Can Workout Gloves Improve Your Lifts?
Whether you’re a seasoned lifter or a gym newbie, it’s normal to want to see results as fast as possible. Unfortunately, the reality is that instant results just aren’t achievable. It takes consistency over time (along with a protein-heavy diet and progressive resistance training) to build muscle and make strength gains. However, there are little tweaks you can make to give you a bit of an upper hand: finding the perfect lifting shoes, taking the right supplements, or using an accessory such as workout gloves.
Workout gloves are used by many weightlifters, bodybuilders, and crossfitters because of their supposed benefits in relation to grip strength. But are they really the key to improving your lifts? Can they help you maximize your strength gains, or are they just another unnecessary gym bag accessory? Unfortunately, workout gloves are not a magic solution that will raise your deadlift PR by 50 pounds. However, they can be a helpful tool that might be able to improve your overall lifting experience.
What are the benefits of wearing workout gloves?
There are many reasons why you might choose to wear gloves while you lift. First off, if you have weak wrists or any sort of wrist injury, gloves are a great option for extra stability and support. Many exercise gloves feature built-in wrist wraps, which can assist your wrists during bench presses, overhead presses, or even bodyweight exercises like planks. For people who struggle with their grip strength or have smaller hands, workout gloves can help you get a more secure grip on the bar, especially during exercises like deadlifts or pull-ups.
If you’ve been blessed with very sweaty hands, workout gloves can be a great way to manage the extra moisture that accumulates on your palms. They’re usually made from moisture-wicking material, which helps absorb any sweat that could cause a bar to slip from your grip. Some even feature textured surfaces that help your hands stick to the bar. Lots of weightlifters aren’t bothered by the calluses that form on their hands from lifting heavy with a barbell and/or dumbbells. But if that’s not your thing, or if you’re prone to developing blisters on your palms, you might want to seek out some gloves for protection. Many people also use exercise gloves because they contain padding for extra protection and comfort.
Are workout gloves better than bare hands?
When it comes to workout gloves vs bare hands, neither is necessarily better than the other. However, if you’re interested in wearing gloves while you lift, it’s a good idea to consider a few cases where using your bare hands might be a better option for you. If you’re an Olympic lifter who performs exercises such as clean and jerks or snatches, you want to make sure your grip is as accurate as possible. Wearing gloves can dampen the feel of the bar against your hands, leading to less control of your equipment. Also, keep in mind that some competitions don’t allow you to use gloves.
Another reason to choose bare hands over exercise gloves is the matter of grip strength. Although gloves can enhance your grip while you’re wearing them, they do so at the cost of your own natural grip strength. Workout gloves reduce the activation of the muscles in your hands and forearms, which means you could be doing yourself a disservice by wearing them if you’re looking to develop your grip strength.
Which workout gloves should I get?
If the benefits of wearing workout gloves align with your needs, then you’ll want to do some research and try on a few pairs. Finding the best pair of gloves really depends on your individual goals and preferences, but here are a few options that you can explore to get you started:
For small hands:
GloFit Workout Gloves
For large hands:
Bear Grips Weight Lifting Gloves
For extra support:
RDX Weight Lifting Gloves
For comfort:
ATERCEL Weight Lifting Gloves
For minimalist feel:
RYMNT Minimal Workout Gloves
How should workout gloves fit?
When trying on a pair of workout gloves, there are a few things to look for as far as fit goes. You want to make sure they’re snug on your skin without any gaps, since excess material can cause blisters. However, the gloves shouldn’t be so tight that you cut off your circulation or restrict your blood flow during your workout. You also want to make sure that your fingers have a full range of motion, meaning that you should be able to bend them and move your thumb freely.
If your gloves are fingerless, they shouldn’t be too long or go past the tips of your fingers. Otherwise, you could lose the dexterity you need to lift heavy, causing you to drop weights or injure yourself. At the same time, if the fingers are too short, you could lose protection and risk getting blisters or calluses. One of the main reasons for wearing gloves is to protect your skin, so make sure they’re not rubbing, chafing, or pinching anywhere. You may want to take a few different pairs of gloves for a test run on your equipment before you commit to any of them.
What are some alternatives to wearing workout gloves?
If you’re interested in the benefits of wearing gloves when you lift, but don’t want to invest in a pair, then there are a few things that you can try that might give you the same effect.
Chalk
Chalk is good to use for those who want some help with their grip, but don’t want to lose any tactile feedback. Chalk is also great at absorbing moisture, keeping your hands dry and allowing for a more secure grip on the bar. Many athletes use Primo Chalk, but if budget is a concern, you can get more bang for your buck with DYNAMICCOMBO Chalk Powder. In addition, if you don’t like the idea of chalk flying around everywhere, you can try liquid chalk instead. Although I use it for climbing instead of weight lifting, I swear by Friction Labs Secret Stuff, which dries fast and rarely needs to be re-applied.
Wrist Straps
If you’re interested in the wrist support aspect of workout gloves, but don’t want to cover your hands, then wrist straps may be the solution. Straps are also a good way to combat grip fatigue since they distribute weight to your wrists and forearms, giving your hands a bit of a break. Gymreapers Weightlifting Wrist Wraps are competition grade, heavy duty straps, but if you’re looking for something a little lighter and more comfortable, Harbinger Padded Cotton Lifting Straps are a great option.
Grip Training
If your grip is holding you back from achieving heavier lifts, doing some grip training is a great alternative to wearing gloves. It’s relatively easy to incorporate into your workout schedule, and there are a variety of grip trainers you can use, such as grip rings, finger strengtheners, or hand grippers. If you really want to get serious about training your grip, you can invest in a grip-strengthening set that will allow you to start adding weight to your training. I’ve written a whole article about how to train your grip strength at home, so check that out for more information on grip strength, as well as some grip-strengthening workouts from easy to advanced.
Although lifting weights with gloves can offer some protection, comfort, and extra grip support, they won’t miraculously help you lift heavier. They can help you squeeze out a little bit extra, but you still have to put in the hard work. Whether you should use them or not during your workouts really depends on your goals and/or your needs. Really, the best thing you can do to improve your lifts is to stay consistent while progressing at a pace that works for you.
