How to care for deerskin gloves

[Scribbler]

Should I be preconditioning deerskin work gloves for riding?

I just got my 3rd pair. I pretty much destroyed the first two pair a couple of years each and they are stiff little lumps of hard leather with holes in the fingers.

I held off on leather for a while because it is fragile, but I tried some deerskin and love them for spring summer fall riding and especially for hauling out and trail riding. Also you can grab blackberry vines and rip them out.

I’ve tried reviving with conditioners after they are trashed and just end up with greasy stiff little lumps of leather.

The woman at the workwear store this time said to use mink oil. But I am reluctant to mess up my soft clean new gloves. And actually I think the real culprit is my hands sweating inside the gloves.

[sascha]

Deerskin gloves are the bestest gloves, but when you work them hard, the way they are meant to be used, they don’t last forever. Getting a couple of years out of them is pretty good.

And, YES, to being able to rip out thorny stuff with them <3 You just can’t do that with cow, buffalo or goat without getting pierced.

I don’t “care” for mine at all, I’m ok with them not lasting forever. I will, however, use new/er ones for riding, older ones for chores, and almost dead ones for gardening.

Editing to add that I’d be worried about applying anything oily on purpose in fear of them stretching too much and losing their spongy elastic feel.

[GreyDes]

I’ve had good success washing them with a leather specific cleaner (Melp or Leather Therapy) then putting them on and rubbing a little conditioner in.

[Scribbler]

Ok thank you! I will proceed as in the past

[lenapesadie]

I’m going to try this

[poltroon]

I love my deerskin work gloves. I don’t do anything to care for them. I do wear them out maybe every 8 months or so. They get worked hard. The worst thing is that they get wet, second worst thing is rubbing at things with my fingertips make holes.

I was feeling a little annoyed about “how often” I go through them and then I thought about the fact that this is not wear and tear on my hands. When I look at it that way it’s a bargain.

They protect my hands well and yet give me excellent feel. The only time I don’t wear them is if it is actively pouring rain or if I am handling an animal I am concerned may be sick (since they can’t be disinfected).

[hoopoe]

There are a lot of tips on Google, basically delicate wash with woolite type, condition once or twice a year with gentle leather conditioner. Deerskin wears well. Be mindful of the effect of sweat and body fluids from horse and even a damp towel work over to take those acids off will help . Damp towel and wash your gloves hands with that

[Scribbler]

@hoopoe

There are a lot of tips on Google, basically delicate wash with woolite type, condition once or twice a year with gentle leather conditioner. Deerskin wears well. Be mindful of the effect of sweat and body fluids from horse and even a damp towel work over to take those acids off will help . Damp towel and wash your gloves hands with that

Yes i saw some of these suggestions but I think these online tips have to be for fashion gloves! Not actually working work gloves! Also I think the biggest deterioration is from my own hands sweating. Doesn’t help when maresy plays fetch with my gloves though.

[sascha]

@Scribbler

these online tips have to be for fashion gloves! Not actually working work gloves! Also I think the biggest deterioration is from my own hands sweating

Agreed. Popped back in to say I used to work in a dairy barn and deerskin gloves (as well as nitrile when appropriate) saved my hands from countless injuries, grossnesses, and general wear and tear. My hands may not be hand model material but I always got “your hands don’t look like you work with cattle” and I would respond “deerskin gloves for chores, nitrile for anything medical.”

[ZuzusPetals]

A good fit from the start will really add to their useful life. Always try a bunch of pairs, and it’s worth paying a bit extra for size-specific. Deerskin breaks in so wonderfully.

[luvmyhackney]

I wash mine in woolite if needed and wear them when conditioning my tack.

I use Higher Standards and warm it up in the palms and pretend I’m washing my hands to soak it all in.

My dad swears by his glove dryer things that get the inside dry after wearing them all day. I don’t have one.