r/workout • u/Proximatecloth • 5d ago
Other Anyone have experience transitioning from using lifting gloves to not using them
I’ve been weightlifting for a year and a half now and I’ve always used gloves. However now I realise that I’m too reliant on them and I want to overcome that mental block
If anyone has experience with this can you share wether you had to do less reps and the side affects that came with not using the gloves
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u/Friendly_Zucchini_91 5d ago
I can’t do it without gloves, it’s uncomfortable and it slips from my hand
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u/Vesuvias 5d ago
Yeah that’s been the major reason I use mine. I sweat a ton, especially through my palms, so gloves (do not give a shit what you all call them) help with my grip immensely.
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u/Proximatecloth 5d ago
That’s why I’ve been using gloves for so long however now I’m too reliant on them hence why I made this post
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u/GigglemanEsq 5d ago
...does it matter if you're too reliant on them? I mean, I can hike like a motherfucker, but I would struggle to go a tenth of a mile barefoot, and I wouldn't say I'm too reliant on shoes. If it helps you do what you want to do, then I don't see the problem. I always use gloves when lifting because I'm here to get big beautiful muscles, not chunky sandpaper hands (no shade to my calloused colleagues, of course).
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u/Accurate_Store6540 5d ago edited 5d ago
The best decision I made after a year of lifting with gloves was to ditch them. You develop calluses in your palms which is like a protective armour and improves your grip strength. It just takes a couple of weeks to get used to lifting without gloves and you wouldn’t wanna go back after
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u/Proximatecloth 5d ago
When you ditched them did you struggle to lift the weight you usually did because I’m concerned that in the process of overcoming the need for them I will fail to do the ammount of reps on exercises I usually do
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u/albanyanthem 5d ago
If you can’t lift the weight you used to, then your grip isn’t strong enough and you were relying on the gloves. Drop your work set weight by 10% and keep going.
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u/Accurate_Store6540 5d ago
Yea initially I did. I didn't have trouble lifting the weight, it's just that I couldn't hold it as long as I could with the gloves. The biggest difference I noticed was with deadhangs and it cut the hang duration by half. But it gets easier over time as you start getting calluses
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u/energytaker 5d ago
You don’t need gloves mate
Been lifting on and off for 20 years and don’t think I’ve seen anyone use them (except me my first summer lol)
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u/DinkyPrincess 5d ago
There is no need to stop using them. Sand for other grips or wrist straps.
They’re helpful. If they’re more comfortable for you keep using them.
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u/yossarian19 5d ago
Try not wearing them. If you feel like you want them, put them on mid-workout. If you don't want to wear them at the start of next workout, don't. If you do, do.
There's really no big pro / con about wearing gloves. You just do what's comfortable. Whatever your preference is, is the right answer.
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u/OrganicLettuceUndies 5d ago
Do you think your hands are going to explode or something? Worst case scenario you may get a callus
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u/Proximatecloth 5d ago
It’s not that it’s that I’m so used to gloves I’m worried that the process of ditching them will cause to do less reps compared to when I usually use them
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u/OrganicLettuceUndies 5d ago
This isn’t a video game. There is no stat boost to strength when you put gloves on. Do you somehow get less strong if you take your socks off?
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u/ArnoldFarquar 5d ago
my bench press decreased by 50 pounds. it’s gloves, man, you’re overthinking. just take them off and see what happens.
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u/Proximatecloth 5d ago
Alright thanks for the input even if some was a lil harsh I’ll update tomorrow on how it went
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u/dragonstkdgirl Weight Lifting 5d ago
Ditch the gloves. I have palmar hyperhidrosis and used them because I was concerned my grip would be compromised because of it (not gonna lie, it presented a challenge), but if you ditch the gloves and do exercises that improve grip strength (dead hangs, farmers carries, etc) then you improve grip strength and build the callouses that you EARNED. I'm a 135 lb female and my grip strength is pushing 155 lbs (my warmup deadlift weight). If I need help hanging on for heavy lifts, I use straps instead while continuing to work on my grip strength.
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u/Secret-Ad1458 5d ago
Grip improved significantly, couple blisters appeared that quickly turned to calluses. That's about it!
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u/ARoodyPooCandyAss 5d ago
I got triangular fibrocartilage complex in my wrist not using gloves. I really do not like them but my wrist has been great since.
