Lifting weights is no easy workout. While neoprene or vinyl dumbbells don't require gloves to protect your hands, chrome and iron dumbbells are harder on your hands. They tend to have ridges that are useful in that they help you grip better but your hands can take a beating. Weight-lifting gloves will protect your hands and enable you to have a more secure grip on the weights.
Factors to consider are price, fit, and type of material.
Gloves range in price from inexpensive to more costly gloves. If you've just started out, or if you don't plan to use them much, the more economical price may be all you need. If you are a more serious lifter, more expensive gloves will be worth the investment.
Gloves can reduce fatigue to your hands and wrists. They can enable you to lift longer. Gloves will help protect you from slippage with heavier weights. Gloves can lessen the pressure on your wrists, as well as keeping callouses to a minimum, and they help keep your skin from becoming cracked and dry.
You can find gloves in a variety of sizes, from small to extra large. Different brands' sizes are not standardized, so different makes can be a different fit, even for the same size. While generally you can correlate your glove size to your shoe size, according to Ehow.com, you really need to try on gloves to ensure that you get the best fit. You want them to fit, well, like a glove. You want them to be not so tight that you don't have freedom of movement, but tight enough to prevent slipping.
Gloves come with and without wrist straps. Built-in wrist straps offer additional support for your wrists, offering more protection from injury. Velcro enclosures make the gloves easier and faster to get on and off. Other gloves have slip-on enclosures. Extra padding to the palm of your gloves offers greater protection and support for your hands. Machine washable gloves are easy to keep clean.
Weight-lifting gloves can be found in neoprene as well as in leather. Gloves made from neoprene are more padded than the leather ones, and have less tendency to bunch. Neoprene is a synthetic that is favored for weight lifting gloves because it breathes. Neoprene gloves carry moisture away from your skin. Leather gloves are less stretchy than neoprene, so they provide more support. Leather is more durable. Leather offers more padding and support, handy for heavy weights.
Jody Smith is a freelance writer for EmpowHER.com.
Sources:
Benefits of Weight-lifting Gloves
http://www.ehow.com/facts_4854770_benefits-weightlifting-gloves.html
How to Choose Weightlifting Gloves
http://www.ehow.com/how_5068683_choose-weightlifting-gloves.html
How Do I Choose the Best Weight Training Gloves?
http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-choose-the-best-weight-training-gloves.htm
