The Best Baseball Glove (Guide) – 2017 Reviews

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Baseball Glove Review GuideThere are dozens of brands of baseball gloves on the market today. It’s easy for customers to get paralyzed by choice. If you don’t do some research before your purchase, then you run the risk of overpaying for a glove that is going to fall apart in a few months.

We want to rid you of that headache and provide you with a guide that not only compares the top 10 gloves on the market, but also the three best baseball gloves at three different price points.

Compare: The 10 Top Rated Baseball Gloves of 2017

What are the Different Types of Baseball Gloves?

Contents

Mostly everyone knows that a baseball glove is what baseball players wear to field the ball on defense, but some people don’t know there are different types of glove for each position. The palm of a catcher’s mitt is more padded in the palm to handle the impact of pitches hitting the glove. A first basemen’s glove is shaped like a catcher’s mitt without the heavy padding. It is also longer at the web to scoop errant throws.

A pitcher can technically use any glove style, but the best option is the closed web. This is better for hiding the ball to prevent you from tipping your pitches. Infielders use shorter gloves with a shallow pocket that allows them to field ground balls and get rid of them quickly. Finally, the outfielder’s glove is longer than the infielder’s glove and has a deeper pocket made for catching fly balls.

What are the Advantages of Owning a Quality Baseball Glove?

The three brands we’ll be reviewing are Rawlings, Easton, and Wilson. These are three of the most trusted brands in the industry, meaning you’re guaranteed to get a quality glove. The most noticeable difference between gloves of this caliber and the knockoff brands is they will last you from season to season. When you take durability into account, you realize the higher price point isn’t just for the brand name.

Who are the Contenders for the Best Baseball Glove?

The Rawlings GG Gamer Series is the best cheap baseball glove on the market. This glove is made from pro-grade Tennessee leather and can be found in infielder, outfielder, catcher, and first basemen models. The standard model has three selections of web type, which are basket, trapeze, and the V web.

The Easton BX1300B gives you the best value for the price. This glove is part of Easton’s Black Magic series, and the black leather goes along with the theme. Depending on the size you want, it can be found for a very low price. This is a glove designed and priced for the recreational player. Customers who have purchased this glove say it breaks in quick and catches well, which gets the job done just fine for the casual player.

If you want the best glove no matter the price, then your best bet is the A2000 from Wilson. Pay attention to the gloves of the players next time you watch a professional baseball game and you’re sure to see the A2000 logo on a handful of gloves or more. This glove is priced relatively high, but keep in mind this glove will last you multiple seasons and require minimal maintenance.

Considerations for Choosing the Best Baseball Glove

There are a few main features you should consider when deciding which of these gloves is the best fit for you. These features are functionality, durability, Aesthetics, and price. How the glove performs, how long it lasts, and how much you like its design are the key factors in determining which price point is right for you.

Functionality

Functionality covers anything regarding how the glove performs. This includes things like web type, pocket shape & depth, and how easy the glove is to break in. The pocket of the glove has different functions for different positions. If you’re looking for an infield glove, then you want a shorter glove with a small and shallow pocket. This makes fielding grounders and transferring the ball from glove to hand virtually seamless. On the other hand, you want a glove with a deeper pocket and longer length if you plan on playing outfield. Professional players who play multiple positions have a glove specifically for each position.

Durability

Durability is the most important factor in determining whether the price of a glove lines up with the value. For example, a glove priced at $20 seems like a no-brainer if you go on price alone. Once you consider this glove will probably last through a month or two of heavy use, you realize you’d need three or four to play an entire season. Gloves priced in the $200 range may be expensive, but they can last you two or three seasons minimum. Customer reviews are the best source for determining a glove’s true shelf life.

Aesthetics

Aesthetics covers things that relate to how the glove looks but don’t have much to do with function. When it comes to baseball gloves, color scheme is the most popular aesthetic. Many players want to match their glove to the color scheme of their team’s uniform. The best baseball gloves realize this growing demand and provide their customers with multiple color selections.

Price

Functionality, Durability, and Aesthetics all factor in when determining the if the price of the glove matches the value. Price is one of the biggest factors simply because it depends largely on how much the customer is willing to spend. For baseball gloves, the more expensive gloves last much longer and are made from materials of a higher quality. The more expensive gloves are also more likely to break in quickly, so they are a better option for a mid-season replacement than the cheapest option.

Functionality

Rawlings GG Gamer Series

The Rawlings GG Gamer Series comes in two main web types. The basket web offers the strongest web with its interlocking laces and reinforced bar going across the top. The laces connect at the fingers to give the glove maximum strength. The Trap-Eze webbing is favored by shortstops and pitchers for its snagging capabilities.

