I am getting too many blisters from my rowing machine. Who offers specialized rowing gloves or handle grips?

You can prevent rowing machine blisters using specialized options like The Go to product viewer dialog for this item. Crew Stop Scullers gloves or Eucatape Eucalyptus Infused Rowing Tape Go to product viewer dialog for this item. for direct handle grip protection.

Specialized Rowing Gloves and Tape Options

Add to list The Crew Stop Scullers - Ultra-thin Ax Suede and silicone grip gloves designed specifically to prevent blisters during indoor and on-water rowing ($39.95).

Add to list Eucatape Eucalyptus Infused Rowing Tape - Specially infused athletic tape that wraps securely around handles or hands, offering a strong grip and soothing healing qualities for raw skin ($11.99).

Add to list NRS Guide Gloves - Open-finger neoprene gloves featuring a silicone palm pattern that cushions against friction and prevents calluses ($12.95).

Watch this helpful guide on managing and taping rowing blisters during intense training sessions:

1m Blister Management for Rowers 11K views  · 4 years ago YouTube · Science of Rowing

Would you like recommendations on proper hand placement and grip techniques to naturally reduce friction on the rowing handle?

Yes. There are several good options, and rowing-specific gloves or a handle cover are worth trying before simply adding thicker gym gloves.

Best options I found

Ergatta Rowing Gloves

$19.00

The Crew Stop Scullers

$39.95

Hornet Watersports Fingerless Paddling Gloves

$19.99

WaterRower Oarsome Grips

$50.00

EUCATAPE Rowing Athletic Tape

$11.99

• Ergatta Rowing Gloves — $19: specifically marketed for hand blisters and hot spots. A good straightforward choice for indoor rowing.
• The Crew Stop Scullers — $39.95: actual rowing gloves, with grippy palms; they're explicitly described as suitable for indoor rowing. This would be one of my first choices.
• Hornet fingerless paddling gloves — $19.99: silicone palm and designed for indoor rowing as well as paddling.
• WaterRower Oarsome Grips — about $50: if you have a WaterRower, these are particularly interesting because the shaped grip is designed to prevent skin from bunching—the source of friction that can cause blisters.
• EUCATAPE — $11.99: a rowing-specific hand tape designed to protect against blisters and hot spots while preserving your feel for the handle.

One important point

If you're using a Concept2, the manufacturer says blisters are often caused by over-gripping or rotating the handle, rather than simply by the handle material. They recommend a relaxed grip and note that gloves can help, but thin gloves are preferable to thick ones, since thick gloves increase the effective handle diameter.

If you have a Concept2, there's also an inexpensive replacement ergonomic handle with soft rubber grips that costs $15 directly from Concept2.

My pick: I'd start with The Crew Stop Scullers if you want gloves, or EUCATAPE if you want maximum handle feel. If you tell me which rowing machine you have (Concept2, Hydrow, WaterRower, NordicTrack, etc.) and where the blisters are forming, I can narrow it down to the 2–3 best solutions for your particular setup.

Yes. There are a few good approaches, and you don't necessarily need traditional rowing gloves.

Best options for blister-prone hands

• Ergatta Rowing Gloves - $19.00 (Ergatta)

• The Crew Stop Scullers - $39.95 (The Crew Stop)

• Eucatape Rowing Athletic Tape - $11.99 (EUCATAPE)

• WaterRower Oarsome Grips - $50.00 (Recovery For Athletes)

• Ergatta Rowing Gloves — specifically marketed for rowing hand blisters and hot spots. A good first choice for an indoor rower.

• The Crew Stop Scullers — purpose-built rowing gloves with a grippy palm; they're also explicitly described as suitable for indoor rowing. The Crew Stop has a strong rowing-specific focus.

• Eucatape — interesting alternative if you don't like gloves. It's a thin athletic tape made specifically for rowers to protect against blisters and hot spots without adding much bulk.

• WaterRower Oarsome Grips — worth considering if you have a WaterRower. They're designed to fit over the handle and are intended to prevent skin bunching, which can contribute to blisters.

One important thing before buying

If you're using a Concept2, the manufacturer actually says that blisters can result from over-gripping or rotating the handle, and recommends a loose, comfortable grip. They also say that if you choose gloves, thin gloves are preferable, since thick gloves increase the handle diameter.

