Leather Gloves - Who Conditions Them?

[WeBeToyz]

I would like to condition my leather gloves to keep them for a few more (or longer) seasons. I ride all year with the longer gloves, and during the summer they can get pretty moist from the sweat of long rides, and then of course they are a bit stiff the next time I go to put them on.

Do you condition your leather gloves much like you condition your other riding gear? Sounds like a stupid question even as I type it, but since I don't own any other leather riding gear except for the gloves, I'd like to make sure I don't do anything to ruin them.

I've used mink oil & saddle soap in the past, and a quick search offered other products to use but none of the threads mentioned gloves - just the other leather gear.



Thanks.

[Capt. Redbeard]

I have many motorcycle leather items including some unlined gloves. I think that if your hands sweat enough to soak the gloves so that they are stiff the next time you go to use them, you are having a salt buildup. Go to a perforated leather glove to cut down on the moisture, and use a good lanoline based conditioner to keep up the oil level in the leather fibers. Good leather, good tanning, and proper care will extend the life of your gloves or any leather item. I bought a pair of Chaps from Leather up in 2005 and the leather is softer today. I've polished them and repaired a grommet or two, but the leather is still great.

[NCDave]

I have a pair of leather riding gloves from Olympia. I've had them about 15 years and never touched them except to wear them when riding.

jk....I have several pieces of leather and I'm terrible about taking care of them. I just keep using them and they just keep lasting!

[48Rob]

I oil my leather gloves with Red Wing Boot oil.

That said, my leather gloves are work gloves, not used for riding...

Oiling them makes them much softer, much more waterproof, and they fit my hands better.

I don't know if oiling riding gloves would provide more, or less protection in an accident?

[RichLockyer]

Umm.... yes... I condition my leather gloves EXACTLY like I condition the rest of my leather.

I take it off when I'm done riding and hang it up until the next ride

Seriously... I wear fingerless in summer, and full gauntlets when temps drop low enough to need my jacket.
Every now and then (maybe every 6 months?) I'll hit my boots with pitchblend (pine pitch and mink oil blend), but I don't do anything with my jacket, chaps, or gloves.

[perry.806]

Have had my leather gloves for some time now and I never conditioned them so far. Didn't feel the need to!

[rbentnail]

The unlined leather gloves I'm using are US Navy issue work gloves. I got them in 1980 or '81. No holes, no tears, no problems. On average they get conditioned less than 1 time per year. I wear them then chuck them in the saddlebag for next time.

[infonavigator]

I wear cabretta leather gloves. They are lightweight, comfortable and don't get stiff after getting wet or sweaty. The grip is the best of all the gloves I've tried.