If you’re in the gym, you’ve probably seen people wearing weightlifting gloves, just like you’ve seen lifters rocking muscle fit shirts that highlight their hard-earned gains. Whether you're looking to improve your grip or protect your hands during intense workouts, gloves can be a game-changer. Some lifters swear by them for added support, while others prefer bare-handed lifting for a more direct connection to the bar.
But what do weightlifting gloves do? Weightlifting gloves provide grip support, hand protection, and wrist stability. They help prevent calluses, reduce friction, and offer extra padding to enhance comfort during heavy lifts.
What weightlifting gloves are, their pros and cons, and what you should look out for when deciding to add them to your lifting routine.
Is it Good to Use Gloves When Lifting Weights?
If you care about having a comfortable, finger gripping, and protective hand, then it is a good idea to wear weightlifting gloves. The gloves help to create that barrier space between your hands and the bar so that you aren’t slapping it and yourself with all that friction that will either make blisters or callus. Wrist support is included on many gloves, and can alleviate strain from exercises such as bench presses or shoulder presses.
Weightlifting gloves can also help you with grip, so you don’t tire your fingers out so much holding onto heavy weights. Those who work on cold gaffes will find that gloves provide an extra layer of warmth, while others will find gloves comfortable to use. We know that everyone has different lifting needs, so at Oxcloth, our lifting apparel is set up to work seamlessly with or without gloves so you have the choice of what’s going to work best for you.
What Happens When You Lift Weights Without Gloves?
Lifting without gloves provides a direct feel of the bar, which many lifters find beneficial. Without gloves, your hands are more engaged with the bar, which can promote grip strength and allow you to feel the weight more intuitively. However, lifting bare-handed can lead to calluses and blisters due to increased friction, particularly for exercises involving high reps or heavy weights. Some lifters appreciate these calluses as a sign of progress, while others prefer to avoid them for comfort reasons. Training without gloves may also expose your hands to cooler temperatures or rougher bar textures, which can affect comfort during longer workouts.
What Are the Disadvantages of Gym Gloves?
While gym gloves offer several benefits, they also come with some downsides. One common complaint is that gloves can reduce tactile feedback, making it harder to “feel” the bar fully. This reduced sensitivity can be a disadvantage, especially for heavier lifts where control and precision are essential. A
dditionally, some gloves may slide or bunch up during exercises, which can make holding the bar less secure. For serious lifters focused on grip strength, gloves may hinder progress, as they can shift some of the grip load away from the hands. Finally, gloves need regular maintenance and cleaning to prevent odor and wear, which can be a drawback for lifters who want a low-maintenance option.
Are Lifting Straps or Gloves Better?
Reaching for lifting straps or gloves, or both, depends on what you are trying to accomplish and what type of exercises you’re doing. Gloves offer a better grip feel and protect the skin, and are great for exercises like bench presses, rows and some upper body work. While lifting straps are designed to aid in support of grip by spreading the load, there’s no reason to extend them during heavy pulling exercises like deadlifts and rows.
Straps are a popular choice among lifters focusing on heavier weights as it allows lifters to keep a stronger grip on the bar so they don’t rely on their hand strength. Lifters who do this just keep their gloves and straps in their gym bag and pick up based on exercise. Built to work with either choice, our lifting apparel gives you the ability to easily shift from straps to gloves for the most optimal performance.
Do Gloves Stop Calluses?
Using weightlifting gloves can reduce your calluses through a barrier created between your hands and the bar so there is less friction. Gloves won’t stop calluses entirely, but they can greatly reduce how bad they are, and make workouts less uncomfortable for those with sensitive skin. Just like some sports bras, some gloves have had extra padding, or texturing for added feel, all to reduce the chance of callus forming.
But the presence of these calluses can occur even in time, particularly if you lift heavy and constantly, because however little friction there will be, even when you wear gloves. Gloves are a useful tool for those who don’t want calluses at all, though some lifters view calluses as a badge of honor.
Why Do Bodybuilders Not Wear Gloves?
Many bodybuilders avoid gloves, as they prefer a direct connection to the bar for better control and precision. Lifting bare-handed allows bodybuilders to engage their grip muscles more intensely, which can improve hand strength and contribute to overall lifting ability. Additionally, some lifters find gloves bulky or restrictive, which can impact their ability to lift heavier weights comfortably. The extra layer created by gloves may reduce tactile feedback, making it harder to “feel” the bar and fully engage with the lift. Bodybuilders who prioritize grip strength and power often favor lifting without gloves to maximize their control and efficiency.