Easton BX1300B Baseball Glove

The Easton BX1300B offers the best pocket security, as the web lacing is completely latticed. It also has a velcro strap that keeps the glove securely on the hand. It also has a finger pad for those who prefer to play with their pointer finger extended outside of the glove. This is a great glove for outfielders.

Wilson A2000 Baseball Glove

The A2000 is the best when it comes to functionality. Wilson crafted this glove in response to opinions of professional players, which is why it is so favored among professionals today. Its H-Web design makes getting the ball out of the glove a breeze. This makes it a great choice for infielders. The pocket also hides the ball well for those who are in the market for a pitching glove.

Durability

Rawlings GG Gamer Series

The GG Gamer Series is made with pro-quality lace and leather and are manufactured in the USA. The pocket leather has the softness of professional models. This makes it last longer than other models in its price range. This also speeds up the break-in process.

Easton BX1300B Baseball Glove

The full-lattice design of the BX1300B’s web makes it much more durable than a glove at this price should be. Usually, the issue with gloves in this price range is the laces in the pocket will give out and open the pocket. This can’t happen with the lattice design.

Wilson A2000 Baseball Glove

The Wilson A2000 is a pioneer when it comes to durability. It has Pro Stock(TM) leather that make this glove able to withstand multiple seasons of heavy use. It also uses Dual Welting(TM) technology for the webbing to ensure the laces never give out. This glove pays for itself once you realize you won’t have to buy a replacement for a few seasons.

Aesthetics

Rawlings GG Gamer Series

The Rawlings GG Gamer Series is known for its signature all-black colorway. The only color is the red Rawlings logo on the wrist. This is a great choice for those looking for a minimalist design. It also goes well with all uniform colors. For those who don’t like black, this glove also comes in tan. The downside is this raises the price.

Easton BX1300B Baseball Glove

The Easton BX1300B won’t win any contests in the aesthetics department, but its black colorway make it go well with any uniform. At the price of this glove you can’t expect much in terms of aesthetic variety. This glove’s value lays in its functionality and durability.

Wilson A2000 Baseball Glove

This glove comes in a beautiful light beige that contrasts nicely with the dark tan of the infield dirt. It has black lacing and a black Wilson logo with red lettering on the wrist. The A2000 logo that goes up the finger closest to the web is a status symbol. People see a professional glove and assume that player has some serious skill.

Conclusion: Our Best Baseball Glove Reviews are in

The Rawlings GG Gamer SeriesRawlings GG Gamer Series- Best Cheap

Pros

The biggest pro of this glove is its quality. You get the quality of a professional glove at mid-level pricing. Paying $77.00 for a glove that lasts an average of two seasons breaks down to $40 a season, which is a great value for this caliber of glove.

Cons

The biggest downside purchasers of this glove have reported is it still feels a bit stiff when broken in. If you’re looking to use your glove right away, then you may want to purchase a glove conditioning product to speed up the process. There is also limited variety when it comes to color, and it is a turn off that the tan colorway costs nearly $20 more.

The Easton BX1300BEaston BX1300B- Best for the Money

Pros

The biggest pro of this glove is by far the price. The best part is you get a glove that actually performs quite well. The lattice web makes it capable of lasting beyond one season, which is remarkable for a glove in this price range.

This is the best option for the casual baseball fan. If all you want is a glove to have a catch with the kids outside, then the BX1300B is your best bet.

Cons

The only real con of this glove is the selection of colors. This glove only comes in the black colorway, but this can be overlooked considering it is such a durable glove at an excellent price.

The A2000 from WilsonWilson A2000- Best Baseball Glove Overall

Pros

The Wilson A2000 is by far the best glove on the market. This is not a company that pays athletes to use their average products so they can overcharge the average customer. Wilson worked with professional baseball players while designing this glove. Any professional who uses their gloves does so because they are the best.

The quality of this glove is unmatched. The fact that they have trademarked designs for their leather and webbing style show they are innovators of the baseball glove industry. This glove makes the cut as the best glove overall because it can last you several seasons.

This glove is also one of the most customizable gloves on the market. If you order through the Wilson website, then you can select custom color schemes and embroideries.

Cons

The one real downside of this glove is the price. ThisĀ glove is out of the price range of the casual baseball player looking for a new glove. With that being said, the price tag is definitely worth the value.

All in All

When it comes to buying the best baseball glove, the final and most important factor is you. If you are a true baseball enthusiast, then you should treat yourself to the A2000. On the other hand, the Rawlings or Easton are your best bet if you are more of a casual player. No matter which glove you choose off this list, you are guaranteed to get a quality product.