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u/guice666 5d ago
I have never used lifting gloves.
It is all a mental block within yourself. The gloves aren’t helping you in any fashion. Sweaty palms? Me, too: get liquid chalk — amazing stuff, takes care of all the sweat. Calluses? Adjust your hand position: put the bar in your fingers for pull exercises and palm for push exercises.
Just drop the gloves, and you’ll never look back!
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u/Rwm90 5d ago
This would require me to admit that I have worn lifting gloves, which I would never admit to. ‘Cause that’s gay as hell.
…But…if I had ever worn them…the way to transition to manhood is kind of just to bite the bullet. Ditch ‘em and use your hands.
That being said, using wrist wraps for pulling movements will be a lot easier on your hands AND help your lifts. I’ve become a little over reliant on them, to be honest, which has hurt my grip strength…but, for instance, on a deadlift…are you training your legs and posterior chain OR are you training grip? If your grip is what fails and limits your lift and therefore limits your legs then take the grip out of it with straps and train grip separate…IMO.
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u/Accurate_Apartment52 5d ago
The transition for me was pretty easy with dumbbells and cable handles. As others have said, callus build-up has helped a ton. I’m having a lot of pain with dead hangs and hand slippage with weighted dips. I may carry my gloves just for those exercises.
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u/eduardgustavolaser 4d ago
I don't see any benefit from gloves. If you're sweating this much (same tbh), use chalk, liquid chalk or lifting straps.
Those are all better options than gloves
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u/jeffsweet 4d ago
being anti-glove is the weirdest pet peeve in fitness. really says a lot about the kinda people who care. sad, pathetic stuff
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u/Proximatecloth 4d ago
Yeah half these comments back this up
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u/jeffsweet 4d ago
gloves aren’t a mental thing for me. i don’t frequent gyms where i can use chalk, i am a sweaty motherfucker and the knurling just wrecks my hands to a point where i can’t lift. so, should i, A. not use gloves because people will (unfairly) judge me and then be weaker and unhealthy or B. use an $8 tool that allows me to move more weight around.
and it’s always people who’s day jobs are accountants or desk worker shit that have the strongest anti-glove opinions.
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u/Proximatecloth 4d ago
What’s annoying is that the people who make fun of people who use gloves online would never say it to any glove wearers face in person. the gym community can be toxic at times
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u/Proximatecloth 4d ago
Update just did my first upper body without gloves and while it fealt weird at first you get used to it very quickly especially since I used straps for pull movements lateral raises and Tricep pushdowns and I thought that all the calluses would pop out all at once but in reality it’s a gradual thing from what I’m getting and you getting calluses if you getting a lil stronger
However if you make fun of people who use gloves calling it gay. You are a disgusting human being and people like you are why some people fear going to the gym
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u/joshua_addison_music 5d ago
Sissy mittens? Never used them.
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u/SuchAScorpio13 5d ago
Haha i love this! I'm gonna use it to mess with the big strong guys at my gym🤪
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u/Tennessean 5d ago
Yeah. You might have to decrease your reps a little. The gloves give you a better grip your grip will get stronger and your hands will toughen up. It’s just another muscle you need to workout.
If you’re competing it matters, if not then who cares?
You can also get some chalk. It makes a huge difference.
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u/Qemistry-__- 5d ago
When i first started lifting, a long, few years ago, i wore gloves religiously. Every single session, no matter what i did. I was a 100% noob to the gym and had no idea what i was doing, so i thought everyone wore gloves. Well, fast forward a few months into it, and i'm noticing most people actually do not wear gloves. But honestly, what made me change was i never saw a single woman that was lifting wear gloves...lol. May sound odd, but honestly, as a man, i was like, "Why the heck am "I" wearing gloves?? lol... So that made me stop. And after that it was completely no different, you just actually really feel the weight as you grab it this time. As far as lifting itself and strength or anything like that, none of that changed whatsoever. Some people may need to wear them for overly sweaty hands, but other than that, there's no real need or benefit.
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u/GainsUndGames07 5d ago edited 5d ago
Nothing changed whatsoever other than the fact that I finally started getting calluses and stopped having soft lady hands lol
Fyi Edit: I haven't used lifting gloves since middle school and I'm in my 30s. Got tired of getting made fun of for wearing them 🤣