The Argument against gloves
Using gloves with a workout has definite negative aspects. Since there is a layer of material between your hand and the bar, the grip force you exert on the bar is substantially less. Imagine trying to squeeze somebody’s arm as hard as you can with skin on skin contact, versus a towel wrapped around the arm. Obviously if you wanted to hurt the person and exert as much force as possible, you would want skin on skin contact. The same concept applies with a pull up bar. You might not notice it during your first set, but near the end of the workout, you will definitely feel it harder to grip the bar, which could reduce the amount of reps you do per exercise, therefore limiting your results. |
The argument for gloves
Furthermore, in times of bad weather (rain, snow, hail etc.), wearing workout gloves can increase the grip you have on the bar. Without gloves, the moisture on the bar can act as a lubricant, causing you to slip and exert less force on the bar. Wearing gloves during these conditions can allow you to complete more reps, furthering your muscle gain goals.
the way we use gloves
We use a variety of different gloves. We find that weight lifting gloves work best, but also use gardening gloves and fire mitts. If you are interested in purchasing a pair, look for our amazon store to the left, as we sell the gloves that work best for us there.
At the end of the day, you have to do what works for you. If you do not want callouses or rough hands at all, use gloves. If you want your hands to look like you just wrestled a bear, don’t use gloves! Just be able to face the consequences that come with raw palm.
Happy workouts to all and remember: "Go for one more!"