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The Best Gloves for Every Type of Athlete

A man wearing a black shirt and tightening the wrist of black gloves.
Sergey Nepsha/Shutterstock.com

For weight training, chin-ups, rope climbing, and fitness exercises of every type, you will always need a solid pair of workout gloves. They are an essential part of the exercise process, providing you with an extra level of reinforcement and the ability to work out with confidence. If you are looking for a more comfortable way to train, then here are a few exercise gloves we think you should check out.

What to Look for in Your Next Pair of Gloves

Consider these factors when making a selection:

  • Grip Power: Every pair of gloves, regardless of the exercise or sport, should provide you with a firm level of grip power. A good indication of top-tier grip is the overall thickness of the glove. A glove with more material on its palms increases the diameter of the weight, handlebar, or golf club, making it harder to maintain a good grasp.
  • Support: For the more physically demanding sport or exercise you are attempting to carry out, you should always seek a fine foundation of durable support out of your gloves. The likes of weightlifting and heavy bag hitting require immense support on the wrist to prevent excess strain and potential sprains.
  • Ventilation: Gloves will inevitably take on a less than pleasing scent after prolonged use. It’s up to you to seek out options that prevent it from happening too quickly. Gloves that utilize open designs for continued air circulation and lighter materials that wick away moisture are key to avoiding unwanted odors.

Best for Weightlifting: Mava Sports Ventilated Workout Gloves

A red and black pair of fingerless gloves positioned to show the texturized side of its palm and the exposed backside of the hand.

Defined by its taut grip power and a unique open hand design, this pair of Mava Sports Ventilated Workout Gloves provides an athlete with protection where necessary and optimal breathability throughout. Its full palm coverage is designed from an anatomically shaped and textured silicone padding that rides halfway up each finger. Additionally, the pair’s exposed back offers much-needed air circulation to prevent excess sweating while lifting.

Best for Weightlifting

Mava Sports Ventilated Weightlifting Workout Gloves with Wrist Support for Men and Women | Ideal for Weightlifting, Gym Workout, Pull Ups, Cross Training & More

With its textured silicone padding and minimalist coverage, this pair of workout gloves is the easy choice to make when doing some tough lifting.

Best for Cycling: Souke Sports Cycling Bike Gloves

A gray, black, and neon green pair of fingerless cycling gloves positioned to show the padded section on its palm and the reflective strips on the backside of the hand.

For the everyday sporting bicyclist and those who are prone to traveling down some of the more demanding trails, these Souke Sports Cycling Gloves offer sleek, shock-absorbing reliability while your hands are on the handlebars. These gloves feature a four-way stretch construction of 87% nylon and 13% spandex on the upper side, and 60% nylon and 40% polyurethane on the palm, amounting to an extremely flexible piece of riding equipment. Its bold color options and reflective details also create one flashy design, looking good and keeping motorists alerted to your presence.

Best for Cycling

Souke Sports Cycling Bike Gloves Padded Half Finger Bicycle Gloves Shock-Absorbing Anti-Slip Breathable MTB Road Biking Gloves for Men/Women Green Small

A pair of bike-centric gloves that feature four-way stretch abilities and rebound foam padding in the palms.

Best for MMA Training: FitsT4 Half Mitts MMA Support Gloves

A white and black pair of fingerless gloves that is densely padded on the knuckles and features straps along the wrist.

Designed for various sports such as Taekwondo, Muay Thai, and mix martial arts training, these FitsT4 Half Mitts are premium polyurethane gloves that protect the hands without weighing down a fighter’s punches. The pair provides shock absorption while remaining totally abrasion-proof, meaning it is built to last as many heavy bag sessions as you can throw its way. Boxing mitts can always get a bit sour in the scent department, but these gloves are designed with an open palm and breathable cloth to quickly wick sweat away.

Best for MMA Training

Best Wrist Protection: SIMARI Workout Gloves

A brown and black pair of weightlifting gloves that features padding on the palms and fingers, as well as straps around the wrist.

Weightlifting puts a lot of stress on your hands, especially your wrists, and that’s why this pair of SIMARI gloves is an ideal choice for anyone looking for extra safety. The high-density foam pad on the palms buffers the overall pressure of carrying weight, while a thick wrist wrap provides the weight lifter with a firm and assured grip on the bar without hindering the lift. Meanwhile, its microfiber mesh and spandex fiber bring much-needed comfort to the experience.

Best Wrist Protection

SIMARI Workout Gloves Mens and Women Weight Lifting Gloves with Wrist Support for Gym Training, Full Palm Protection for Fitness, Weightlifting, Exercise, Hanging, Pull ups

Padded for comfort and tightly wrapped to keep your hands firmly in place, these workout gloves provide you with the assured grip necessary when lifting.

Best Multipurpose Gloves: DB DEGBIT Warm Winter Gloves

A black pair of full-finger gloves that feature silicone construction across its surface.

This pair of DB DEGBIT Warm Winter Gloves is perfect for running, cycling, golfing, snowboarding, and beating the breeze. This pair is designed with a simple goal in mind: keeping an athlete’s digits toasty. It features windproof and fast-drying materials that keep one’s hands free of moisture even when working up a sweat on the outside. As a bonus, these gloves are coated with a conductive material on the thumb and index finger that allows wearers to use smartphones, watches, and other devices.

Hollis Mills Hollis Mills
Hollis Mills is a freelance journalist and a content writer for LifeSavvy. He has a bachelor's degree in English literature, and as an undergraduate at Texas A&M University, Hollis wrote and edited for the nationally recognized student newspaper, The Battalion. When he's not writing, you can find him complaining about Boston Celtics basketball or giving plenty of peanut butter biscuits to his always-hungry Catahoula dog, Blue. Read Full Bio »
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