What To Look For
In weightlifting, handling bars and weights can become painful with repetition. The small and intricate collection of blood vessels and tendons that support your hand's muscles and allow you to grip the bar need to be supported and protected with grip gloves to prevent long-term injury. Classic weight lifting gloves, however, tend to make your hands hot and sweaty. Instead, many gloves are now made with neoprene, which is durable enough to stand up to the wear and tear of weight bar grips. The best grip gloves now on the market keep your hands cool using materials like neoprene that wick away moisture while still giving you the safest possible grip on the bar.
Common Pitfalls
Weight lifting gloves made of leather are some of the most prevalent on the market, but they do nothing to prevent sweat and skin irritation. In addition, they are extremely difficult if not impossible to wash, so bacteria can easily build up over time. Some gloves are made from nylon, which isn't durable enough to stand up to the heavy use and drag of weight bars. Choose a pair of grip gloves made of an alternate material that can be washed; there are even some gloves available with antibacterial properties built in.
Where To Buy
You can purchase general weightlifting grip gloves at most sporting goods stores such as Dick's Sporting Goods. These are typically acceptable for casual weightlifters, and will hold up for a reasonable period of time. However, your local sporting goods store isn't likely to carry highly specialized grip gloves that are used by professional weightlifters or people who lift for hours each day. Instead, turn to online specialty stores like Bodybuilding.com.
Cost
The cost of the best grip gloves varies with their material and features. At Dick's Sporting Goods in 2010, weight lifting gloves range in price from $10 to $40; most of their grip gloves are priced around $25. General weightlifting gloves at Bodybuilding.com go from around $9 to $45. Most of their grip gloves are in the neighborhood of $25 to $35.
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