Catchers mitt for 14u, $150 or less?

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May 21, 2014
155
28
Most of what's been posted are based on a very similar pattern so it's down to quality of the leather and padding. Vinci is probably the best combo although I'm starting to really hate the mesh back. It's garbage. But their padding is the best by far.
Rawlings Liberty Advance, All-star cmw3001 are both based on the same pattern.

The Allstar cmw3000 is a completely different feel. I have small hands and do not like it. Good leather, nice glove but I would not feel confident in using it if it were me catching.

I would steer clear of every Akadema softball glove. Garbage. You can do so much better for your player for the same money.
 
Sep 29, 2010
1,082
83
Knoxville, TN
Most of what's been posted are based on a very similar pattern so it's down to quality of the leather and padding. Vinci is probably the best combo although I'm starting to really hate the mesh back. It's garbage. But their padding is the best by far.
Rawlings Liberty Advance, All-star cmw3001 are both based on the same pattern.

The Allstar cmw3000 is a completely different feel. I have small hands and do not like it. Good leather, nice glove but I would not feel confident in using it if it were me catching.

I would steer clear of every Akadema softball glove. Garbage. You can do so much better for your player for the same money.
What don’t you like about the Vinci mesh, the look or some other issue? DD has three VM’s with no issues. You can get a leather back on any of their mitts.
 
May 21, 2014
155
28
What don’t you like about the Vinci mesh, the look or some other issue? DD has three VM’s with no issues. You can get a leather back on any of their mitts.

it starts to fray around the pinky loop holes. And then it starts to fray up the seems of the finger backs. It just looks bad for a glove that isn't cheap. I've bought all 3 of mine used but still with tags so I got them on a deal so it wasn't necessarily by choice. If I was ordering I would take a leather back every time.
 
Sep 29, 2010
1,082
83
Knoxville, TN
it starts to fray around the pinky loop holes. And then it starts to fray up the seems of the finger backs. It just looks bad for a glove that isn't cheap. I've bought all 3 of mine used but still with tags so I got them on a deal so it wasn't necessarily by choice. If I was ordering I would take a leather back every time.
Gotcha. We haven’t had that trouble, but I would try burning the fray with a lighter. Might clean it up a bit.
 
May 21, 2014
155
28
Gotcha. We haven’t had that trouble, but I would try burning the fray with a lighter. Might clean it up a bit.

yeah was considering that now that it's happened a second time. Maybe the term "garbage" was a bit strong, but you would think they would at least stitch around the opening so even if it frays a little it wouldn't spread. I just can't imagine that the mesh saves enough weight to matter on a catchers mitt to have this kind of reliability issue. I'd take a leather back and the fractions of an ounce it weighs more and know it would last.
 
Oct 1, 2014
2,219
113
USA
yeah was considering that now that it's happened a second time. Maybe the term "garbage" was a bit strong, but you would think they would at least stitch around the opening so even if it frays a little it wouldn't spread. I just can't imagine that the mesh saves enough weight to matter on a catchers mitt to have this kind of reliability issue. I'd take a leather back and the fractions of an ounce it weighs more and know it would last.
I'm with JDaddy here regarding the mesh back on the Vinci, never had a problem with it at all. The laces on every Vinci that my DD's have ever owned have been a problem however. My catcher DD moved on to a Liberty Advanced mitt which was originally bought as a backup to the Vinci. She started using it seriously while we were getting the Vinci relaced and ended up preferring it. Got a heck of a deal on the Liberty at the time (under $120).
 
Sep 29, 2010
1,082
83
Knoxville, TN
.
I'm with JDaddy here regarding the mesh back on the Vinci, never had a problem with it at all. The laces on every Vinci that my DD's have ever owned have been a problem however. My catcher DD moved on to a Liberty Advanced mitt which was originally bought as a backup to the Vinci. She started using it seriously while we were getting the Vinci relaced and ended up preferring it. Got a heck of a deal on the Liberty at the time (under $120).
I’ve had to relace the pockets on DDs first two after a year each time. Local guy does it for $15 so it’s not a big deal.
 
Oct 1, 2014
2,219
113
USA
.

I’ve had to relace the pockets on DDs first two after a year each time. Local guy does it for $15 so it’s not a big deal.
I wish I had that deal, sent mine to a guy in TX (Jeff R per Annasdad) for a full recon & relace after a couple years. The mitt was a bit more than the gloves. However, that was after I had repaired a few busted (original) laces on each of them a few times already. This was on two BV1929's (Limited & a Optimus), a RV1961 and a JCV-VM.
 
Sep 29, 2010
1,082
83
Knoxville, TN
I wish I had that deal, sent mine to a guy in TX (Jeff R per Annasdad) for a full recon & relace after a couple years. The mitt was a bit more than the gloves. However, that was after I had repaired a few busted (original) laces on each of them a few times already. This was on two BV1929's (Limited & a Optimus), a RV1961 and a JCV-VM.
It’s nice to still have a local mom and pop sporting goods store. I’m not even sure how far I would have to go to find the next one.
 
Nov 15, 2019
324
43
I just purchased a Rawlings Liberty Advanced 33" for my 11yr old on Black Friday. She has small hands for her age too. It's a great glove and she loves it so far. It's starting to break in nicely.

Would you be willing to share how much you found it for? The cheapest I've found so far is $134. I'm sure there were really great deals on black Friday, unfortunately we didn't know how much DD would like catching till right around then.
 

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