At the start of the year, new fitness products started emerging and pouring into the market. In the rapid growth of crossfit as a sport, a lot of fitness brands started producing special types of gloves for the sole purpose of crossfit workouts.
Manufacturers created a whole sea of new crossfit gloves making a choice a tough job. This is why this guide is here, to help you understand what makes crossfit gloves stand out from the others and make a choice a little bit easier task. Let’s find the best crossfit gloves!
#1 Weight Lifting Gloves for a Strong Grip - by Mava Sports
These gloves are exactly what crossfitters cried for. They have an open back side of the hand which prevents sweaty palms and gives you maximum flexibility. Materials which the gloves are made of are leather, neoprene, and silicone.
The design is pretty good; the grip was satisfying although I got the feeling that the silicone grip will get worn quickly, which is expected in this price range.
They come with a wristband which is the number two most important thing after opened backhand. But, I got to say I struggled a bit while doing muscle-ups, I had some slips here and there, then I had to use the chalk on the gloves so I can perform a proper muscle up.
Generally, silicone is a grippy material, but I think I wore it off a bit, either the bars are sharp, or my grip is too strong, either way after some time they got slippery. If the silicone padding was a bit thicker, I think it would make a significant difference in the performance of this gloves.
Pros
Open backhand for cooler hands which can breathe freely
Wrist support for stronger and more durable wrists
Various size and color options to choose from
Good price for the quality, you get what you pay for
Cons
Grip could be better; they were little bit slippery while performing harder workouts like muscle-ups
Once I got these gloves, I got the feeling like this was a model for regular weightlifting and modified for CrossFit. The back of the hand is partially open, which was fine, the part that goes over the side makes them fit nicely.
I liked the fact that the fingers are separated; fits much better than with the solid open space for fingers.
The wristband is present, and it offers good support, although personally, I would like it to be thinner and longer – I like to really wrap my wrist a couple of times and make it super tight. That's a personal preference, but since I'm judging them, I have to judge them by the way they feel on my hands.
The padding on the palm of the hand is thicker than usual, making them great for deadlifts when that extra weight pressures down. They are padded all the way from the bottom of the palm to the half of the fingers. They can be used both by men and women, and there’s a 100% guarantee if they don’t fit you or you’re just not happy with what you received.
Pros
The design makes them tight, and they fit great
Wristband is included as a part of the gloves
Extra padded palm ideal for workouts with heavy weights
#3 Cross Training Gloves with Wrist Support by ProFitness
These gloves are pretty similar in design with the ones from TeBo. The major difference is here you get five different color options. The ones with the camo design are probably going to be the most popular, so if they are out of stock, ask when they are going to be available and order them then. I'm telling you this because I went through the same procedure.
They fit perfectly, and for the size options, there is an extra small size but there's no super large, the largest is XL.
The padding is pretty firm, but while gripping the bar too hard, they kind of pinch my hands. I don't know is it the way I grip the bar, or the material just gets bunched up and pinches me every time.
The gloves have extra stitches all the way so they won't tear apart. The padding is stitched on the middle as well, and it's not slippery, but it could be a bit thinner, these are more useful in regular weightlifting than in CrossFit.
Pros
Good design, they fit perfectly, no room for unwanted movements
Alright, these were a bit pricey so I wanted to see is there any extra quality that comes with them, but now I see they are on sale for a much lower price. They have an already universal design; the difference is the part that goes over your hand is stitched directly to the palm part, it doesn't go under it, like I used to with other models.
Wristbands are present as a part of the glove, and they can be adjusted to the width of your wrist, no problems found there. They were kind of hard at the start, but they did break in pretty fast. The gloves are breathable, no sweating occurred, and they are comfortable, but as for the grip, I can't say I was awed.
After a couple of weeks, it started to wear off, and they become pretty slippery. Some people at the gym told me that I should pick a smaller size, and they would break in; the bigger size makes the grip wrong and tearing faster.
I liked these gloves for their adjustable palm length. I managed to set them up to fit my hand perfectly. They are unisex and have a black and pink variant. They pack wrist wraps, of course, but in a different way, which I found to be a great feature.
The wraps are separated from the glove and can be adjusted to fit even the biggest guys out there; they are very wide. The inner part of the glove is comfortable and stitched throughout. They also feature hypoallergenic and sweatproof protection, giving the double protection from the germs in the gym.
The grip was awesome, and finally, it's achieved with thinner padding. The only thing I would like to see improved is the ergonomic design of the finger slots.
The good thing about this is if you are not satisfied how they fit you, you have thirty days to get your money back. Overall, I had a pretty good experience with them, but they were pretty pricey the day I bought them.
Pros
High-quality leather
Double prong for maximum security
4-inch width with 5mm thickness for maximum comfort
#6 Fit Active Sports Ventilated Weight Lifting Gloves
Now, this set of gloves provide a full palm protection, which I found awesome, but I was afraid that would cause some serious sweating. And from the moment I tried them on the workout session, it turned out that they actually have a great ventilation due to the completely opened back of the hand and ergonomic design of the palm padding.
