Best Rowing Gloves For A Top-Notch Home Gym Set-Up
If you need the best rowing gloves for indoor rowing exercise, then you are in the right place. Rowing is regarded as one of the best full-body workouts, especially on remarkable rowing machines. However, rowing puts a lot of pressure on the hands, and this can take a toll on the hands, thereby causing blisters and hardening. So, the best way to counteract this risk is by wearing a rowing glove. However, if you were to search for “rowing gloves” on the internet when looking for, say, one of the best gifts for indoor rowers, you would be flooded with so many options, which is quite tiring and confusing. This might make you end up taking a blind shot on which gloves would be the best, which is not ideal because it is important to get it right and choose the best indoor rowing gloves if you don’t want to get injured at the end of your hard training sessions.
This is where we come in. We have looked up and analyzed various types of rowing gloves, and we have come up with this list of the best rowing gloves. We were able to do this successfully by considering a wide range of factors which we shall explain at the end of the article. We will also provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about rowing gloves. Now with all of these said, read on to discover the best rowing gloves you can buy to save your hands from blisters and hardening whether you are working out on air rowers, magnetic rowers, or water rowing machines.
Best Gloves For Rowing Machine
Sculling Rowing Machine Gloves
These gloves made by Sculling Gear are one of the best indoor rowing gloves you can purchase. It was designed by a team passionate about rowing, which makes them a perfect gift for fans of outdoor rowing. One look at the gloves, and you can tell it was made explicitly with rowers in mind. They are lightweight, fit snugly but very comfortable, and they come in different sizes, which allows you to select the perfect pair for your hands. The way the gloves grip is excellent, it gives the right amount of tack to ensure your hands are secured and firm on the rowing machine. All thanks to the Velcro closure feature that allows users to adjust until it fits.
The padding on the gloves is enough to give protection, and it has a silicone pattern on the palm, which helps enhances a tight grip on the rowing machine handle or oar. The open back and lower finger design allow for the proper flow of air and free finger movements. This gloves for rowing is made of a polyester fabric, which helps the gloves to stretch laterally for comfort, but it doesn’t extend longitudinally so you can be rest assured there will be no rolling or bunching.
Rowers still develop calluses when they wear this glove, but the gloves prevent the calluses from opening or tearing up so you can enjoy a much longer rowing session. Thus, your hands become used to rowing action and movement without experiencing any discomfort. To ensure the gloves perform at its best for a long time, wash in hot soapy water after use and hang dry.
Pros:
- It is a high-quality rowing glove made with rowers in mind.
- Every single feature of the gloves will enhance your indoor or outdoor rowing experience.
Cons:
- The high price might be the only concern.
Hornet Watersports Rowing Gloves
These fingerless gloves produced by Hornet Watersports is the second gloves on our list. They make a great pair of protective gloves for rowing by protecting the hands from any injuries or blisters that might occur while rowing on a machine or outdoor. They come in various sizes ranging from extra small to extra large, so it allows buyers to get the perfect fit for their hands.
The gloves are lightweight, and they don’t bunch up or cause any discomfort. The palm of the gloves has an advanced silicone feature designed for anti-slip performance and allows for a firm grip on the rowing machine or paddle. The gloves are unisex, so both men and women will experience the same comfort level when they wear these gloves. Another good thing about these rowing gloves for men and women is that they have a convenient Velcro adjustment, and the gloves are quite thin that you would almost forget you’re even wearing one. The gloves are also easy to maintain, and they are washing machine friendly.
Pros:
- The gloves are so affordable and have features worth much more than the $20 it’s being sold for.
- It’s made from a combination of materials that allows the gloves to have a firm grip for even activities beyond rowing.
Cons:
- They are not as durable as other gloves because of their thin feature. So, if you row a lot, the gloves will get worn out quickly, which is quite heartbreaking.
Glofit Freedom Rowing Gloves
The Glofit freedom workout gloves by Kansoon has to be one of the most attractive rowing exercise gloves. While aesthetics should not be considered first before function, the grey, black, yellow, and pink color options look awesome and perfect for anyone who wants to row in style. Yet, it is a highly functional pair of gloves, fits on the hands like a second layer of skin, and will provide a solid grip between the hands and the rowing machine.
