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Product Reviews

Bruce Bolt Batting Gloves: All Hype Or The Real Deal?

Written by Chris 

Published on February 22, 2024

If you're a baseball player looking for high-quality batting gloves that offer superior grip, comfort, and durability, you've likely heard of Bruce Bolt. This brand has quickly become a favorite among players at all levels, thanks to their innovative designs and excellent performance. In this article, we'll take a closer look at what sets Bruce Bolt batting gloves apart from other brands, and why they've generated so much hype in the baseball community. We'll also review the Ian Happ series short cuff gloves, and help you determine whether they're worth the investment.

Bruce Bolt Happ Series Gloves

My son is always looking for the newest and coolest gear that can give him an edge on the field. That's why he was pumped to try out the Bruce Bolt Ian Happ Series Short Cuff Batting Gloves. These gloves are a collaboration between Bruce Bolt and Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ, and I was curious to see if they lived up to the hype. We aren't Cubs fans but the colors were the closest match to my son's travel team uniform and it was a Christmas gift so he had no choice.

 

Aside from the Xbox he and his brother got from Grandma, the batting gloves had to be a close second in terms of gift-related excitement. The first thing he said when he put on the gloves was how comfortable they were. The spandex back provided a snug fit that felt secure without being too restrictive. 

 

The leather palm was really soft and flexible but what really impressed him the most was the grip. I can't really explain it because he doesn't use pine tar but the palm area of the gloves provide excellent traction on the bat handle, which helped him feel more confident at the plate..

After some use

In the Northeast, baseball isn’t a year-round sport, but my son’s travel ball team has been practicing indoors since January to get ready for the spring season. Over the past few months, he’s used his Bruce Bolt batting gloves in dozens of indoor batting practices and a handful of outdoor games. Despite this heavy use, the gloves still look almost new, aside from some stitching coming loose on the lightning bolt logo—a minor issue considering how much they’ve been through.

 

These gloves aren’t cheap, and my son knows it. He treats them with care, even surprising his teammates by putting them back in the original packaging after his first practice session. That’s how much he values them.

 

So far, the gloves have lived up to their reputation for durability, as they should at this price point. The added palm padding not only protects against stinging hits but also seems to reinforce the gloves, helping them hold up under consistent use. It’s a feature we’ve come to appreciate as much as their drippy design and comfort.

Is it just hype?

So many products (ahem PRIME sports drink) are all marketing hype. However, Bruce Bolt is hype backed by a quality product. What really sets the Bruce Bolt youth batting gloves apart is their style. They have so many different options to choose from!


My son has white with a red lightning bolt and light blue trim. It's a simple design but they look so clean when he's up at bat. We do like some of the other variations like the CLARK Series as well as a few from the Creator Series.


I don't love the solid-color batting gloves as much but that's just my preference. The first gloves I saw from Bruce Bolt looked like gardening gloves or gloves that Iron Man would wear. They were fine but they just weren't my style. As a 40-year-old, I can't believe I'm using the word fire to describe a product but here I go. The new Gold Series black ones with gold trim are fire. They look so good and would definitely hide any dirt. That might be the next pair we get once he grows out of his current ones.


There are so many colors to choose from so you can find the perfect ones to match your team's uniforms or your personal style. Overall, we just love the Happ Series Bruce Bolt gloves so far. They are comfy, tough, and look really cool. 

Bruce Bolt Batting Gloves

Construction

According to the Bruce Bolt website, the Happ Series gloves are made with top-grade sheepskin leather, also known as Cabretta. Cabretta leather is known for its softness, durability, and flexibility. It makes sense for these high-end batting gloves because of the leather's ability to conform to the shape of the hand. This provides a custom fit and better grip.


Cabretta leather also has natural moisture-wicking properties, which can help keep hands cool and dry during long games or practices. The leather is just very soft and it can provide a seamless connection between the player's hands and the bat.

Stitching

When it comes to stitching, Bruce Bolt knows how to thread the needle. They use lycra, also known as spandex, to create stitching that is both stretchy and strong. It's like the superhero of stitching materials. It allows you to move your fingers and wrists in any direction without feeling constrained by the glove. You'll forget you're even wearing them, they're that comfortable!


But it's not just about comfort – the inverse threading design is a stroke of genius. Instead of having the threads rub against your fingers constantly, they're tucked away inside the glove. This not only feels better on your skin, but it also reduces wear and tear on the gloves themselves. It's like a secret stitching that you never knew you needed until you tried it.

Padding

When it comes to the design of batting gloves, Bruce Bolt has thought of everything. Their gloves feature reinforced padding in key areas to ensure they last longer than your average pair of cheap batting gloves. Not only is there double reinforcement on the palms, but also on the heel and crotch, where heavy wear and tear commonly occurs. These reinforcements should give you peace of mind that your gloves should last more than just one season.

Short Cuff and Long Cuff

Bruce Bolt offers two types of cuffs for their gloves: short cuff and long cuff. Both styles feature a 360-degree wrist wrap that provides protection and great support. The support ensures that the gloves stay in place during your swing. Plus, the cuffs are made of breathable material. So your hands won't get too sweaty during those hot summer league games.


Both gloves would be great options but the long cuffs provide a bit more wrist support. They also offer a tighter, more secure fit. However, the long cuffs cause your hands to get a bit sweatier compared to the short cuffs. This is especially true in the summer months.

Cool Designs

The Happ Series Short Cuff gloves come in several different color options, including black, navy blue, and red. Each glove is accented with white detailing and features the Bruce Bolt logo prominently on the back of the hand.

What Size Do I Need?