Do You Wear Gym Gloves Too Tight or Too Loose?
Gym gloves should be tight enough but not too tight. Better control and grip security (prevents the gloves from slipping or bunching) is achieved from a tight fit. But overly tight gloves can restrict blood flow, limit hand movement and make you less comfortable, particularly when you are spending longer than usual. Otherwise, loose gloves will rattle or slide around, making it easier to lose your grip of the bar. When purchasing gloves make sure that they fit your hands without being restrictive. The apparel of Oxcloth is comfortable with comfort for lifters that can perform at their best with or without gloves.
Do Gloves Help with Deadlifts?
Deadlifts can be made a little more comfortable and provide some hand protection with the use of gloves. While many serious lifters don't like to use gloves for deadlifts because the extra layer can diminish grip security, gloves can still help you prevent injury. Grip is a really important factor for heavy deadlifts, and gloves can sometimes be a slight barrier that gets in the way of the lifter connecting to the bar. If grip strength is your main concern, lifting straps or lifting bare handed may be better options for you. In that vein, gloves can be useful for lighter deadlift sets where grip doesn’t need to be as strong as the exertion of the actual deadlift itself.
Should I Use Weightlifting Gloves or Not?
Deciding whether to use weightlifting gloves is a personal choice, often based on goals, comfort, and lifting style. Lifters focused on hand protection, comfort, or reducing calluses may find gloves beneficial. For those looking to maximize grip strength, however, lifting without gloves or using straps might be the preferred option. Trying both options can help you decide which approach feels best. At Oxcloth, we design lifting gear to support both gloved and bare-handed lifters, providing comfort and durability across exercises.
Workout Gloves vs. Bare Hands
Lifting with gloves offers enhanced comfort, reduced friction, and protection against calluses, making it ideal for those who value hand care. However, lifting bare-handed provides a more tactile connection to the bar and encourages grip strength development. Each approach has its merits: gloves are ideal for upper body exercises where hand protection is key, while lifting bare-handed or with straps is often preferred for heavy compound lifts like deadlifts.
Types of Weightlifting Gloves
Weightlifting gloves come in many different types for different needs. Maximum comfort is provided by padded gloves, and wrist support gloves provide stability for pressing exercises. Maintaining finger flexibility and getting some tactile contact with the bar are prime reasons to get fingerless gloves. The type you choose depends on the types of exercises you do and your personal preferences in comfort.
The Right Weightlifting Gloves for You
Finding the right gloves means thinking about how comfortable, padded, wrist supported and fitting they are. For hand protection, padded gloves are the perfect choice, lighter gloves might be preferred for the flexibility. If wrist support is your highest priority, then look for gloves with built in wraps. Lifting gear for Oxcloth pairs well with several glove styles for lifters to get extra support and comfort across exercises.
Conclusion
Weightlifting gloves serve a variety of functions, from improving grip comfort to protecting against calluses. While gloves can enhance comfort and safety for some exercises, lifting bare-handed or with straps may be more suitable for those focused on grip strength and direct bar contact.
Choosing whether or not to use gloves is a personal decision, best determined by trying both approaches and seeing what feels right for you. With Oxcloth’s versatile apparel, you can lift comfortably and confidently, no matter your choice.
We’re not just another clothing brand; they’re crafted keeping in mind the unique requirements of bodybuilders and fitness aficionados. We wanted to create a clothing brand that is for bodybuilders, made by bodybuilders. Oxcloth clothing is fashioned by designers and created with and around people who like to build and shape their bodies.
The patterns for all our products are conducted through the sampling of hundreds of different athletically built men to ensure the absolute best muscle fit clothing on the market. We’ve done extensive research and no-one creates muscle fitting clothing like us. Forged from the everyday gripes of the athletic male, we struggled to find smart attire that fits our bodies the way we wanted them to. We wanted to create a catalogue of fashionable clothing that's main function is to fit around your muscular body shape.
Never again will you have to order an unnecessarily large shirt in order to fit your chest and arms, leaving your midriff baggy and ill-fitted. Never again will you fear buying chinos online as they might not fit your quads; Oxcloth provides clothing for athletes and bodybuilders with an exclusive collection including muscle fit shirts, athletic fit chinos, athletic fit jeans and athletic fit shorts.
