David Willey is a passionate sports enthusiast and coach. Growing up with basketball and baseball, his love for sports led him across the country, mentoring aspiring athletes. Recognized not only for his athletic skills but also for his expertise in sports equipment testing, David ensures optimal performance for athletes. Read more about him here.
If you are into more professional baseball gloves, you can probably remember your first gloves, no brands, no big names, just some random gloves from a toy store.
I remember I had to stick to such poor quality for quite a few years until my dad bought my first slightly professional glove…
Right, it was far from a professional mitt, but it was a massive improvement.
Ever since then, I have tried pretty much everything on the market.
Some gloves are more expensive than others. Some others are softer and more comfortable. Then, some of them feel too large for hands.
My point is quite simple. What works for some people will not work for everyone else.
It takes time, research, and perhaps a few attempts to find the best cheap baseball gloves out there, and I am here to give you a hand.
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Product
Category
Best for
Check The Price
Rawlings Renegade Glove Series
Best Baseball Gloves Under $100
Best for Comfort
Rawlings Select Pro Lite
Best Baseball Gloves Under $100
Best For Durability
Mizuno Prime Elite Series
Best Baseball Gloves Under $150
Best for Value for Money
SSK Z5 Craftsman
Best Baseball Gloves Under $150
Best for Quality Materials
Rawlings Liberty Advanced
Best Baseball Gloves Under $200
Best for a Snug Fit
SSK Z7 Specialist
Best Baseball Gloves Under $200
Best for More Professional Uses
Table of Contents
I have spent years trying out everything in baseball, from gloves and shoes to different types of equipment and accessories. When it comes to gloves, your options have never been more varied. Here are the most popular options right now.
Rawlings Renegade Glove Series are some of the best-rated options on the market, and for some good reasons. They come in more colors and designs, as well as left and right hand orientations.
Make sure you choose the right type when you order, as many newbies overlook this aspect.
The glove is built as a utility mitt for literally any position out there. Given its versatility, it is just as helpful for other sports, including softball.
It does require breaking in, but 90% of the job has been done by the manufacturer. In other words, the mitt has a game-ready feel straight away.
It is suitable for baseball and different types of softball, both for recreational games and more advanced training.
The mesh design guarantees perfect balance, while the leather build is suitable for durability, comfort, and shape retention in the long run.
The cushioned palm features a high-density material for even more comfort, not to mention the index finger pads.
To top everything up, the closure allows a high degree of customization, so this glove will most likely feel like an extension of your hand.
Rawlings Select Pro Lite glove is not to be overlooked, either. You can probably tell already that Rawling is one of the leading brands out there, offering high-quality standards and good value for money. After all, these gloves will not cost you a fortune.
You can buy the Select Pro Elite in right or left hand orientation, not to mention the different styles and colors, quite common in Rawlings.
The glove is available in more sizes. It makes a good choice for youth, but it is also suitable for adults.
To keep the standards high, Rawlings has used genuine leather for this mitt too. It is relatively soft, and while it does require breaking in, the process will not be too difficult or time-consuming.
Other than that, despite the price, there are a bunch of professional style features to consider.
All leather lacing is excellent to maintain the pocket. The palm is padded, while the index finger padding is excellent to absorb shocks.
The finger-back lining boosts a bit of extra cushioning for even more comfort. Basically, this glove feels like it can give you all the protection you need.
Pros
Durable design
Soft leather build
Shock absorbing design
Lots of different styles
Lightweight and comfy
Cons
Super stiff, so it takes a good amount of time to break in
Best Baseball Gloves Under $150
This category is quite diversified and covers a quality middle range, with products offering professional features at more affordable prices.
Take a look at Mizuno Prime Elite Series, for example. While it does come in a few different styles, the classic mahogany appearance is by far the best-selling one.
Obviously, you can get it whether you are left or right handed, just choose the orientation. Moving on to features, you have the classic roll welting, which offers a more stable approach, especially around the fingers.
Besides, the design looks a bit cleaner than others.