They are made from a breathable mesh-like material, and this helps to reduce perspiration. The gloves also have a cushioned pad with silica anti-slip points, which increase friction and enhance stability when you’re rowing. Meanwhile, the gloves also possess a double layer palm design with foam and micro for durability enhancement, comfort, and protection from blisters. The back of the thumb has a towel design for wiping sweat off your face as well as two tabs for easy removal of the gloves.
Pros:
- These gloves offer unbeatable features for a low price.
- It has a 24 months warranty, which can become a lifetime warranty if one follows Glofit on social media.
- They are unisex and can be used by both men and women.
- It has a loop and hoop closure for a secure fit on the hand
- You can choose from three sizes, and they also have fun colors to choose from.
Cons:
- The gloves don’t have additional wrist support, and a lot of beginners might not like that.
- The sizing seems to be a problem for many people too, but it can be fixed by going a size higher
RIMSports Indoor Rowing Gloves
RIMSports is another brand that has successfully provided a top-notch rowing exercise gloves for any rower willing to try them. The gloves are made from breathable material so your hands won’t overheat when rowing, and it also has inside padding on the palm, which gives a firm grip on the rowing machine and protects your hands from rowing blisters.
The gloves are made from a lightweight Lycra, spandex, and real premium leather in the thumbs only, which allows for a very comfortable fit. While the gloves don’t come with a built-in wrist strap, it features a full Velcro latch that sits diagonally across the bank of the hand for smooth movement and flexibility. These RIMSports gloves can be used as rowing gloves for women and men as well as many other workout routines. Regardless of the workout activity, these gloves will sure give your hands the protection it needs.
Pros:
- The gloves are available in a wide range of colors giving buyers the freedom to make their choice.
- The added padding will let you get comfort and support, and you wouldn’t have to cut your rowing short due to painful blisters.
- The gloves have a generous return policy if you have any complaints whatsoever about your order.
- The gloves allow for a good range of support.
Cons:
- There seem to be cases where regular use wore out the gloves.
- The lack of wrist support can be a turn off for some people.
- The gloves can be a little bit difficult to remove.
Trideer Breathable Rowing Gloves
When it comes to producing some of the best Cross-fit training equipment, Trudeer has made a name for itself. While this workout glove wasn’t explicitly designed for rowing, the gloves have proven itself to be a great concept two rowing gloves and other rowing machine models. It is currently one of the most popular gloves set in the market, and it offers everything a rower needs for a comfortable rowing experience.
The gloves are made from high-quality microfiber material, and a breathable mesh at the side to keep your hands dry just like the name implies. It features a padding system on the palm with a silica gel palm that allows for a secure grip and adequate protection against calluses and bruises. Also, it has a Velcro strap around the wrist for wrist protection and precise fit.
Pros:
- It has a pull buckle at the fingertip for easy removal.
- The affordable price is a good deal for such a reliable pair.
- They live up to their breathable promise.
- The gloves have multiple color stitching choices to select from.
Cons:
- People seem to have issues with the size despite using Trideer’s size chart.
- Finger holes seem too loose for some users.
SpacePower Light Gloves For Rowing
The name “SpacePower Light Gloves” sounds like something made to be worn in spacecraft only, but that is not true. SpacePower makes one of the best gloves for rowing exercise. The gloves are made with an elastic fabric, which makes them very breathable and gives them the ability to discharge sweat during an intense rowing exercise quickly.
The palm part of the gloves is embedded with thickened gel, which helps to enhance the shock absorption, grip, and wear resistance feature. The gloves can be used for various types of workouts alongside rowing, and it is available in multiple colors as well. Although the gloves’ durability isn’t as great as some of the gloves on this list, it still makes a right rowing glove, especially at that affordable price.
Pros:
- The glove is very cheap.
- The grip and breathability of the gloves deserve to be commended.
Cons:
- They aren’t the most durable pair out there, and no warranty was found too.
Viomir Ultralight Workout Gloves
The Viomir ultralight workout gloves are multipurpose, but they are also dedicated to turning your rowing session into a comfortable and enjoying one. They are made of high elastic microfiber and Lycra material, which makes them breathable, and the mesh material at the back will keep the hands dry all through.
