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Training with slippery gloves help increase strenght in grip
Executive summary
Training with gloves that reduce slip can help you lift longer and protect your skin, but evidence in the supplied reporting is mixed on whether gloves themselves increase true grip strength versus simply improving grip security or comfort (see gear/glove reviews and forums) [1] [2] [3]. Several consumer reviews and guides say textured or rubberized palms improve hold on bars and ropes and can let you train heavier or longer, while trainers and forum contributors warn that gloves add material between hand and bar and can blunt the sensory feedback needed to develop raw grip strength [4] [5] [6] [3].
1. Gloves as grip “assist”: they can make holding things easier and protect skin
Product reviews and buying guides repeatedly describe gloves with anti-slip surfaces, silicone grip points or rubber palms that improve hold in sweaty conditions and during rope/pull exercises; testers report these features let users maintain grip on rope climbs, dumbbell rows and heavy sets and reduce calluses and hand tears (BarBend, Garage Gym Reviews, BearGrips, BarBend rope test) [1] [7] [5] [4]. Men’s Journal and other product roundups emphasize that the right gloves can let trainees “train longer, lift heavier, and recover faster” by stabilizing the hand and supporting the wrist [2].
2. But improving “hold” is not the same as increasing intrinsic grip strength
Several experts and experienced lifters say gloves create a layer between skin and bar that reduces tactile feedback and squeeze efficiency; that reduction can impede the development of raw grip strength if gloves are used exclusively in training (Men’s Health, forum commentary, Stack Exchange) [6] [3] [8]. The forum contributor explicitly advises that weak wrists and grip will likely strengthen faster without gloves, and suggests chalk as a compromise that boosts grip without adding padding [3].
3. Evidence from testers: some gloves feel slippery, others improve performance—material matters
Reviewers note material matters: leather can be slippery when wet, rubberized palms or anti-slip silicone tend to “lock you in” better, and some gloves actually perform well on rope climbs and pull-ups while others don’t (Gear Patrol, BarBend, BarBend glove review) [9] [4] [1]. Garage Gym Reviews and BarBend testers highlight that thoughtful design (open thumb, textured palm, wrist straps) yields better functional grip and comfort—so “slippery gloves” are not a universal category; specific gloves vary widely [7] [1] [4].
4. Practical trade-offs: protection, performance, and skill transfer
Wearing gloves reduces skin damage and sweat transfer, which can let you perform more volume without blisters—useful for hypertrophy or high-rep sessions—yet trainers warn gloves can blunt the “feel” needed for movements that require precise hand placement (power cleans, thick-handled implements) and may reduce the carryover to raw grip strength (Men’s Health; BearGrips) [6] [5]. Some sources recommend using gloves situationally (heavy sets, long ropes, or when blisters occur) rather than as a permanent crutch [3] [6].
5. Alternatives and middle-ground strategies recommended in reporting
Forum voices and experts endorse middle-ground options: use chalk to increase friction without padding; use straps for very heavy deadlifts when grip is the limiting factor; or alternate bare-hand sets with gloved sessions so you both protect the skin and train raw grip [3] [8] [6]. Several reviews also point to specific glove designs (fingerless, textured leather, rubber palms) that preserve more sensation and therefore minimize interference with grip development [1] [4] [7].
6. What the available sources do not say (limits of this reporting)
Available sources do not provide controlled scientific studies quantifying long-term changes in maximal grip strength from training primarily with slippery or non-slippery gloves versus bare-hand training; they are mostly product tests, expert opinion pieces and forum discussions rather than randomized trials (not found in current reporting). They also don’t give precise programming recommendations (sets/reps/frequency) for integrating gloves to maximize grip gains while preserving hand health (not found in current reporting).
Bottom line: if your goal is to increase raw grip strength, the assembled reporting and expert commentary suggests you should not rely solely on gloves—use them strategically for volume, protection or when sweat would otherwise make a hold impossible, but train bare-handed or use chalk/techniques (hook grip, farmer’s walks, thick bars) to build intrinsic grip strength [3] [6] [8]. If your priority is immediate, safer performance (more reps, less tearing), choose a glove with textured or rubberized palms—reviewers tested such designs and found meaningful functional benefits [4] [7] [2].