The Truth About Wearing Gloves in Hyrox!

Imagine the scene. You are deep into a Hyrox race, surrounded by the rhythmic hum of SkiErgs and the roar of the crowd. Your heart is pounding in your ears, a steady drumbeat against the fatigue building in your legs.

You have just completed another grueling one-kilometer run, and you enter the Roxzone, your transition area. Your next station is the 200-meter Farmers Carry.

As you approach the two heavy kettlebells waiting on the floor, a flicker of doubt enters your mind. You look down at your hands, already slick with sweat and chalked with the memory of past workouts. The question is not just whether you are strong enough, but a far more specific one: “Can my hands hold on for the entire distance?”

In a competition designed to test the very limits of your athletic capacity, it is often the smallest details that determine success or failure. A single moment of weakness, a brief lapse in form, or a failing grip can unravel an otherwise perfect race. This is why the conversation around race day gear is so important. Among the most debated pieces of equipment are gloves. Are they an essential performance tool?

For the skeptical athlete, the answer may seem obvious. Gloves are just one more thing to carry, one more thing to think about. We believe this view misses the bigger picture.

After analyzing countless races and talking with athletes of all levels, from first timers to elite champions, we think the case for gloves is not just strong, it is undeniable. Let’s explore why.

First, Let's Address the Common Objections

Before we build the case for wearing gloves, it is important to address the valid concerns that many athletes have. If you are hesitant to add gloves to your race kit, your reasoning probably falls into one of these three categories.

1. "Gloves just make my hands sweat more and feel hotter."

This is a perfectly reasonable objection, especially if your only experience is with bulky, leather bodybuilding gloves designed for heavy lifting in an air conditioned gym. Those are absolutely the wrong tool for a Hyrox race.

Modern performance gloves, however, are engineered specifically for hybrid athletes. They feature minimalist designs with mesh backings that allow for maximum airflow and breathability.

Their purpose is not to prevent sweat, which is an impossible and undesirable goal. Their purpose is to manage it. A thin, technical fabric with a strategically placed silicone palm provides a secure, high friction gripping surface that works consistently, whether your hands are dry or damp.

2. "It's unnecessary gear. I want to be as minimalist as possible."

The minimalist philosophy is smart. No one wants to be weighed down by non essential items.

But we must correctly define what is essential. You would never consider running in boots to save money on running shoes, because you understand that the right shoes are essential for performance and injury prevention.

Gloves should be viewed through the same lens. Consider the cost benefit analysis. A pair of lightweight performance gloves weighs only a few grams. Now, consider the time lost from a single dropped kettlebell during the Farmers Carry.

The fumble, the reset, and the energy required to regain momentum can easily cost you five to ten seconds. Over the course of a race, a failing grip on multiple stations could add a minute or more to your final time. The tiny weight of the gloves is a minuscule price to pay for that level of time security.

3. "I am tough. I will just use chalk."

Chalk is a fantastic tool for grip enhancement in a controlled environment. A Hyrox race, however, is anything but controlled. It is a whirlwind of movement, sweat, and relentless forward momentum.

The time you have in the Roxzone is precious. It is your only chance to catch your breath and mentally prepare for the next station. Do you really want to spend those critical seconds searching for a community chalk bowl, dipping your hands in, and hoping for an even coating?

More often than not, the chalk you apply before the race has been sweated off by the end of the first run. Gloves offer a "set it and forget it" solution. You put them on at the beginning of the race, and they provide a reliable, consistent grip from the first pull of the SkiErg to the final Wall Ball.

Why Gloves Are a Winning Strategy

Once you look past the initial objections, a clear picture emerges of how gloves can fundamentally improve your race day performance.

1. Superior Grip Equals Superior Performance, Station by Station

Your grip is the physical connection to nearly every workout on the Hyrox course. When it fails, your performance fails with it.

• Sled Pull: The thick, abrasive rope can be brutal on bare hands. Gloves not only prevent rope burn but also provide a secure hold that allows you to engage your powerful back and leg muscles more effectively, rather than relying on tired forearm muscles.

• Farmers Carry: This is arguably the most grip intensive station. Gloves transform this event. By creating a lock tight interface with the kettlebell handle, they can shift the primary limiting factor from your hands to your core and legs. This allows you to maintain a faster pace and a more upright posture throughout the entire 200 meter distance.

• Wall Balls: In the final, punishing station, efficiency is everything. A secure grip on the ball during the catch prevents fumbling and allows for a more seamless and powerful transfer of energy into the upward throw. This means fewer wasted reps and a faster path to the finish line.

2. The Overlooked Advantage: The Mental Edge

At the elite level of any sport, victory is often decided by mental fortitude. Hyrox is no different. Every small uncertainty or worry contributes to your overall cognitive load, draining precious mental energy that could be used to push through pain or focus on strategy.

Worrying about your grip is a significant mental drain. When you trust your equipment, you remove that worry. You free up mental bandwidth. Knowing that your grip will not fail you gives you the confidence to push harder on the run, secure in the knowledge that you can handle the workout that follows.

It is one less variable in a complex equation, and that sense of control can be a powerful psychological weapon.

Conclusion

The choice to wear gloves in a Hyrox race shouldnt be about whether your hands will be too hot or not. So we have taken that problem away with our lightweight, breathable gloves.

They are a tool that helps your performance and eliminates the need for remembering to use chalk or searching for it on the day on a hectic race floor. By controlling the variables you can put yourself in the best possible position to succeed.

Your grip should be an asset, not a liability. Do not let it be the reason you fall short of your potential.