to provide extra flexibility when scooping balls up off the ground.

• Infielder and Third Base – for infielders, the gloves should be shorter with shallow pockets to facilitate the release of the balls during fast throws. So an open webbing is the best option here. But if you’re playing third base, closed webbing is a better idea to deliver additional support for catching hard hits.

• Outfielder – as an outfielder, long gloves with open webbings and deep pockets will allow you to freely and quickly catch, release, dive, and run.

Wrap Up

Choosing a vegan baseball glove can take some consideration. That being said, I would definitely recommend the Franklin Sports Field Master Baseball Glove (Amazon link) as a reliable option for beginners. It’s soft, sturdy, and most importantly, a bang for the buck!

If you’re more on the serious side, you may want to look into the Wilson A2000 SuperSkin Baseball Glove (Amazon link). It has impressive durability and professional feel—the main downside, of course, is that it’s not actually fully vegan!

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