Ever since the chat room days of the early 2000’s, a debate has been raging throughout the parkour community. All over one simple piece of gear: Gloves. Some swear by their protective benefits, while others say they hinder connection with the environment. Let’s dive a little deeper into the pros and cons of wearing gloves for parkour.
The most compelling argument for wearing gloves is their ability to minimize the discomfort caused by gripping rough and abrasive surfaces.
Exercise gloves serve as a layer of protection decreasing the likelihood of hand rips and minor cuts. This argument particularly applies to beginners who have no protective calluses on their hands.
Exercise gloves are textured to enhance grip on surfaces like rails, walls, dumbbells, etc. For this reason, some athletes will use gloves as an alternative to gym chalk.
While this may not apply in Florida, practitioners in colder climates may employ gloves to maintain hand warmth, improving dexterity and avoiding conditions like Raynaud's syndrome and frostbite.
Parkour relies heavily on feeling the environment—whether it’s gauging the texture of a wall or sensing how to adjust hand position during a movement. Gloves can dull these sensations, potentially leading to misjudgments and slips during execution.
In warmer climates, gloves can be overheating, causing discomfort and more alarmingly, cause sweaty hands inside gloves which can soak the gloves, thus reducing grip; counteracting the previously stated benefit of wearing them.
Parkour is often viewed as a raw and organic discipline. Many purists argue that gloves detract from the authenticity of the practice. There is a perception within the community that wearing gloves makes one look like a noob (an inexperienced novice). This aesthetic preference is subjective, but it plays a role in the broader cultural context of parkour.
My Personal Take
Gloves can be considered training wheels in parkour. They are a tool which can be used to minimize discomfort in the beginning of an athlete’s journey.
Yet, they can quickly turn into a crutch. Athletes who are used to gloves may find themselves unable to preform without the gloves. This is because gloves will hinder the formation of grip strength and calluses - the tough skin which comes to serve as built in “gloves”.
It is worth noting that professional parkour athletes, rock climbers and ninja warrior finalists never wear gloves.
There is something to be said for being able to truly feel the surfaces. That subtle ability to connect with the environment is an x-factor in all the sports mentioned above.
I personally do not use them, but will gladly recommend them to a student if their hands hurt too much during class.
Ultimately, the decision to wear gloves while practicing parkour is a personal one.
It’s understandable to prioritize personal comfort while learning the skills of this amazing discipline.
Whether one opts for gloves or not, the joy of movement and the challenge of overcoming obstacles reigns above all else.
