The Best Weightlifting Gloves (Plus, How to Clean Them)

FYI: It's a good idea to work on your grip strength. As Shape previously reported, improving your grip strength can help you push past a fitness plateau and reach a new PR, as well as make everyday activities (such as opening stubborn jam jars) a breeze.

If you need a little extra help or just want to avoid building up calluses from weightlifting, try a pair of these editor-approved weightlifting gloves. Then, learn how to keep 'em clean...because you want to pick up weights, not bacteria.

The Best Workout Gloves for Women

Try a pair of these on for size and see if your grip has been stalling your progress.

Nike Fundamental Training Gloves

Designed for a personalized fit, these training gloves will have your back — okay, your hands — throughout a challenging weightlifting routine. With features including a padded yet breathable synthetic leather palm for enhanced grip and a sweat-wicking mesh fabric upper, these gloves are a certified knockout.

Harbinger FlexFit Wash and Dry Workout Weightlifting Gloves

These half-finger gloves are comfortable and durable, offering a "tech gel" cushion and leather palm pad. Plus, you can toss them right in your washing machine if they get a little too sweaty.

Nordic Lifting Weightlifting Gloves with 12" Wrist Wraps Support

Ideal for barbell lifting and powerlifting, these workout gloves have juuust the right amount of padding. Your hands will stay protected against calluses and blisters so you can attempt those personal bests time and time again.

SIMARI Workout Gloves

Calling all CrossFitters! Toss out the tape, ditch the chalk, and opt for these weightlifting gloves instead. They feature sturdy wrist support and a padded palm so you can rock everything from pull-ups to push presses with good form and without calluses.

Meister Weightlifting Gloves

These workout gloves are fully breathable and feature a no-slip grip. Complete with pull tabs on the fingers and wrist for an easy on and off, these gloves will have you covered through all of your lifting and training ventures.

How to Clean Weightlifting Gloves

When you're lifting heavy weights, gloves become a staple pretty quickly to protect your hands and give you a better grip. Unfortunately, it's more than likely that they end up in your gym bag post-workout — aka a dark, moist environment that's perfect for bacteria to grow all over your weightlifting gloves.

Bring them back into the light and follow these cleaning tips (once per week!) from Erin and Leif Frey, founders of FREY laundry detergent.

1. Soak in the sink. Fill your sink with warm water, add enough soap (dishwashing detergent works great) to make it sudsy, then submerge your workout gloves. Massage each glove, making sure to squeeze water through each finger, and use your hands to scrub off any grime.
2. Flip 'em inside out. This makes it easier to clean the inside. Just rinse and repeat the same routine you followed for the outside. If the gloves still smell post-massage, let them soak in the sudsy water for an hour or so before going in for another scrub. Then rinse them thoroughly to avoid leaving behind any irritating residue.
3. If all else fails, toss in the machine. If washing them by hand isn't doing the trick, throw the weightlifting gloves into the washing machine on a gentle wash setting — and make sure any Velcro straps are securely fastened to prevent them from catching on clothes. Let them air-dry so they keep their shape, and stick to drying indoors — putting them in direct sun can weaken the fibers, allowing them to lose their shape faster.