New leather gloves can be necessary for handymen, welders, gardeners, motorcycle riders, and anyone working with their hands. Leather gloves tend to be stiff and inflexible when brand new, making them difficult to wear. I will share several methods for breaking in leather gloves for a better fit and comfortable feel.
Breaking in leather gloves is softening and stretching the leather for a more comfortable fit. For safety, protection, or warmth, leather gloves work better when broken in. Leather conditioner, rubbing alcohol, mink oil, or water can be used to break in leather gloves.
Do you have a new pair of leather work gloves but have difficulty wearing them because they’re stiff? Are you looking for a way to break in leather gloves without damaging them? Let’s explore how to break in leather gloves to make them fit and feel better.
What Is Breaking in Leather Gloves?
Breaking in leather gloves is using different methods to soften and stretch leather gloves so they fit more comfortably. Brand-new leather can be a bit stiff, and especially with leather gloves, it’s a good idea to break them in so they fit better and are easier to use.
What We’ll Explore
- Clearing up Myths & Misconceptions
- Reasons You Might Choose to Break in Leather Gloves
- Variations of Breaking in Leather Gloves
- How To Break in Leather Gloves Overview Table
- Skill Level of How toBreak in Leather Gloves
- Tools and Supplies Needed for Breaking in Leather Gloves
- How To Break in Leather Gloves Step by Step
- How To Get Better at Breaking in Leather Gloves
- My Personal Research on How to Break in Leather Gloves
- Helpful Insights on How To Break in Leather Gloves
- Key Takeaways
Clearing Up Myths & Misconceptions
One misconception about leather gloves is that they are waterproof. Unfortunately, this is untrue — leather is inherently water resistant, but water can be used to break in leather gloves.
Another misconception is that hot water can be used to break in leather gloves. The best water temperature for breaking in leather gloves is room temperature or cool water because hot water will damage protective finishes.
Reasons You Might Choose To Break in Leather Gloves
Leather gloves are often worn for safety or to keep hands clean or warm, but they must be a certain fit to work well and protect hands. Most new leather gloves are stiff, which makes them uncomfortable to use and wear. Grabbing and holding things with stiff leather gloves can be difficult, and breaking them in would facilitate this.
If the leather gloves are for riding motorcycles or working with hot tools, it’s imperative to have a comfortable and snug fit for safety. Leather gloves that fit comfortably are more likely to be worn when it matters most.
Variations of Breaking in Leather Gloves
There are a few variations of breaking in leather gloves, which are relatively simple. In fact, many people already have most of these items in their homes. Here are some variations for breaking in leather gloves:
- Leather conditioner – softens, conditions, and adds to leather’s water resistance.
- Rubbing alcohol – works by stripping moisture and dries fast to soften and break in the leather, however, this method may dry out leather.
- Water – room temperature or cool water will help stretch and soften the leather.
- Mink oil – natural acids help to soften and break in the leather.
How to Break in Leather Gloves Overview Table
| Area of Preparation | Details |
| Technique | Break in Leather Gloves |
| Overall Level of Skill (1-5) | 2 |
| Time to Complete (minutes/hours) | 30 minutes to an hour |
| Workspace Needed | Minimal |
| Skills Needed | Basic leather care |
| Tools and Supplies Needed | Leather gloves, cool or room temperature water in a bowl or sink, rubbing alcohol, leather conditioner, mink oil, microfiber towels, or old t-shirts |
| Key Helpful Tip | Don’t use too much water; always apply a leather conditioner to keep leather gloves soft and supple. |
Skill Level of How to Break in Leather Gloves
Breaking in leather gloves doesn’t take much skill, mostly regarding caring for leather. Applying leather conditioner and mink oil must be done thoroughly and in every nook and cranny, and these substances are not likely to cause any leather damage.
Rubbing alcohol can be damaging to leather if too much is used, so apply sparingly but thoroughly and always follow it up with leather conditioner once it has dried. Water can also lead to leather damage, so using just enough to dampen the outside of the gloves and avoiding any heat sources can prevent damage. Always follow this method with a leather conditioner to keep the leather soft and supple.
Tools and Supplies Needed for Breaking in Leather Gloves
Only a couple of supplies are needed for breaking in leather gloves, depending on the method one chooses. Here is everything one may use for breaking in leather gloves:
- Leather conditioner
- Mink oil
- Rubbing alcohol
- Water in a bowl or sink
- Microfiber towels or old t-shirts
- Leather gloves
How to Break in Leather Gloves Step by Step
Methods for breaking in leather gloves take only a few steps. While there are various techniques, I have compiled them into a single process. Here is how to break in leather gloves step by step:
- Put on leather gloves.
