The best gym gloves – a.k.a. best weightlifting gloves – won't lift the weights for you, but they can be an excellent alternative to chalking your hands before lifts, which admittedly is a messier way to work out. Especially if you're working out at home and prefer not to have calluses and blisters all over your palms, you'd better invest in a pair of weightlifting gloves today – we listed the best options below.
How do you pick suitable gym gloves for you? Do they need to be fingerless or full-fingered gloves? We'll try to answer all your burning questions about weightlifting gloves and give you a list of the best gym gloves on the market.
Are you building a home gym? Have a look at T3's these guides for more info: best dumbbell, best barbell, best pull-up bar and best kettlebell. And what a surprise, wearing gym gloves would be handy using all these types of home gym equipment. The pun is very much intended.
Best gym gloves to buy right now
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Best gym gloves overall
+ Pre-rotated finger design
+ Very comfortable
- Can get warm inside the gloves after a longer session
What sets the Bionic PerformanceGrip Gloves apart from all the rest? According to Bionic, they are the only glove brand on the market which has been created by a leading orthopaedic hand surgeon. How about that?
And indeed, the Anatomical Relief Pads smooth out your hands' natural peaks and valleys and cut down on painful blisters. This is exactly why people wear fitness gloves, so it all checks out for us!
Our rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Best gym gloves for wrist support
+ Extra sturdy material
+ Integrated wrist support band
- Rather stiff at first
The RDX lifting gloves are made out of cowhide leather, making them durable and a worthwhile investment too. Even the finger areas are padded to avoid any blistering. The half-finger design makes putting on and taking off the gloves super easy.
And most of all, the extra long wrist support strap keeps the gloves firmly in place while supporting the wrists during those heavy lifts. Even the stitching is quality grade and won't let the gloves fall apart anytime soon.
Our rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Best minimalist gym gloves for maximum grip
+ Ideal for dumbbell/barbell workouts
+ Breathable design
- Not ideal for all types of workouts
- Looks a bit odd
A CrossFit favourite, the Bear Grip offers superb ventilation without compromising on grip. Say goodbye to sweaty palms and soggy hands after a strenuous workout!
The adjustable wrist wraps are integrated into the open-back gloves providing extra support during those heavy lifts. If you prefer little to no obstruction between you and the weights but don't like blisters, choose the Bear Grip Gloves.
Our rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Best gym gloves for light workouts
+ Lightweight and breathable material
+ Allows for free hand movement
- Not recommended for heavy lifts
The Adidas Essential Gloves are made out of lightweight, and breathable fabric with suede applied to the palm area for extreme comfort. The gloves can also be easily removed using the ring. These are not heavy-duty lifting gloves; the Adidas Essential Gloves are more suited for lighter exercising and aerobic workouts.
Browse our adidas discount codes to save on your order.
Our rating: 3 out of 5 stars
The fine line between excellent comfort and reliable grip
+ Excellent gripping performance
+ Well-padded for extra comfort
- Not the best value for money gloves (a.k.a. expensive)
The Bioforme Harbinger gloves use 'heat-activated' BioForm clay to grip and absorb impact. Stability is further enhanced thanks to the SpiderGrip leather at the palms. The BioFlex layered palm design adds even more cushioning to the already very comfortable palm area. The Dual Closure System offers a customised fit and also supports your wrist to avoid injury. This is especially useful for beginners whose form is not perfect yet.
Our rating: 3 out of 5 stars
How to chose the best gym gloves for you?
Ideally, you would like sturdy gym gloves; no one wants their newly-purchased exercise gloves falling apart after one session. That said, you don't want them to be too stiff, so you can't bend your fingers. Weight lifting belts might be supporting as hell, but if you tried grabbing some weights in gloves as thick as weight lifting belts are, you would not have fun in the gym. Also, you'd drop weight a lot more, which kills the point of wearing gym gloves in the first place.
FAQ
Why are gloves frowned upon in gym?
Hardcore bodybuilders will tell you not to wear gym gloves in the gym. In Arnold Schwarzenegger's words, "If you are gonna wear gloves when you lift, just make sure they match your purse." However, not everyone in the gym is a bodybuilder, and not everyone is fond of having calluses on their palms, no matter how cute that Instagram video is of the Rock's daughter trying to file them away.
Long story short, don't listen to the haters and wear gloves if you want to. For hardcore lifters, we recommend getting lifting straps/deadlifting straps for those heavy lifts. Using gloves for heavy lifting can compromise grip, so you're better off using straps or your bare hands covered in lifting chalk.
