Lift in Style and Comfort With These Super-Protective Workout Gloves

Whether it’s your first time touching a free weight or you’re a Crossfit champion, having a good pair of workout gloves designed for weightlifting is a great way to protect your hands and joints and make the strenuous task a little more comfortable.

Weightlifting gloves can relieve some of the pressure when lifting weights and also help give your hands some crucial traction if you sweat. Aside from shielding against joint pain, gloves also protect your precious digits from chafing and blistering, as well as keep things more sanitary if you’re sharing equipment at the gym — a very real, pandemic-era concern.

The Best Weightlifting Gloves

What to Consider

Before you buy a new pair of weightlifting or exercise gloves, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Purpose: Consider how and where you plan to use them. While the traditional fingerless design is a good all-purpose model for lifting weights, doing pull-ups, and rowing on an erg machine, if you plan to focus seriously on deadlifts or another specific exercise, you may want something more specialized, such as a strap or full-finger gloves.

• Material: In addition, consider the materials. A comfortable glove is stretchy, breathable, and form-fitting. Some amount of spandex is a good bet to ensure the glove slides on and off easily. Stiffer materials like leather and neoprene tend to provide a stronger layer of defense against calluses and blisters, but can be less forgiving and less breathable.

• Fit: Finally, the fit of your gloves is very important. If your gloves are too small, they’ll restrict hand movement and your ability to lift safely and with full dexterity. If they’re too large, you may chafe or things can get slippery. Always consult the brand’s sizing chart before buying. It can also be helpful to browse customer reviews to see what sizes fit others with hands similar to yours.

We’ve researched the most popular weightlifting gloves, being sure to include a variety of price points, styles, and features, to find the all-around best weightlifting gloves for every kind of workout in 2022.