Gloves for Gym Workouts

Many people hitting the gym wear gloves as they lift their weights. These people do this to protect their hands from the metal bars and plates that could give them severe abrasions. Some simply have sensitive hands and avoid getting their hands calloused so they wear gloves. Some sweat too much in their palm area that they need to wear gloves to prevent their from slipping from their grip.

In my 10 years of gym experience, I say this is one area where gloves are not necessary. Our coach back then in the powerlifting team always scold us if he sees us wearing gloves. Wearing gloves in the gym gives you minimum workout output. Gloves are restrictions in working out. They are a hindrance, dragging you from carrying heavier poundage or allowing you to do higher repetitions. When you are serious in working out, you really should develop calloused hands.

Callouses will be your protection from the metal plates and bars. Having a thick palm covered with several callouses makes you endure the pain of direct contact with the metals. With gloves on, your grip are limited. The thickness of your gloves gives you an unnatural grip. But when you make a bare contact with your hands on the metal, you can be able to grip the bar more firmer, thus allowing you to carry heavier poundage or allowing you to do higher repetitions.

"What about the sweaty palm and the slipping issue?", you might ask. Have you ever seen a gymnast, a rockclimber, a powerlifter, a weightlifter wear gloves? No, there aren't any, especially in competitions. But these competitors use chalk on their hands before they compete. This chalk makes your palm dry so you can be able to touch and carry without slipping.

So far, of all the purposes of gloves I have discussed, this article, with gym workout as an area, should be convincing you not to wear gloves. Wear them in all the other areas, not here.