review: Grace & Able compression gloves

I’ve always struggled with pain in my hands which makes gripping and repetitive motions for long periods of time challenging. I’ve bought and made various compression gloves and devices to help with that in the past but haven’t found a great solution, so I was delighted when Grace & Able offered to send me a pair of their joint support gloves to try.

The company was founded by an arthritis sufferer and a hand therapist, with the goal of creating functional, attractive, and comfortable joint support products – that mission really resonated with me!

Unlike the previous gloves I bought which look like medical aids, these gloves are available in a range of stylish colours (you can see them all here). I, of course, opted for the lush plum purple:

These gloves are slightly thicker than my old Handeze therapeutic gloves because they’re made from a breathable cotton blend which is more comfortable than a fully synthetic material. They also have much better finger coverage than my old support gloves, supporting your finger joints and leaving just your fingertips free for dexterity.

The design is very clever – these aren’t just regular fingerless gloves! They’re designed with a gusset between each finger, so the gloves have the correct 3D shape to support all around your fingers with even pressure. The thumb is correctly positioned to offer good support at the base of the thumb, where I have the most discomfort. The seams are well finished and comfortable (unlike my old pair that I had to wear inside out so the seams didn’t irritate me!), and the gloves provide a light, supportive pressure.

I’ve been wearing them for the last few weeks to test them out. As well as wearing them while crafting and typing, I’ve been driving in them and I find they help so much with the discomfort in my hands when I grip the wheel for an extended period. My finger joints also tend to get cold and stiff with the airflow from the car’s vents, and wearing these gloves alleviates that while not overheating my hands.

With the gentle warm support of gloves, I can crochet for longer without my hands getting sore. It took a minute to get my amigurumi tension back to normal with the gloves on, but for larger projects that don’t need amigurumi-tight tension, you wouldn’t need any adjustment time. The gloves don’t get in the way of the crocheting, as you still have full control of your work with your fingertips. And an unexpected added bonus: my tensioning finger loves how the glove protects it from having a groove worn into it by my yarn as I crochet – this is a big improvement on my homemade finger protector! 😀

They’re easy to hand wash, and air dry overnight. I thought that the rich purple colour may fade with washing, but my concern was unwarranted: while the washing water did turn slightly pink on the first wash, the colour didn’t fade at all, and they still look as good as new after several washes.

Tip: I use the same Soak Wash that I use to wash all my handknits and delicates! The Pineapple fragrance is sweet and fruity, or the Scentless option is perfect if fragrance bothers you.

I’ve also noticed another benefit of compression gloves that I haven’t heard anyone else mention before, so maybe this is just me, but if you suffer from anxiety, wearing compressive gloves may help you there too! The light pressure on my fingers is like a soothing weighted blanket on my hands, and it helps ground me and make me feel more secure.

Verdict

If you ever suffer from hand pain or stiffness while crafting, typing or driving, or you have arthritis (or anxiety!) I’d definitely recommend you try a pair of joint support gloves. Grace & Able compression gloves are good quality, breathable, available in a range of stylish colours, and provide even support to all your finger joints while being thin enough to let you get things done.

Note: Do measure your hands and check the size guide before you order. If you’re between sizes, I definitely recommend sizing down, not up, as they need to be snug to be effective. My size was exactly halfway between Small and Medium, and the Small size fits me very well, offering gentle compression without any risk of cutting off circulation.

In addition to taking regular breaks and stretching my hands, I’ve been wearing my gloves to crochet, type, read, cross stitch, and do diamond painting. I’ve also found myself reaching for them to keep my hands warm and supported when I’m sitting around at home (especially in these cold wintery months!) and while driving. They’re really helping me, and, if you’re looking for extra hand support, I hope they’ll help you too!

Find your Grace & Able compression gloves here >>

As always, I was not compensated for this review, and these are my honest opinions! If you order through my links, I’ll receive a small commission at no cost to you.