Wear gloves when lifting weights?

yayamom3

When I started lifting in January, I asked my 16-year-old son if I should buy a pair of gloves. He told me gloves were stupid. (He takes a daily weights class at school and no one there wears them.) I took his advice. At first, I was kind of proud of the calluses. They are a great reminder of my hard work and progress so far. Now, they're really starting to hurt. So my question is, "Do you or don't you wear gloves when lifting, and why or why not?"

Rage_Phish

i do not
wife probably wishes i did

giantrobot_powerlifting

I don't because they slacken grip and I loose tightness and even if you have gloves on, callouses will still develop. Better to manage the thickness of your callouses. An emory board just out the shower can do wonders for those things. If they get to thick, Xacto knife to trim them down and then the emory board.

ew_david

I do not. I found them to be more interfering than helpful. I use chalk, but only for deadlifts.

singingflutelady

I don't wear gloves

mamasmaltz3

No I don't. I don't want them slipping or interfering with my grip. Also, I compete and they are not legal. Sounds like you need to groom your callouses. Just get a nail file or pumice stone and file them down a bit. Your grip may be causing some of the issue as well. Chris Duffin has a video that he talks about callouses and grip on YouTube.

StealthHealth

Nope. Liquid chalk (for dead lifts only).

cwolfman13

No gloves...learn to grip the bar properly.

ShodanPrime

No gloves. Proper grip is part of proper lifting.

yayamom3

Wow, so glad I asked this question! Dead lifts are what are causing the pain. So obviously I'm not using the proper grip. Will spend some time on YouTube this evening. Thanks everyone!

cwolfman13

most people have issues because they're trying to "palm" the bar...

astrampe

I do, I hate having rough hands - I can lift like a construction worker - doesn't mean I have to have hands like a construction worker...

StealthHealth

Investigate different grip types and experiment a little - also, consider a mixed grip for dead lifts. Many people find these help.

mamasmaltz3

I was wrong, it wasn't a Duffin video. It's Mark Rippetoe.

http://youtu.be/_ZBmiQm4MF4

cwolfman13

astrampe wrote: »

I do, I hate having rough hands - I can lift like a construction worker - doesn't mean I have to have hands like a construction worker...

You shouldn't really have issues if you're gripping the bar properly.

mamasmaltz3

I been training for powerlifting for two years and this is the extent of my calluses. I don't have to file them either.

McCloud33

Sounds like I'll be the lone voice for gloves LOL I started out not wearing them for probably the first 6mo to year of lifting. I got callouses, and like you was pretty proud of them at first. I don't know if it was just fat fingers, small hands, or what but I tried holding the bar as shown in earlier replies and it started tearing my fingers to pieces instead of down on the palm down by the base of the finger. I only use the gloves for Deadlifts as that's the only lift with enough weight to really tear up my hands. Since switching over to wearing gloves, I still have callouses, but they don't build to the point where they tear off like they used to, and I don't get them on my fingers either really.

chunky_pinup

I have lupus and Behcets disease, and if I want to lift, I have to wear gloves. When I go without, my skin flares terribly. I can still have some semi-bad skin flares even with the gloves, but it does help significantly. As far as grip? Not so much…it’s kind of bothersome, but better than being sidelined for weeks because the skin is falling off my hands. If you have skin sensitivity issues, gloves help a lot. If there’s no issue besides callouses (which you do still get with gloves), then you might want to look more into how you’re gripping the bar, as opposed to what to cover your hands with.

sijomial

I wear gloves - gives me better grip, the ladies in my life prefer not to be scratched to pieces and if you need calluses for people to know you lift you are doing it wrong.

KDar1988

cwolfman13 wrote: »

most people have issues because they're trying to "palm" the bar...

Dumb question but that must also apply to dumbbells as well?

astrampe

I also play a lot with kettlebells, mine are all cast iron....Snatching 36lbs of rough cast iron definitely requires gloves - nothing to do with grip there....

nordlead2005

I've been lifting for over 1 year and I have small hands and I have no problems with callouses. I don't think anyone would think I lift weights based on my hands. Gripping the bar right and chalk will go a long way in reducing wear and tear on your hands.

quiksylver296

I tried them, and threw them out. I didn't like the negative effect on my grip, especially during deadlift. I just file my calluses with a pumice stone once in awhile after my shower. I haven't had any issues.

JoRocka

astrampe wrote: »

I also play a lot with kettlebells, mine are all cast iron....Snatching 36lbs of rough cast iron definitely requires gloves - nothing to do with grip there....

I haven't had a need for them doing the same said movement.

MostlyWater

I used to when I first started, and I had some cool ones. Then I started to Spin 3 times a week and my wrists got really weak so I needed to wear wrist supports, and it got to be too much stuff to wear so I don't wear anything any longer !!!!

Keladelphia

I don't wear gloves for weightlifting. I don't find that my hands get very callused from weightlifting but they do from high volume gymnastics movements (pull-ups, muscle ups etc.). Daily hand maintenance is my savior. I use a ped egg to shave them flat and I make sure to keep them moisturized; between that combo I rarely have issues anymore.

quiksylver296

JoRocka wrote: »

astrampe wrote: »

I also play a lot with kettlebells, mine are all cast iron....Snatching 36lbs of rough cast iron definitely requires gloves - nothing to do with grip there....

I haven't had a need for them doing the same said movement.

Me, either.

Yivs_87

I did. And I will once I return to weight lifting.

First couple of weeks I didn't and as my skin is quite sensitive I ended up with horrible painful calluses.
I did go through 2-3 pairs of gloves until I found the "right one" - fit properly, was comfortable, gave me good feel of the bar, and was able to protect my palms.

tryasimighty

I do, I get callouses doing housework though and blister very easily! I have tried several pairs of gloves and have a favourite so if you do wear them bear that in mind, they can make a huge difference in your ability and comfort if they are not right. They also have slightly padded palms which for me makes push ups etc more comfortable. I am about the only one in my gym that does though!

rontafoya

No. What's better are wrist wraps for support, especially if you are using heavy weights and especially heavy dumbbells.

jessef593

I don't, mainly because I'm proud of my calluses. It's your body adapting to the hard work you're putting in. You can use gloves if you'd like too, but they are known for putting uneven pressure across your hands which could mess with stability. Same as using a bar pad when squatting.