A MFP friend who is physically active and lifts recommended chalk, "The chalk allows for a better grip & less tearing of the skin on the knurling of the bar." It's my next purchase, and trying chalk used my gymnast...shaped like a ball...hopefully it helps...

I wear gloves. Our gym doesn't allow chalk. I didn't wear gloves the first few months I started lifting, and the hands were totally ripped to shreds, bled sometimes and can be a point of discussion in a business meeting that you don't want to talk about.

That being said, I got some leather Nike gloves because my hands are tiny (size 3.5 wedding rings tiny). I lost a little bit of ability for a few weeks adjusting to the weights with gloves, but got it back and now it's a non issue.

My hands sweat like crazy. It's annoying. So I have to wear gloves for lifting and some other exercises (biking and rowing come to mind.)

I shave mine off with a callus shaver, you can get one at drug stores or probably Walmart. It's a 6 inch handle with a razor on the end, the razor, of course, is protected by hardware similar to ones you use on your legs, but it's a single blade. I CrossFit, so between pull ups and dead lifts, l develop calluses weekly that need a shaving. I learned this from my coach, who has been lifting for 15-20 years. You definitely want to maintain your calluses because if they get too big and you lift a heavy load, you risk tearing them off, with is really nasty and painful and you get blood on the equipment. Shaving really works and is fast and easy. You will still get a nasty callus from time to time that will sting, maybe even break, but it reduces the overall discomfort and you don't walk around picking at your hands all the time.

When you can catch your callus with a fingernail, it's time to shave. Think smooth, you want to remove the dead skin and make the little pads smooth. Be careful not to shave too deep. You'll get the hang of it an know when enough is enough. Basically, just extend your fingers back as far as you can and go to town, just shaving the little pads smooth. Groom those babies. My coach recommends a lotion as a followup, but I don't and I'm fine. I don't use gloves, I understand that to improve grip strength, use bare hands.

I also find it to be an effective way to get a pesky office neighbor to leave me alone, I just bust out my shaver and get to work. It bothers him, so he goes away.

I like gloves. I use the Femme Fitale ones. I find they are the best I've tried. I've tried others but didn't like them and they seemed to affect my grip.

I don't care. Urea cream should reduce them a lot, though.

SyrTigressnla wrote: »

cejaibe wrote: »

I shave mine off with a callus shaver, you can get one at drug stores or probably Walmart. It's a 6 inch handle with a razor on the end, the razor, of course, is protected by hardware similar to ones you use on your legs, but it's a single blade. I CrossFit, so between pull ups and dead lifts, l develop calluses weekly that need a shaving. I learned this from my coach, who has been lifting for 15-20 years. You definitely want to maintain your calluses because if they get too big and you lift a heavy load, you risk tearing them off, with is really nasty and painful and you get blood on the equipment. Shaving really works and is fast and easy. You will still get a nasty callus from time to time that will sting, maybe even break, but it reduces the overall discomfort and you don't walk around picking at your hands all the time.

When you can catch your callus with a fingernail, it's time to shave. Think smooth, you want to remove the dead skin and make the little pads smooth. Be careful not to shave too deep. You'll get the hang of it an know when enough is enough. Basically, just extend your fingers back as far as you can and go to town, just shaving the little pads smooth. Groom those babies. My coach recommends a lotion as a followup, but I don't and I'm fine. I don't use gloves, I understand that to improve grip strength, use bare hands.

I also find it to be an effective way to get a pesky office neighbor to leave me alone, I just bust out my shaver and get to work. It bothers him, so he goes away.

HA HA your coach is "old school" mine used to say the same thing to us back in high school...."cut it off with a razor you'll be fine". I find that for the days I can use gloves it helps on certain equipment. But I also like to go "commando" grip as I feel a better connection to the weight and the muscle being"burnt". Chalk is great if the workout location (gym or other location) has it. For those who are like me who workout at home it is messy. I tried creams also but in the end I just deal with them until I can scrap/cut them down a bit.

My coach prides herself in being "old school". You nailed that one. I've seen another coach pull superglue out of the first aide kit to fix a busted callus. It sounds funny and barbaric, which is why I love it so much!!

I use wrist straps for all of my heavy lifts, even on dumbbells. Since my gym doesn't allow chalk either - that wasn't an option for me. Gloves were useless to me as they didn't really prevent the calluses from building, or protect them. So one day my best friend was like, "Use my wrist straps for those deadlifts"...and now I use them ALL the time