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With so many lifting gloves on the market, it can be difficult to decide what products on the market are better than others – especially since kettlebell gloves have specific features we need to look for to ensure they are protecting our hands, but not ruining our performance.
Which Kettlebell Gloves Are The Best Overall? The best kettlebell gloves overall are the Mava Sports Training Gloves because they give full coverage while still being breathable. They also have a wristband that anchors the glove in place and provides additional protection, and holds chalk better than other gloves on the market.
Buying kettlebell gloves does not have to be a stressful experience, once we know what to look for in a good quality glove we can be confident that the gloves we’re purchasing are going to work for our style of training.
In this article I’ll discuss:
- 3 important factors to consider before purchasing kettlebell gloves
- The 5 best wrist guards on the market for our needs/preferences
- Features that make certain kettlebell gloves better than other gloves on the market
The 3 Biggest Factors To Consider Before Purchasing Kettlebell Gloves
The 3 biggest factors we should consider before purchasing kettlebell gloves are:
- Intended Use
- Budget
- Level Of Protection
1. Intended Use
The intended use is an important factor to consider when purchasing kettlebell gloves because it will determine the style of glove that is going to be the most appropriate for our style of training. It’s important for us to get a glove that isn’t going to affect our ability to train.
2. Budget
Our budget is important to consider because it will help us determine the style of gloves that are within our price range, but it also determines what quality of gloves we are able to afford. Sometimes it’s worth paying a bit extra for gloves that are more durable, and other times we can find exactly what we’re looking for at a lower price point.
3. Level Of Protection
The level of protection a kettlebell glove offers is important to consider because we want to ensure that the areas that have a higher risk of developing calluses and tearing are covered. While the upper palm is always covered, other areas of the hand/wrist may not be depending on the gloves we select.
Top 5 Kettlebell Gloves On The Market
The top 5 kettlebell gloves are:
- Mava Sports Training Gloves – Best Kettlebell Gloves Overall
- ProFitness Gloves – Best Kettlebell Gloves For The Money
- RIMSports Gloves – Best Kettlebell Gloves For Women
- Fit Active Gloves – Best Kettlebell Gloves For Two-Handed Movements
- JerkFit WODies – Best Kettlebell Gloves For Crossfit
Mava Sports Training Gloves – Best Overall
The Mava Sports Training Gloves are the best overall for kettlebell gloves because they cover areas that are more susceptible to calluses and blisters, they have great ventilation, they attach at the wrist for more security and added protection, and they can be chalked.
The Mava Sports Training Gloves stand out as the best kettlebell gloves because of their high quality design.
The ventilation that the product offers is perfect to keep our hands cool while we’re training – which is an important feature because if our hands get too warm and there are no open areas to encourage the heat to dissipate, then our hands will start to sweat excessively. This is a problem because the glove will be more likely to slide against our skin, and it will limit our ability to grip the kettlebell.
The design of the Mava Sports kettlebell gloves also includes a velcro strap at the wrist that can be adjusted to different levels of tightness based on our preferences for more or less wrist mobility. It also serves as an anchor to keep the glove from bunching up and limiting the flow of the kettlebell while we’re training.
The wrist strap can also offer extra protection for the wrist while we’re kettlebell training, but I think that if wrist/forearm protection is our top priority, then we are likely better off with an actual wrist guard – rather than a kettlebell glove.
What I really like about these gloves is that they allow for the thumb to move freely. Having the thumb free is my preference because it gives us more control over the kettlebell, helps us maintain a better grip, feels less restrictive, and gives additional ventilation.
That being said, some lifters will prefer to have their thumb protected if this is an area where they typically get blisters or rip their hand; but this isn’t an area that typically develops calluses.
The Mava Gloves get a stamp of approval because they do not have overly grippy material on their palm, which would actually prevent the kettlebell from flowing through our hand like it’s supposed to for optimal movement patterns. Instead, these kettlebell gloves have a textured leather grip to increase the gripability of the gloves, which also provides grooves to hold more chalk.
