Do you find that your hands are sore and cracked after an intense workout session? Is lifting weights putting too much strain on your wrists and causing callouses on your palms? Then a pair of workout gloves could be the answer! They can protect your hands, improve your grip, and support your wrists as you push yourself to your limits in the gym.
There are many workout gloves for men available, so that's why we've researched the best gloves available and picked our top 10. We selected the Full Finger Weight Lifting Gloves by Bear Grips as our favorites as they have the right balance of flexibility and padding. They can also be used with your smartphone! We have also created a handy buying guide to help you make your own choice.
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Table of Contents
Workout gloves have become a regular sight in gyms. For many gym users, they're just as essential as wearing comfortable clothing and supportive sneakers. Gloves can aid your gym sessions in many different ways.
The right pair of gloves will protect your hands. If you’re in a gym and are sharing weights with others, gloves can help with hygiene and prevent your sweat from getting on the equipment. They'll also protect you from the sweat of others! This is especially important if you suffer from any skin conditions such as eczema.
When lifting weights, especially heavy ones, the soft and sensitive skin of your palms can easily become damaged. Workout gloves will prevent calluses, blisters, or abrasions from developing, no matter how many reps you cram into each session.
Workout gloves can also give much-needed extra support to your hands and wrists. This is essential if you regularly lift heavy weights, as the repetitive motion can put great stress and strain onto your joints. Gloves can also add some traction to your grip, making your hold on your dumbbells or weight bar more secure.
When choosing a pair of workout gloves, you should take into consideration features such as padding, wrist support, and finger length. To help you decide, we've made this handy buying guide!
Usually, workout gloves are made from one of a small number of materials. All of these materials have their own properties and advantages.
Due to its lightness, breathability, and flexibility, neoprene is a popular base for workout gloves. It's a tough material that will protect your palm from abrasions but is thin enough to not restrict your movements. If you suffer from sweaty hands, then neoprene is a great material to choose, thanks to its natural ventilation.
Neoprene doesn't offer much padding, however, and won't prevent callouses on its own. You will need to ensure that it has additional padding and grip on the palm and fingers.
Many workout gloves are made from a combination of leather and a thinner, more flexible material such as spandex. Spandex gives the gloves flexibility and is the main base of the gloves, whereas leather panels on the palms and fingers will protect your skin from even the harshest of workouts.
Leather isn’t breathable, however, and can make your palms sweat even more than usual. Many gloves that have a large amount of leather may have ventilation holes to allow your hands to breathe a little more. Don't worry if you're vegan - many gloves have faux leather instead of real leather!
You can find gloves that are available for either men or women, more in terms of size and design. There are also many gloves that don’t specify gender and are marketed as unisex. Gloves that are in unisex sizes can fit just as well as those designed specifically for men, but you may need to be more careful when checking the measurements.
Choosing the right amount of padding for your needs can be a tricky balancing act. This is because there are two main factors that you need to consider. The first is how much padding you need.
You want your palms and fingers to be protected when you hold on to any equipment or lift weights, and for those that lift heavier weights or have sensitive skin, thicker padding is a necessity.
However, thicker padding has the negative effect of restricting your movement. If the palms of the gloves are covered in bulky padding, it may be difficult to close your fist and get a good grip on a dumbbell or bar.
If your workouts are light or require a lot of flexibility, such as doing CrossFit or light weight lifting, we recommend choosing gloves without too much restrictive padding. If you're into heavy weight lifting, though, you may want to compromise on flexibility and opt for extra padding.
Workout gloves can vary in finger length. You can choose between half-finger and full-finger gloves, and each has its advantages and disadvantages.
Some gloves offer full-finger coverage and will fully encase your fingers, from palm to fingertip. These gloves are great for colder climates (or any gym that runs the air conditioning too high!) as they will keep your fingers warm as well as helping you with your workout. They’re also useful for people who take part in Crossfit sessions outside.
Full-finger gloves can feel restrictive and hamper your flexibility, however. They can also make it difficult to use your smartphone or fitness watch!
The most common and popular style for workout gloves are ones that only extend halfway up your fingers. When gripping weights, the strain is largely on your palm and lower half of your fingers, so leaving the fingertips bare doesn’t cause any issues.
Half-finger gloves are less restrictive and offer more flexibility than full-finger ones. You will also be able to access your playlists or exercise plan on your phone if you need to without any hassle!
One key advantage of wearing workout gloves over having bare hands is that they can help to increase your grip. Most workout gloves have additional grip, usually provided by rubber or silicon pads on the palms and fingers. This is especially true of gloves made from smoother materials such as neoprene and spandex.
Grip and traction are of utmost importance when you are lifting weights. You need to make sure you have a secure grip on your dumbbells or bar at all times. A small slip can cause serious injury if you’re not careful, so a heavy lifter should prioritize grip when looking for gloves.
Many workout gloves extend down to your wrists and wrap around them with heavy straps. This is to give them extra support and relieve some of the stress and strain on your hands and wrists. The length of the support bands typically measures around 15 to 18 inches and should be wrapped around your wrist and secured with a Velcro fastening.
