Leatherwork gloves are arguably one of the most important accessories to have if you’re working full-time.
Not only do they make the whole job comfortable, but they’re also a great tool to have around to ensure and maximize user safety.
Hence, when it comes to getting a new pair, one of the most major concerns is they not fitting properly.
However, if you’re acquainted with the process, you might have noted that this is something that rarely happens on its own.
To make the most out of the new pair, you have to break into your leather work gloves.
This process isn’t that hard in itself but can get quite overwhelming if not addressed properly. I’m here to change that for you.
In this segment, I’ll recommend my best tips and tricks that will help you easily break into your leather gloves and get started with work right away. Let’s get after it!
Breaking Into Your Gloves
Breaking into your leather gloves isn’t as hard as you might be thinking. Now, I’ll take you through the steps that I use to break my gloves, and they all work like a charm.
Before we begin, I’d like to mention that you can use any one of these methods, and it is almost certain that it will work.
However, if you feel that anyone particular way didn’t do the job, feel free to try something else on the list.
Here are my best recommendations on how to break into your leather gloves:
1. Use Moisture
The first tip that I recommend to everyone is using moisture for your own benefit.
The reason this tip is at the top is that you don’t really require any additional material, and it’s arguably the easiest one to live by.
I would suggest, however, that you don’t go overboard with this. Excessive dampness can negatively alter your leather material. The key is to get just enough moisture for the leather to stretch.
The best way of going about this tip is by adding a bit of clean water onto your gloves and let the leather absorb them.
Make sure that the whole thing isn’t overflowing, or else you risk damaging the leather.
Once done, take some newspaper and stuff it inside, and then proceed to leave the gloves in a dry region.
Make sure that drying occurs gradually, rather than through directed heat since this can have bad repercussions.
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2. Rub Alcohol/Leather Conditioner
I would start off by saying that using alcohol and leather conditioner are two different approaches but have the same underlying principle.
If you want to treat your gloves for long-term use, possibly several years, a leather conditioner is something I would highly recommend.
However, if you are like me and want a hack that can make life easier, using alcohol is also another great way to break into your leather gloves.
The process is simple. Just rub some of it on the exterior of the glove and let it sit there. This particular process needs to be repeated every six months.
By doing so, you’ll have access to good levels of comfort and dexterity, which I think are equally essential when it comes to getting the right pair of gloves. Hence, make sure to follow through if you use this method!
3. Apply Leather Oil
Using leather oil to break into gloves is one of the most famous methods used. Here’s how I recommend you should go about it!
Using a stiff brush, evenly coat the leather gloves every now and then. I’d recommend doing this once every three months, or once every six months.
There are several benefits to this that are often understated. This includes a better grip, more water-resistance, and an increase in the overall dexterity offered.
One factor that users often complain about is the smell. Yes, there might be a funny odor that comes from your glove once you start this treatment. But rest assured, this is only temporary.
Furthermore, I’d recommend that you reuse this treatment whenever you feel that the water-resistance is starting to die down.
4. Use Mink Oil
Mink oil features naturally occurring acidic substances that are of great application if the need arises to soften a surface. And on that note, they’re also a great choice if you want to break into your gloves.
The application principle is the same as above; use a brush and gently apply it on the surface.
I would, however, recommend that you follow the instruction manual on the label for the best measure.
Once applied, buff it dries as well, and you’re good to go.
Word of caution: mink oil might cause the material to darken a little bit.
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5. Silicone Treatment
Silicone treatment is a great way to add water-resistance and break into your leather gloves.
Apply a small dosage as per the recommendation, and you’ll result pretty soon.
Plus, the additional water resistance they provide makes it a staple if you work in an environment that is prone to moisture or bad weather conditions.
6. Tip: Never Use Hot Water
Before we call it a day, I’d like to highlight that you should never use hot water to break into leather gloves.
This technique might work for baseball gloves, but this is an entirely different ball game.
This is because hot water will damage the waterproofed coating material and might make the protective features weak from time to time.
Furthermore, hot water is also shown to have a negative effect on the durability of said gloves.
Overall, I’d highly suggest you stay away from this hack since it has the potential to do more damage than good!
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Conclusion
I hope these tips and tricks mentioned above could help you get a better grip on making life easier.
If you’ve any queries or want me to elaborate on any particular point in the segment above, do share your thoughts in the comment section below!
