Shh… The Secret is in the Leather: What Most Kip Glove Brands Don’t Want You to Know
When you’re shopping for a high-quality baseball glove, you’ll hear one word thrown around a lot lately: kip. Many newer brands push kip leather as if it’s the “premium” holy grail of glove materials. But here’s the truth most kip-heavy manufacturers don’t want you to know:
Kip isn’t automatically better. It isn’t longer-lasting. And it definitely isn’t the leather the pros trust their careers with.
Let’s uncover what’s really going on—and why steerhide continues to dominate the field, from MLB clubhouses to serious players searching for durability, feel, and true value.
The Kip Leather Hype: A Fad, Not a Foundation
Over the last 3–5 years, kip leather became trendy in the custom glove world—especially with newer companies trying to break into the market. It was smoother, lighter, and marketed as “Japanese premium leather” (even when most of it wasn’t).
But here’s what happened next:
MLB players tried kip… and quietly switched back.
Brands like 44, Shoeless Joe, and other custom companies saw a spike in kip-glove usage among younger pros and minor leaguers. But look at today’s games and locker rooms:
The majority have gone back to Rawlings and Wilson steerhide. Why?
Because kip breaks in fast—but breaks down even faster.
Players say:
- It feels great early but loses structure sooner
- It doesn’t hold shape through heavy use
- It gets floppy under real MLB-level stress
- It lacks the “backbone” elite players need season after season
And our customers have said the same thing: “I tried a kip glove… and I disliked it.” Players are realizing the obvious: kip was a moment, not a movement.
Steerhide: The Leather That Has Actually Stood the Test of Time
While kip surged in popularity, steerhide never moved. It didn’t need marketing gimmicks. It didn’t need hype.
Brands like Rawlings Heart of the Hide and Wilson A2000 — the two highest-selling glove lines for decades — stayed true to their roots:
✔️ Tough, dense steerhide
✔️ Holds shape for years
✔️ MLB-trusted
✔️ Breaks in beautifully and stays that way
✔️ Built for long-term play, not short-term comfort
Even in forums, comparison videos, and customer reviews, players consistently say:
“A great steerhide glove lasts longer than kip every time.”
And that’s the real secret the kip-heavy brands don’t want you to know: Steerhide is still king. The market proves it every single season.
Why Some Brands Push Kip So Hard (The Part They Don’t Tell You)
- ✔️ Kip is easier to cut
- Thinner = less dense = faster for factories to work with.
- ✔️ Kip is cheaper for many manufacturers
- Especially overseas tanneries producing lower-grade calf hides
- ✔️ Quicker break-in = fewer customer complaints
- Most new players love how “ready to go” a kip glove feels… until it caves after a season.
- ✔️ Higher margins for big-volume custom brands
- Cheaper to make + marketed as “premium” = bigger profit.
Meanwhile, real steerhide—especially high-grade steerhide—costs more, takes more skill, and requires more craftsmanship.
That’s why brands trying to scale cheaply skip it.
DeOro Sports: Not a Fad. Not a Shortcut. Real Leather, Real Craft.
At DeOro Sports, we don’t chase trends. We don’t choose materials that make production easier. We don’t cut corners to increase margins.
We choose what serious players actually want:
- 🔥 High-quality steerhide that lasts seasons—not weeks
- 🔥 Custom baseball gloves built with structure, strength & long-term playability
- 🔥 Elite shaping and pro-level durability
- 🔥 Performance leather, not hype leather
- 🔥 Value-driven gloves that compete with Rawlings & Wilson—not copy them
Our philosophy is simple:
If it’s not good enough for the field, it’s not good enough for your hand.
And because we focus on material quality—not marketing fads—DeOro has quickly become a trusted name among players who want REAL longevity, REAL performance, and REAL value in their glove.
The Secret Is Out — The Leather Matters.
If you’re ready for a glove that doesn’t just look good on social media, but performs on the field season after season…
➡️ Build your custom steerhide glove with DeOro today.
Your hand will feel the difference the moment you put it on— and your game will thank you for seasons to come.
