By, Joaquin Martinez
So, a question that I get asked all the time, is “Should I wear workout gloves when I exercise?”
My answer: It depends!
I say if your goal is to get functional and grip strength, then no gloves. The reason is because gloves take work away from the muscles in the hand when they grip. If you allow the hand to grip things naturally, then the hand will get stronger.
If your goal is to get strong, but you want soft hands, then yes, wear gloves. The gloves will protect the palm of your hands from building calluses. When your hands grip the metal bars, or dumbbells’, the friction from gripping causes the skin to rip and rebuild itself (this is kind of how muscle is built).
I have been lifting weights for around 30 years now, and I don’t have as many, or as big calluses as some other people. The reason is simple. I apply lotion to my hands when I’m not working out. A lot of my friends that lift, do not moisturize their hands. They like keeping their hands dry. Their goal is to have big strong calluses.
A good rule of thumb is to ask your trainer. They can guide you as to when you should be using gloves. You do not need them for every single exercise- like with front squats with a medicine-ball. Your hands should grip the medicine-ball naturally. You will not build calluses handling a medball. You will however, build functional hand strength.
Usually, you really only need the gloves if you are using a metal bars, or metal dumbell handles when doing a PR of a deadlift, back row, or bench press. Other than that, you should try to use your hands without the gloves as much as possible. Because the goal is to build a strong grip.
Why do you need a strong grip?
To hold, and open things with your hands.
What if you fall, you will want strong hands to grip something on your way down so you don’t land on your body with all your weight and force.