The grip was super slippery proof, and I liked the width of the finger slots, the only thing that's bad about full palm protection is their bulkiness.
They are made of neoprene, so they are flexible enough, but they don't exactly fit perfectly in hand. The wraps provide good support, but I don't understand why are they angled instead of going in the straight line.
The good thing is, you can order them and try them out, if you don't like them, you can return them a get a money refund. Where they really showed their advantage is in the tire flipping workouts, they gave me some extra power because I had a padding for the entire palm.
Pros
Full palm padding great for tire flipping workouts
Thin padding with good grip
Wide finger slots that provide an extra comfort
Wristbands for tight and strong wrists
Money back guarantee
Cons
Angled wristbands may limit the movement in some workouts
They don’t fit perfectly due to the full palm padding
These gloves are advertised as they can be used for CrossFit, so I gave them a try even tho they are designed as traditional weightlifting gloves. They feature wristbands for strength and protection.
The design of the palm makes the grip very good, they fit nice, but they are completely closed. These can be perfect for bodybuilding and general weight lifting, but for CrossFit, they need to be open on the back of the hand.
My hands got so sweaty I had to take them off and continue using my bare hands with chalk. They have pieces of cloth attached to two of the fingers so you can pull them off easily I guess, although I don't know why would I need that.
Overall, good gloves with great support and grip, but for high intensity and versatile workout, they just don't cut it. Maybe someone doesn't sweat as much as I do, if you think that won't be a problem, then give them a try, there's thirty-day money back guarantee.
Pros
They fit good, no extra space when the right size is chosen
#8 ProFitness Split Leather Padding Cross Training Gloves
The combination of neoprene and leather caught my attention here. Not because of those specific materials, since they are used in every other pack of gloves, but because the palm padding is made of leather. A completely separated part stitched to the palm made of leather, that means that they are way more durable than usual silicone padding.
The grip is the best I have ever had, and completely open back of the hand is a great bonus. The finger slots are not aligned in the straight line like I had seen before and had problems with.
The price is pretty low for the quality I got; I didn't expect them to be so durable. The only improvement I would like to see is a longer wristband. Three color options are available, and they can be used both by men and women.
The stitching is done pretty firm making them durable and not so easy to tear apart. My hands were sweat-free, and through an entire workout they were comfortable and felt natural to use.
Pros
Good design, they fit perfectly, no room for unwanted movements
I know these look like a regular bodybuilding gloves, but I just had to mention them. For such a small price it’s an entire package. The package includes one pair of gloves, one pair of wrist wraps and one pair of lifting wrist straps. I have seen lifting wrist straps alone that cost the same as this entire package.
The gloves are simple and can be used, they are not completely closed, and they have hollow points at the back of the hand, so your hands will be able to breathe. Do they grip? Well, it's an ok grip, nothing special, but it didn't even expect them to be super grippy.
But they do fit really good, and they are backed with the wristbands that come with. Overall, the weightlifting gloves that actually can be used for CrossFit and for such a low price they are worth to be looked at.
Pros
Very low price for what comes in the package
They fit nice; the size is just right
They are not completely closed; the hand has room for breathing
Now, I came across one more full padded palm gloves. But, this time they have rubber parts all over the palms. They are really bulky and can be used for heavyweight exercises when you need extra support.
The finger slots are ergonomic and thick, but overall the gloves were pretty comfortable. Wristbands did their job pretty good, but once again, the thing I don't like is that they are set at an angle. That doesn't suit my wrists at all.
One more drawback I noticed after some time - the spots around the rubber parts on the palm start tearing due to the pressure between the rubber parts while doing muscle-ups I suppose. It would be better if the rubber parts are connected, that way the cloth between them wouldn’t get squeezed and torn while doing full range motion workouts like muscle-ups.
Pros
Ergonomic finger slots make them feel natural
Bulky and thick, great for deadlifts and other exercises with big weights
Fully opened back of the hand
Good quality stitching
30 days full money back guarantee
Cons
Cloth between rubber parts on the palm gets torn after some time
As the name suggests, CrossFit gloves are gloves intended for CrossFit workouts Most CrossFitters agree that hand protection is needed if you want to be spared from calluses, blisters, and even potential dangers. With CrossFit gloves, you can get a firm grip on the different weights, bars, and workout equipment.
The gloves are perfect in protecting your wrist and stop the accumulation of sweat on your palms. You don’t want to get your hands slipping on some heavy weights. With a comfort fit and firm grip, you can have less fatigue on the muscles and enhance muscular endurance.
What to Pay Attention to And Why Do You Need Gloves At All?
CrossFit is a very versatile discipline, and its time-based workouts can lead to the destruction of your hands. Changing bars and grips will lead to blisters and furthermore damage of the hands when those blisters pop. There are a lot of benefits that come with wearing gloves:
It’s hygienic – blisters are unavoidable when working out without gloves, they will lead to open wounds which are a vector for blood-borne pathogens. You can get various infections while using bars in the gym without protection. Also, once you tear the blisters open, your hands will be so sensitive to the touch, and the pain will prevent you from performing the movement properly.
