CrossFit is a high-intensity workout. You need the right gear to get the most out of your exercise routine. Especially when performing exercises that require a solid grip, suitable CrossFit gloves become obligatory.
The absolute best CrossFit gloves are made of flexible materials with a breathable design that allows easy airflow.
In this article, we’re going to learn the ins and outs of the best CrossFit gloves for pull-ups, muscle-ups, chin-ups, or pretty much any workout that needs a solid grip. We will talk about different fabric types, designs, and palm and wrist support.
Hopefully, by the time you reach the end of the article, you will have all the information you need to pick the right pair.
5 Best CrossFit Gloves For Pull-Ups
1. Bear Komplex 3 Hole Hand Grips And Gymnastics Grips
Legit cross-fitters know that premium leather products are a must when it comes to handgrips and the Bear Komplex 3-hole gloves give you precisely that. They are designed to provide the best possible grip. While the leather seems a bit stiff initially, after a few workouts, they start fitting like an excellent old baseball mitt.
Moreover, the three-finger and three-hole designs offer max palm protection. At the same time, the gloves feel comfortable and natural to wear. As for durability, there’s triple stitching on the gloves that seems pretty durable.
Overall, they provide great support when performing complex exercises. Therefore, you can use them for a lot more than pull-ups.
2. Element 26 IsoGrip Hand Grips For Cross-Training
Not your average grips! If you don’t want to splurge on expensive grips without compromising on quality, the Element 25 ISO handgrips should be your top do-all grips at the gym.
These gloves provide excellent stability and support on the bar. Some users even say they are like “magnets on the bar .”They fit perfectly, and the grip has a nice rubbery feel.
That’s because these hand grips have a flexible loopless design that fully protects your fingers and palms. In addition, these hand grips feature a unique custom trim wrist strap.
Therefore, you can cut down the grip to suit your palm size. Thanks to a single isoprene polymer material design, these grips also seem very durable.
3. 321 Strong Genuine Leather Hand Grips
The 321 Strong Genuine Leather grips are two-finger and two-hole CrossFit hand grips. These barehand gloves are a great option if you want a nice, slick pair of gloves for pull-ups, chin-ups, or other similar exercises. The Velcro on the straps is decent enough, and the stitching should hold up wear and tear.
Not just that, the material is machine washable, and dryer approved. So, if these pull-up gloves get dirty, you can quickly toss them in a machine and get them cleaned up.
However, they’re a little thinner and softer than regular leather grips. Hence, if you like heavy lifting, you are better off with some other product on this list.
4. ProFitness Cross Training Gloves
The ProFitness gloves provide excellent grip and reduce injuries. The neoprene gloves are further reinforced with silicone padding that improves your grip strength by providing better control. Additionally, the breathable material recedes sweat to keep skin dry and free from sores and calluses.
Furthermore, these weightlifting gloves feature an adjustable wrist wrap. It reduces any hand tension during high-intensity exercise, including cross-training and powerlifting.
What’s more ProFitness offers 60-day “satisfaction guarantee .”That means, if you are not satisfied, you can simply return these gym gloves and get a full refund.
5. GymReapers Weightlifting Grips
The problem with using gloves for pull up is that they are usually made of thicker materials which can cause grip issues. But, if the material isn’t thick enough, you run into the problem of blisters and callouses.
The Gymreaper Weightlifting grips provide a nice balance between protecting your hands from blisters and maintaining a decent hold over the bar.
Moreover, as the cuff around the wrist features extra neoprene padding, they’re highly comfortable to use, breathable to wear, and durable to last.
However, this pair of hand grips are slightly more expensive than the traditional weightlifting gloves. On the plus side, they do a much better job protecting against developing callouses.
Grips VS Gloves: Are Grips Better Than Gloves?
There’s a bit of a debate around which one’s better. Grips are much better than gloves if you are into CrossFit or any high-intensity exercise. However, gloves provide better overall hand protection and wrist support.
Also, consider that gloves can make the hold a bit difficult. This is because your hands still shift and slide inside the gloves. Therefore, you have to squeeze the exercise bar even harder.
Two-Hole Vs. Three Hole Grips: Which One’s Better?
Well, that’s a matter of preference too. The Two-finger grips are less bulky and smaller than the three-hole grips. In case your hands are smaller, two-finger grips should be most appropriate.
They are also more flexible. So, If you do a lot of front squats, for instance, they can help with the free movement of your front-back position.
On the other hand, the main advantage of three-hole grips is that they provide more surface area for better hand protection.
How Should The Gloves Fit?
Like everything else, sizing is a critical aspect of selecting a pair of gloves. Sure, you can get away with almost any glove size in some situations. However, you won’t be able to fully experience the benefits of a CrossFit glove pair unless it’s the right size for you.
As a general rule of thumb, the gloves should fit well snug. They shouldn’t be too big or too small. If a glove is too small, it will be really hard to put on and off.
Such a glove will also cut off your blood circulation to the fingertips, which can cause pain and discomfort. On the other hand, if a glove is too big, it will slide off of your hands during exercise.
Therefore, you should ensure the gloves are the right size.
Best CrossFit Gloves For Pull-Ups – Buyer’s Guide
Getting your hands on the best gloves for pull ups isn’t a really big investment. But, you should still look at the in-depth characteristics of gloves before making your decision. Below are some features you need to keep in mind:
1. Fabric
Perhaps the most essential thing to keep in mind is the quality of the fabric. Most gloves are made of synthetic or natural leather – which works like a charm. However, you should pay attention to the material’s thickness. Is it too thin, too thick, or just in the middle?
Too thick materials are a big no-no. Likewise, too thin materials have questionable durability. So, you should opt for something in the middle.
In addition, check how flexible is the hand’s padding. Does it have any texture? If yes, that’s great because texture improves grip. In any case, the gloves should be comfortable to wear.
Gloves made with natural leather have only one disadvantage. You cannot wash them. Alternatively, if you’re looking for machine-washable gloves, go for silicone or neoprene gloves.
2. Durability
How durable is the pair? Of course, you can’t tell that unless you use it, but certain hints should reveal whether a pair is durable or not. This includes the stitching of the bits and pieces that constitute a glove.
If the stitching is poor, parts of a glove will detach during heavy weight exercises. Ideally, go for gloves with triple stitching. If you are unable to find such gloves, double-stitched gloves are pretty durable as well.
3. Wrist Support
Does the pair provide wrist support? Most pairs come with wrist wraps. Ensure that they’re made of a comfy fabric and sit around your wrist buckle. This way, the wraps will provide maximum support. Now, there are two types of wrist support.
Some models come with Velcro closure, while others feature a hook-and-loop band. Depending on your liking, you can go for either variation. Personally, I find the Velcro closures better and easy to use.
4. Design
The 5 finger design is now a thing of the past. Therefore, you should go for some contemporary-looking designs. Most modern CrossFit gloves feature just two or three fingers and holes on the sides.
However, if you want something a bit more minimalistic, you can go for a handgrip or palm grip instead. While you won’t get wrist support with these hand grips, you can still use them for pull-ups and other similar exercises.
Final Thoughts
So, that’s all about the best gym gloves for pull ups. We hope you can make an informed decision about which gloves to get. We suggest analyzing each pair yourself. If it improves your pull-ups, muscle-ups, chin-ups, etc., then you know you have the right pair.
If not, you can always re-read the buyer’s guide to better understand whether you need the product. So, which one of these do you like? Let us know in the usual place below!
