I am in the market for a new catches mitt. Just curious on which one should go with. I am considering the Akadema Praying Mantis, Kelley Evolution, and the Glovesmith Elite.
Which one does everyone recommend and why?
Thanks.
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I don't know about the other two but i have heard VERY good things about the Akadema glove. On the down side it takes a lonnnggg time to get ready for game usage.
I would go with the Kelley Evolution if you are on a budget. They have cheapy gloves. But go to Gloveman's site because he has all Akadema stuff. And Man Ram wears it so it must be aight.
Akadema 
Although it will take a while to break it in, the leather in the Akadema will outlast the other two brands two to one.
quote:Akadema Praying Mantis, Kelley Evolution, and the Glovesmith Elite.
If not Wilson, then Akadema.
Glovesmith is ok. Kelley s****.
Akadema, but I would advise not getting the "Praying Mantis" model. Get the "Pro" model instead. Outstanding leather and a great feel, just takes a long, long time to have game ready.
Never heard any complaints about Akadema, only great reviews.
I own an Akadema First Baseman's mitt, a Glovesmith Infielder's mitt and a Kelly Catcher's mitt. I love to buy baseball gloves!!!
They are distinct differences in the construction of each mitt and the leather used. They are all of good quality, but I would have to recommend the gloves in this order.
1. Glovesmith
2. Kelly
3. Akadema
Akadema sponsored my college team, so we got free gloves. Needless to say, all the guys went back to their old gloves after trying the Akadema. I did not like it, the glove broke in way to quickly and the leather got floppy fast. The3y may have changed thing since then, but that was my experience with them.
Glovesmith uses top quality leather and is constructed well. I think you would be happy with a catcher's mitt made by them.
Kelly, I own the Evolution 33" model. I do like it a lot, great big pocket...not tiny like these little Wilson A2403 that the kids are using these days. I do not list them first, mainly because I feel the Glovesmith gloves are of better quality and craftsmanship.
Send me a PM if you want to see pictures of how these gloves age. My Kelly is about 4 years old, the Glovesmith is about 2, and the Akadema is about 6. I think I have some laying around on my PC.
Happy shopping.
They are distinct differences in the construction of each mitt and the leather used. They are all of good quality, but I would have to recommend the gloves in this order.
1. Glovesmith
2. Kelly
3. Akadema
Akadema sponsored my college team, so we got free gloves. Needless to say, all the guys went back to their old gloves after trying the Akadema. I did not like it, the glove broke in way to quickly and the leather got floppy fast. The3y may have changed thing since then, but that was my experience with them.
Glovesmith uses top quality leather and is constructed well. I think you would be happy with a catcher's mitt made by them.
Kelly, I own the Evolution 33" model. I do like it a lot, great big pocket...not tiny like these little Wilson A2403 that the kids are using these days. I do not list them first, mainly because I feel the Glovesmith gloves are of better quality and craftsmanship.
Send me a PM if you want to see pictures of how these gloves age. My Kelly is about 4 years old, the Glovesmith is about 2, and the Akadema is about 6. I think I have some laying around on my PC.
Happy shopping.
My son uses Glovesmith.
It lasted 2 years, now wore out, time for a new one. It broke in pretty quickly.
Nokona CM225.
Will take a while to break in, but they last forever. Good padding & size.
Morton usually has the best prices on Nokona.
Don Morton Sports
Will take a while to break in, but they last forever. Good padding & size.
Morton usually has the best prices on Nokona.
Don Morton Sports
My personal favorite is Mizuno because they have a good feel to them. I went to a glove shop and tried on all of these gloves and Nokona and Akadema seemed very simular. The Wilson A2000 was nice but I wasn't impressed at all with the Easton or Rawlings gloves. A nice little company is SSK gloves.
I'm a catcher in the market for a new glove. I think i will get either the akadema or a rawlings. I want to look at the rawlings like the one Yadier Molina uses. Smaller mitts are better.
Thanks for all the help. I have narrowed it down to a Kelley.
