Anyone's experience with synthetic leather?

[Union Scribe]

So I'm shopping around for a nice pair of gloves, but I try to avoid animal products when I can. It seems the most supple ones are made from calf and kid skins, which is especially unappealing to me.

Anyway I started searching online for synthetic leather gloves, and have found some nice looking ones at places like thevegetariansite.com. But I have no experience with synthetic leather and was wondering if anyone could tell me about it compared to animal leather, durability and feel etc. TIA!

[PoliticAverse]

1. Unfortunately 'synthetic leather' is too general a term...

It can mean anything from cheap vinyl that is colored and textured to look like leather to some type of
sophisticated material made from non-petroleum products.

Need more info on what the gloves are really made from.

[Union Scribe]

5. Good point

I'll have to email the sellers as they just say synthetic leather.

[LeftyMom]

2. In my experience, vegan-specific shops tend to carry high quality stuff and to be great about

returns in the rare cases where I'm unhappy. Most of them have really great labor policies as well.

Personally I have a pair of Polartec gloves I'm happy with, but I don't know if that's a workable option in your case. When I got them I did have to look around a bit to find a trim, stylish pair in basic black that didn't look like they'd escaped from a ski shop.

[Union Scribe]

6. Cool

I know just what you're talking about, lol. I see a lot of cool gloves but they have huge brands or designs on them. I'll definitely keep Polartec in mind

[DollarBillHines]

3. Any decent synthetic will trump (sorry, I know...) any natural skin.

Buy the best you can afford.

You will get the same "feel".

And you won't have to break them in.

Plus, depending on the make, they might be wash-able.

There is no advantage in natural leather unless you are a hard-ass horseperson (image, you know).
DBH

[Union Scribe]

7. Thanks

Good stuff to know

[Warpy]

4. They don't wear nearly as well as the real things

You will do much better if you wear knit ones.

[Union Scribe]

8. Those are great too

I have some jersey knit work gloves that are my current go-to pair.

[flvegan]

9. I admit I've gone custom.

But my weightlifting gloves are awesome and my Timberlands are quite excellent. Synthetics are come a long, long way in comparison.