Based on genuine leather, the glove has a great feeling and a soft finish. It needs breaking in, but the process is fairly easy and quick.
The same rule applies to the palm liner, which is incredibly soft and has a durable professional feel.
It is also worth mentioning the rugged silicone patch, as well as the finger core. As you look at this glove, you will see numerous patterns.
This is a professional feature that will up your game, trust me. You can normally find such patterns in more expensive gloves.
Pros
Excellent value for money
Stable design
Exceptional ball control
Soft and comfy finish
Suitable for all skills
Cons
Slightly heavier than other gloves in this price range
SSK Z5 Craftsman is also among the best baseball gloves under $150 if you count its design and durability. Based on premium cowhide nameshi leather, it will last forever. It is also quite smooth and has a game-ready feel.
Breaking in will also be required, but it is only a matter of days.
The material is not just soft, but also lightweight and comfortable to wear. Advertised to be designed for infielders, this glove works wonders for any type of playing style.
Some people may not be interested, but the glove has the Shokunin approval from Japanese craftsmen.
Now, back to materials, the reason wherefore this glove stands out! Laces are also based on top-grain leather. Not only are they durable, but they also have high strength.
The glove, as well as the laces, undergo rigorous tests to ensure they are durable.
Last, but not least, let me mention the SSK dimple sensor technology. It ensures a top-notch grip once the ball is in your hand. It is practically located in the palm and boosts the grip, but it also stops the ball from spinning, only to enhance control.
Pros
Durable quality build
Requires very little breaking in
Extra control when catching balls
Multiple styles to choose from
Lots of bells and whistles
Cons
Sizing runs a bit large, especially for those with small hands
There are a few different color combinations the Rawlings Liberty Advanced come in, most of them based on white.
There are also a few sizes, as well as right or left hand orientation. There are more varieties of these gloves, based on the position.
All in all, no matter what you choose, you will be pleasantly impressed by the premium leather. The glove will feel like an extension of your arm. It gave me all the confidence to go for balls and throw them better than ever. After all, the leather grip is hard to match with other materials.
This glove is suitable for any experience level. It will seriously up your game in high school, but it is just as helpful in a professional league.
In fact, it is not uncommon to spot it every now and then in MLB games. It works wonders for aggressive players who need something reliable.
The full-grain leather is not just super comfortable, but incredibly durable as well. It has a pull strap closure, which ensures the glove will never slip out.
However, since it is based on leather, it requires breaking in.
You know the drill with SSK gloves. To make it out there, they need to be approved by Japanese glove masters.
Well, SSK Z7 Specialist follows the same rule and comes with the Shokunin Stamp for quality.
Quality is flawless. You have premium steerhide leather. Sure, it needs breaking in, but it will not take too long because of the extra soft profile.
It feels great, and despite the light breaking in process, it will retain its shape and last for ages.
Talking about breaking in, about 40% of it is done in the factory. You still need to do a bit of work and ensure it fits your hand.
The lacing system is based on top-grain leather. It is strong and will give you a secure fit, but it will also last. Furthermore, the wrist liner is comfy and slightly adjustable.
There is a palm shell that adds to the pocket stability and aids with shape retention.
Finally, the glove comes in more sizes and over a dozen different designs and colors, so there is plenty of variety.
Pros
Professional uses for all skill levels
Good value for money
High-quality build
Good pocket retention
Lots of variety in colors
Cons
I don’t see any significant disadvantage in this glove – it is great
Choosing the Best Cheap Baseball Gloves – Our Buying Guide
As you can see, I put together a pretty interesting chart with some of the best-rated and most qualitative gloves out there. These are some of the best cheap baseball gloves I have tried, but also some of the gloves with incredible amounts of positive reviews.
Not only do they stand out with their high-quality standards, but they are also suitable for all budgets. Sure, some gloves may cost a few times more than others, but at the end of the day, the price is not the only element to pay attention to.
So, what else should you pay attention to when looking for baseball gloves?
Material
Baseball gloves come in a bunch of different materials. The material will influence the feel, grip, and overall durability.
