I got a pair of Icon Merc gloves not long ago and thought they felt good until I went back to my old pair.  The new gloves feel stiff and leave my hands a little more "worn out" after an hour or so.  Is there any way to speed up the break-in of new gloves that won't change their effectiveness?  Leather softeners, oils, rain, etc...?

I have the same gloves and the same experience - after 2-3,000 miles they are better, caused by natural skin lubricants, sweat and a little rain.
Not sure if oil is a good idea - it might make them slippery?
My fingers are a few mm too long and I'm going to try a combination of water and oil from the inside - then "blocking" them to become longer by fisting my hands and pushing hard into them.

IMO, very good gloves, so I think it's worth the effort to break them in properly.

Best way:

Run the faucet til the water gets very hot.

Fill the gloves up with water til they are soaked through.

Empty them out.

Put the gloves on.

Wear them til they dry...

... the leather will not be dried out and less wear resistant after this?

Nope. It's not like what happens to regular cheap work gloves...

I say just wear them in.  I have the Icon Merc gloves as well and they really don't take that long to break in.  If you absolutely have to do something give Icon a call first but mink oil does wonders for leather.  Again- doesn't really take that long to break them in (and gives you a great excuse to "need" to ride).

Quote from: c_rex on July 04, 2008, 11:01:35 PM
...........  Again- doesn't really take that long to break them in (and gives you a great excuse to "need" to ride).

- and again - "it's for safety", right? 

This might be more difficult if you have a keyboard-oriented job, but wear them all day long as much as you can.  They'll break in faster if you use them more than you would normally. 

If you think about it, if they got wet and brittle, how would they survive sweat and rain? 

I had a pair of A* gloves that were uncomfortably tight. We got caught in a raging summertime rainstorm and spent a good part of the day soaked to the core. The ride home was hot and sunny, and by the time we got back my gloves had stretched considerably. They were a little stiff afterwards but it didn't last; as soon as the oils from my skin worked their way back in they were fine.

Quote from: Ducatista on July 05, 2008, 07:38:16 AM
This might be more difficult if you have a keyboard-oriented job, but wear them all day long as much as you can.  They'll break in faster if you use them more than you would normally. 

+1... just wear 'em all the time.

works for hockey gear, too. but I'm a weirdo, so...

Quote from: teddy037.2 on July 05, 2008, 10:10:58 AM
works for hockey gear, too.

Now that you put it in terms I understand!   

Quote from: Aminul on July 06, 2008, 03:00:09 PM
Now that you put it in terms I understand!   

...now imagine the look my parents gave me back in the day, clompin' around the house w/my bauers and new set of goalie legs on... day after day after day...

teddy was a special boy... yes he is...