If you’re not going to be lifting heavy weights, wrist supports aren’t always necessary. However, if you do lift heavier weights, you may want to invest in a pair of gloves that offer additional support for your wrists. Weight lifting requires repetitive motions as you work through your reps, which puts strain on your wrists.
Wrists support is recommended for older gym-goers as our joints can weaken with age. Furthermore, it may be a good idea to get gloves with extra support if you suffer from any kind of wrist issue or have weak wrists. This is especially important for people who spend a lot of time glued to their computer keyboard!
These full-finger gloves fit snugly and have a tab at the bottom to make them easier to pull on and off your hands. The palms have gel pads for added comfort and there are ventilation holes on the fingers to increase breathability. You can also operate your smartphone with these gloves thanks to the touchscreen tip on the index fingers.
There are a few reports of ripped stitching with these gloves, but most reviews are positive. Reviewers like the balance of padding and flexibility, and say the gloves have a good grip. The fit and comfort of the gloves are also praised. Some confirm that the smartphone function is adequate.
These heavy-duty gloves are made from neoprene and the palms are covered in silicone webbing to give you extra grip. The gloves have tabs on the middle and ring fingers to make them easier to remove and the backs of the gloves are lightweight and breathable. The wrist wraps are adjustable and will offer extra support when you lift.
There are some complaints regarding the wrist straps, as some reviewers felt that the supports are too stiff. However, they are very supportive and do relieve strain on the wrists, according to many reviewers. They also like how light these gloves feel while remaining protective and comfortable.
The front of these gloves completely covers and protects your palms, whereas the back is left open to allow your hands to breathe. The gloves remain in place due to the finger loops and adjustable wrist strap, which also offers wrist support. The palms of the gloves are padded and covered in silicone grips to aid you in your workouts.
A few reviewers state that these gloves didn't fit their hands very well and could bunch up when working out. However, reviewers love the breathability of these gloves and that they prevent their hands from getting sweaty. Many reviewers say the gloves helped them in their workouts and offered good protection.
These gloves are made from a mixture of polyester and spandex to keep them breathable and stretchable. The palms of the gloves are covered in faux leather to make them more resistant to wear and tear. They also have foam padding with silicone grips to protect your hands.
A few reviewers point out that although there are silicone grips on the palms, there are no grips on the fingers, which makes these gloves less grippy than they'd want for lifting weights. However, reviewers like the softness of these gloves and say they are very comfortable to wear. They also like the padding and how it protects their hands.
The backs of the gloves are made from breathable mesh and the thumb of each glove is covered in absorbent material to quickly mop up any sweat. There are tabs on the fingers to make the gloves easier to remove and you can adjust the wrist wrap for the best fit.
Some reviewers found that the way the pads on the palms are organized actually caused them to have more calluses and welts! If you're lifting heavier weights, you may want to avoid these gloves. Still, many reviewers praise the material and the grip these gloves provide. They also like the amount of wrist support they offer!
These gloves are best for light workouts instead of heavy lifting because of their lightweight design. This combination of polyester and nylon can be used to wipe away sweat during a workout. The wrist is elastic and can be securely fastened with a Velcro strap. Tabs on the middle fingers make the gloves easier to remove.
Some reviewers wished that these gloves had more padding on the palms. A few also say that their gloves began to rip after a few uses. On the other hand, reviewers who used these gloves for training only, not weightlifting, praise them for their fit and comfort. They like the grip and comfort of the gloves.
This pair of workout gloves is a great compromise between an open hand glove and one that will fit snugly to protect your hand. The palm of the glove is padded with leather and silicone so you can expect the gloves to be tough and have a strong grip. The gloves also have fully adjustable wrist support.
A few reviewers report issues with the seams on these gloves, saying that some of the stitching came apart after a month or two. However, reviewers praise the wrist support as it does relieve strain on their wrists. The grip of the gloves is also commended and most reviewers report that the gloves fit well.
The palm and fingers of these gloves are covered in real leather, making them resistant to wear and tear. The palms are also padded with foam and have small ventilation holes to increase the breathability of the gloves. The wrists have Velcro straps that can be adjusted to ensure a neat fit, and the gloves have a 90-day warranty.
The backs of these gloves are covered in stretchy and breathable mesh material that's both strong and flexible. The palms are lined with leather and are padded with foam cushions to protect your hands from abrasions and callouses. The leather and padded cushions also extend around the thumb and the wrist fastening is adjustable.
Reviewers say these gloves run small and advise sizing up. Some also say they rip easily and don't recommend using them with heavy weights. Meanwhile, reviewers like the amount of padding of these gloves and say they're easy to put on and take off. They praise the gloves for being comfortable and suitable for light to medium weights.
These gloves feature tabs on the middle and ring fingers to make them easy to remove. The palms and fingers are covered with pads to protect your hands. The material connecting each finger on the back of the glove is elastic to give you more flexibility and the 18-inch wrist strap will give you additional wrist support.
A few reviewers say the gloves tore after only a few uses and that the seams are a little weak. On a positive note, many attest to how comfortable the gloves are to wear. They add that they work great for weightlifting. Some also appreciate the wrist straps.
Workout gloves can help improve your performance when you exercise and lift weights. If you're looking for some more equipment to beat your personal bests, we have some more recommendations for you!
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