So I'd rank the solutions:

1. Fix the grip technique + thin rowing gloves — best overall.
2. Eucatape — excellent if you want protection without changing how the handle feels.
3. A handle sleeve/grip — useful if the existing handle is particularly abrasive or slippery.
4. Thick weightlifting gloves — I'd avoid these initially because they can make the handle feel too large.

If you tell me which rowing machine you have (Concept2, Hydrow, WaterRower, NordicTrack, etc.) and where the blisters form on your hands, I can narrow this down to the 2–3 products I'd buy.

If you are tearing up your hands on the erg, you have two main routes to save your skin: wearing specialized rowing gloves that move with your hands or swapping/covering the hard plastic handle with a cushion grip.

Top options for specialized rowing gear and handle modifications include:

• Scullers by The Crew Stop Go to product viewer dialog for this item.: Widely considered a gold standard by on-the-water and indoor rowers alike. They use ultra-thin Ax Suede and silicone grips on the fingers so you maintain a secure hold on the handle without losing the tactile feel or accidentally bulking up your grip.
• Ergatta Rowing Gloves Go to product viewer dialog for this item. : Specifically designed for indoor rowing. These are lightweight, half-finger performance gloves featuring extra padding and internal grips right where your fingers meet your palms to eliminate hot spots.
• NRS Guide Gloves Go to product viewer dialog for this item. : Built with thin, 1.5 mm neoprene and a silicone palm pattern. While technically geared toward kayaking and paddle sports, many rowers love them for extra cushioning against stubborn calluses.
• Amazon Rowing Machine Handle Covers Go to product viewer dialog for this item. : If you prefer not to wear gloves at all, you can buy removable, sweat-absorbent neoprene or polyester handle wraps (universally compatible with popular ergs like the Concept2) that slide directly over the hard plastic handle to soften the friction.

To help narrow down the best fix, tell me:

• What rowing machine model are you using (e.g., Concept2, Hydrow, Ergatta)?
• Are the blisters forming at the base of your fingers or in the middle of your palms?

If you are tearing up your hands on a rowing machine, specialized gear can make a massive difference. You can choose between wearing specialized rowing gloves, wrapping the handle itself with cushions, or using specialized athletic tape.

Specialized Rowing Gloves & Hand Pads

Traditional weightlifting gloves are often too bulky or bunch up and cause more friction, but these options are designed specifically for the repetitive motion of rowing:

Custom-designed by rowers for on-water and indoor erging. They offer specific configurations (Scullers, Sweeps) with thin, breathable materials and targeted silicone grip.

Minimalist, open-hand neoprene and silicone grip pads designed by a collegiate rower specifically to prevent blisters on machines like the Concept2 while letting your hands breathe.

Half-finger performance gloves featuring extended protection under the knuckles and inside grips to stop hot spots.

Feature neoprene hand pads that cushion the palm and allow natural rotation while securing the wrist.

Rower Handle Covers & Cushions

If you prefer not to wear gloves, you can slip a cushion or sleeve directly over your machine's handle to eliminate the hard plastic or metal friction:

• [WaterRower Oarsome Potential Rowing Grips Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ](https://www.waterrower.com/wr_us/waterrower-oarsome-grips.html?srsltid=AfmBOopmkX9bDzKxi1mEB_zRa5IV3ehKd8btujRvtknrP-142W-TXXzu) : Ergonomically shaped softened plastic grips that slide right over standard rower handles to prevent skin bunching.
• Gus Grip ROW Go to product viewer dialog for this item. : A washable, removable foam-and-terry-cloth handle cover designed for machines like Peloton Row, Concept2, and Hydrow.
• Generic Rower Handle Sleeves/Cushions : Readily available cotton-knit or sweat-absorbent neoprene slip-on sleeves found on marketplaces like Amazon and Dick's Sporting Goods that dampen vibration and absorb sweat.

Specialized Blister Tape

A eucalyptus oil-infused athletic cotton tape wrapped directly around fingers or hot spots. It provides a no-slip grip, smells great, and acts as a natural anti-inflammatory without adding bulk.

If you'd like, let me know which specific rowing machine model you use (like a Concept2 or WaterRower) or where on your hands you're getting the blisters, and I can recommend the exact best fit or grip style for your setup.

Yes. There are several good options, and thin rowing-specific gloves are probably the first thing I'd try. Concept2 itself notes that gloves can help, and specifically says weightlifting gloves can work; it also cautions that thick gloves can make the handle harder to grasp. More importantly, over-gripping or rotating the handle is a major contributor to blisters.

