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We’ve all been through that phase where we thought weightlifting gloves were cool and rushed out to buy a pair. Either we saw some jacked guy wearing them or just thought the accessory would help us lift better. Whichever way you slice it, weight lifting gloves can be handy for those who need them. Most people think they help you lift better, which is not entirely untrue, but the real purpose of wearing gloves while exercising is to protect your hands from getting beat up. These full-finger or half-finger gloves are ideal for those just starting out or for anyone like hand models whose career depends on immaculate hands. Many gloves now offer built-in wrist straps for those looking to train insanely, opening the market wider to anyone needing a little extra boost during workouts.
- Best Overall: Trideer Padded Workout Glove
- Best Value: Steel Sweat Workout Gloves
- Honorable Mention: Mava Sports Cross Training Gloves
- Best for Wrist Support: Grip Power Pads Leather Gloves
- Best for Women: Contraband Pink Label
- Best for Women Runner-Up: Bionic Women’s Full Finger Glove
- Best for Men: Trideer Breathable Exercise Gloves
- Best Grip: Bionic Men’s Full Finger Glove
Methodology
Researching the best weightlifting gloves began with looking at similar buying guides and reviews to identify the most popular choices. With those product ideas in mind, I began searching websites like Amazon and Walmart to see if there were other gloves worth considering. I was able to do this by utilizing my personal experiences with gloves and those of other consumers. This process included researching frequently asked questions and the questions that occurred to me while reading and writing to include the best and most up-to-date information.
This process is the same one that I’ve used for previous athletic gear articles on running socks, running hats, barbells, and rowing machines. Task & Purpose has also covered running shorts for men and women, weightlifting shoes, and various types of gym equipment. You can learn more about how Task & Purpose gear reviews work here.
Best Overall
Trideer Padded Workout Glove
Pros
- Anti-slip palm padding
- Easy-to-use pull tabs
- Elastic fabric for custom fit
- Wrist strap for extra support
Cons
- Limited mesh for breathability
- Not the easiest to take off between sets
Product Specs
- Finger length: Half
- Wrist support: Yes
- Pull tabs: Yes
Best Value
Steel Sweat Workout Gloves
Pros
- Full mesh back
- Grippy padding on full palm and fingers
- Three pull tabs for easy removal
- Multiple sizes and colors available
Cons
- No wrist support
- You’ll be tempted to use them for other sports too
Product Specs
- Finger length: Half
- Wrist support: No
- Pull tabs: Yes
Honorable Mention
Mava Sports Cross Training Gloves
Pros
- Versatile performance
- Maximum airflow
- Wrist support strap
- Minimalist design
Cons
- May be difficult to remove fast
- Higher price point
Product Specs
- Finger length: Half
- Wrist support: Yes
- Pull tabs: No
Best for Wrist Support
Grip Power Pads Leather Gloves
Pros
- Thick rubber padding
- Extra wide wrist straps
- Easy pull tabs
- Ventilated leather backing
Cons
- Bulky
- High price point
Product Specs
- Finger length: Full/half
- Wrist support: Yes
- Pull tabs: Yes
Best for Women
Contraband Pink Label
Pros
- Lightweight
- Breathable
- Grip-lock padding
- Wide Velcro closure
Cons
- No wrist support
- Has latex
Product Specs
- Finger length: Half
- Wrist support: No
- Pull tabs: Yes
Best for Women Runner-Up
Bionic Women's Full Finger Glove
Pros
- Full finger protection
- Pad relief system
- Genuine leather
- Breathable
Cons
- No wrist support
- Higher price point
Product Specs
- Finger length: Full
- Wrist support: No
- Pull tabs: No
Best or Men
Trideer Breathable Exercise Gloves
Pros
- Low price point
- Highly breathable
- 19-inch elastic wrist strap
Cons
- Small pull tabs
- Limited sizes and colors
Product Specs
- Finger length: Half
- Wrist support: Yes
- Pull tabs: Yes
Best Grip
Bionic Men’s Full Finger Glove
Pros
- Anatomical pad relief system
- Full finger protection
- Pre-rotated finger design
- Genuine leather
Cons
- Higher price point
- No wrist support
Product Specs
- Finger length: Full
- Wrist support: No
- Pull tabs: No
Our verdict on the best weightlifting gloves
Anyone would benefit from the Trideer Padded Workout Glove, while cross-trainers would enjoy wearing the Mava Sports Cross Training Gloves. Women have solid choices made just for them with the Contraband Pink Label and Bionic Women’s Full Finger Glove. Men can stay cool with the Trideer Breathable Exercise Gloves. If money is tight, Steel Sweat Workout Gloves give you the best bang for your buck. And men who want extra grip will excel with the Bionic Men’s Full Finger Glove.
What to consider when buying weightlifting gloves
Types of weightlifting gloves
Full finger
These are the traditional style of gloves that feature material completely encasing your hand and fingers. The full-finger style offers extra protection and grip, but they can get sweatier than fingerless gloves without proper ventilation.
Half finger
Whether for functionality or cool points, half-finger or “fingerless” gloves tend to be more popular when working out. These offer protection to the palm-like full finger gloves, but they only have material covering the first digit of your fingers. They can breathe a little better but are a pain to take off without pull tabs.
Key features of weightlifting gloves
Padding
Padding is the primary defense against blisters and calluses. This can be foam or rubber and can vary in thickness. Keep in mind that while thicker padding can offer extra protection, it can also make getting a solid grip dangerously difficult.
Wrist straps
A newer addition to weightlifting gloves is wrist straps. These are long sections of fabric that you wrap around your wrist to help stabilize during lifts to reduce pain when used properly. Wrist wraps should not be used to avoid strengthening your wrists.
Pull tabs
You won’t win money off these pull tabs, but they can make taking gloves off easier, especially half-fingered gloves. Essentially, these are a piece of material attached to the fingers to aid in pulling off the glove. Many designs feature a flat tab coming out of the palm side of the fingers, but other gloves use pockets on top of the fingers.
Pricing for weightlifting gloves
If you’re spending more than $60 on a pair of workout gloves, you’re spending too much. Budget pricing is under $20, while the average is around $30 to $40 a pair.
Tips & tricks
- Make sure you wash your gloves frequently as instructed in the owner’s manual.
- Add a little baby powder to your gloves if you’re a heavy sweater.
- You’re not MJ, so wear both gloves or no gloves.
- Follow the sizing directions of each brand as sizes may vary.
- Avoid over-tightening your gloves/wrist wraps.
FAQs about weightlifting gloves
You’ve got questions. Task & Purpose has answers!
Q: Should you wear gloves when lifting weights?
No, for the majority of lifters out there. Folks who have sensitive skin, sensory issues, or jobs that require an obvious lack of calluses have legitimate reasons to wear workout gloves. Men’s Health does a great job of explaining this in more detail.
Q: Do gloves help with deadlift?
A: They can, but don’t rely solely on gloves to complete the lift. Focus your accessory work on the forearms and grip strength with lifts like rack pulls or just hanging from the pullup bar. The gloves will only protect your hands from getting torn up.
Q: Are weight lifting gloves cheating?
A: No more than wearing running shoes would be. If you need to wear gloves to work out consistently, then keep on wearing them.
Q: Do weight lifting gloves prevent calluses?
A: Yes, which is why most people wear them. If you’re a heavy sweater, I’d encourage using a little baby powder to prevent blisters that could turn into calluses.