- Use a microfiber towel or old t-shirt to apply leather conditioner, mink oil, rubbing alcohol, or water.
- Thoroughly coat the leather gloves in the chosen substance. If using water, avoid getting the leather too wet.
- Use a clean microfiber towel or old t-shirt to buff in the chosen substance or absorb excess water.
- Wear leather gloves to work on any task until the gloves are dry, or at least 30 minutes to an hour.
- Apply leather conditioner if not used originally to moisturize the leather gloves.
- Wear leather gloves often to help break them in.
Watch this helpful video from Scott Head about how to care for leather work gloves.
How to Get Better at Breaking in Leather Gloves
Breaking in leather gloves takes a little bit of time, but it is not a difficult task. Getting better at this process is just about trying different methods and repeating the process. Consider buying more leather gloves for other tasks and using a single method for all or multiple methods for different pairs.
Always start with the right size gloves for the best fit once all is said and done. Remember — a good pair of leather gloves can last a decade or more!
Breaking in leather gloves is best for brand-new work gloves, safety gloves, and any leather gloves worn for safety.
My Personal Research on How to Break in Leather Gloves
Most households have at least one pair of leather gloves in the closet, shed, or workbench. So how do people break them in? I asked friends and family how they broke in their leather gloves and why. Here is a table representing the percentages of their responses and what I learned from the poll about how to break in leather gloves.
| Method for Breaking in Leather Gloves | Times Selected |
| Wore the gloves while working, gardening, barbecuing, welding, doing car maintenance, home repairs | 45% |
| Mink oil | 10% |
| Leather conditioner | 20% |
| Dampen and wear | 15% |
| Rubbing alcohol | 10% |
Helpful Insights On Breaking in Leather Gloves
Do leather gloves need to be broken in?
Leather gloves usually need some breaking in because new leather can be stiff. According to researchers Kudabayeva et al., chromium metals are used for tanning and hardening leather gloves for preservation and durability. Applying leather conditioner, getting the outsides of the gloves moist, or applying rubbing alcohol and wearing new leather gloves can help break them in.
How do you break in a leather glove fast?
There are a couple of ways to break in leather gloves fast, and both involve wearing the gloves. One can get the leather gloves damp on the outside and then wear them until dry. Leather conditioner can also be applied to leather gloves, softening them and making the leather water-resistant.
Key Takeaways
- Breaking in leather gloves is best for brand-new work gloves, safety gloves, and any leather gloves worn for safety.
- Leather gloves can be broken in with leather conditioner, rubbing alcohol, mink oil, or water and wear.
- Breaking in leather gloves helps them form a custom fit to the wearer’s hands and gives them a more comfortable feel.
In Closing
Leather gloves are great for many tasks, and they work best when they fit well and are comfortable. Breaking in leather gloves is easy and quick, leading to a custom fit every time. Along with using the methods mentioned here, wearing leather gloves will often give them a customized fit while keeping your hands safe.
Other Resources:
- Leather Working How-Tos – Applying the Best Practices
- How to Make a Leather Belt – My 2nd Belt with Photos
- Leather Painting – Helpful Application and Finishing Tips
- Drilling Leather – How To Drill Leather The Easy Way
- How To Strop A Knife – Compounds, Angles, and Frequency
- How to Stretch Leather Shoes – Easy DIY Steps to Success
- How To Break In Leather Shoes – Step by Step (pun intended 🙂 )
- How To Break In Leather Boots – The Easy Way, Step by Step
- How to Rivet Leather – Step by Step Guide to Setting Rivets
- How to Lace Leather – Simple Steps to Make Your Work Easy
- How to Make a Leather Belt – 11 Steps From my First Project
- How To Dye Leather – From Prep Through Surface Finishing
- How to Split Leather – Step by Step Guide to Leather Splitting
- How to Age Leather – A Simple Process for Developing Patina
- How to Paint Leather – Step By Step to Stunning Results
- How to Glue Leather Step By Step from Start to Finish
- Get Smoke Smell Out of Leather – Easily and with Proper Care
- How to Stamp Leather – Tools, Techniques, and Step by Step
- How To Shrink Leather Shoes – And Keep Them Looking Good
- How to Distress Leather – Creative Methods for Nice Results
- How To Engrave Leather – My Insights and Tips From Crafting
- How To Tie Leather Laces – Quick, Easy Steps for Tight Laces
- How To Stop Leather Shoes From Squeaking – Reliable Fixes
- How to Break in Leather Boots Fast – Tried and True Methods
- How To Stiffen Leather – Quick Tips for Strong Results