Do Olympic Rowers Wear Gloves?

Olympic rowers generally do not wear gloves. They row bare-handed because direct contact gives better feel for the handle, and a gloved hand can slip or lose sensitivity. If you are new and getting blisters, gloves are a fair short-term choice, but fixing your grip will do more.

Why bare hands

The grip is a hook, not a squeeze. Rowers want a sensitive feel for the handle and for how the blade is working. Gloves add bulk, can bunch, and are harder to keep in contact with the handle when wet. Rowers also rotate the handle with their fingers to feather the blade, which is easier with direct contact.

Over time, hands toughen. Concept2 notes that blisters generally come first and calluses follow, and that calluses then offer protection. Elite hands are not blister-proof, though. They are looked after.

How elite rowers look after their hands

British Rowing’s hand care advice, including tips from Olympic champion Pete Reed, covers the same few habits.

Habit	What to do	Why
Relax the grip	Hook with the fingers, do not squeeze	Hard gripping is a technique fault that causes blisters
Keep calluses thin	Sand or file them, never pick or tear	A thin, tough layer beats large ridges that rip
Keep hands clean and dry	Wash after sessions	Lowers the risk of infection
Cut and file nails	Before they snag	Stops tears
Rest raw hands	Use the bike until they heal	Saves weeks of trouble

Filing works best after a shower, when the skin has softened. One British Rowing piece suggests taking a callus down by about 50 per cent as a starting point, with a foot file or sandpaper.

Our guide to warming up your hands helps on cold mornings, and the page on rowing gloves goes into what to buy.

Pogies and cold weather

In cold conditions, some rowers use pogies, which are mitts that attach around the handle and let you grip bare-handed while keeping warm. Others wear thin fingerless gloves. These are about warmth, not blister protection. Cold fingers lose feel and grip harder to compensate, so keeping them warm helps technique as well as comfort.

Gloves, pogies or neither

Option	Best for	Downside
Bare hands	Racing, feel, most training	Blisters while hands toughen
Fingerless gloves	Beginners, short-term relief	Reduced feel, can trap moisture
Pogies	Cold-weather outings	Awkward to fit, no blister protection
Tape on hot spots	Targeted protection	Needs reapplying, leaves residue

Beginners and gloves

New rowers often get blisters in the first few weeks. The cause is usually a tight grip, a high handle position or too much volume too soon. Our page on the downsides of rowing puts sore hands alongside the sport’s other drawbacks, with a fix for each. Concept2’s comfort advice warns against suddenly rowing longer, especially in hot or wet conditions, which speed up blister formation.

As a rule of thumb, add no more than 5 to 10 minutes per session each week, and take a day off between sessions at first. Our first month on the erg builds that in, and rowing with a bad grip helps if your hands tire first.

What helps when blisters appear

1. Reduce your grip pressure, and check that you are not twisting the handle.
2. Keep skin clean and dry after sessions.
3. Leave an intact blister alone, and protect it with a plaster or tape.
4. Do not rip off loose skin. Trim it cleanly with clean scissors if it catches.
5. Rest if a blister is raw, and let it heal before your next hard session.

If a blister becomes red, hot, swollen or painful, or you feel unwell, get it checked by a pharmacist or GP.

Choosing gloves if you want them

Look for a snug fit, a thin palm and good breathability. Thin weightlifting gloves are the usual pick for the erg. Avoid thick gloves that reduce feel, and choose a design that lets your fingers hook round the handle. Plan to drop them once your hands have toughened, because you will row better without them.

For more on the elite side of the sport, visit the Olympic rowing hub.