Thoughts on glove/wrist wrap

[brad310]

Ive been working out now for about a year and a half and recently got a "cheapie" glove/wrist wrap glove from wally world. I feel the benefits to the grip, allowing me to do a bit more on lat pulldowns, deadlift...anything reliant on grip.

I didnt get them for the grip though, i got them for the wrist support. I've broken both wrists, and one of them twice. I also have tendonitis in one of my thumbs and it f'n hurts like a mug...so i got the wrist suppport gloves hoping they would help, and they do.

However, they are cheaply made, and i can tell there are little things wrong with them that lead me to believe there are better products out there.

So, given that, does anyone here have a recommendation on what style is best - the glove & wrist support in one, just a wrist support? What manufacturer? Amazon doesnt seem to have a big selection.

Also, wrist wraps...given the grip benefit in the glove, im thinking i'll give wrist wraps a chance as well on the pull/grip exercises.

Love to hear what you guys have to say, and what you use. Some may already be telling me dont use anything so your grip and wrist will get stronger....i say nay nay, one of the breaks in my wrist was bad and not set well, so it always hurts and ive lost range of motion in it as well. TIA.

 

[purbeast0]

here is a thread i started on writs wraps a while back.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2126431

i actually just purchased some of those higher quality ones and used them for the first time this past week and they really helped me during bench press exercises. going to use them for shoulders tomorrow.

i have pains in my wrists when i do presses and i think it is partially to having little wrists and a lot to do with me being a programmer and behind a computer all day. but i definitely noticed a lot less wrist pain with the ones i purchased. prior to that i had used some $10 ones from sports authority that fell apart in like about 10 useages.

not sure bout gloves though i don't wear any.

 

[JayBlay77]

Personally I don't use anything. But I also have never broken my wrists (knock on wood). I would say check out purbeast's wrist wrap thread as it looked like it had some good recommendations that would help to support your bad wrists.

However I would recommend forgoing the gloves. Your grip will continue to get stronger as you lift and I don't think not having gloves would impact your wrists overly much. If you need more grip, use a light coat of powder (if allowed at your gym). Back when I was lifting regularly I believe my max deadlift was 405 lbs. All without any grip assistance from gloves or powder. Just my $0.02

 

[the DRIZZLE]

Gloves actually make your grip worse because they effectively make the bar thicker. You may not notice this unless you are hitting 300lb+ on the deadlift.

 

[brad310]

If you need more grip, use a light coat of powder (if allowed at your gym).

I go to a fitness club, so its a no to anything of that nature. I liked at first that they didnt have any of that there, but now that I want to do more strength building its a little annoying that they dont have at least a section with some good free weights to do squats or overhead press...everything like that i have to do on a smith machine, which is not ideal but its all i have.

 

[nanaki333]

Gloves actually make your grip worse because they effectively make the bar thicker. You may not notice this unless you are hitting 300lb+ on the deadlift.

i always use gloves and what you say is totally true. on days i forgot my gloves and think i'll be fine for a day without them... your wrists (i use strapped gloves) and grip are very weak. freeweight becomes very difficult over time.

if you start using gloves regularly, there's really no going back. i feel like i would have to take a huge step down to get off the straps & gloves now.