My only concern with these gloves is the sizing guide, as some customers have stated that they were not confident that the guide was accurate. That being said, they do offer free returns so although it would be annoying to have to return them, at least we could do so free of charge.
Pros
- Good Coverage
- Breathable
- Can Be Chalked
- High Quality
Cons
- Sizing May Not Be The Most Accurate
ProFitness Gloves – Best For The Money
The ProFitness Gloves are the best kettlebell gloves for the money because they have the most coverage possible while still offering ventilation, they secure at the wrist to keep the gloves from bunching, and they are great quality for the price.
The ProFitness Gloves are better than other kettlebell gloves on the market for the price because they offer the most amount of coverage to keep our hands protected from blisters, calluses, and tearing. Although my preference is to have the thumb area uncovered, I know that many other lifters prefer the extra coverage – the ProFitness gloves are going to be perfect for these lifters.
These kettlebell gloves offer plenty of ventilation on the backside of our hand while providing plenty of protection for our palm – which really gives us the best of both worlds. In addition, these gloves are built of nylon that can absorb sweat to keep our hands dry while we’re training – which is so important for comfort and for performance. The nylon material of the ProFitnes gloves sets them apart from most other gloves on the market that are made of neoprene, because neoprene does not absorb sweat.
The ProFitness gloves are designed with the adjustable wrist strap that can tighten or loosen to suit our preferences, and works to prevent the gloves from bunching up while we’re training – which would impact the flow of the kettlebell in our hand. The wrist strap does not provide much protection from kettlebell contact, but could provide additional stability at the wrist for those in need of extra support.
The only thing I’d be worried about with these gloves is the amount of padding that they have on the palm. Although padding is good because it provides protection, if there is too much padding it can affect our ability to grip the kettlebell.
Pros
- The Most Coverage
- Absorbs Sweat
- Great Price
Cons
- Doesn’t Hold Chalk Well
- Extra Padded
RIMSports Gloves – Best For Women
The RIMSports Gloves are the best kettlebell gloves for women because they were designed with women in mind, they have great coverage, they are made of very durable material/stitching, and they do not restrict movement.
The RIMSports gloves are the best gloves on the market for women because of the fit, as they were designed with women in mind. It is rare to get a good quality kettlebell glove that is designed specifically for women, rather than a men’s glove in a smaller size.
These kettlebell gloves offer full coverage and are designed more like an actual glove which gives our hands more coverage but does sacrifice some ventilation.
To try and make these gloves more breathable, they incorporated mesh cutouts to promote air circulation.
I tend to prefer gloves that have the back of hand exposed, but others may prefer the fit of a glove as it can feel more secure. I do think RIMSports have done a good job including these breathable areas to accommodate those who want more coverage and security.
The RIMSports gloves are extremely durable because they were designed with premium leather and have a double-stitched to prevent the glove from ripping – I have full confidence that these gloves could survive anything we throw at it.
The only area that these gloves do not offer protection from the kettlebell is at the wrist – while many other products have a velcro wrist band that anchors the glove in place and provides additional protection, the RIMSports gloves do not. This could be positive for lifters who prefer to have more range of motion at the wrist – it totally depends on what we prefer, and what is going to help our training the most.
The glove is designed to stay in place with a velcro closure that we can adjust to modify the fit, and an elastic band around the hem of the glove to hold it in place and prevent bunching. My only concern with the elastic band is that I don’t know how much I would trust the elastic band to hold the glove in place, without being too tight.
Pros
- Full Coverage
- Durable
- Banded Hem To Avoid Bunching
Cons
- Not As Ventilated
- No Wrist Support
Fit Active Gloves – Best For Two-Handed Movements
The Fit Active Gloves are the best kettlebell gloves for two-handed movements because they cover the areas more susceptible to injury during two-handed movements, while allowing for maximal ventilation and less restricted movements.
