Eight-year-olds come in a fascinating breadth of talent and sensitivity on the baseball field. Some kids could catch a baseball barehanded and wouldn’t wince. Then there are others you could wrap in lamb’s wool and bubble wrap, and they still cry at the sting as the ball slaps the mitt. Thus, the best glove for an eight-year-old depends significantly on the child’s needs.
4 Best baseball gloves for eight-year-olds:
- Nokona S-200
- Wilson A2000
- Wilson A450
- Rawlings R9
1. Nokona S-200
Nokona makes beautiful, high-quality gloves, and the S-200 is no exception. The buffalo and stampede leather is highly responsive to being worked in and feels great on the hand. These handcrafted, made-in-the-USA mitts are also lightweight, perfect for children still building their muscle tone and keeping it comfortable for the whole game. It is available in left and right-handed.
The Nokona S-200 is an 11.25″, fitting children up to fourteen years old. Thus, it will fit some eight-year-olds beautifully and be an excellent all-rounder. However, as they age, it will become an infielder glove unsuited for the outfield. Thus, it’s wise to consider what positions they’ll be playing in the long term, even if this fits.
If the kid needs an easier-to-adjust wrist strap, there is also the S-V1 with Velcro. The price and size are the same and come with an I-Web Trap. Both are excellent choices. The issue is how confident you feel about the Velcro lasting as long as the rest.
Pros
- Feels good on the hand
- Top-quality leather and construction
- It will last for years and years
Cons
- Expensive
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2. Wilson A2000
The Wilson A2000 has a wide range of options for kids that can wear 11.5″ and up. Various models within the range help favor certain positions, be it first base, shortstop, or outfielder. But they are all made with leather but will use “SuperSkin,” a microfiber to reduce weight in some versions. Also, like Nokona, there will be some Velco wrist options.
Wilson is a brand that is known to last. These mitts get passed down from parent to child. However, the robustness comes with a stiffness that takes time to break-in. It is very old-school, and not every eight-year-old has the time and patience for the ritual. Then again, many of us have fond memories of breaking in our first Wilson. Depends on the child’s temperament.
Like the Nokona, there will be eight-year-olds where the A200 range isn’t going to work. So for those tiny scrapers, they will need to look at the Wilson featured next on our list. Because there is no point in saddling a child with a too-big glove for the sake of longevity if it is going to frustrate them and ruin their love of the game.
Pros
- Build to last
- Quality
- Not as expensive as Nokona
Cons
- Still on the pricy side, but not as high as Nokona
- Requires breaking-in
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3. Wilson A450
The Wilson A450 youth is an excellent mitt for smaller hands, coming in a 10.75″ – 12″. It has soft pigskin, keeping it lightweight, and it needs minimal break-in. (It’s technically “factory break-in,” but you might want to add your own touch.) The wrist strap is “quick fit” (elastic) and has an H-web.
The A450 is the alternative to the A1000, which is stiffer. Also, the A1000 is a bigger glove, and if you go bigger, you may as well get the A2000. A450 is simply a better fit for a young person.
The only real drawback is the harder, thinner palm won’t offer enough protection for some kids. It’s honestly not bad, but some eight-year-olds will need a lot more cushioning, or they’ll shy from the ball. But it won’t be an issue if your kid is already gun-ho for fielding.
Pros
- Affordable
- Fits smaller 8-year-olds
- Durable
Cons
- Less padding in the palm
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4. Rawlings R9
Look, some people are not Wilson fans and think Rawlings is better. However, they are not going to splurge on a Nokona for an eight-year-old, which is entirely reasonable. Thus, we bring you the Rawlings R9, the alternative to the Wilson A1000. Therefore, you are getting a bit more than the Wilson R450 but not shelling out as much as you would for the Wilson R2000.
We’d also go with the R9 over the A1000 due to its versatility. The A1000 is designed for the infield, whereas the R9 is more of an all-rounder. At eight-years-old, the kid could end up anywhere because the games are chaotic and stuff happens. A child that usually plays third suddenly finds themselves playing mid-field because they’re the only kid who can throw that far that doesn’t have the puke bug.
The R9 is durable, arrives mostly broken-in (but not completely), has palm padding, and a pro taper. It has a Trap-Eze web. Rawlings hold up to the abuse of hard playing. So it’s a good buy where you’re not messing around with plastic, but your bank account isn’t going to scream if the little darling loses it after the first season.
Pros
- Well priced
- All-rounder
- Padded to reduce sting
Cons
- Not as flashy as the Wilson R2000 or the Nokona
- It will be too heavy for the tiny 8-year-olds
Our Top Pick
Our top pick is the Wilson R2000 or the R450, depending on the kid’s size. Look, Nokona are amazing gloves; anybody who gets one will love them. However, we are talking eight-year-olds who can’t even keep their own teeth in their mouths (and then want to be paid after losing them). Sure, plenty of us still have the gloves from our youth, but some don’t.
Thus, we’d wait a few years before plunging into the Nokona territory and see where the child’s talent truly lies. Then you can tailor the purchase to their position, be it first base, outfield, or shortstop.
For some people, even the Wilson R2000 is too expensive for an eight-year-old, but their child’s hand is too big for the R450. If so, we hear you. Thus, then go for the R9. Rawlings is a good brand, it’s an all-rounder glove made of leather, and it will be great. So, while we like the R2000 better, the R9 is still a really fine mitt, and your kid will enjoy it.
FAQs
What Size Glove Does An 8-Year-Old Need?
The average 8-year-old wears an 11.” However, some will need a 10,” and others require an 11.5″ or bigger. It is an awkward age where the difference in sizes can vary considerably.
