Shout out to Vinci & Drakemir

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Oct 1, 2014
2,218
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USA
So both DD's have been using Vinci gloves for a few years now primarily based on the recommendations of several here at DFP. We started out with a JVC-VM catchers mitt and were immediately impressed with the quality and performance for the price. A few months later it was time to replace my DD pitcher's glove (P/SS/OF) and ordered up the BV1929-L...same scenario, DD loves that glove! Fast forward a couple of years and a LOT of year round use playing and practicing and my DD Catcher beast who plays a lot of 3rd base (and some OF) needed to replace the old big box version fielders glove she had been using. Bottom line, we decided to go with Vinci again! I didn't plan on getting the Optimus as the Limited series have been awesome for my girls but Drakemir stepped up and made us a deal we couldn't refuse! Thank you very much!!

Here's a few pics of the new leather...

Vinci Optimus BV1929 1.jpgVinci Optimus BV1929 2.jpgVinci Optimus BV1929 3.jpgVinci Optimus BV1929.jpg
 

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Oct 1, 2014
2,218
113
USA
Quick follow up - this glove has been relatively quick and easy to break in much to my surprise! Drakemir told me that would be the case but after working on 2 other Vinci gloves and a catchers mitt I was ready for a beat down. Not the case with the Optimus. Love the leather, the look, the weight and the pop!
 
Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
Just recently broke in two Optimus models, an 11.75" and her sister's 12.75" 1B mitt. Both were actually really easy to get usable very quickly. The Optimus leather is pretty soft but thicker than the Kip leather. The only steerhide Vinci I've ever owned/broke in is a JCV-22 catchers mitt, it will go down as one of the most ridiculously stubborn gloves I've ever worked with!! But I would imagine Vinci's steerhide fielders gloves would be something like this Optimus leather?

My experience with Vinci, the tan Kip is the hardest/firmest/tightest grained leather they offer, ESPECIALLY in a smaller sized glove, that's followed by their black Kip, which is no comparison in stiffness to the tan Kip! Then their Optimus leather which "I'm guessing" is probably pretty comparable to their steerhide, just thicker? As I said this is my experience with Vinci leather, never owned the Fortus or PC leather.

Tatonka, I will say, the glove you posted above just may be my favorite Vinci glove ever posted here, and there's 3 customs at my house! Very cool glove!
 
May 22, 2015
410
28
Illinois
That is a sharp looking glove. Can't believe it's ready to play already lol. We've been working on that 1961-L kip for two weeks now and still have a ways to go.
 

CoreSoftball20

Wilson = Evil Empire
DFP Vendor
Dec 27, 2012
6,215
113
Kunkletown, PA
What is that material on the back of the glove?

I will say, glove looks nice...not sure about whatever that material is. Is it to make the glove lighter so leather isn't all around?
 
Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
What is that material on the back of the glove?

I will say, glove looks nice...not sure about whatever that material is. Is it to make the glove lighter so leather isn't all around?

It's mesh. I'm definitely an all leather glove guy but I will say Vinci's mesh wears like iron! You know I'm a Rawlings fanboy but Vinci does have better retail mesh, now when you get up to a pro-issue Rawlings, that's when you get into some serious mesh. Vinci does make really good mesh gloves!

We only have one mesh glove, that 12.5" RCV-VM that was gifted to Anna from a still unknown person? I know I said in my post yesterday about all the different Vinci leathers that the black Kip ran second behind the tan Kip as the toughest to break in.......I completely forgot about this mesh glove! I don't know if Vinci makes the Kip palm leather thicker (?) to compensate for mesh back, this glove is a brick! I have vise grip hands and I cannot squeeze this glove closed, not even close! So anyone on the fence about trying a lighter mesh glove, Vinci's mesh is the real deal. But, this is just me, I absolutely would not buy a mesh glove with mid-finger lacing, to me it's just asking for a problem with the lace tearing through the mid-finger lace holes.

I'm still waiting for Drakemir to send me a mesh ME024 to demo:cool:.
 
Oct 1, 2014
2,218
113
USA
What is that material on the back of the glove?

I will say, glove looks nice...not sure about whatever that material is. Is it to make the glove lighter so leather isn't all around?

Todd - yes, that's Vinci Mesh and it was a requested upgrade originally for the exact reason you mentioned, weight. We've got almost 3yrs of constant use on a Vinci catchers mitt with this mesh and have had NO problems or concerns as of yet...it wears like iron. To be honest given the smaller size of this glove )12.5 but seems to play smaller the weight is probably not that big a deal, my other daughter uses a black BV1929-L and while I haven't weighed them yet (good idea!) I heaven't noticed a significant difference. Personally I love the way it looks with the black mesh and the black lacing on that Walnut leather...but that might just be me!
 
Oct 1, 2014
2,218
113
USA
DD finished out the summer travel season with this glove and although most games she was behind the dish this glove saw its fair share of work. It broke in beautifully and DD loves it!
 
Oct 1, 2014
2,218
113
USA
Update - on the Vinci Optimus......4 months later

This glove sees almost daily use (5 or 6 days a week) by my DD during warmups and occasionally at 3rd base (she's primarily a Catcher). She loves the way it plays and it broke in very quickly for a high end glove (quicker than her twin sister's BV1929-L). However, be forewarned that the laces used on these gloves (this is our 4th Vinci) do not hold up well. This is not a new issue and has been discussed on theses boards for a while now. This glove is the latest to fail and leave us to emergency repairs to make it through some important games.

Busted Vinci Optimus1.jpg
Busted Vinci Optimus2.jpg
Busted Vinci Optimus3.jpg

And, the glove spends it's downtime with a ball in the packet and a glove wrap on...in a catchers bag, kept in a garage.
 

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