Both gym gloves and lifting straps are used during strength training, but they are designed for different purposes.
Gym gloves create a layer between the hand and the equipment and are primarily used for comfort and less direct friction against the skin. Lifting straps are wrapped around the bar or handle and help when grip limits heavy pulling exercises.
The best choice therefore depends on whether you primarily want to protect your hands or reduce the importance of grip during training.
The short answer
- Choose gym gloves if your primary goal is comfort and less direct contact between your skin and the training equipment.
- Choose lifting straps if your grip fatigues before your back or posterior chain during deadlifts, rows, and pulldowns.
- Use both strategically if you want gloves for general training and straps for demanding pulling exercises.
Gloves and straps, therefore, do not entirely solve the same problem.
What are gym gloves?
Gym gloves cover all or part of the palm and create a protective layer between the hand and the equipment.
They are often used to:
- Reduce direct friction against the skin.
- Make rough bars and handles more comfortable to hold.
- Absorb some sweat from the hands.
- Provide a different feel around the training equipment.
- Reduce irritation of existing calluses.
Gloves can have different materials and surfaces. How much they affect grip therefore depends on fit, thickness, and the friction of the material.
What are lifting straps?
Lifting straps are worn around the wrists and wrapped around the bar or handle. This creates a stronger connection between the hands and the weight.
Straps are especially used for:
- Deadlifts.
- Romanian Deadlifts.
- Barbell Rows.
- Dumbbell Rows.
- Lat Pulldowns.
- Cable Rows.
- Shrugs.
- Pull-ups.
The purpose is to reduce the risk of hands and forearms finishing the set before the muscles you actually want to train.
Straps and gym gloves compared
| Feature | Gym gloves | Lifting straps |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Comfort and less direct friction | Reduce the importance of grip |
| Covers palm | Yes | Only partially or not at all |
| Connection to the bar | Held by hands alone | Wrapped around the bar |
| Grip strength training | Grip still works | Grip is relieved more |
| Heavy pulling exercises | Limited help | Especially suitable |
| General fitness | Suitable | Primarily for pulling exercises |
| Deadlifts and rows | Can provide comfort | Directly aids grip |
Advantages of gym gloves
Less direct contact with equipment
Gloves create a layer between the skin and the bar. This can feel more comfortable if the training equipment is rough or irritates the hands.
Can reduce friction against the skin
The covered palm can reduce some of the direct friction. However, gloves cannot necessarily completely prevent calluses.
Can be used widely
Gloves can be used for pressing exercises, machines, free weights, and general fitness. They are therefore not limited to pulling exercises.
Can absorb sweat
Some gloves can absorb moisture from the palm. The effect depends on the material and the fit of the gloves.
Disadvantages of gym gloves
They do not relieve grip in the same way
Gloves do not wrap around the bar. Hands and forearms must therefore still hold the weight throughout the set.
Can make the grip thicker
The material between the hand and the bar increases the diameter of the grip. This can feel less direct and in some cases make the bar harder to hold.
Fit is crucial
Gloves that are too loose can move during training, while gloves that are too tight can feel uncomfortable. They must therefore fit correctly to work well.
Requires cleaning
Gloves absorb sweat and should be washed or cleaned regularly to avoid odor and moisture buildup.
Advantages of lifting straps
Grip limits you less
Straps create a connection around the bar, so the fingers do not solely have to hold the entire load.
Suitable for heavy pulling exercises
For deadlifts, rows, and Romanian Deadlifts, grip can fatigue before the back and posterior chain. Here, straps are designed to help directly.
More controlled repetitions
If grip normally fails first, straps can help you complete the planned repetitions without changing your technique just to hold on.
More focus on target muscles
When you don't have to pay as much attention to your grip, you can focus more on the movement and the muscles you want to train.
Palm is not covered
StrapIt does not cover the entire palm like a traditional gym glove. You therefore maintain more direct contact with the bar and handle.
Disadvantages of lifting straps
They are primarily for pulling exercises
Lifting straps do not provide the same function for pressing exercises such as bench press and shoulder press. Here, other types of equipment would be more relevant.
Grip is trained less
If straps are used for all sets, hands and forearms are challenged less. Therefore, warm-up sets can advantageously be performed without straps.
Requires some getting used to
It typically takes a few training sessions to learn how to place and tighten straps consistently around the bar.
What is best for deadlifts?
If your primary problem is that your grip fails during deadlifts, lifting straps are usually the most targeted solution.
Gloves can make contact with the bar more comfortable, but they do not create the same connection to the bar. They therefore do not necessarily prevent the weight from rolling out towards the fingers.
Straps make particular sense for:
- Heavy working sets.
- Many repetitions.
- Romanian Deadlifts.
- Volume work.
- Sets where grip strength is not the primary focus.
What is best for back training?
For rows, pulldowns, and other pulling exercises, lifting straps will typically be the most direct solution if forearms fatigue before the back.
Gym gloves can still be relevant if your primary goal is comfort. If the goal is to reduce the importance of grip and focus more on the back muscles, straps are specifically designed for that.
What is best for general strength training?
Gym gloves can be used for several different types of exercises and are therefore the broadest choice for general fitness.
Lifting straps are more specialized. They are primarily used for exercises where you pull a weight and where grip can become the limiting factor.
Can you use both gloves and straps?
Yes, but they don't necessarily need to be used simultaneously.
For example, you can use gloves during general training and take them off when using straps for heavy pulling exercises. An extra layer between the hand and the strap can make the connection to the bar thicker and less direct.
Whether the combination works depends on the thickness of the gloves and your personal preferences.
What should you choose?
Choose gym gloves if:
- You want less direct friction against your skin.
- Comfort is your primary goal.
- You want one product for many different exercises.
- Grip does not limit your training.
Choose lifting straps if:
- Your grip fatigues before your back.
- You train deadlifts, rows, or pulldowns.
- You want more quality repetitions.
- You train with high volume.
- You want to reduce the importance of your forearms in the set.
Which lifting straps should you choose?
StrapIt Standard
The versatile choice for hands over 16 cm and for deadlifts, rows, pulldowns, and general strength training.
StrapIt Premium
For those who want a thicker material and a more exclusive design for heavy training and high volume.
StrapIt Short
Designed for hands under 16 cm and for people who prefer a shorter connection to the bar.
See all StrapIt lifting straps
Danish-produced lifting straps since 2014
MakeIt has produced StrapIt lifting straps in Denmark since 2014. More than 50,000 pairs have been sold, and the models are made with bio-leather, cotton webbing, and double stitching.
Conclusion
Gym gloves and lifting straps have different purposes. Gloves are primarily relevant if you want comfort and less direct friction against your hands.
If grip limits you during deadlifts, rows, or other pulling exercises, lifting straps are the more targeted solution.
The right choice therefore does not depend on which product is generally best, but on which problem you want to solve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are straps better than gym gloves?
For heavy pulling exercises, straps are usually the most targeted solution. For general comfort, gym gloves can be relevant.
Do gym gloves help with grip?
Some gloves can increase friction against the equipment, but they do not relieve grip in the same way as straps, which are wrapped around the bar.
What is best for deadlifts?
If grip becomes the limiting factor, lifting straps are usually more effective than gym gloves.
What is best for calluses?
Gloves cover the palm and can reduce direct friction. However, they cannot necessarily completely prevent calluses.
Can you use gloves and straps at the same time?
Yes, but the combination can create a thicker layer around the bar. Many therefore prefer to use them for different exercises.
Are straps bad for grip strength?
Not if used strategically. For example, perform warm-up sets without straps and only use them when grip limits your working sets.
