Wheelchair gloves are mainly used by users of a manual wheelchair, they know the importance of it. Self-controlled chairs require more energy from the user, especially on steep or rough terrain.
We will in this article let you know everything about wheelchair gloves, be their different types, and why one should or should not use it. We are sure that by the end of this article you will be able to decide for yourself that do you need wheelchair gloves or not.
Let’s dive right in.
Why Do Wheelchair Users Need Gloves?
This can be better answered by someone who has been using a manual wheelchair for a while. We talked to one of our closest friends Todd, who has been using a wheelchair with gloves on for more than 2 years now.
According to Todd “a wheelchair that is self-controlled consumes more energy, as he/she needs to control it manually.
Most of the time and because of it, in the long run, you could even face some problems mainly in your palms, wrists, and fingers as you operate your wheelchair daily. But having a friend or family member helping you with your wheelchair can avoid such complications.
Todd also told us that there is a syndrome known as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in this syndrome the user mainly feels pain, numbness, tingling, and some weakness in the hand and wrist, this is because of increased pressure on the median nerve which is a nerve on the wrist.
This is not something very serious still repetitive use of your hands for starting, stopping, and turning the wheelchair, may cause some complications like pain, blisters, calluses, and other types of discomfort.
That’s why gloves for wheelchair users are important to protect your hand. To know more about the benefits of wheelchair gloves read this blog.
Different Types of Wheelchair Gloves
- Casual gloves
- Sport-style gloves
- Padded gloves
- Winter Wheelchair Gloves/Heated wheelchair gloves
- Wheelchair gloves for kid or Pediatric wheelchair gloves
- Racing wheelchair gloves
- Wheelchair gloves for full finger
- Leather wheelchair gloves
- Wheelchair rugby gloves
- Paraplegic wheelchair gloves
- Sportaid wheelchair gloves
- Rehadesign wheelchair gloves
- Hatch quad push wheelchair gloves
- Quad wheelchair gloves
- Chiba wheelchair gloves
We know this can be a little overwhelming but most of the gloves have similar features and we are going to help you choose which one is best for you.
Difference Between A Normal Glove And A Wheelchair Glove
The most important difference between normal gloves and wheelchair gloves is in the palm area of the gloves. The palm area of the wheelchair glove is made with utmost care keeping in mind the direct contact of the palm with the wheel of your chair.
The palm area of the glove is used most and suffers the most wear and tear.
Apart from this, there is not much difference between a normal glove and a wheelchair glove as the main functions of both of them are somewhat similar. It should allow your hand to breathe, preventing them from becoming sweaty and ultimately protecting your hands.
Important Factors To Consider While Choosing A Wheelchair Gloves
Here is a list of the qualities you should keep in mind while choosing the best gloves for your wheelchair.
#1 Comfort
As the saying goes comfort is the key. As you will be using it most of the time it should be comfortable. It should provide flexibility, and allow you to use your hands for various tasks without causing any issues.
To determine what types of materials will provide you most comfortable look find out how lightweight it is.
The comfort of the gloves also depends on the location you live in the country/place has a lot of rain throughout the year you should consider leather wheelchair gloves, it will help you with two things: One, leather gloves are usually waterproof and Two, Leather gloves are more stylish.
#2 Support
Support is the second most important thing to consider in a glove. Gloves should provide good grip, on top of that your wrists and hands are often under a lot of strain as they are being used a lot, and gloves with proper wrist support can help reduce this
#3 Flexibility
To control your wheelchair as freely as you can, you will need to look at how flexible the gloves are with respect to the range of motion.
If the gloves do not help you with a full range of motion then you should probably consider returning them. Proper flexibility with a decent grip helps you with your wheelchair in moving and turning very easily.
#4 Padding Used
Padding is also a very important quality to consider when purchasing wheelchair gloves. The gloves should be made using a strong, long-lasting material. Most glove padding is made thick keeping in mind the use it has to push the wheels.
It also provides extra protection. Wheelchair gloves Padding is usually made of rubber, leather, and in-gel forms also in some cases.
#5 Durability
Gloves should be long-lasting. It is not something you want to buy from time to time.
The quality of the gloves should be made to help them last longer. The most long-lasting gloves according to some of the reviews we got are once made out of leather.
The brand also plays a very important role when it comes to the quality and how durable a glove is.
#6 Breathable Space
This is one of the most frequent problems faced by many wheelchair glove users and one needs to consider it because it will literally determine their level of comfort for you.
A very tight glove that isn’t breathable will lead to sweat, irritation, and sore hands. Gloves made up of neoprene and Lycra is highly breathable and very elastic.
Neoprene gloves are flexible, light, and waterproof but can be easily damaged, whereas Lycra being very flexible and comfortable is not as strong as other types of material.
There are suede wheelchair gloves also, which are very stylish but are very hard to use for a long period of time.
On top of that as mentioned above the place you live also plays an important role in choosing the right gloves, if you live in a cold country, gloves made up of leather that is usually very tight and less breathable might actually be a great option.
#7 Style
The last factor but not the least is the style or type of glove. Gloves come in various types like there are wheelchair gloves for full finger or full thumb, they are usually called full-length gloves and the cutoff wheelchair gloves.
If you will be using the gloves for other purposes also apart from using the wheelchair then you should consider getting a fingerless glove.
Cut-off gloves have strong palm material placed in the middle mainly because of the wheelchair operation on top of that the upper part of your fingers gets more freedom to move without restriction for other purposes too.
But if you are looking for gloves solely for operating the wheelchair then you should consider the full hand gloves.
TOP 7 BEST GLOVES FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS
After going through everything you need to know about the wheelchair gloves and the different types of wheelchair gloves that are available in the market.
Here are some of the suggestions from our side to help you choose the best one.
