Sliding Mitts
Sliding mitts: what they do and how to pick one
A sliding mitt is a padded guard a baserunner slips over one hand to protect the fingers and wrist on a head-first slide or a dive back to the bag. Most have a stiff plate or shell over the back of the hand and a strap at the wrist, and most of the mitts on this page fit either hand. We carry EvoShield, Nike, Franklin, Rawlings, Easton and Naked Grips, with fast and free shipping on every order.
Read our sliding mitt guide
Check your league's sliding rule first
Before you buy one, it's worth knowing one rule. In Little League Baseball and Little League Softball, a runner who slides head-first while advancing is out in the Major division and below. Diving head-first back to a base is still allowed, so a mitt still earns its keep on pickoff throws. Other leagues set their own sliding rules, so if you're not sure, ask the coach.
At the top of the game there's no question: you'll see sliding mitts on big league basepaths every night.
What to look for in a sliding mitt
- The protection: the Rawlings and Easton Spring Break mitts pair a carbon fiber plate that only bends one way with a TPE layer that helps prevent jammed fingers. The Franklin CFX uses a soft shell that hardens on impact, and EvoShield puts a rubber bumper across the fingertips.
- Fingers free to grab the bag: EvoShield cuts channels into the palm and back of the hand so the fingers can still hook the base. The Nike Diamond has an abrasion-resistant palm for the slide itself.
- Either hand: the EvoShield, Nike, Franklin and Rawlings mitts all fit the left or right hand, so it doesn't matter which hand he leads with.
- Youth or adult: Naked Grips and the EvoShield X-SRZ come in youth and adult sizes, and Rawlings and Easton come in small and large. The EvoShield 2.0 is an adult mitt.
- The look: let's be honest, half the point of a sliding mitt is the drip. Naked Grips designs like Palm Tree and American Treat match their bat grips, and EvoShield's X-SRZ mitts come in limited-edition designs. Ballplayers know.
Our best-selling sliding mitts
- Most popular over the past year: the Nike Diamond Sliding Mitt, our best-selling sliding mitt over the last 12 months.
- Hottest this fall: the EvoShield Adult Sliding Mitt 2.0, our top seller in the last 90 days.
- For Acuña fans: the Nike Ronald Acuña Jr. University Gold Diamond and Acuña Jr. Diamond 2.0 signature mitts, both in this page's top four this year.
- The plated option: the Rawlings Sliding Mitt and the Easton Spring Break, for runners who want a stiffer guard over the back of the hand.
Try one on in Atlanta or Houston
The easiest way to get the fit right is to slip a couple on. Come see us at our Atlanta superstore or our Houston store in Katy, and while you're there, test any bat for free or book a Pro Bat Fitting.
Shopping from home? Call (800) 997-4233 or chat with us. Returns are free for 365 days on new, unused gear, so you can swap sizes without any hassle.
Common questions
What is the point of a sliding mitt?
It protects a runner's hand on head-first slides and dives back to the base: from jammed fingers when the hand hits the bag, from cleats when a fielder steps on it, and from scrapes in the dirt.
Do you really need a sliding mitt?
If your player slides head-first or dives back on pickoffs, it's worth having. In leagues that don't allow head-first slides while advancing, like Little League's Major division and below, he'll mostly use it on dives back to the bag.
Are sliding mitts legal in MLB?
Yes. Plenty of big leaguers wear one, and Ronald Acuña Jr. has his own Nike signature mitts on this page. The Franklin CFX is the official sliding mitt of MLB.
What age should you get a sliding mitt?
It's less about age and more about the rules he plays under and how he runs the bases. Check whether his league allows head-first slides, and if he's diving into bags, a mitt is worth it.
Which hand do you wear a sliding mitt on?
The hand that reaches for the base first when he slides. Most of the mitts on this page, including EvoShield, Nike, Franklin and Rawlings, fit either hand, so you don't have to choose a left or a right.
Do sliding mitts come in youth sizes?
Yes. Naked Grips and the EvoShield X-SRZ come in youth and adult, and Rawlings and Easton come in small and large. Not sure which fits? Try a couple on at our Atlanta or Houston store, or call our experts.
Can you wear a sliding mitt in softball?
Yes. The Franklin CFX is made for baseball and softball, and Little League Softball has the same head-first rule as baseball in the Major division and below.
