Gloves for HYROX: Are They Allowed, Should You Wear Them, and Which Pair?

The sled pull rope is rough, the farmers carry handles are slick with everyone’s sweat, and your hands have to survive both after six kilometres. Can gloves help? Are they even allowed? Here’s the short answer, the fine print and the pairs to look at.

This guide uses the HYROX rulebook, PUMA’s product page and Polar’s gear guide, listed under Sources. We haven’t tested these gloves ourselves. Our Amazon links are affiliate links; see our affiliate disclosure.

Are gloves allowed in HYROX?

Yes. Section 10.1 of the 2026/27 Singles Rulebook lists “Gloves [not grips]” among the items you may wear. Two catches:

• No grips. Palm protectors and gymnastics-style grips aren’t on the list, and anything not listed is prohibited by default.
• Start to finish. Put them on before the start and keep them on. Handing them to anyone mid-race counts as outside assistance.

Gloves vs chalk vs bare hands

Option	When you can use it	The catch
Gloves	The whole race	You run 8 km in them
Event chalk	Sled pull and farmers carry only	Your own chalk is a 2-minute penalty
Bare hands	Always	Rope burn and slick handles

Polar suggests either liquid chalk, which “provides excellent grip without the mess,” or “a pair of fitted, specialized functional fitness gloves” to protect your hands on the row, farmers carry and lunges. In training, chalk is fine. On race day, only event chalk is.

When gloves help, and when they don’t

They can help on:

• The sled pull: hand-over-hand on a rope, after the sled push has already cooked your forearms. Our sled pull guide covers technique.
• The farmers carry: 200 m holding two kettlebells. See our farmers carry guide.

They can get in the way on:

• The runs: sweaty gloves for 8 km.
• Wall balls and burpees: you may prefer the feel of bare hands on the ball and floor.

There’s no research we could find on gloves in HYROX, so this is a personal call. The only way to know is a full simulation in them.

The picks

PUMA x HYROX Training Gloves: the official pair

PUMA, HYROX’s apparel partner, lists these at $38 on its US store, where the black colourway showed as sold out when we checked on November 13.

• Palm: nylon with silicone dots and padding for grip
• Closure: extra-long hook-and-loop straps
• Ventilation: cut-outs and mesh panels
• Product page: PUMA US

Ventilated workout gloves: the budget option

A basic ventilated training glove covers the essentials, a padded palm and a wrist strap, for less. Check the size chart; a loose glove bunches on the rope.

Check price on Amazon: Ventilated workout gloves · PUMA x HYROX gloves

For training: liquid chalk

For grip work at home, where chalk is fine, Friction Labs liquid chalk is a tidy option. Leave it at home on race day.

How to choose

1. Fitted, not bulky. Polar specifically says “fitted.” Extra padding makes it harder to feel the rope.
2. Breathable back. You’ll wear them for an hour or more; mesh helps.
3. A secure wrist strap. You don’t want to stop mid-pull to adjust one.
4. Test them in a simulation, including runs, the SkiErg and wall balls, before race day.

What else is allowed on course? See our what to wear for HYROX guide and the race-day bag checklist.