You’ve gotten a pair of sturdy trainers, you’ve assessed the weights that create a safe amount of resistance for you and you’ve nailed your deadlift technique with a personal trainer. In your mind, you’re good to go.
The problem is, you’ve completely overlooked getting some protection for your hands, so when you finally start chest pressing a barbell in the weights room, your whole fitness game is ruined by sore, chaffed palms that have been blistered from the friction of holding on to heavy exercise equipment. It’s a debilitating pain that no amateur athlete needs to endure.
Thankfully, the answer to this common fitness issue is relatively easy: get yourself a pair of training gloves. This relatively inexpensive piece of kit provides an all-important barrier between the equipment and your hands, preventing painful calluses from forming.
So how do you choose which of these to go for? Look for a glove that fits snugly on the hand and doesn’t feel too loose. Go for fingerless gloves to let your hands breathe and to cut down on a buildup of sweat. You also may want to think about investing in a leather, machine washable pair to avoid odours. Prices can start from as cheap as £8, ranging to £40 for more premium options.
Whatever your budget, the main thing is to make sure your gloves have a good amount of grip, so whether you’re jumping between stations in a CrossFit class or repeatedly lifting weights, you’ll stay injury-free. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the best pairs to have on your radar.
RDX Men’s Training Gloves
When it comes to style, price and quality, you really can’t go wrong with these all-rounders from premium boxing brand RDX. Feather-light but robust in their construction, these are made from a combination of thick suede and punched leather, which gives a controlled grip. A 3mm EVA stuffing on the blade of the hand provides relief against heavy rods and bars, while perforations in the leather prevents the hands from easily overheating. Like the perfect pair of well-trodden suede loafers, the more you wear these, the more comfortable they’ll feel too.
£17.99 | Argos | Buy it now
Adidas Women’s Climalite Graphic Training Gloves
If you’re someone who builds up a sweat quite quickly during high-intensity exercise (remember this is just fat crying), drilling through weighted reps will be much easier with the addition of these fingerless gloves. They’re made from a special moisture wicking material, which helps keep clammy palms to a minimum. The upper part of the glove is super stretchy, which makes it easier to take them on and off. A hook-and-loop velcro fastening also keeps everything securely in place during movement. These don’t have quite as much padding as some of the other options on this list, so if you’re graduating to heavier weights, you might want to look for something a little more bulky. But as a stylish starter glove, they’ll do the job in any exercise class that involves barbells and dumbbells.
£17.95 | Adidas | Buy it now
Elite Body Squad Men’s Gloves
For those looking to pump some serious iron in the weights room, gloves with a thicker padding are exactly what your hands will need. The padding in this pair adds extra support to pressure points, while still providing enough flexibility to comfortably retain a solid grip. Those prone to overheating will also appreciate the mesh lycra on the back of the hand, designed for ventilation when lifting and carrying.
£12.97 | Amazon | Buy it now
Scheik Model 540 Men’s Lifting Gloves
Anyone who has experienced the difficulty of taking off your sports bra or cycling shorts after a workout will know there’s nothing worse than removing sweaty gym gear. These gloves combat this universal issue with built-in ‘fins’ on the top of each finger, which make it easier to yank them off when you’re ready to hit the showers. A padded palm and reinforced thumb area keeps you covered where you need it most, while the synthetic leather is robust enough that it can be chucked into the washing machine without fear or shrinking or warping.
£29.43 | Bodybuilding.com | Buy it now
Harbinger x3 Competition ¾ Finger Men’s Training Gloves
The brand’s proprietary tanning process on these gloves has been specially adapted to make the leather tackier, so that you are able to have a better grip on heavier weights. Light and comfortable to wear, unlike a lot of other gloves out there, these have a seamless palm that doesn’t interfere with the positioning of your hands on the bar. The colourful design also makes a welcome change from the usual black and greys, without compromising on function. There’s no excuses for smelly gym kit either, as these are machine washable, and can even be put through the tumble dryer.
£20.99 | Sportsshoes.com | Buy it now
USA Pro Unisex Gloves
Don’t let the price deceive you. Just because this pair is at the lower end of the price spectrum, it doesn’t mean that you should write them off. Sure, they don’t have quite as much padding as some of the pricier options on this list, but they’re perfect for anyone who finds that incorporating hand weights into their workout routine is causing their skin to crack or blister. Elasticated finger holes let your hands breathe through every pulse and lift, while a hook and loop tape fastening lets you customise the fit exactly as you’d like it. The cheerful colour will also brighten up any dull workout.
£5.99 | Sports Direct | Buy it now
Everlast Men’s Leather Fitness Gloves
Anyone who’s big into their combat sports will know that Everlast are the gold standard in boxing gloves, so we were keen to try a pair of their training gloves. While the leather feels really high quality and they did provide protection against rubbing, we’d be lying if we said we weren’t hoping that there’d be a bit more premium padding in the palms. But as one of the cheaper options on this list, they’re a good entry-level option for people handling small and medium weights.
£9 | Sports Direct | Buy it now
Mava Unisex Workout gloves
Mava are one of the most sought after brands in the US, and thankfully us Brits can now get a slice of the action. Made from neoprene and split leather, these have a chunky layer of silicone on the palm that provides extra support on those big lifts. A wrist wrap design also gives important support to the joints (especially if you’re eyeing up those higher kgs). If you’re not a fan of pink, they come in lots of other gender-neutral colours too. Composed of anti-sweat neoprene material, these will serve you well during the most difficult of deadlifts.
£27.99 | Amazon | Buy it now
Nike Women’s Training Gloves
We all know that Nike makes the kind of workout gear that gets you excited to work up a sweat, and these fingerless training gloves are no exception. Sturdy, stylish and featuring an open top for ventilation, they’re really light, easy to slip on and feel like a second skin. They also have just the right amount of padding to keep hands protected on ropes and TRX suspension training, as well as CrossFit and BodyPump classes that incorporate weights.
£22.95 | Nike | Buy it now
Nordic Lifting gloves
These mid-priced gloves do exactly what they say on the tin. The leather palms have extra support stitched in, which feels soft and durable without being slippery or unsafe. With more heavily padded gloves, the worry is that you’ll lose sensitivity and your grip on the bar. Thankfully these give just the right amount of control to retain the responsiveness you need - and they won’t need weeks of breaking in either. As an added bonus, they come with a year’s warranty, giving you peace of mind if you start to notice the stitching coming loose.
£16.95 | Amazon | Buy it now
Verdict:
For style, quality and grip, the RDX training gloves take the top spot for us. Brown might not be for everyone, but we love the contrast between the suede and the leather, plus the price is really affordable too. If you’re on a budget, the USA Pro gloves are a cheap and cheerful alternative for anyone who’s just looking for some protection against lighter dumbbells and kettlebells.
