Sports equipment
6K 0 10.01.2018 (last revised: 26.07.2019)
For many, CrossFit, fitness and the gym are just a way to get in top shape. For this category of people, it is important not only to gain greater muscle volume and functional strength, but also to maintain tenderness of the palms, for example, if their work is associated with fine motor skills (music, writing, bulkheading something, working at a PC). So, in this case, you will have to work in such uniforms as gloves for training.
What are they needed for?
Men's fingerless workout gloves are very often considered bad form when used in basement gyms. However, despite the dismissive attitude towards them, this is one of the useful accessories for the athlete:
- Firstly, such gloves avoid the appearance of calluses on the hands. This is a very important cosmetic factor. Although calluses are considered masculine, they are optional for women and, on the contrary, spoil the texture of the palm.
- Second, gloves reduce the pressure of the barbell or dumbbells on the fingers. At the same time, the uncomfortable sensations that can be caused by the pressure of the projectile on the bare hand decrease or disappear altogether.
- Thirdly, perforation on the back of the glove, as well as a special coating on some models, can reduce the possibility of slipping off a horizontal bar or other projectile. This is useful primarily for workout athletes, but for CrossFit athletes who often have to do exercises on the bar, such a bonus will not hurt.
- Fourth, wrist protection. Some gloves allow you to hold the hand in a natural position during exercise. This protects the wrist joint from injury.
Women most often use gloves only to protect them from blisters. How to choose the right women's workout gloves? According to absolutely the same principles as for men. The only difference will be in the size grid.
© Dmytro Panchenko - stock.adobe.com
For crossfit
Crossfit gloves are different from regular sports gloves. They are produced mainly by sponsors of crossfit competitions, namely Reebok. What is their main difference?
- The presence of special clamps. Such clamps are used in powerlifting and allow you not to worry about the position of the bar, especially when working with an open grip.
- Ultimate strength is another important factor. CrossFit workouts involve high-amplitude jerking exercises that create tremendous friction and, as a result, easily chafes into classic gym gloves.
- Lining thickness. Since every muscle group is important in competitions and preparation for them, in spite of all their strength, the gloves have a reduced thickness of the lining. This allows you to better feel the projectile in your hands and partially relieve the load from the wrist muscles, allowing you to fully control the main muscle groups in the exercise.
- Uncircumcised fingers. Typically, CrossFit gloves are made with closed fingers for better protection.
© reebok.com
© reebok.com
Fun Fact: Many CrossFit athletes do not like wearing gloves during training and competition. At the same time, the champions of crossfit games and top 10 athletes always use them in competitions, as this allows them not to be distracted by additional painful sensations. For example, Josh Bridges (a famous crossfit athlete and military man) used crossfit gloves even during his race on the china wall. In his message to fans, he mentions the importance of all equipment in training, as he believes that you do not need to expose your body to unnecessary injuries outside of competition.
Criterias of choice
How to choose the right training gloves? To do this, you need to consider some of the features of your strength sport. However, the selection criteria are about the same:
- The size. It doesn't matter what you do - bodybuilding, crossfit, workout - gloves need to be taken in size, not for growth and not less. They should fit your wrist tightly, not topple over or loose. This will help prevent some injury.
- Lining thickness. Despite the fact that the thicker the lining, the less comfortable it is to perform the exercise, it is still worth choosing with a thick one. It is a factor that allows you to passively increase your grip strength. In addition, the thick lining indirectly affects safety, as it allows you to safely throw a heavy projectile without fear of tearing your hands into blood.
- Material. Traditionally they are made from leather, leatherette, cotton or neoprene (synthetics). Leather gloves look impressive and allow you to clearly fix the projectile in your hands. Their minus is that the hand can sweat a lot. Leatherette is a similar material, but less durable. Cotton gloves are the cheapest, but they are only suitable for light fitness, since there is almost no sense in strength exercises from them. The neoprene provides a good grip on the barbell or dumbbells, and the perforation keeps your hands from sweating.
- Presence / absence of fingers. In the absence of fingers, palms will be protected from overheating, the appearance of sweat and, accordingly, an unpleasant smell. If the fingers are perforated, this disadvantage can be avoided.
Correctly determine the size of gloves
A standard grid is used to determine the size of the gloves. Of course, it does not take into account the length of the athlete's fingers, but if you choose gloves for sports without fingers, then they do not count. It is enough to know exactly your palm size in girth. We present you with a table of values that will help you choose the right gloves if you purchase them on the Internet:
| Your palm size is wide (cm) | Girth | Letter designation |
| 7 | 18,5 | S-ka (small size) |
| 7 | 19 | S-ka (small size) |
| 7 | 19,5 | S-ka (small size) |
| 7,5 | 20 | S-ka (small size) |
| 7,5 | 20,5 | S-ka (small size) |
| 8 | 21 | M (medium size) |
| 8 | 21,5 | M (medium size) |
| 8 | 22 | M (medium size) |
| 8 | 22,5 | M (medium size) |
| 8,5 | 23 | M (medium size) |
| 8,5 | 23,5 | M (medium size) |
| 9 | 24 | L-ka (large size) |
| 10 | 26,5 | XL (large size) |
| 10 | 27 | XL (large size) |
Note: nevertheless, despite the table of sizes provided, if you want to really accurately choose the size of the gloves, you need to measure them in the store, since sometimes the sizes are incorrectly indicated on the Internet, or they use some other metric system. For example, Chinese, in the case of working with AliExpress, where you need to make an allowance for one size up.
© Syda Productions - stock.adobe.com
To summarize
Today, gloves for strength training in the gym are not a luxury, but an ordinary need. After all, they help keep fingers and wrist healthy, as well as avoid unwanted calluses.