I am now trying to figure out if I want the Elevation or the Pro Line. I like the Pro Line because it is a 32" compared to the Elevation which is 33". I have smaller hands, so the Pro Line might be a little better for me.
I am now trying to figure out if I want the Elevation or the Pro Line. I like the Pro Line because it is a 32" compared to the Elevation which is 33". I have smaller hands, so the Pro Line might be a little better for me.
Just got my new glove today. I went ahead and got the pro preferred rawlings.
quote:Originally posted by CatchingCoach05:
Thanks for all the help. I have narrowed it down to a Kelley.
I am now trying to figure out if I want the Elevation or the Pro Line. I like the Pro Line because it is a 32" compared to the Elevation which is 33". I have smaller hands, so the Pro Line might be a little better for me.
Say kid, have you heard of penny wise, pound foolish? Strongly suggest mitts with wilson, rawlings or something else.
quote:Originally posted by Eagles19catcher:
Akadema, but I would advise not getting the "Praying Mantis" model. Get the "Pro" model instead. Outstanding leather and a great feel, just takes a long, long time to have game ready.
Just curious as to why?
quote:Originally posted by Bear:
Say kid, have you heard of penny wise, pound foolish? Strongly suggest mitts with wilson, rawlings or something else.
Yeah, I have tried both of those in the past. Rawlings got flimsy very quickly. Not worth the extra money. I liked Wilson a little better, but still did not hold up very well. Best glove I have ever had was a Mizuno World Win, but they do not make those anymore and the new Mizuno's are not the same IMO.
I want a good glove without having to pay for the endorsements that Rawlings, Wilson, and the others shell out to college teams and MLB players.
So, for me, you can keep Rawlings and Wilson, I will look at Kelley, Akadema, and Glovesmith.
My son is a one sport athlete. From age 10 through his senior year in HS, he played 100+ games per year, catching mainly. He went through many catcher's mitts. Probably the best craftsmanship of them all was the Rawling's ProPreferred, but the soft kip leather just will not hold up to the punishment a catcher puts them through. Their fielder's gloves may be excellent, but a ProPreferred catcher's mitt is a floppy wad of leather after 100 games.
Same goes for the Glovesmith. Their fielder's gloves are great, but their top of the line catcher's mitts are floppy to begin with.
The best leather (one that will hold up) I have been able to find in a catcher's mitt, is the Rawling's Heart of the Hide series and the Akadema Pro line. My son is now a college catcher and is using an Akadema Pro AMM 49. It has more catching time that the 2 ProPreferred mitts combined, and he is still using it after 2 seasons. He has another one never used in a game, but broken in and game ready, to use when his origional Akadema mitt gives up the ghost.
One other tidbit of information - I don't know if it has to do with the tanning process or not, but our experience has been that the black leather has held up better that the tan or brown in a catcher's mitt. Doesn't seem to make that much difference in a fielder's glove.
Same goes for the Glovesmith. Their fielder's gloves are great, but their top of the line catcher's mitts are floppy to begin with.
The best leather (one that will hold up) I have been able to find in a catcher's mitt, is the Rawling's Heart of the Hide series and the Akadema Pro line. My son is now a college catcher and is using an Akadema Pro AMM 49. It has more catching time that the 2 ProPreferred mitts combined, and he is still using it after 2 seasons. He has another one never used in a game, but broken in and game ready, to use when his origional Akadema mitt gives up the ghost.
One other tidbit of information - I don't know if it has to do with the tanning process or not, but our experience has been that the black leather has held up better that the tan or brown in a catcher's mitt. Doesn't seem to make that much difference in a fielder's glove.
My fiend has the kelly pro line. decent glove, but i don't care for it.
the Kelly DN060 is my favorite mitt of all time. I used it from when I was 8-14. Then purchased another one from 14-16. THe padding is minimal, but the feel and weight is great. It forms directly to ur hand n doesn't get flimsy like the Wilson models I have seen.
Go for the Kelly!
Go for the Kelly!