How to Choose Women's Weight Lifting Gloves

The right pair of women's lifting gloves comes down to five choices: how much padding you want, how much of your hand the glove covers, what the palm grips with, whether you need wrist support, and getting the fit right. Here's how to decide on each, and which glove fits which kind of training.

The short version

1. Padding: protection versus feel

Padding is the biggest trade-off. More padding protects your palms better, but it also puts more material between your hand and the bar.

• Light padding keeps a close feel for the bar while still protecting against calluses. Good if you mostly want a thin barrier.
• Medium padding balances protection and grip for both pushing and pulling exercises. It's the right choice for most people and most workouts.
• Heavy padding gives the most protection, for heavier weights, pushups, kettlebells, dumbbells and barbells. The thick palm can make larger diameter barbells a little harder to grip.

If you're not sure, start with medium padding.

2. Coverage: how much of your hand the glove covers

• Fingerless gloves cover your whole palm and the lower half of your fingers. This is the classic lifting glove and protects every spot where calluses usually form.
• Micro (half) gloves cover only your palm and the base of your fingers. You get more feel for the bar, more heat can escape, and the glove ends on your hand, so it never touches a smartwatch.
• Wrist wrap gloves add a strap that wraps around your wrist (more on that below).

3. Grip: what the palm is made of

Plain leather palms can get slippery. Silicone and rubber hold on better.

• Silicone palms, like our Grip-Lock™ palm, have raised silicone beads that grip far better than traditional leather. Silicone grips best when it's clean and dry. Wash the palm with dish soap and water to maintain maximum grip.
• Rubber pads sewn onto the palm add extra grip and durability, and usually come with heavier padding.
• Synthetic leather such as Amara is more flexible than animal leather and doesn't bleed dye. It isn't quite as tough as traditional leather. It's also a good choice if you prefer animal-free materials.

4. Wrist support: who needs it

A built-in wrist wrap supports your wrist on bench press and other pushing lifts. You can pull it tight for heavy sets or wrap it lighter for everyday weights. If your training is mostly machines, pulling movements or lighter dumbbell work, you probably don't need it, and a glove without a wrap feels less bulky.

5. Fit: measure before you buy

Lifting gloves are sized by hand circumference. Wrap a soft tape around the widest part of your palm, just below your knuckles, leaving your thumb out. Then match your measurement to the chart. Gloves made for women's hands, like Pink Label (X-Small to Large), usually fit smaller hands better than unisex gloves cut for larger ones.

A good fit is snug: the glove stays put when you grip the bar, with no extra material bunching in your palm. If you're between sizes, go down for a tighter fit or up for a looser one. Micro gloves fit best snug, so go down. Every Contraband glove page has its size chart.

The details that make a difference every day

• Pull-off finger tabs. Small tabs on the fingers let you pinch and wiggle the gloves off, even with long nails.
• A breathable back. Lycra or mesh doesn't soak up sweat and lets heat escape, so your hands stay drier.
• Easy care. Look for gloves you can soak in cold water with mild soap or machine wash in a mesh bag. Always air dry them, never with heat.
• Style. If you'll wear them three or four times a week, pick a pair you like looking at. Our Design Series comes in prints from leopard and camo to sugar skulls and tie dye.

Do you need lifting gloves at all?

Not everyone does. Gloves protect your palms from calluses and make bars, dumbbells and machine handles more comfortable to hold. Some lifters prefer bare hands and chalk for the most direct feel on very heavy pulls. If calluses, torn skin or sore palms are keeping you from training the way you want, gloves are an easy fix.

Which Contraband glove is right for you?

• Most people: a Pink Label Design Series glove. Medium padding, Grip-Lock™ silicone palm, breathable Lycra back, sizes X-Small to Large.
• Feel and freedom: the 5537 Micro. Medium padding in a half-glove that stays clear of your watch.
• Pressing days: the 5737 Wrist Wrap. Light padding plus a built-in wrist wrap.
• Maximum protection: the 5437 Extreme Grip. Our thickest padding, with sewn-in rubber grip pads.

Every pair comes with free shipping, a 30-day refund and a 1-year warranty against manufacturing defects. Still deciding? Chat with us and we'll help you pick.

Questions

Should lifting gloves be tight or loose?

Snug. Loose gloves shift when you grip the bar and bunch up in your palm.

Can I wear a smartwatch with lifting gloves?

Yes, with a micro glove. It ends on your hand and doesn't touch your watch. Full gloves and wrist wrap gloves sit at or over the wrist.

How do I keep the grip working?

Keep the palm clean and dry, and wash it with dish soap and water to maintain maximum grip.

Are women's lifting gloves different from men's?

Gloves made for women are cut for smaller hands and come in smaller sizes, so they fit without extra material in the palm and fingers.