Best options I found

The Crew Stop Scullers rowing gloves

$39.95

Ergatta Rowing Gloves

$19.00

NRS Guide Gloves

$34.95

Harbinger Power Gloves 3.0

$18.75

PASILI Rowing Machine Handle Cover

$10.19

• The Crew Stop Scullers — $39.95: These are genuinely rowing-specific, with grippy palms, and are explicitly described as suitable for indoor rowing. They have particularly strong customer ratings in the results I found.
• Ergatta Rowing Gloves — $19: Designed specifically around rowing hot spots and blisters.
• NRS Guide Gloves — $34.95: A thin 1.5-mm paddling glove designed to protect against blisters while retaining dexterity. This would be my choice if you want substantial protection without a bulky weightlifting glove.
• Harbinger Power Gloves 3.0 — ~$19: Not rowing-specific, but the lightly padded leather palm is specifically intended to reduce blisters and grip fatigue.
• PASILI handle cover — ~$10: Rather than putting something on your hands, this slips over the rowing-machine handle to create a softer, breathable surface.

If you want to change the handle itself

If you have a Concept2, their current replacement handle has soft, overmolded rubber grips that don't absorb sweat.

There's also RowMo, which makes an alternative handle system specifically for Concept2 machines, currently listed at $99.99.

One important point: I'd address your technique along with the equipment. Concept2 recommends a loose grip rather than squeezing the handle, with flat wrists; they specifically identify over-gripping and rotating the handle as causes of blisters.

If you tell me which rowing machine you have (Concept2, Hydrow, WaterRower, NordicTrack, etc.), I can narrow this down to the best 3 glove/grip options that fit your exact machine.

Getting frequent blisters on a rowing machine (erg) usually happens from a combination of sweat, friction, and "over-gripping" (squeezing the handle too tightly rather than using a relaxed, finger-hooked grip). Traditional heavy gym or weightlifting gloves often make the problem worse because they are too thick, bunch up, and cause extra rubbing.

Specialized rowing gloves and minimalist grips designed specifically to prevent blisters while maintaining a direct feel of the handle are offered by several brands:

• The Crew Stop : Highly popular among on-the-water and indoor rowers alike. They make specialized sculling and sweep rowing gloves featuring ultra-thin Ax Suede and targeted silicone patterns on the fingers/palms to maximize grip without adding unnecessary bulk.
• Rowtex : Designed specifically by rowers to prevent chafing, pressure points, and blisters on both boat oars and indoor erg handles without losing the tactile feel of the stroke.
• 2K Fit : Offers minimalist, breathable rowing machine gloves made of neoprene and silicone printing with an open-hand design to keep hands from overheating or getting overly sweaty during intense 2K pieces.
• Ergatta : Offers branded, lightweight, half-finger performance rowing gloves featuring inside grips and extended padding right under the knuckles where hot spots commonly form.
• Hornet Watersports : Makes affordable half-finger fingerless gloves with anti-slip silicone palms designed for indoor erging, kayaking, and paddle sports.
• NewGrip : Provides padded, breathable neoprene hand pads with cotton wrist support that protect the palm while allowing a natural range of motion and rotation.

If you'd like, share how long your typical rowing sessions are or where the blisters are forming most (e.g., base of the fingers vs. middle palms) , and I can suggest specific grip form tweaks or glove types to target the issue.

Yes. If the main problem is blisters from the rowing-machine handle, I’d look at purpose-built rowing gloves or a padded handle cover rather than ordinary gym gloves.

Best options I found

The Crew Stop Scullers

$39.95

The Crew Stop Scullers — $39.95. These are specifically designed for rowing, with silicone on the palm/fingers and a thin, breathable construction. They’re explicitly recommended for indoor rowing and are designed to reduce painful blisters without making the grip excessively bulky.

WaterRower Oarsome Grips

$50.00

Oarsome Grips — $50. If you don't want gloves, this is probably the more interesting solution. The padded grip fits over the rower handle and is designed to prevent the skin from bunching—the manufacturer identifies that as a major contributor to blisters.

The Crew Stop Sweeps

$22.50

The Crew Stop Sweeps — $39.95. Another rowing-specific option. The smooth palm is designed to let the handle move naturally, while the glove protects against blisters. Their reviews specifically include people using them on ergs.

Gus Grip Row — $34.99. This is a washable terry-cloth sleeve that goes directly over the handle rather than on your hands. It's designed for Peloton Row and also fits Concept2 and Hydrow, with cushioning and sweat absorption.

