I bet this has already been asked, but I don't like doing necroposting, and I'm the mood for asking questions these days.

So, just out of curiosity: who here uses gloves when lifting?

Personnally, I used to wear mine when I started, but I don't like them very much these days. Since I've started lifting heavy, contrary to what I was doing in the beginning, I have the feeling that they sort of "weaken" my grip. I've tried with different pairs, and the feeling persisted. It might only be a false impression, I don't know, I didn't want to take risks, though, so I stopped wearing them. Of course, now I have calluses, but I tend to consider them like "war scars" or something, and they make me more proud than embarrassed. You can't have your cake and eat it, hm.

I wear them because my grip is the "weak link" in my exercises -- it will give out long before my back muscles or legs or whatever. So I use them for exercises like pullups, bent over BB rows, deadlifts, lat pulldowns, one arm rows and so on, so I can go as heavy as possible. Funny, even with the gloves I still have calluses! (and I'm proud of mine too )

I used to wear gloves but then when I started with the personal trainer his wife warned me that he would mock me if I wore gloves (he does powerlifting & strongman) so I stopped. I have to say that I like actually feeling the bar a lot better. I do use chalk occassionally to help with the grip (usually just deadlift).

For callusses - if you find they are getting to big (& want to prevent ever having one tear out) you can file them down with an emery board.

I wear gloves. My grip isn't great and while I probably should be working on it, I can lift more weight (especially with deadlifts) if I wear gloves. I just put 'em on when I get there and wear 'em the entire time I'm lifting.

i used to wear them when i was working out with hands on metai (bars or db's), but the newest weights all seem to have some type of plastic or coating in the middle of the bar where you touch, so i don't get the caluses as badly now.

I don't like gloves either.

I wear them all the time. I can lift a lot heavier and I still have calluses even with the gloves. I also find that I have less bruises and nicks on the backs of my hands with the gloves.

I can do about 2 painful pull ups without gloves, or 10 with. I'd rather work the rest of my body. My grip is plenty strong to open peanut butter jars and I can't think of any good reason to work to my grip strength as long as it's functional.

Mel

I wear gloves.

Had a $10 check from Bally's once to spend at their front desk. Came down to 10 Bally's Energy Bars or gloves. I'd tasted the energy bars, I'd never tried gloves.

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Here, here, sister!

Interesting.

Although I'm not sure why anyone would find wearing vloes ridiculous. I guess this is one of those gym mysteries about being 'manly' or something?

Later on, when I can lift heavier, I wonder if I'll get back to gloves or not. Time will tell!

Kery, I think it does have something to do with manliness. Strong grip, calloused hands = manly (or in certain cases, womanly).

I also use pads on the bar when I do squats. I avail myself of all the comforts the gym has to offer.

I'm sitting here cracking up at the thought of Baff "comfortably" doing 200# squats with her squat pad.

I use one too and understand what you meant, but I don't consider squats to be comfortable under ANY circumstances!! (you Amazon woman, you )

Squats are something I'm working on but I was humbled last night doing one of my kettlebell exercises. You squat, holding a kettlebell straight up in the air with one hand, touching the ground with the other hand while you look at the kettlebell. Anyway, kettlebell in right hand, I can do it no problem. Kettlebell in left hand... uhhh yeah I couldn't really do it.

As for gloves, I don't use them but I used to on some machines at the gym because they were a bit rough and I started to form major calluses.

So, Nelie, you have one hand up in the air (with the kettleball) and the other on the ground between your legs? outside your legs? Just trying to get a visual here. What's the purpose, to add more of an UB component to the squat?

I wear gloves to avoid developing calluses, which are a problem if your wife is in the "anti-callus" camp. It also hurts like **** if you tear a callus on a heavy deadlift.

I think my grip is better with bare hands and chalk then with gloves, but I am not against using straps+gloves for rack pulls and other heavy lifts.