1. Kango Fitness Leather Wheelchair Gloves W-1037
The Kango Leather Fingerless Wheelchair Gloves W-1037 is one of the best leather gloves one can find for the operation of the wheelchair.
They are stylish as most leather gloves are. It has all the necessary features that a strong durable glove should have, on top of that it is very affordable.
If we deep dive into the features it has then you will find it’s not only about the good looks, but it’s very breathable too, as most of the reviews say. Made up of real leather with a double-padded palm it sure will provide great protection.
It comes in different sizes and different colors and can be used for other purposes too, be it cycling, motorbiking, or in the gym.
2. Care+Wear Wheelchair Gloves For Both Men and Women
One of the best wheelchair gloves out there. The Care+Wear Unisex Wheelchair Gloves made with four different materials Spandex, Nylon, Polyurethane, and neoprene are lightweight, flexible, with proper structure, and very affordable.
If you are looking for full-hand gloves, go with this one. It has a solid grip and support when it comes to operating the wheelchair.
It is great for everyday use. As it features touch screen conductive material, so you never have to remove them to use your device.
Zipper provided in the gloves makes it very easy for its user to put it on and off. Not a lot of gloves come with a zipper. The quality of the material used for making these gloves is incredible.
With all the great features it comes with, it is said that these gloves can be a little tight, and the breathing space for your hand can be less if you choose a size smaller, so you need to choose the sizing carefully.
It also depends on the structure of your hand. As said before neoprene is not that the best breathable material one can get. Our suggestion is to choose a size up!
3. WH-1 Wheelchair Gloves
One of the best budget-friendly wheelchair gloves: is the WH-1 Wheelchair Gloves by REPS. Despite their low price, these are some of the best pairs of breathable, lightweight, and comfortable gloves you will ever find.
Comes with protective padding, and will prevent the formation of blisters and calluses which will give a very neat appearance to it.
These wheelchair gloves are durable and of solid quality, and are definitely worth the money. The durability of these gloves is very high as they are made up of leather. As most of the reviews say these gloves make the rolling of the chair very smooth.
4. Rebo Fingerless Long Thumb Wheelchair Gloves
This is one of the best gloves if you are looking for a flexible fingerless with full covered thumb gloves.
Made with the help of High Quality 4 Way Stretch Material, which is very breathable and has a special moisture-wicking fabric on the backside.
The palm area is fully made of Leather for firm grip and Comfort. The material used in this glove can absorb shocks and Reinforced Design for Durability.
It also comes with added Puller for easy take on and off. The Strong Wrist Closure Strap helps you with the perfect Fit, which solves the most occurring problem for a gloves user that is the sizing.
Comes in different colors like Black and Grey and also in different sizes from Small to extra large.
ReboGear is a well-known brand when it comes to quality, they have been a partner with Amazon since 2010. So you don’t have to worry about the quality of the product, on top of that they provide a money-back guarantee if you don’t like the product for any reason.
5. SIMARI Multi-purpose Gloves
This multi-purpose glove will protect your hands full as the wrist support area can protect your arms from spraining, and the foam pad present in the palm will buffer the impact and absorb extra force.
The main difference between any other gloves and this glove is in the palm area as it is made of MICROFIBER which is very durable in nature.
The SIMARI Gloves are breathable with the back of gloves made of spandex fiber which is very lightweight. These gloves will keep your hands dry and comfortable because of their backless humanization design.
The Loops present on the gloves make it easy to take off after a long day of use. The TERRY CLOTH on the thumb can help you wipe the sweat off after extensive use.
These wheelchair gloves are suitable for everyone be it women, men, adults, and kids, mainly because of their wide range of sizes.
6. RIMSports Premium Leather Gloves
These premium quality gloves will protect your hand from calluses and reduces friction and discomfort with their leather padded material.
The DURABLE PALM PADDING provides superior cushioning and supports hands during strenuous activities like controlling the wheels and even in other places like the gym.
RIMSports is a brand is known for its quality especially for its sturdiness, durability, long-lasting protection. These gloves have been tested in the most extreme conditions and have been taken with great care to ensure that they will suit your needs.
These gloves are made of breathable lycra material and breathable ventilation holes that promote air circulation and keeps the hands dry and comfortable.
Rimsports are also known for their versatility, as these gloves can be used by both women and men and for various purposes like wheelchair controlling, cycling, biking, kayaking, rowing, powerlifting, TRX, and even weight lifting.
7. Rebo Wheelchair Disability Mobility Full Finger Gloves – Best For kids
As said these wheelchair gloves are one of the best lightweight gloves which are perfect for kids’ use. It is one of the best durable full-finger gloves for any wheelchair user.
They are made up of Cotton, Polyester, Nylon. These gloves are warm, have a decent grip, and are thin enough to wear under a set of fingerless gloves.
Though they are not one of the strongest gloves one can get they are definitely one of the good buys when it comes to comfort and usage.
Also Read: Difference Between Power Chair And Electric Wheelchair?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What Are The Gloves Called People Use On Hands With Wheelchair?
It is simply called Wheelchair Gloves. They can be of various types like Full hand Gloves, push-easy wheelchair gloves, Gloves with the full thumb, and many more.
Q2. What Type of Gloves Do Wheelchair Users Use?
The most famous and widely used are the padded wheelchair gloves and the leather gloves. But you can even use your gym gloves if it is made with good quality materials.
Q3. Where To Buy Wheelchair Gloves From?
You can buy some of the best wheelchair gloves from Amazon itself.
The Bottom Line
I hope we are able to provide you everything you were looking for about a wheelchair glove with this ultimate guide. We tried to be as detailed as we could by letting you know about the different types of wheelchair gloves and also suggesting to you some of the best wheelchair gloves be it made of gel, form or air.
