Wheelchair users who are out and about need a good pair of gloves. Especially in the colder climes. We have reviewed the best gloves for wheelchair users below. If you are in a hurry, the table below provides a quick snapshot.
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A wheelchair massively enhances accessibility for its user. If you are a wheelchair user, in all likelihood, you would have forgotten how life was like, without a wheelchair.
The kind of convenience that a mobility aid like an electric wheelchair adds to your life is unparalleled. You can once again embrace freedom and travel around and enjoy the world.
Indeed, for electric wheelchair users, the joystick is almost their magic wand! Having said that, both manual and electric wheelchair users will do well to have a good pair of gloves to keep them warm during the winter months.
Best Gloves for Wheelchair Users
When it comes to the best gloves for wheelchair users, our top choice is Seibertron Original Multi-function Gloves. But different people have different usage requirements.
So here, we have reviewed some of the best winter gloves that are available in the market. We expect this article to be helpful to you to eventually make a decision on which pair of gloves to invest in.
What to consider when buying winter gloves for wheelchair
Well, first and foremost, the pair of gloves should protect you from the cold. Depending on how cold it gets where you live, you should be able to lay your hands on a pair, which is rightly suited for that weather.
An important consideration while choosing a pair of gloves for wheelchairs is the padding in the glove. Unless you are using a power wheelchair, it is also a good idea to select gloves with sufficient padding. This will save your hands from any injury and wear out from long periods of manually operating the wheelchair.
Another consideration, should be good grip. Depending on your wheelchair, you would either be using the joystick or having a continuous grip on the wheels. In both these cases, and especially for manual wheelchair users, it is of paramount importance that your gloves have sufficient grip.
Next, come flexibility and comfort. Your pair of gloves should be like your second skin. They must let you perform all hand functions with ease and not be made of a rigid material so that you partially lose out on finger functions. Also, all of us have come across gloves which lead to sweating of palms if worn for a moderately long time. This should be avoided as much as possible, by ensuring that the gloves are made up of breathable material.
You also might want to consider gloves that allow you to operate your smartphone while you are in your wheelchair. Gloves that allow you to use your smartphone (or other touch screen devices) either come with touch sensitivity finger tips or the ability to open up one or multiple fingers while keeping the glove on.
Distinguishing features of winter gloves
There are a few features by which you can distinguish gloves and these features have their own pros and cons.
Which glove feature is better suited to you really depends on the type of weather and your typical usage of wheelchair.
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Full fingered or open fingered gloves
This feature really is a toss up between the kind of flexibility you would want to retain with gloves on, versus the kind of cold weather you operate your wheelchair in.
If you are located in a region where winters are characterized by sub-zero temperatures, it is likely that you will have to go with full-fingered gloves.
Open finger gloves do allow you to operate your touch screen device, which can be a consideration for some.
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Material of the gloves
Gloves can be made up of a range of materials including leather, suede or lycra. If it snows often in your area in the winter, you better buy a leather pair, rather than a lycra pair as lycra is not waterproof.
Conversely, if it does not snow much or you are the kind of person who does not like to venture out on a snowy day, lycra may be the right material for you as it is more flexible than leather and helps you retain better use of fingers.
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Padding on the palm of the gloves
Well, this is an easy decision to make basis your wheelchair is powered or not. If its a manual wheelchair, you will be better off with more padding to avoid injury to your hands.
On the other hand, if you ride a power wheelchair, normal padding should be sufficient for you. In fact, more padding may prohibit optimal use of the joystick.
Read on for reviews of some of the best products available in the market. Hopefully, these will help you take a more informed decision on which pair of gloves to buy.
#1 Seibertron Original Multi-function Gloves
This product is made of synthetic leather and equipped with touchscreen on all fingers. These are lightweight gloves meant for a range of outdoor activities including operating a wheelchair.
Pros:
- Touchscreen equipped on all the finger-tips will help you operate mobile phones without taking off gloves.
- Water resistant gloves, suitable for snowy or rainy weather
- Retains maximum finger flexibility
- Can be used for multiple activities
Cons:
- You may not be comfortable with the thermal plastic rubber closure on the wrist.
- Slightly on the thinner side and may not be great in extreme cold.
You may also like Best Narrow Electric Wheelchairs
#2 Contraband Black Label 5050 Basic Leather Gloves
Primarily meant for a gym workout, this glove is a basic product for which the utility to price ratio is high. These gloves are available in 4 colors and are liked by both genders.
Pros:
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Value for money
- Light to medium padding on palm will save hands from callous formation
- Good warranty scheme: 1 year replacement guarantee for manufacturing defects
Cons:
- Half finger gloves, so not suitable for very cold weather
- No extra grip
#3 Hatch Shearstop Gloves
The product boasts of LiquiCell technology which enhances the comfort of the user. Grip pads on the palm are present for improved grip on the wheelchair tires.
Pros:
- LiquiCell technology adds to comfort during long periods of use and friction with wheelchair tires
- Separate thumb material for sweat removal
- Good retention of finger flexibility
Cons:
- Parts of the glove, made of terry cloth and lycra may not be waterproof, leading to discomfort in snowy or rainy weather
- May wear out faster if you are pushing your wheelchair for long
You may also like Top 10 Coolest Wheelchairs
#4 VAOO Bicycling Gloves
These pair of gloves, primarily made for cycling also do a good job for operating wheelchairs. Good value for money, this pair of gloves has extra raised grips made of silicone, on the index and middle finger for better hold.
No products found.Pros:
- Good fit and durable
- Padding on the knuckles for protection
- Air mesh fabric on the back of the hand lets air to circulate and does not lead to palm sweating even after long periods of use
- Good grip
Cons:
- Suede palm material may soak water in snowy weather and gloves may become uncomfortable to stay in
No products found.
#5 Kuyomens Cycling Leather Gloves
This is a unisex half finger genuine leather gloves that is more suited for moderately cold weather and are good for you if you are riding a manual wheelchair or power wheelchair. The product comes with adjustable leather wrist straps.
Pros:
- Adjustable leather straps on knuckles help you get a better fit
- All leather and water resistant
- Comfortable as well as sturdy enough to be used for manually operate wheelchairs
Cons:
- Not suitable for harsh winters as these are half finger gloves
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Final Verdict – Best Gloves for Wheelchair Users
The top 3 on the list are our outright favorites, when it comes to best gloves for wheelchair users. Of course, your choice will depend on your unique circumstances.
When it comes to suitability of gloves for operating a wheelchair, I would recommend that you should look at long periods of use to decide on which features are important for you.
For example, a pair of gloves may be comfortable to wear for a short while, but when used for a long time it may lead to discomfort. Discomfort may be because of the material the glove is made of or due to the inner lining of stitches that may press against your palm or fingers.
Also, extra palm padding is almost always a good idea, especially if you use your manual wheelchair yourself.
So, take your pick and invest wisely, keeping in mind that this is a small investment for your comfort, especially in cold winters. If you are looking for other wheelchair accessories, you can look at our articles on bags for wheelchairs and walkers and best seat belts for wheelchair users.