Synthetic leather is one of the cheapest materials. It does not require breaking in. The glove is quite soft out of the box. It is also lightweight and feels comfortable.
Most experts recommend it to beginners or perhaps young players. Synthetic leather is not as durable as real leather.
Then, as you get older and you gain some experience or perhaps move up in a league, genuine leather becomes the better option. Many times, real leather is oil treated. It is also a bit softened. Naturally, it would be pretty stiff.
Either way, genuine leather normally requires breaking in. It is a relatively easy process that only takes a few days.
Finally, premium leather is the ultimate material. More expensive, but also more durable. Plus, it feels better. Some refer to it as professional series leather, mostly because it is used by professionals.
The high-quality gloves you see in the MLB are usually based on premium leather.
The craftsmanship stands out, no doubt about it. In terms of comfort, I often feel like I have no glove on my hand, this is how good it feels. It does require breaking in, but it is totally worth it.
The grip, the feel, the durability, everything is just perfect.
Web Pattern
Web types are just as important. If you are new to baseball, you probably have no clue that each pattern is suitable for a different position. Here are some of the most popular options out there.
Fielders can do with basket, trapeze, modified trap, H shaped, I shaped, single post, or two piece web patterns. First basemen will get better performance from modified H shaped, single post, or dual bar webs.
Finally, a catcher will most likely benefit from a half moon or one piece web pattern.
Fit
The above-mentioned factors are almost like some unwritten rules. Sure, you can try whatever you want. I thought the same, whatever suits you will do.
But then, as I gained more experience, I realized that there are some reasons wherefore these web patterns are recommended for specific positions.
Now, back to more individual things…
The fit is one of these things. Each player has a slightly different hand. Even if a glove comes in the right size, it may not always provide the best fit.
A good glove will fit snugly. If it feels a bit too large, your hand may slip inside it, hindering the overall performance.
If it is too tight, you will not even be able to get your hand in there. If you do, it will feel extremely uncomfortable and even painful.
Feel
Now, each material can give you a different feel. The feel is also influenced by the fit.
All in all, the glove requires a bit of stiffness. It needs to feel strong and give you a great grip. But on the other hand, being too stiff is not a good idea either.
Too much stiffness will affect the overall control. Your response will be slowed down, so you are more likely to drop balls.
Keep in mind that high-quality leather gloves will feel quite stiff at first, but they need breaking in.
Style
Finally, the style has nothing to do with the performance. It is only a matter of personal preferences. It is usually about the design, color combinations, and style, nothing else.
To some people, it matters. It was quite important for me, too when I was new to baseball.
With time, I realized that I could play with a pink or baby blue glove with no issues at all. If the glove has high-quality standards, a perfect feel, and excellent materials, I would have no issues at all.
Obviously, you are less likely to find such gloves. Most of them come in nice colors. Plus, most types of gloves out there are available in multiple color combinations, so you can easily find something suitable.
Best Cheap Baseball Gloves – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do you keep a baseball glove in good condition?
Make sure you clean your baseball glove after each use. You can use a soft cloth, but soft brushes will also work.
In terms of storage, keep it in a dry area, but stick to room temperature. Every now and then, depending on how often you use it, you may need to use a leather-cleaner substance.
Can baseball gloves get wet?
Wet gloves can lose their shape, but they will also become stiff. The good news is accidentally getting it wet is not the end.
Simply dry it properly and give it good leather conditioning. It will get back in shape in no time.
How long do baseball gloves last?
Quality baseball gloves can last for up to five years with proper care, and this time frame is given for professional use.
If you barely use it for recreational baseball, make sure you look after it, and it will last even longer than that.
The Verdict
In the end, browsing the best cheap baseball gloves will give you plenty of options. You need to take your time and assess your needs before making a decision.
While not the most expensive glove on the market, SSK Z7 Specialist is definitely one of the best options out there.
If budget is an issue, Mizuno Prime Elite Series offers excellent value for money and features that you would normally find in more expensive gloves.