The Fit Active Gloves stand out from other gloves on the market because they only cover a portion of the hand and are held on by finger loops. These gloves are perfect for those who want gloves and plan on training two-handed movements, because they cover the areas that are more susceptible to ripping or developing calluses but leave the rest of the hand exposed to enhance our control over the kettlebell and provide plenty of ventilation.
These gloves are designed with a high quality neoprene that is very durable and also cushions the hand from the kettlebell handle, while still being comfortable. Although the palm of these gloves does have a rubber grip that I would normally discourage in a glove, I think it works well for two-handed movements.
The downfall of this glove is that it is not made for one-handed movements because the rubber grip would make transitioning the kettlebell to another hold almost impossible. In addition to that, I would worry that the bottom of the glove would catch on the kettlebell handle if we tried to insert our hand through to a racked position that is needed for the clean or the snatch.
That being said, this glove has many great qualities if we use it in the way it was designed to be used – and that is for two-handed movements.
Pros
- Very Breathable
- Non-Restricting Design
- Perfect For Two-Handed Movements
Cons
- Not Suitable For One-Handed Movements
- Less Coverage
JerkFit WODies – Best Kettlebell Gloves For Crossfit
The JerkFit WODies are the best kettlebell gloves for those who compete in crossfit because they have good coverage to avoid hand injuries, they hold chalk really well, and they are versatile.
The JerkFit WODies are the perfect kettlebell gloves for those interested in crossfit because they are built for high repetition movements with kettlebells, but are also suitable for any gymnastic or weightlifting movements that are also typically performed by crossfit athletes.
These kettlebell gloves provide coverage for the areas of the palm at higher risk for developing calluses, ripping, or blistering; but they do have the thumb exposed for more dexterity and range of motion.
I think having the thumb exposed is especially important for those competing in crossfit because it allows for the use of a hookgrip, rather than gripping the kettlebell too hard – which throws off our movement patterns and causes us to hit our wrist with the kettlebell.
The JerkFit WODies stand out to me because of their ability to hold chalk, which I find so important when training with kettlebells (or any other of the crossfit disciplines) because moisture really is the enemy when it comes to maintaining our grip and keeping our hands from tearing open. Chalk works much better than any gripping material applied to the palm of a glove, because chalk still allows for a smooth transition of the kettlebell and grippy rubber designs will not.
These gloves also have a velcro wrist strap that holds the glove in place and prevents bunching of the material. It also provides extra support and protection for the wrist while training for crossfit.
Pros
- Breathable
- Can Be Chalked
- Versatile
Cons
- More Expensive
Finding The Best Kettlebell Gloves: Buyer’s Guide
The features that make some kettlebell gloves better than others include:
- Design
- Ventilation
- Coverage
- Material/Durability
- Gripability
Design
The design of kettlebell gloves is important because it will determine whether gloves will work with a kettlebell and stay in place, or if it will impair our ability to perform kettlebell movements.
The design of the glove will contribute to whether the glove stays in place while training, or if it will bunch up and interrupt the flow of the kettlebell. Those that are anchored below the wrist bones or only cover half of the palm tend to be the best designs to prevent bunching. Those that are designed like a typical glove will tend to bunch up more often unless the fit is perfect.
Ventilation
The amount of ventilation a glove has to offer is important to consider because it will determine how warm our hands get while training, and contribute to the amount of moisture that is accumulated in the glove and between our skin and the kettlebell.
Having exposed areas that offer ventilation are important for those who tend to sweat more easily while training because accumulating too much moisture in the glove itself or on our skin will likely cause us to lose our grip on the kettlebell.
In addition to impacting performance, it will also just feel very uncomfortable – as no one wants a glove that feels like wearing a wetsuit while they’re training.
Coverage
The amount of coverage a glove has should be considered before buying kettlebell gloves because we need to make sure that the areas that we feel need more protection are covered to protect our hands from calluses and blisters.
There are many gloves on the market with different amounts of coverage to suit each lifter’s preference, so it’s important to select a product that covers the areas we want to protect from calluses and blisters.
