Best Pilates Gloves: Half-Finger Grip Gloves for Reformer, Mat and Barre

If your hands slip in planks, push-ups or on the reformer's foot bar, a half-finger grip glove is the fix, and Tavi's Half Finger Grip Gloves are the pair to buy. Gloves are a niche item, so below is what they actually do, which cut suits which class, and how to size them.

We haven't tested these; the picks come from the makers' listings and product pages, and from what Amazon's own listings show about who sells each glove.

What grip gloves are for

Grip socks keep your feet on the carriage; gloves do the same job for your hands. Tavi and ToeSox describe their half-finger gloves with the same three reasons: "Extra grip… Added hygiene… Blister protection…" (from ToeSox's product page and Tavi's). Gaiam pitches its Grippy Yoga Gloves the same way, with "finger-and-palm targeted traction" to "increase balance and stability" and the option to practice "with or without a mat".

In a Pilates class that covers:

• Planks, push-ups and side planks on the mat, when sweaty palms start to slide.
• Long stretch, up stretch and other moves with your hands on the reformer's foot bar or shoulder rests.
• Holding the straps or handles through a long arm series.
• Resting a hand on the barre in barre class, where some people grip hard enough to rub.

If your hands don't slip and you don't share equipment you mind touching, you don't need gloves. They're a fix for a problem, not part of a uniform the way grip socks are at most reformer studios.

Half-finger, fingerless or full-finger

Nearly every Pilates and barre glove is half-finger: the knit stops at the middle of each finger and the grip pattern covers the palm and finger bases. That keeps your fingertips bare for feel, which matters when you're balancing your weight on a foot bar or adjusting springs.

Within that, there are two cuts:

• Knit half-finger (oasymala cotton, Gaiam): a full glove over the back of the hand, finger sleeves stopping halfway. Warmer, more coverage.
• Open-back or cutout (oasymala's other style; Tavi has a breathable cutout): grip on the palm, an open back and a band across the knuckles. Less fabric, cooler.

Full-finger grip gloves for Pilates are hard to find. Searching Amazon for them brings up mostly padded weightlifting and cycling gloves, which are built for bars and handlebars, not for feeling a mat or a foot bar. If you want your fingertips covered for hygiene, a knit half-finger glove is the closest you'll get from a Pilates brand.

The three gloves we'd buy on Amazon

Tavi Half Finger Grip Gloves: the pick

Tavi's Amazon listing describes full palm coverage in a half-finger cut, "a breathable cutout, a terry cloth thumb to wipe away sweat and adjustable wristband". It names yoga, barre and Pilates among its uses, alongside weightlifting and rowing. The fabric is 50% nylon and 50% microfiber.

What sets it apart is sizing. It comes in small, medium and large, where every other glove here is one size, so it's the one to choose if one-size gloves are loose or tight on you. The listing doesn't give hand measurements for each size, so check Tavi's site before ordering if you're between sizes.

oasymala Half-Finger Cotton: the one-size alternative

oasymala's listing describes "a high-density silicone pattern across the palms" for traction on mats and equipment, a soft cotton blend that is "lightweight and moisture-wicking", and a stretchy ribbed cuff that stays in place. The half-finger cut leaves fingertips bare. It's one size and comes in ten colors, sold by the brand itself. Some colors show limited stock, so check the one you want.

oasymala Fingerless, Open Back: for hot studios

The same brand's lighter glove puts non-slip grips on the palm and leaves the back of the hand open. The listing names yoga, Pilates, barre and aerial yoga, and calls the fabric lightweight and breathable. It gives no fiber content or size, so treat it as one size. Choose it over the knit glove if your studio runs warm.

ToeSox and Gaiam, and why they aren't linked

ToeSox and Gaiam are grip-glove brands many Pilates students know from their socks. We only link products sold by Amazon itself or the brand's own store, and neither qualifies on Amazon right now:

• ToeSox Half Finger Grip Gloves: we found no ToeSox listing on Amazon. ToeSox sells them on its own site.
• Gaiam Grippy Yoga Gloves: on Amazon from a reseller. Gaiam's own page lists them as one size fits most, 95% polyester, 3% rubber and 2% spandex, machine wash and air dry. Buy them from Gaiam.

Fit and care

A grip glove should sit snug enough that the palm doesn't shift when you push into a plank, but not so tight it pinches between the fingers. One-size gloves rely on stretch in the knit; if your hands are very small or large, a sized glove like Tavi's will fit better.

Care instructions vary, so follow each glove's label. Gaiam's page says machine wash and air dry. The silicone and rubber grip on gloves is the same kind as on grip socks, and our guide to washing grip socks covers what the makers say about heat.

The rest of the grip kit

If you're sorting out grip for your feet too, our best grip socks for Pilates and barre compares the leading pairs, full-toe, five-toe and toeless grip socks explains the toe styles, and there's a separate guide to men's grip socks. For the clothes, see our leggings for reformer Pilates, what to wear to barre class, and gifts for Pilates lovers if you're buying for someone else.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Pilates gloves for?

Grip on the hands. Tavi and ToeSox describe theirs as giving "extra grip", "added hygiene" and "blister protection", which helps in planks, push-ups, foot bar work on the reformer and holding the straps.

Do I need gloves for reformer Pilates?

Not usually. Most reformer studios require grip socks, but gloves are optional. Try them if your palms slip on the foot bar or the straps rub your hands.

Should I get half-finger or full-finger grip gloves?

Half-finger, for most people. Nearly all Pilates gloves are made that way, leaving your fingertips bare for feel. Full-finger gloves on Amazon are mostly padded weightlifting gloves, which aren't designed for mat or reformer grip.

Can I wear Pilates grip gloves for barre?

Yes. Tavi's and both oasymala listings name barre alongside Pilates and yoga. They help most if your palms sweat in the mat section, in planks and push-ups, or if holding the barre rubs your hands.

What size Pilates gloves should I buy?

Most are one size and stretch to fit. Tavi's half-finger glove comes in small, medium and large, so it's the better choice if one-size gloves are loose or tight on you.

Availability changes; check Amazon for current details. As an Amazon Associate, FlexWearLab earns from qualifying purchases.