These Viomir gloves also feature a honeycomb structure printed silica gel foam pad, which ensures a tight grip and protects the hand from callouses and bruises. At the same time, the double layer with foam and microfiber helps to increase durability. The adjustable Velcro protects the wrist and allows users to adjust the gloves to their perfect fit, and the pull buckle makes it easy to take off the tight gloves.
Pros:
- The gloves are cheap
- The gloves combine both breathability and comfort
Cons:
- Although breathable and comfortable, the gloves still seem to be prone to breaking, especially the Velcro bands.
- They have a small range of colors for buyers to select from (pink, black and gray).
Contraband Indoor Rowing Gloves
Just like the name implies, The Contraband Pink Label 5537 Women’s Micro Weight Lifting gloves were specifically designed for weight lifting, but they make great indoor rowing workout gloves too. Also known as “minimalist gloves” or “half gloves,” these gloves are smaller rowing gloves for women compared to many other gloves on this list. It has just the right amount of padding required to row on a machine and also offers protection to the hands. It is made of premium Amara leather, has a padded silicone palm, meshes top for breathability, and a soft interior polyester for comfort. It has a silicone rubber bead on the palm, which provides a high traction surface that grips well compared to traditional leather. It also has easy to grab tabs on the fingers, which makes it easy to remove the gloves.
So, women that fix nails won’t have any problem removing the gloves too, simply grab the finger tabs between your fingers and the gloves will come right off. The gloves come in four different colors (black, gray, purple, and pink), it is easy to wash with no dye bleeding and machine washable, but hand washing is recommended to prevent damage. The gloves do an excellent job for the price they are being sold, but the gloves don’t provide more than the basic gloves features for that price.
Pros:
- It gives the fingers free movement while also offering protection to the hands.
- It comes with a good warranty and a stress-free return policy.
Cons:
- They are a bit costly
- The durability is questionable due to their minimalist design.
Yaayan Gloves For Rowing Machine
The Yaayan pink indoor rowing gloves are unique on this list because they are gloves designed explicitly for women rowers. However, this rowing gloves for women is an all-purpose glove suitable for many other workouts too. They have an elastic bandage that ensures the gloves fit snugly but not too tight to restrict the proper flow of blood. It is made from a ventilated stretchy lycra material, which keeps your hands comfortable and reduces the amount.
At the same time, the fingerless design gives your hand the freedom to move without restriction. The glove is designed with terry cloth on the thumb, which makes it easy to wipe the sweat off your face during a workout. In terms of grip and protection, the gloves have silica gel on the palm, which makes it anti-slip and also protect the palms from calluses and blisters. Just like the name, the gloves come in color pink only, and it is incredibly cheap.
Pros:
- They have an appealing design
- Comfortable and breathable
Cons:
- The lack of wrist support may deter some users.
- They are not the most durable
- The questionable size chart and lack of warranty are concerning.
Palmyth Stubby Rowing Gloves
Rounding up our list of the best rowing gloves is the Palmyth Stubby Exercise Gloves. Now you might be wondering what a fishing glove is doing on this list. Well, that was we thought too, but it turns out these gloves work perfectly as rowing machine gloves just the way they work for fishing. Although in terms of style, the glove looks more of a fishing glove and it comes in three different camouflage colors; blue, black, and green.
The gloves have a full synthetic leather palm and a non-slip silicone pattern that reinforce the palm. This allows for a better grip on any rowing machine, makes the gloves more durable, and protects the hand from blisters and calluses. The gloves keep the wearer’s hands cooler and drier than wearing no gloves at all. Also, the half-finger length design of the gloves enhances free movement, and you might even forget you’re wearing a glove. It has finger pull tabs that enhance easy removal of the gloves, and the gloves are machine wash friendly.
Pros:
- The price is not the cheapest but not too expensive for the features it has, so that makes the pricing okay.
- They come in different sizes ranging from small to double extra-large.
Cons:
- The gloves were designed specifically with fishing in mind, not rowing.
- The durability after frequent use is questionable.
- The camouflage design might deter some people.