The gloves are designed to fit similarly to top baseball brands like Franklin, Nike, UA, and Marucci. Whether you're upgrading from an old pair of gloves or buying your first set, you can use your current gloves as a guide to finding your perfect size. If you're still not sure, take a look at the glove size chart below.

But what if you don't get the sizing right on your first try? No problem. Bruce Bolt offers easy size exchanges and returns so that you can get the right fit as soon as possible.

How Long Do Bruce Bolt Batting Gloves Last?

Before I buy any baseball product for my kids, I do thorough research. I'm checking all of the reviews on the Bruce Bolt website, Quora and Reddit message boards, Facebook pages, and Amazon reviews. I can honestly say that our experience with the gloves so far has been amazing. It's been about 5 months now of consistent use and there are no signs of wear and tear.

 

Bruce Bolt doesn't claim to be perfect. Gloves will rip for certain kids but the overwhelming majority says that they should last you multiple seasons.

BRUCE BOLT offers our Satisfaction Guarantee, which doesn't necessarily mean that gear won't eventually fail, but instead, if you aren't happy with how long our gear lasted we will make sure to "make it right" for you.

 

From everything I've read, it means they will send you a discount coupon for your next set of gloves. It's not a customer-friendly return policy like Amazon for example, but Bruce Bolt is a small business that probably can't afford no-questions-asked returns.


As my son has grown and started to swing harder and train more often we've found that other major brands simply don't hold up. We were going through a few pairs of batting gloves per season, which was becoming a pain. With BB, we're hoping they can last at least through one season if not two.


The cost savings aren't huge if you break it down. Four sets of cheaper gloves at $25 for the season vs one pair of Bruce Bolt's for $80. I'd rather have a high-quality glove that will feel good. Not to mention you will also be supporting a young entrepreneur. They stand behind their product and truly care about customer satisfaction so I have no problem giving them my support and money.

What Are The Different Types Of Bruce Bolt Batting Gloves?

The Gold Series, The Signature Series, The Chrome Series, and The Original Series and the Creator Series are all of the different batting glove product lines offered by Bruce Bolt. Aside from the many different designs within each, the only major difference is the thickness of the Cabretta leather used in the construction. The Gold Series offers the thickest option at 1.2mm while the other collections provide .9mm. Gloves that use this type of leather will not get hard and crunchy so you can't really go wrong with any of the options. The Gold Series may hold up a little longer because of the leather thickness but that's the only difference we could find.

How Do You Maintain Bruce Bolt Batting Gloves?

To keep your Bruce Bolt batting gloves in good condition, it's important to follow a few simple maintenance tips. Here are some recommendations:

Keep them clean: Dirt and sweat can accumulate on your gloves over time, which can cause them to wear out faster. To prevent this, wipe them down with a damp cloth after each use. If they're really dirty, you can use mild soap and water to clean them, but make sure to let them air dry completely before using them again.

Avoid using them in the rain if you can

Use leather conditioner or mink oil: Over time, the leather on your gloves can dry out and become stiff. To keep them soft and supple, apply a small amount of conditioner or mink oil to them every few weeks. Rub it in with a soft cloth and let it absorb into the leather before using the gloves again.

Don't overuse them: While Bruce Bolt gloves are designed to be durable, using them too much can cause them to wear out faster. Try to rotate your gloves and give them a break between uses to help prolong their lifespan. Similar to your CatX being your game-day bat, most players have a cheaper bat for batting practice only.

Keep your Bruce Bolt batting gloves in top condition for many games to come by following these simple tips.

About Bruce Bolt

Bruce Bolt is a relatively new company that was founded by teenager Bear Mayer in 2018. Mayer got the idea for the company after noticing that professional baseball players were using batting gloves that didn't provide the necessary grip and comfort to perform their best. He saw an opportunity to create a better product and decided to start his own company to do just that.


Mayer (The Chief Glove Giver) spent months researching and testing different materials and designs to create a batting glove that would provide the best possible grip and comfort for players. He eventually designed a batting glove that combined a synthetic leather palm with a spandex back, providing a snug, comfortable fit that would not interfere with the player's grip on the bat.

 

The first Bruce Bolt batting gloves were released in 2019, and they quickly gained a following with both professional and amateur baseball players. The gloves were praised for their excellent grip, comfortable fit, and durability, and many players began to switch to Bruce Bolt gloves from other brands.


Since its founding, Bruce Bolt has continued to grow and expand its product line. The company now offers a range of batting gloves in different colors and designs, as well as other baseball accessories such as apparel, pine tar, wood bats, arm sleeves, leg sleeves, and bat grips. Despite its success, Bruce Bolt remains a small, family-owned company that is dedicated to providing the best possible products to its customers.

Where Did The Bruce Bolt Name Come From?

According to an interview Bear Mayer and his dad did with Baseball Monkey back in 2018, the company was named Bruce because it's a family name. Bear's middle name is Bruce, and his grandfather, dad's, and cousin's first names are Bruce. As crazy as it sounds, the bolt part of the name comes from the story of his grandfather being struck by lightning two separate times. Paired together, it makes for a great brand name.

Final Thoughts On The Bruce Bolt Batting Gloves

After trying out the batting gloves for the last five months, I have to say that we are thoroughly impressed. Not only do they look great, but the grip and durability of these gloves are top-notch. My son, who is an diehard baseball player, absolutely loves these gloves. I know they don't direclty improve his game, but as a parent, it's great to see him feel confident at the plate. 


Overall, I would highly recommend the Bruce Bolt batting gloves to anyone looking for a reliable and stylish option. They've certainly made a fan out of both myself and my son!