Last Updated on May 22, 2023 by Michael Brockbank
Weighted gloves are perhaps one of my favorite pieces of home exercise equipment. Usually, they’re pretty inexpensive and make a big impact on muscle development and calorie burn. In this review, I’m looking at the Fila Weighted Gloves. They do the job well, but not as profound as I would have liked.
When testing out items like weighted gloves, I play a lot of Xbox Kinect games. This is because I am a fan of gamifying fitness, and I can really get into the games on the Xbox.
What are Fila Weighted Gloves?
This weight glove set adds an extra pound to each hand. The idea behind it is to increase the amount of effort your muscles need to put into physical movement. Which means any exercise requiring the movement of your arms is amplified.
In many instances, this increases the number of calories you burn during a workout. I’ve also found how profound weighted gloves are when it comes to muscle toning and development.
I know I was a hurtin’ unit after using the Fila weighted gloves for a week while playing Avengers: Battle for Earth. However, I worked through the pain and can now use them without wincing in agony.
What Do These Gloves Do For You?
Weighted gloves with one pound each doesn’t really sound like a lot until you actually wear them. After about 15 to 20 minutes, you’ll definitely begin to feel the burn. This is especially true for someone who is as out of shape as I am.
The gloves act as part of resistance training. The more accustomed you are to wearing them, the stronger you feel. Another side effect is improving speed. I am considerably faster when playing Avengers without the gloves after playing while wearing them.
Do Fila Weighted Fitness Gloves Work?
I’m a fan of fitness gloves. I’ve experienced the impact these items make in terms of exercise, and they are often worth the investment.
After a month of continuously using the Fila weighted gloves, I still feel how tired my muscles get after a 20-minute game on the Xbox.
I am still in the process of comparing the actual calorie burn between the Fila weighted gloves and without. The game I am using right now isn’t a good tool for comparison because it relies on continuous effort instead of a steady movement, like in tennis.
Even if the calorie burn isn’t much different from playing without, there is a definite impact on muscles. After two days, it was difficult to raise my hands.
Take this morning, for example. I was burning more than 13 calories per minute while playing Avengers for about 25 minutes. I worked up a pretty good sweat and my shoulders are feeling it. It’s not as bad as it was that first week, but I can feel the tension in various parts of the upper body.
Another one of the side effects I am pleased about is seeing the difference in my upper body after using the Fila gloves for a month. There is a significant difference in appearance. I’ve also noticed a difference in brute strength as it takes less effort to move heavier objects around the house.
Now, if I can just get the rest of my body to do the same…
Where Can You Find Fila Weighted Gloves?
I’ve scoured various stores to find gloves that I like. I finally came across these at Kohl’s in Denver. There were on sale for about $19, and I’m not sure if the price is worth it.
In the past, I was using a 3lb set of Gold’s Gym weighted gloves, which worked amazingly well. They were only $10 at Walmart. So for nearly double the price, would you expect double the quality and workout.
Not hardly.
In fact, the seam across the wrist section of the right hand started coming loose. I never had this problem with the Gold’s Gym brand. In fact, those things are heavily used without a single imperfection in construction…aside form being ultra-stained with sweat.
I even went through several of the Fila gloves at the store examining the stitching, and most were showing signs of fraying while sitting on the shelf. I do this because of my past experience with a Target brand glove – which ripped the first day I tried them on.
Avoiding the material the stitching was attached to didn’t help. Instead of pulling the gloves on by the wrist, I would grab them by the material of the palm out of fear the thread would eventually snap. Call it intuition, but the seams on the other gloves led me to believe these wouldn’t last long – and I was right.
Pros and Cons of Weighted Fila Gloves
I like the look of weighted gloves with fingers, which is why I bought these in the first place. However, there are a few significant problems that are a game changer for me.
Pros:
Let’s start by looking at the positive side of the Fila weighted gloves.
- They’re comfortable
- The appearance is attractive
- There is an impact to muscle toning when used
- They breathe well when active for more than 20 minutes
- There is an increase in calorie burn during certain activities
Cons:
It’s hard to find the perfect tool. And although I wouldn’t call these gloves a complete waste of money, they do have a few problems.
- Less weight per glove for the money you spend
- Stitching doesn’t appear to be of the best quality
- They’re more expensive than other brands
Would I Suggest It to Friends and Family?
I am on the fence with the Fila weighted gloves in terms of endorsing them to others. While I do like the appearance and the feel, I’m not sure if it’s worth the money for substandard manufacturing when compared to other brands.
Like I said, the $10 set I bought at Walmart has been far superior in almost every regard. I just don’t like the feel of them when compared to the Fila gloves.
I might suggest trying them out, but make sure you keep the receipt. You’ll probably have to get them replaced soon.[template id=”3591″]
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