Your hands will stay fresh – unless you plan to be a professional CrossFitter and make money out of it, it makes no sense to have rough and damaged hands. People outside of the gym may find rough hands unappealing, especially when you’re supposed to shake hands.
You will have a better performance – while you're wearing gloves you will have a better grip, and with the better grip you will manage to perform more reps than with bare hands. You will notice this improvement, especially while doing muscle-ups and pull-ups. You will also have better times in timed workouts since you won't go to the chalk bucket. And, of course, you will have significantly worse performance if your hands are damaged.
You won’t miss workouts – blisters can be so painful at times, that you will skip the entire workout for the day, or maybe even a couple of days until your hands are healed. It makes no sense to put yourself at risk of injuries and to skip workouts for such an easily prevented problem.
Some people think wearing gloves is for weaklings and that blisters are badges of honor. Not only that statement sounds childish, but it also makes no sense either. That kind of talk is why people started to wear headphones at the gym in the first place.
Standard Weightlifting Gloves Are Not Gonna Do The Job
At the beginning of the sport, CrossFitters used regular gym gloves for weightlifting, and they didn't do much help at all. Weightlifting gloves are bulky, and they are not designed to provide flexibility, and they are not intended to be used in such intense workouts like CrossFit.
What also makes the traditional weightlifting gloves bad for CrossFit is that they typically cover the entire hand, making the hands sweaty and slippery. They are good for low-intensity workouts with a limited range of motion, but not for CrossFit at all.
The Appearance of CrossFit Gloves
With the inadequacy of chalk and regular weightlifting gloves, people had a high demand for gloves specifically designed for CrossFit. And thankfully, they appeared. These gloves are less bulky, usually made of materials that are lightweight and tough at the same time.
The leather is a pretty common material used in the production of these, and so are synthetics as silicone and neoprene. What also makes them different from typical gym gloves is that they don't cover the back of your hands. That way the hands can breathe, the gloves are light, and you can have an unlimited range of motion. These gloves give you confidence in your workouts due to the protection and grip they provide; you will completely forget about chalk and blisters you used to have.
What to Pay Attention to And Why Do You Need Gloves At All?
Durability
You should look for a pair of gloves that you will be able to use for as much as you can, it's cheaper to buy one expensive pair than ten cheap ones. So, what makes CrossFit gloves durable? The combination and type of the material they are made of. They should be made out of the combination of leather and spandex with double or triple stitching to withstand the range of motion during your training.
Weight
For the more effective workout, you will need lighter gloves. Heavy gloves make your hands inflexible and sweaty, limiting your time trials and flexibility. It's best to have a pair of gloves that will give you natural feel of the grip like you almost don't wear gloves at all. That kind of feel you will get will make a positive impact and boost your performance, giving you natural feel in the hand while also having a better grip than with bare hands.
Limber Material
The materials the CrossFit gloves are made of have to be flexible to allow your hands to move around without limitations. Spandex and neoprene are ideal materials to look out for when browsing the gloves to buy.
Innovative Materials
Some gloves designed specifically for CrossFit are made out of new and innovative materials that are capable of enduring punishing workouts while providing your hands the ability to stay cool and limber. These materials are breathable, durable and they support diverse motion range which is a must for CrossFit. Pay attention to the packaging and look for the materials that are used in the production of the gloves.
Cosiness
Gloves, especially for CrossFit, should feel like they don't exist. The fabric should breathe to keep the hands cool, and the palm should provide protection from sores with cushioning while not getting the palms too sweaty at the same time. They shouldn't be too tight, but they should fit well without room for slipping out.
Support for Wrists
Wrist support is a great addition to the gloves. There are gloves available that have extended wristbands that can completely wrap around your wrist. This way the gloves won't slip off and the wrists will be protected from painful contact with objects, and it will give them more strength and endurance.
Warranty
When the brand gives a warranty, it means it is certain and confident in the product's quality and durability. Long warranty usually means that you will get a durable and quality made gloves. Majority of CrossFit gloves have a one year warranty but pay attention, and you might find some that have a longer warranty or even offer a lifetime warranty with a replacement of your damaged gloves.
How To Clean Your CrossFit Gloves
You can remove the accumulated salt and mineral from your sweat by soaking them in warm, soapy water. While soaking, massage the gloves with hands. Rinse and repeat the same process on the other side.
Once your gloves are thoroughly clean, squeeze out excess water. Air dry the gloves away from direct sunlight because the sun Do this regular cleaning once a week.
Watch how the cleaning is demonstrated in this video here.
Our Best Crossfit Gloves Choose
Giving all the points one glove for CrossFit need to have in check I had a couple of favorites between these choices above. But the winner has to be named, and after some time considering I must say ProFitness Split Leather Padding Cross Training Gloves are a clear winner. They really won me with their leather padding and so much space for hands to breathe. The stitching is awesome, they are very durable, and that price tag was just ridiculous. Maybe you think some other gloves would be better for you, but from my experience, these are the best for CrossFit workouts.
If you’ve tried purchasing or using a pair of CrossFit gloves, tell us what you think in the comments section below. Don’t hesitate to share this article if you find this informative and helpful.
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