So, you need some new weightlifting gloves! Or, maybe, you are brand new to training in the gym, so you have no clue about what kind of gloves best fit your needs. Picking the right gloves can make the weight training experience a lot better, adding motivation and comfort along the way. Here are four factors that you should consider before buying gloves.
Glove Type
When it comes to weight training, there are numerous gloves (and other related accessories) out there for gym-goers to select from. It is important to consider your routine and goals when selecting a pair (or two) of gloves. In my case, I find short-fingered gloves to be very comfortable for me. Those protect the critical parts of my hands and fingers while allowing my fingertips to be exposed and free. On the other hand, I resort to no gloves and/or wrist straps when I am deadlifting, one-arm rowing, and shoulder shrugging extra heavy weights. I do that because my grip will go out before my major muscle groups will, and my goal for those exercises is to challenge those muscle groups rather than lower reps even more due to grip fatigue. Now, there are other options available too. For starters, Bionic Gloves makes a full-fingered weightlifting glove; I hear that those gloves add extra grip. Additionally, you may want to look into some gloves with hooks or straps built-in. This option may provide the best of both worlds, allowing you to use a typical glove approach for the bulk of your training while having those built-in hooks or straps for easy implementation during those heavier lift sets.
Glove Quality
Some people lift a lot of dumbbells and use the barbell a lot while other people tend to rely on lighter weight training using resistance bands and machine equipment. Once you figure out what type of training you are planning on doing most often, you then need to understand how much cushion you may need to properly protect your fingers and hands. For me, I tend to use a lot of dumbbells and various barbells, and I also tend to lift heavier weights, so, when I am concerned that my hands are not fully being protected, I will look for a set of gloves with added comfort and padding. Last year, I switched from a standard, less-padded pair of training gloves to a more comfortable and extra padded training gloves. And, when I go extra heavy, I will tend to use wrist straps in lieu of traditional gloves in order to strengthen my grip (as mentioned above), but, even then, I have determined that higher-quality materials in wrist straps in important to me if I am going to max out and lift heavier. Many times, you get what you pay for, and that leads me to the next factor – price!
Glove Price
You can find cheaper, less comfortable, and primarily feature-basic training gloves for around $10 to $15. Of course, you might even find some cheaper than that when they are on sale. On the flip side of the price spectrum, you could spend $30, $40, or over $50 on a higher-quality pair of weightlifting gloves that have extra cushion and comfort features built in. So, it is best to consider what your budget is and whether you are willing to pay an extra $10 or $20 more for a better pair of gloves. If you are willing to pay more, be sure that you are getting good value for the increased price. Sometimes, you may just be paying for the extra advertising and brand image, so do some comparison shopping, and check out some various reviews!
Glove Warranty
Lastly, if you are about to pay some good money for your new gloves, I’d highly recommend looking into the warranty that you get with that purchase. The Bionic short finger gloves that I bought last time apparently only have 60 days on the warranty, and that surprised me a little bit. I did not think to look into their warranty, and now I have a small tear in my gloves, and it does not appear that it is under coverage, so I have to reinvest YET AGAIN in another pair of gloves. So, the lesson learned here is to do your homework BEFORE you buy!
Conclusion
As you see, there are four main considerations that you have when looking to purchase weightlifting gloves. I recommend determining your workout goals before you go to the store. Then, think ahead [if possible] about what types of routines you have to do in order to achieve your fitness goals. By doing that, you are better prepared to figure out the type of gloves you should be shopping for. Doing some comparison shopping between brands and between retailers can help you find just the right gloves to meet both your needs and your budget!
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