The equipment we take with us to the gym is extremely important. In fact, your equipment is important regardless of where you are training. When it comes to calisthenics, you need to have the right equipment and one of the most important parts of that is your gloves. So, what makes a good calisthenic glove?
A good calisthenic glove will be light. However, it won’t be light to the point where it doesn’t offer enough protection. Normally, you want foam padding for the palms combined with microfiber mesh materials for breathability. This combination will make for some of the best gloves.
In this article, we are not just going to list the best 7 calisthenic gloves, we are going to talk a little bit about each of them. Once we are done with that, we are going to list the pros and cons of each. If you are in a rush, feel free to take a look at just the pros and the cons tables. For now, let’s get into it.
Top 7 Best Calisthenics Gloves
Here is a list of the top 7 best calisthenics gloves. It is important to remember that the prices listed here are subject to change. So, please take that into consideration if you click on a link and the prices are not the same.
JerkFit WODies Hand Grips with Wrist Wraps: $40.00
These gloves come in seven different styles. The fact that they are unisex means that couples can each have their own style. They also come in four sizes from small to extra large.
The gloves are made with comfort in mind. Unlike most other gloves, these do not pinch your skin. They also have anti-friction properties that prevent blisters on your hands. Also, they prevent your hands from getting too hot.
These gloves are proudly built in America and they are built to last. The wrist wraps are strong, durable, and adjustable which means that you aren’t going to have to go out and buy a new pair of gloves every few weeks.
There is only one downside to these gloves and it doesn’t really affect most people. However, some people have noted that the gloves tend to slip on metal bars if you do not use chalk.
ProsCons✔️ Has wrist support.
✔️ No friction and no pinching.
✔️ Easily adjustable❌ May slip on some metal bars.
SIMARI Men & Women Full Finger Workout Gloves: $18.00
These unisex gloves come in five different sizes from extra small to extra large. They also come in seven different styles from plain black to feminine pink, and rugged gunmetal green. For some reason, the latter color is labeled as brown and white.
Now, onto the quality of the gloves. They are made from microfiber mesh that makes them ultralight and durable.
With all of that being said, because they are ultra-light they don’t offer as much protection to heavier people who do pull-ups. They also do not offer great protection for people who are doing heavy weight lifting. Other than that, if you are average or smaller, you should have no problems with that at all.
ProsCons✔️ Lightweight Microfiber material
✔️ Adequate wrist support
✔️ Durable palms❌ Not the best for heavy lifting.
Nike Men`s Fundamental Training Gloves: $15.50 – $30.00
There is not much that we can say about Nike that most people don’t know already. When you buy a Nike product, you already expect the quality that comes with the reputation that the brand has built over the last few decades.
These gloves have a medium-density foam palm cushion that makes working out extremely comfortable. We all know that if you are comfortable while working out, your routines can be more efficient and more effective. A lot of people tend to overlook this concept but we know how important it is.
Now that we have discussed the palms, let’s move on to the rest of the glove. The majority of this glove is made from breathable mesh materials. This prevents your hands from becoming too sweaty and too hot.
We believe that Nike has struck a good balance with this glove. I say this because, for a light glove, it offers enough protection so that you can do bodyweight and weight training. You can do so without worrying about your hands forming calluses and/or blisters.
ProsCons✔️ Medium-density foam palm cushioning.
✔️ Breathable mesh materials
✔️ Can be used for body weight and weight training.❌ Sizes are comparatively small.
Harbinger Women’s Power Weightlifting Gloves: $15.00
Ok, I feel that it is only necessary to list a glove that is made for females. Remember, we already did that for men. Trust me, harbinger does a great job of making female calisthenic gloves.
These gloves are built to last. The palms have leather padding that offers maximum grip but also helps prevent abrasion. The gloves are also very breathable with quite a large cutout in the back of the gloves.
The wraparound thumb offers great protection against calluses and blisters from appearing on your thumb while working out.
They come in three sizes from small to large. Also, they have four funky colors so you can definitely choose something that suits your personality.
ProsCons✔️ Great thumb protection
✔️ Ventilated back for breathability
✔️ Padded leather palms for durability.❌ Must order 1 size up
❌ Some complaints about the stitching.
Mava Sports Ventilated Workout Gloves with Integrated Wrist Wraps: $14.00
These are the cheapest option that we have on this list. With that said, don’t allow the price to trick you into thinking these gloves are inferior because they are not. The gloves come in five sizes from extra small to extra large. However, some people have reported that they needed to order one size up from their usual size.
The gloves also come in six different colors from black to green camo and even a bright red color. It is safe to say that there will be something for you.
They have a large palm coverage that stretches all the way to your knuckles. This helps prevent blisters and calluses on your palms and on your fingers. The adjustable wrist support does its job and allows you to fit the gloves the way it best suits you. All this while offering great wrist support.
The silicone padding enhances your grip and adds comfort to the gloves. Finally, these are lightweight and flexible and with the massive cutout in the back, they allow your hands to breathe.
ProsCons✔️ Palm coverage prevents blisters
✔️ Adjustable wrist support
✔️ Silicone padding enhances your grip
✔️ Lightweight and flexible.❌ May feel small and squeeze your hand.
Fit Active Ventilated Weight Lifting Gloves with Built-In Wrist Wraps: $20.00
When they say “ventilated gloves”, they are not joking. These gloves have a massive cut out in the back that allows your hands to breathe. The front of the gloves is also made out of breathable materials. So, for breathability, I highly rate these gloves. They come in a variety of sizes as well.
The palms are made from silicone which strengthens your grip without the need for chalk. With all of that being said, the biggest downside to these gloves is the palms lack comfort. This is because they are so focused on the grip and increasing the efficiency of your workout.
We are not saying that they are uncomfortable, it is just the palms. I guess, striking the right balance between performance and comfort is hard.
ProsCons✔️ Great wrist support
✔️ Silicone palm padding for extra grip.
✔️ Breathable mesh materials❌ Padding gives good grip but lacks comfort.
Glofit Freedom Workout Gloves: $18.00
These unisex gloves come in five sizes and also a selection of five funky colors.
The gloves are ultralight as they are made from microfiber materials with mesh finishes. This also makes the gloves extremely breathable which prevents your hands from becoming sweaty. Sweaty hands that are under continuous strain can often form blisters.
The palms are made from a double layer anti-friction foam material. This not only increases your grip but also adds a nice level of comfort to the palms.
ProsCons✔️ Ultralight microfiber materials.
✔️ Antifriction double layer palms.
✔️ Breathable materials.❌ Must order 1 size up.
Conclusion
Whether you are doing calisthenics or not, having a good pair of workout gloves has become almost essential. Our goal with this article was to help you make the right choice as to what pair of gloves you need. Remember, having the right equipment will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of all of your workouts.