Buyer’s Guide To Help You Choose The Best Rowing Gloves
We have come to the end of our best gloves for rowing list. Now, we are going to look at the factors that helped us in the selection of the gloves on our list. So, you should keep these factors in mind when shopping for rowing gloves, so you don’t end up buying an unsuitable pair.
Price
Pricing is a significant factor to consider when choosing a rowing glove. You probably don’t want to spend above $20 on rowing gloves. It depends on how much you are willing to invest in your fitness equipment and it can also be a great and inexpensive gift for fitness enthusiasts.
The Fit
While your winter gloves can be any size, rowing gloves are meant to do a specific job, so they need to fit you well. Finding rowing gloves that fit isn’t rocket science. You need to purchase a pair that is not too loose on your hand that you can’t grip the rowing machine handle well or also tight that free movement is restricted. Of course, buying rowing gloves online doesn’t give you a chance to try them on before purchasing. This is why most brands make their gloves available in different sizes with a size chart or size guide to help you find the right size. So, ensure you pay close attention to this before buying.
Wrist Straps
You might have noticed that some gloves have wrist straps while some don’t. This piece of material with Velcro is strapped around the wrist to offer additional support and stability to your wrist. So, buying a pair of rowing gloves with wrist straps can eliminate the need to purchase a separate wrist strap. However, these straps add additional length to the gloves, so if you wear a fitness tracker, the wrist strap may deter them. So, you might have to wear your watch high on your arm.
Durability
This depends on how frequently you intend to use rowing gloves. If you are a frequent rower, gloves like the Sculling gloves will be the right fit for you because those gloves practically last forever.
Material
Material is another crucial factor that must be taken into consideration before purchasing rowing gloves. How comfortable are they? Are the gloves breathable? Do they provide enough padding that will offer protection against blisters and calluses? Are they adjustable and elastic? All of these questions can only be determined by the material that makes up the rowing gloves.
Design/Intention
Were the gloves specifically designed for rowing? Gloves made specifically for rowing are usually of higher quality and offer several features that will benefit rowers that regular gloves won’t have. However, if you intend to use your gloves for other workouts apart from rowing, then you might want to take a look at general/multipurpose gloves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Do Rowing Gloves Do?
Wearing a rowing glove, be it outdoor or indoor on a rowing machine, is not a fashion statement. They have specific purposes and one of the main reasons you should wear one is to protect your hands. This is because the more a person row without protection, the more calluses tend to form on the hands. These calluses can tear up and then become painful blisters. So, rowing gloves protect your hands, allowing the calluses to form when you row frequently but without bursting and becoming painful blisters.
The second thing rowing gloves do is helping your grip. Having sweaty palms when rowing can cause you to lose your grip, but wearing gloves will cover up for that.
Should I Wear Gloves While Rowing?
If you read the section above, then you already know what rowing gloves do. However, now you need to see if you should wear one or not. Ultimately, wearing a glove while rowing is your personal choice. If you feel you want to benefit from the comfort, protection, and grip enhancements a rowing glove offer, particularly if you have sweaty palms, then go for it!
Can Gloves Improve My Rowing?
Yes, they can! Rowing with gloves takes your rowing experience to a different level. With a firmer grip and sweaty palms out of the way, gloves can help you to row for a more extended period. Also, at higher levels where a slip could prevent you from reaching that goal you’ve always wanted to reach, it could be another victory with the right pair of gloves.
Are Rowing Gloves, Reusable?
Yes, but how long they last depend on the quality of the gloves.
Can Rowing Gloves Be Washed?
Using your gloves for a series of intense rowing can eventually result in a smelly pair of gloves. Will you throw them out every week or wash them? Some gloves are machine wash friendly, which is more convenient. However, unless the manufacturer says otherwise, the best thing is to hand wash them.
Are Rowing Gloves Available In Different Sizes?
Yes, rowing gloves are available in sizes ranging from extra small to double extra large.
Final Verdict
We have come to the end of our best rowing gloves list! In this article, we have highlighted ten popular pairs, although the market is filled with tons of rowing gloves. However, this list is not compulsory or all-knowing. Some gloves might fit better than the others. So, take a good browse around and do your research. You might find something that suits your tastes and goals.
Use this list as a guide and keep our advice in mind, and you should end up with the right rowing gloves.