A: Sorry, but with the exception of our promotional items, Nokona does not sell direct. Nokona products are sold through approximately 1,500 full service sporting goods stores around the country. Please see our full list of dealers in your area.

A: Our most frequently asked question! While our company name is NOCONA Athletic Goods, our trademark is NOKONA with a "K". Our hometown is Nocona, Texas with a "C". Many moons ago, as the story goes, when we tried to trademark the word Nocona, we were told that we could not use the name of an incorporated city (Nocona, TX) as a stand alone trademark. While there is some question about this story, Nokona with a "K", along with the Indian Head logo has come to symbolize our American made pride and craftsmanship!

Yes, we love to give tours at our Nocona, Texas factory! The art of making ball gloves is something that needs to be experienced at least once in person. Just let us know when you will be coming and we will give you directions and be waiting for you.

No. Nokona offers a set group of patterns that hopefully covers most of the needs of baseball and softball players. We are also constantly working on new ideas and models, but "one-offs" would be extremely cost prohibitive to make, so we instead concentrate on what we know best.

Our answer is not always what you want to hear. When you buy a Nokona, you have selected the best glove made. Nokona's select glove leathers are softer than our competitors and should, therefore, break in easier.

Still, when getting your Nokona ready, we suggest that you play catch and break-in your glove or mitt naturally. This will allow your glove to form a natural pocket. There are many different methods and "quick fixes" to shortcut the break-in period. Unfortunately, we've seen the sad results of many of these over the past half century.

If you have chosen a Nokona, however, you have shown that you are a serious ball player and the extra effort in getting your glove ready by proper catch and practice won't hurt your skills, and you will have a glove that is properly broken in for play.

Nokona gloves and mitts are made from leather tanned to our specifications. Proper care will provide you longer use. With the exception of Nokona "Buckskin" gloves, our gloves are pre-oiled at the factory. Although many sophisticated leather care products are prevalent today, we still use the plain old petroleum jelly and have for over half a century. We swear by it, and we've seen the results of many touted oils. Recently, a warehouse find of 300, forty-year old unused gloves was discovered and many of these were Nokonas. Upon viewing and testing of all of the gloves, the Nokonas proved to be in far better shape than those of other companies, and we attribute this to our petrolatum or "NLT", the long tested Nokona pretreatment.

To best apply petroleum jelly, rub it into the leather with your bare hands. Work it into every area including the laces and inside the glove where cracking takes place. Unlike liquefied oils, petroleum jelly won't soak through to the padding. You can also clean your glove with a clean wiping cloth and petroleum jelly. Rub the surface vigorously and the petroleum jelly will actually cause the dirt within the grain to rise up to the top where it will be picked up by the cloth.

Just as you would treat your skin when dry, retreat your glove as needed. It's a continuous process and do so with a liberal coat when you put your glove away for the season.

Here is a short list of recommended DON'Ts:
• Do not soak in water! This negatively affects the interior padding and accelerates wear of the leather fibers.
• Do not use any type of oil or silicone that clogs the leather pores, sealing them and allowing dry rot to set into your ball glove.
• Do not apply heat to the leather. Leather is not intended to be cooked.

Above all else - DO NOT PLACE YOUR NOKONA GLOVE OR MITT IN A MICROWAVE OVEN! We've seen the results too many times and it's not a pretty sight!

BUFFALO PREMIUM - Nokona utilizes select American Range bison “Buffalo” from Ranchers in South Dakota to insure quality. Buffalo leather produces a rugged yet supple leather which produces a premium, lightweight glove.

BUFFALO/OIL-TAN COWHIDE COMBO - - Together the two produce a glove with a shorter break-in period. The contrasting colors produce a distinctive and appealing look. The oil-tan leather will make the glove slightly heavier than the regular leather.

BUFFALO/WALNUT COWHIDE COMBO - Together the shape retaining characteristics of the walnut cowhide give support to the buffalo leather and the softness and lightweight characteristics of the buffalo shorten the break-in time of the walnut cowhide leather.

BUCKAROO - Walnut Cowhide Palm/Kangaroo leather back. Kangaroo leather is one of the finest and strongest lightweight leathers known. Its tensile strength far exceeds that of other animals. The fine texture gives the player a glove that will break-in quickly and the light weight for those who prefer a lighter weight glove. The walnut cowhide leather gives the glove the added support for retaining its shape.

WALNUT COWHIDE - Genuine top-grain cowhide leather with a smooth brown color. It is a breathable leather and will retain its shape. It has strength and durability.

SANDSTONE - Our newest leather features a slightly stiffer feel and the ability to retain its’ shape, demanded by Varsity level players. With a slightly longer break-in period for this top grain cowhide, Sandstone is very handsome and uniquely geared for the Select type player.

GLADIATOR COWHIDE - Oil-treated cowhide leather. Oil is injected into the leather during the tanning process, this in turn produces a more flexible glove but a heavier weight. It has a smooth dark tan color.