Vintage Baseball Glove Forum

Found this article on the web today
http://www.telegram.com/article/2008101 ... 10427/1116

Looks like Nokona has founded GoodGloveUSA, and will be making its Nokona gloves in both Texas and Mass. now.

I wonder if they will do plant tours there? I did the one at the old factory before the fire, and I always head to Boston once a year for a Sox game. I'd love to take in a tour at this new factory while instate.

On a semi related note, thanks for the tip to call Nokona for new laces rather than email. They arrived as promised. Unfortunately, they are a burnt orangey color and not the light brown I wanted...

Hello WW11,

Nokona gloves made in Worcester? I think that's a good drive from Boston.

A Nokona glove coming from Mass. just doesn't sound right to me, just like chili sauce shouldn't from from New York City.

I have some Indian Tanned/Wheat laces from Tanner's you are welcome to, but they are thick and will require a break-in. See my XXL in the "Glove Pictures" thread.

Worcester is about an hour west of Boston.
I will be in that area next week.
I will stop by to check it out!

ran a shoe factory in Webster Ma before Rawlings in the 70's. Worcester had the first yellow cast street lights I had ever seen, really a strange light. I don't see how anyone could afford the labor in that area to start up a glove factory
Doc

ahhhhh...after reading like 2000 posts on nokona, i'm still confused on the gloves they produce...half the people swear by it and its craftsmanship and quality...but the other half said it's wayy to soft and floppy...i realize that the buffalo and kangaroo leathers stretch and become floppy, but i've even heard people say that their walnut leather is on the soft side as well...i'm starting to feel like nokonas are great for playing catch and softball, but a rawlings glove is more suited for hardball? PLEASE correct me if i'm wrong

Doc, had you taken a few nips when you saw the strange l ights?
You people would be SURPRISED if I told you how they were making gloves in the Mass plant. Blew me over. Well...state of art and art of the state.
On the soft vs. hard. Soft breaks down quicker. Nokona's buff and kangy
soft of course, Kangy stretchy. Harder leather, longer to break in but lasts longer.
We call it the three bears story on glove leather, too soft, too hard, just right. I ran into this all the time selling gloves via mail or on ebay. Flat pictures don't tell you how the glove's gonna feel on the hand.
Hope this helps.

One good thing coming out of this is that it sounds like Nokona is pulling production out of China, and bringing it all back to the USA. Hope the quality doesn't suffer because of the new/increased production. I spoke with a Nokona dealer a few weeks ago, and he indicated that they were selling every glove they could make at the Texas factory, and could not keep up with demand. I know they are finally getting some respect and popularity with men's softball. Now I am not the only one out there touting them.

softball66 wrote:Doc, had you taken a few nips when you saw the strange l ights?
You people would be SURPRISED if I told you how they were making gloves in the Mass plant. Blew me over. Well...state of art and art of the state.
On the soft vs. hard. Soft breaks down quicker. Nokona's buff and kangy
soft of course, Kangy stretchy. Harder leather, longer to break in but lasts longer.
We call it the three bears story on glove leather, too soft, too hard, just right. I ran into this all the time selling gloves via mail or on ebay. Flat pictures don't tell you how the glove's gonna feel on the hand.
Hope this helps.

yea...to tell you the truth...nokona gloves simply feltl amazing when i tried it on in the store, or at least the kimera ones did, which is why i reaaaallly want one...HOWEVER, i also noticed that it was pretty much broken in at the store, which makes me think that it's bound to get too soft...ahhh, dilemma!...probably gonna buy 2 more rawlings then a nokona...i swear this stuff is addicting

BuffaloGlover wrote:One good thing coming out of this is that it sounds like Nokona is pulling production out of China, and bringing it all back to the USA. Hope the quality doesn't suffer because of the new/increased production. I spoke with a Nokona dealer a few weeks ago, and he indicated that they were selling every glove they could make at the Texas factory, and could not keep up with demand. I know they are finally getting some respect and popularity with men's softball. Now I am not the only one out there touting them.

This is good and bad. Both of the little sporting goods stores in Columbia, SC are no longer carrying Nokona. They take too long to supply the gloves for the customers. I bought a Nokona Buffalo purely on feel because I could try it on in the Store. No way Dick's will have Kimera or Bloodline available in store. Wearing the buffalo glove, It's like putting mink on your hand (c:

Awarsoca,
Maybe you and me can convince Nokona to start a plant here in the Palmetto State. Only problem, I'd go broke because I'd want to keep everything I made.

glovin wrote:ahhhhh...after reading like 2000 posts on nokona.....half the people swear by it and its craftsmanship and quality...but the other half said it's wayy to soft and floppy.....i'm starting to feel like nokonas are great for playing catch and softball, but a rawlings glove is more suited for hardball?

I started out w/ Rawlings, used an Akadema for a couple seasons, flirted with Glovesmith. I am back to Rawlings HOH and don't expect to change again. I have tried Nokona gloves on in the store, caught a few balls in the field but never got that "special fit" that said get this glove and use it to play with.

i havetried them all too but ended up with Nokona. I have a Roo and Buff and they both have held up great. My love with rawlings went away when they stopped making gloves here. I will never put another glove on my our my sons hands(i have three boys). Hey they are american made by hand. what else do you want.

Seems like the beginning of a trend...

I saw Akadema's recent catalog and see that they are making gloves in the USA as well.

I can't wait to see their gloves because I've always felt that the Akadema designs and craftsmanship can stand with any of the big guys.

I love the fact that companies are making gloves in the U.S. again.