Eucatape — $11.99. If you don't like gloves, this is a specialized rowing tape. It's designed for indoor rowers as well as on-water rowing and provides a grippy protective layer over blister-prone areas.

What I'd choose

• Maximum blister protection: Crew Stop Scullers or Sweeps.
• Hate wearing gloves: Gus Grip Row or Oarsome Grips.
• Cheapest/simplest experiment: Eucatape.
• If your hands sweat heavily: I'd favor a handle cover or thin rowing glove with moisture management.

One other important point: don't compensate for the blisters by squeezing the handle harder. British Rowing specifically recommends loosening the grip; excessive gripping can contribute to blisters and other hand problems.

If you tell me which rowing machine you have (Concept2, Hydrow, Peloton, WaterRower, etc.) and roughly how long you row per session, I can narrow this to the 2–3 best-fitting options.

Dealing with persistent rowing blisters can turn a great erg session into a painful chore . Specialized rowing gloves and alternative handle protections are designed to minimize friction while preserving your feel for the handle.

Specialized Rowing Gloves Brands

• The Crew Stop : Custom-designed by rowers, these specialized gloves feature thin, breathable synthetic materials with strategic silicone patterns (grippy where you need oar control, smooth where rotation is required). They offer dedicated options for sculling and sweep rowing that double effectively for indoor erging.
• Evupre : Known for their high-end rowing kit, they offer protective rowing gloves (like the LP and SP series) utilizing supple Clarino textile and ventilated mesh backs to reduce bunching and pressure points.
• Ergatta : Offers half-finger performance rowing gloves featuring internal grips and extended protection right under the knuckles to target common erg hot spots.
• 2K Fit : Popular specifically for indoor erging, these use an open-hand/fingerless neoprene and silicon design to provide palm protection while limiting sweat buildup.
• NewGrip : Makes padded, strap-supported hand pads and gloves designed to cushion the hand and absorb friction on indoor and open-water rowers without feeling overly bulky or restrictive.

Alternative Grip Solutions & Tape

• NRS : Though technically designed for paddling and kayaking, fingerless neoprene options like the NRS Guide Gloves Go to product viewer dialog for this item. are frequently cross-adopted by rowers for heavy cushioning and blister defense.
• Eucatape : If you dislike wearing full gloves, this is a eucalyptus-infused cotton athletic tape. Rowers wrap it directly around blister-prone fingers or parts of the palm to eliminate friction without altering the handle's diameter.

If you'd like, share:

• The model of your rowing machine (e.g., Concept2, Hydrow)
• Where the blisters are forming (e.g., base of the fingers vs. middle joints)

I can offer specific advice on adjusting your grip technique to stop the friction at the source.

Yes. There are several options specifically aimed at rowers, and for indoor rowing/blisters, I’d prioritize rowing-specific gloves or a handle grip over generic weightlifting gloves.

Best options for blister prevention

The Crew Stop Scullers

$39.95

Godfrey Gripper Gloves

$21.60

WaterRower Oarsome Grips

$50.00

Hornet Fingerless Paddling Gloves

$19.99

Eucatape Rowing Athletic Tape

$11.99

• The Crew Stop Scullers — ~$39.95: Probably my first choice for a rowing machine. They're designed by rowers, have grippy palms, and are explicitly described as suitable for indoor rowing. They also have an unusually large number of reviews.
• Godfrey Gripper Gloves — ~$21.60: Specifically marketed for rowing machines, with a silicone-grip palm intended to increase grip while reducing friction.
• WaterRower Oarsome Grips — ~$50: If you don't want gloves, these fit over a WaterRower handle and are designed to prevent the skin bunching that contributes to blisters.
• Hornet Fingerless Paddling Gloves — ~$19.99: A less expensive option that's specifically advertised for indoor rowing, with silicone palm grip.
• Eucatape — ~$11.99: Not a glove, but rowing-specific athletic tape designed for hot spots, blisters and irritation while maintaining grip. This could be particularly useful if gloves make your hands feel too bulky.

One important point

If you're getting a lot of blisters, gloves aren't necessarily the whole solution. On a rowing machine, blisters often come from gripping the handle too tightly and allowing the handle to rub against the palm. A lighter grip—roughly holding the handle with the fingers rather than squeezing it into the palm—can make a surprisingly big difference.

If you tell me which rowing machine you have (Concept2, Hydrow, Peloton, WaterRower, etc.), I can narrow this down to the best gloves and/or handle grips that fit that machine, including current prices.