Most gloves on the market will cover the upper palm and lower half of our fingers because these are the areas that are more at risk for calluses and blisters, but there are also the options to have the thumb and the bottom half of the palm covered.
For kettlebell training, I would only suggest using gloves that have partial finger coverage, rather than full finger coverage – so that we can maintain some control over the kettlebell. For the same reason, I prefer not to have my thumb and surrounding area covered – but others may prefer it.
Material/Durability
The material that the kettlebell gloves are made of is an important feature to consider because it will determine how durable the glove is, how well it flows with a kettlebell, and how comfortable it is to wear.
Neoprene
Neoprene gloves are the most popular material for kettlebell gloves to be made of because of the durability of the material. The only downfall to using neoprene for kettlebell gloves is that it does not absorb sweat and is not breathable. For this reason, many gloves are designed with plenty of ventilation to try and encourage more air flow to avoid sweat from accumulating.
Leather
Textured leather is often used on the palms of kettlebell gloves because it serves as extra padding to keep the hands protected. The leather grip is extremely durable and can hold chalk reasonably well when it has a textured finish.
Gripability
The level of gripability a glove has is important to assess because it will determine how well we can use the kettlebell without interference from the glove, and how well we can hold onto the kettlebell.
While we may assume that more grippy material on the palms of the gloves is good for kettlebell training, it actually could impact the flow of the kettlebell in our hand. Instead, I recommend looking for gloves that have a solid material that can retain chalk to help us maintain our grip, rather than having the grippy bits that interrupt the flow of the movement.
Other Kettlebell Resources
- Is Your Kettlebell Too Heavy? (How To Know Using Examples)
- How To Keep Kettlebell From Hitting Your Wrist (7 Tips)
- Cast Iron vs Steel Kettlebells: Pros, Cons, Differences
- Powder Coat vs Competition Kettlebell: Pros & Cons
- Best 5 Kettlebells For Small Hands
- Plastic Kettlebell vs Iron Kettlebell: Pros, Cons, Differences
- Best 5 Kettlebells For The Money (That Are Still Well Made)
- How To Get Rust Off A Kettlebell? (4 Steps For Restoring)
- 1 Arm vs 2 Arm Kettlebell Swing: Pros, Cons, Which Is Best?
- E-Coat vs Powder Coat Kettlebells: Pros, Cons, Differences
- Adjustable vs Standard Kettlebell: Pros, Cons, Differences
- 33mm vs 35mm Kettlebell Handle: Which One Should You Get?
- Kettlebell Window Size: What Is It? How Big Should It Be?
- Kettle Gryp Review: Pros, Cons, Is It Worth It?
- 5 Best Competition Kettlebells (Crossfit or Kettlebell Sport)
- 7 Best Kettlebell Swing Alternatives (With Pictures)
- Kettlebell Gloves or Chalk: Which Is Better? (Pros & Cons)
- Best 5 Kettlebells For Two-Handed Swings
- 3 Best Rubber-Coated Kettlebells
- 7 Best Kettlebell Apps For Both iOS & Android
- How To Chalk A Kettlebell Properly (4 Steps To Follow)
Final Thoughts
The Mava Sports Training Gloves win as the best overall kettlebell gloves because they keep the hand protected from calluses or injury, they are designed with very durable material while offering plenty of ventilation, and they have good gripability with the potential to hold chalk as well.
The ProFitness Kettlebell Gloves come in at second place because of their fuller coverage that offers plenty of protection, and their breathable nylon material, and their price; but they fall short of first palace because they do not hold chalk, and they may have so much padding that it limits our grip.
Finally, the third runner up is the JerkFit WODies which hold chalk really well, have good coverage, and are versatile enough for all crossfit disciplines; but they land in third place because they are one of the most expensive kettlebell gloves on the market.
About The Author
Amanda Parker has a passion for competing and coaching in both powerlifting and weightlifting. She uses her knowledge from her Kinesiology Degree, CSCS, and Precision Nutrition certification to coach athletes and lifestyle clients for performance in training and nutrition. Connect with her on Instagram.
