New Glove

[epeemancer]

I just got a new glove and seeing as my last one nearly decentagrated off my hand i was wandering if anyone could contribute with some tips on breaking in and keeping a glove the right way. I think my last glove was to small because it tore apart when i broke it in (don't worry it was a very cheep glove) so i got this glove a size larger and i think it will do fine but i still need some advice. Thanx

[Zelda]

I generally find whacking it against a wall or door is good. That and wearing it alot. I currently have an Uhlmann glove which I broke in that way....its now very comfortable!

[space_cadet]

I recently bought an Uhlmann washable glove. I bought it a size larger so it fit loose. After I washed it once, it shrunk to fit my hand perfectly... my glove now fits like a glove.

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Cadet à Space

[Porphyre]

I also bought a washable glove, but it's a cheapie Blade one. It didn't shrink though it has gotten just a tiny bit stiff. Not stiff enough to impair anything or make it uncomfortable, but just stiff enough to notice.

Space Cadet: Did that Uhlmann get stiff?

-Porphyre

[Dragoneye]

Hey,

With regard to "stiff" gloves... I've got a washable Uhlmann that accidently got thrown in the dryer one time (got bundled up in a T-shirt). Worked like a charm! It came out nice and soft. It did shrink slightly, but seeing as it had stretched through regular use, this just restored it to its normal size.

So if you're brave, try it one time in the dryer and see.


Cheers,

Dragoneye.

[Gajuith]

My Uhlmann actually seemed to get softer after being washed. Basically broke it in. Not to the point of weakening its durability though. I have had it for about a year and the only noticeable wear is the end of the stitching around the cuff, but that can be easily repaired. I would say to buy an Uhlmann because it has been far superior to any other glove that i have seen. everyone else that scoffed at me paying 44 bucks for a glove when theirs was 13 is now envying me after having to replace theirs ever few months.

[space_cadet]

No, the synthetic leather did not get stiff. Real leather gets gross after you sweat in it which is why I don't buy leather fencing gloves anymore. They are nice and supple when new, and totally disgusting after you've sweated in it for a couple months.

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Cadet à Space

[belligerent_sorceress]

Nearly our entire team has the cheapie Blue Gauntlet glove...since we order only from BG, how's their purple washable one?

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Melissa

"You can beat me, you can bind me, but you can't touch me!

[neevel]

The BG Purple glove is good. The material is just a bit thinner than the Uhlmann/Allstar gloves (as is the case with all of the less expensive synthetic gloves), so it probably won't last quite as long, but at $20 it's a very good buy. I still go with the Uhlmanns myself for the better durability, but you won't go wrong with the BG purple if you don't want to spend as much money up front.
The off-white washable glove that American sells for $18 is also decent, although epeeists may not be satisfied with the thin cuff. I've got both type in my club stock, and they've held up well.

BTW, all of these synthetic gloves are machine dryable. As space cadet mentioned, you want to buy them a half- or full- size large to allow for shrinkage.

As for leather gloves, they can be cleaned by hand-washing them using Murphy's oil soap, which will help restore the suppleness to them (if they're not already too far gone), and regularly rubbing a bit of baseball-glove oil into them. It's a lot easier to just toss a synthetic glove into the wash with the rest of your stuff, though.

-Dave

[HilandDoug]

I used to keep my leather glove in a ziplock bag, and that kept it supple enough. At least while the bag was airtight.

[Foil Dude]

Well...enough has been said to sell me on the Uhlmann washable glove. I ordered one from BG this morning.

[Gajuith]

Maybe i should start charging Uhlmann as a sales rep as the Baylor armorer, i have managed to secure a deal with them so be buy all our equipment straight from them at half the cost of buying it from BG or TCA or The Post!!! It is pretty nice. And people in high school said that learning German was a waste of time.

[big poppa]

I used to use leather sabre gloves .The ones with the quilted cuffs.I would wash it with saddle soap and oil it with vasoline every few months.the glove would last about two years of hard use and abuse. I now use washable gloves from Triplette( the knock-off ones)I love them and will never go back to leather( well I do love the scent of wet leather and steel so who knows?)

[space_cadet]

Originally posted by HilandDoug:
I used to keep my leather glove in a ziplock bag, and that kept it supple enough. At least while the bag was airtight.

You kept a sweaty glove in an airtight plastic bag?

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Cadet à Space

[space_cadet]

To epeemancer,
Sorry for dodging your original question. Is the glove synthetic leather or real leather? I've had both if you've read my posts. There's really nothing extra to do to break in a glove other than wearing it.
One extra thing you may want to do is after putting the glove on, spread out your fingers and them curl them slowly into a fist. While doing that, say something like "...you will die a painful and slow death...".

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Cadet à Space

[Porphyre]

Space-cadet: You bring up a good point. You should do that with a new glove. Not just becuase it's intimidating to all the little kids in your club, but also, it's good to stress all of the gloves seams slowly first, instead of just yanking the thing on. Less stressful. 'Course, a glove is like a blade, it's practically disposible.

-Porphyre