But I want my hands dry and adhesive. Basically, I am wondering what you people think of exercising gloves? When I started, I got a cheap pair and they are like, worn to the ground now and I went to replace them, just a quick run into a sports authority or something while I was out doing some errands and I didn’t see anything I liked so I decided to take them with me but try not using them for the last two days in the gym. The bare handed workouts have gone pretty well, though I tore my hands up DL yesterday. I don’t think chalk is allowed at the gym so that isn’t really my question. I am just wondering what people here think about using gloves?
Oh, and as it might have been implied in the subject, I actually am not a big sweater, and my hands don’t get overly sweaty or anything, just figured it was more exciting of a subject than “gloves?”. Take it as you will
i used to use gloves when I first started lifting weights. I used to wear a weight belt too. I guess we all learn in the beginning what everything is about and later discard it when we think it is a crutch. BUT I feel gloves are a crutch for myself in training. If most people agree then that’s fine too.
Present day, I wouldn’t recommend gloves to be used in training or weightlifting. I personally find it as robbing the person of developing a strong bare-handed grip. Unless of course people walk around everyday, in and out of the gym, wearing their gloves, then I will not touch this subject.
I use gloves when I am not in the gym. I use gloves when I am doing work at home (laying cement or clearing thorn brush- manual labor etc) or when I am at work when I need to use gloves to protect my hands from extreme heat and flame and from sharp objects like glass or metals. Those are some things that a good grip can’t protect your mittens from.
When I stopped using gloves I was worried about having rough hands and major callouses. Mainly a chick thing when they feel your hands if you are massaging them etc. From experience, the right girl for you won’t mind. But for women who don’t like the hard calloused skin, my wife recommends using moisturizing lotion after a nice soaking of your mits or a thorough washing of your hands in moisturizing soap or dishwashing soap like palmolive or dawn. Yeah it softens the skin and you can apply the lotion. Best bet is after the post-training shower.
I feel sorry for anyone who lifts at a gym that will not allow chalk. They probably have a lot of neon signs and cool smoothie machines though. Im sorry, they are “fitness centers”. For who I dont know.
This only applies if you stick with the bare hands.
A guy at a highland games competition told me, AFTER i ripped the caluses off both my hands, that after each day you train, use a pumice stone and scrub the dead skin off. This does not feel very good at first, but it beats the alternative.
Mueller makes a product called magic grip. It is waterproof, so sweat won’t affect your grip. At the university I worked the past few years the golfers used it and loved it. All you have to do is spray it on, give it like 15 seconds to dry and you’re good to go. Here is a link so you can see what it looks like:
Those sticky products and resins are great but week in week out it costs alot more than good 'ol chalk.
Gloves reduce your grip, not increase it. The only reason to wear gloves is if you do something like rip open your callouses and need protection. Like I did yesterday for the first time. I got lax with filing down my callouses but as least wearing gloves will allow me to keep training until it heals.
I’d only use gloves if it was really cold in the gym! (I suppose that’s the powerlifter in me)
Seriously though, if you can do without your hands will toughen up and you’ll get a stronger grip. It is true that if the callouses get too big you can rip them off while lifting, but I sand them down using a course sandpaper / emery cloth wrapped around a 1 inch wooden dowel. I do this to keep them from being too big and it keeps them smooth for the lady in my life. I find I only need to sand down every two / three weeks. If you ever have to use your strength in the real world (ie out of the gym) will you run home for your gloves?
Old Dax
A pumice stone is a great way to handle callouses. It keeps the skin smooth and seamless, and you strike a good balance between smooth (if you like that sort of thing) and strong. You’ll end up with something kinda like soft leather.
If you don’t want to use gloves and your gym doesn’t allow chalk, try antiperserant. A thin layer will dry your skin out and keep you from sweating. The clear gell type works best.
I used to wear gloves when I started training. Then I started going thru them like a Porsche Carrera does with tires- I’d chew pairs of gloves to pieces in a matter of months with all the deadlifting and chins.
Eventually said “screw it” built up some fine callusses on my hands, never to look back!
I agree with the above, gloves do nothing for grip, chalk or the old ‘one two’ pat on your pants/shorts before a lift works best for drying up your hands. Besides, nothing says ‘Your a hard man’ more than a nice set of callouses on both hands. Especially if you do a lot of pen pushing for you day job! I think chicks secretly dig rough hands on a guy. It goes with that rugged thing like scratchy stubble, which i think like once in a while to remind them that there is vital T running throigh your veins! Sure they may say ’ ewww you feel like sandpaper!" but you know they secretly mean “your so masculine and thank goodness my hands are softer than yours”. I think a few callouses are fine, as long as they don’t fray on the edges, and get wickedly prickly and sharp. Kinda like a frozen booger. But that’s a another story…
I prefer not to wear gloves. My grip feels more “natural” as I have the tactile feedback at my fingertips (literally) and it helps me control the dumbbells/barbells,etc.
I have to admit, I always had a bias against guys who wore gloves- made them more wimpy. Besides the calluses you build up on your hand help out with those “lonely nights” when the wife or girlfriend isn’t there to lend a hand
I prefer not to wear gloves. My grip feels more “natural” as I have the tactile feedback at my fingertips (literally) and it helps me control the dumbbells/barbells,etc.
I have to admit, I always had a bias against guys who wore gloves- made them more wimpy. Besides the calluses you build up on your hand help out with those “lonely nights” when the wife or girlfriend isn’t there to lend a hand
