Shoeless Jane Glove Maintenance

Its great to have a glove that's already broken in, but do any of you have recommendations for what's best for the leather to keep it from getting too floppy? I tighten up the laces every once in awhile but I'm thinking the glove needs a little more than that.

Also, as a U18/HS player (Junior) I'm thinking we should be looking for a "better" glove like a Nokona or Vinci- anyone have an idea of what a reasonable life expectancy for a shoeless glove?

thanks!

When DD had one, we utilized Shoeless Joe's reconditioning program every off season. I believe it was like $18. You send them the glove, they tighten it all up and replace any strings needed, and re tan the entire glove. One time we sent it in, and they sent us a Brand New glove without even letting us know. Very good customer service. you can find all of the info on their website.

obbay

DD is on her third year with a Shoeless Jane 11.75 H-web. Like Longball00, we sent the first glove back for reconditioning after the first season, and her glove came back looking and feeling new again. Just before heading PGF last summer, I noticed her glove one day at practice, and asked her if I could see it. The glove was about to fall apart.... The laces were all loose, and leather was dry....and dear ol' dad was not happy. I asked her the last time she oiled the glove and tightened the laces, to which she shrugged he shoulders, batted her eyes and gave me the famous I'm-invoking-the-fifth look. The answer was likely "Never. Since there was not time to send the glove in for reconditioning, I bought her a replacement (same glove), and off to California we went. She would not use the new glove initially, so I confiscated the old glove and forced the issue. After the first game, she thanked me and said it was great to be able to just start using a new glove without all the break-in. In her mind, there is no "better" glove.

The point of the above was to say, if your DD is happy with her Shoeless Jane, she can and should keep it. With a little planning she can send the glove back for reconditioning and the company will take care of you and her.

The one issue I can see on my DD horizon is next fall she will not be able to use her Shoeless Jane glove.... She will begin her collegiate softball career and her new team has a glove sponsor.

I am a big fan of Obenauf's HD leather preservative for off season glove conditioning. I replace any worn laces, and tighten everything, then rub a generous coat of Obenauf's on the inside of the glove, place a softball in a plastic ziplock in the pocket, place a Glove Locker around the glove to hold the ball in place, then wrap everything in cling wrap for the Winter.