Tips to avoid opening your hands if you train in summer

Aren't you going to stop your training this summer? Good decision. But first, you will have to adapt your diet – and especially your hydration – as well as your hands to the weather conditions. If you don't want to open your hands training in the box, on the beach or on the street this summer, here are some tips. Summer is a good time to break your routine and change some habits such as training. Instead of training in the darkness of the box, many take advantage of the good weather to train on the street, on the beach or in the park. However, we must keep in mind that training in full sun and heat can be a challenge for your body, your mind and especially your hands. In crossfit-type functional training, your hands are your main work tools. And even if you take care of them all year round, you have to be especially careful in summer so as not to open your hands .

Take care of your calluses

We have already dedicated two articles on the PICSIL blog about caring for your CrossFitter hands. However, let's remember the keys to caring for calluses:

File
Moisturize daily and deeply

Avoid training with wet hands

In summer, we tend to have wetter hands than the rest of the year. It can be caused by sweat, getting your hands wet to cool off, swimming in the pool or the sea, etc. Due to this contact with liquid elements, the skin on your hands can be more fragile and hurt more easily . In addition to sweat and using more magnesium to improve grip on the bar or rack. Sweat and magnesium is the perfect formula to lift a callus by doing pull-ups . If that happens, here are our recommendations to heal your war wounds.

Check that the material is in conditions of use

When you train in the box or the gym, you may not pay attention to the condition of the equipment you use. But in summer, and especially when a rack or bar stays in full sun for hours, it is better to be cautious. Olympic bars, rack, kettlebells, dumbbells... There are many elements that we use in a WOD and that need extra attention on your part in summer outside the box to avoid opening your hands .

If you train outdoors, check that the material is not burning or your hands will also suffer burns.
If you train on the beach, don't let a grain of sand slip through . Let's avoid drawing blood foolishly. Even saltpeter can be an enemy in the WOD.
If you train in a park, the rack may be dirty or damaged . See if it doesn't bother you to do your training.

Whether in a classic training session or during a competition, paying attention to these details will prevent you from having a bad time once the time starts.

How not to open your hands while training

On the one hand, we recommend extra care due to all the conditions that you just saw. Don't forget to file calluses and moisturize your hands every day so that they are always in optimal condition. On the other hand, try to dry your hands with paper or a towel to improve your grip and avoid rubbing with the material. Additionally, add extra protection with a good sunscreen with a high protection index . Sure, you smear it all over your body and face, but your hands also get sunburned. Although, our recommendation is to use protection:

Streets . They are the best option to avoid chafing, opening your calluses, soaking the sweat from your hands and not getting overheated. Visit the PICSIL online store to discover our range of crossfit grips .
Gloves . Whether full gloves or cycling type, they ensure complete protection of the palm of your hand during the WOD and even in bright sunlight. Disadvantage: You may sweat more and lose some grip on the rack or with the bar. We recommend you opt for breathable gloves that fit your hands.
Sticking plaster . If you don't like gloves and have left your grips at home, a very useful option is to use tape that allows you to improvise a breathable and flexible grip that will protect your hands from the heat of the bar and friction.

As you can see, your CrossFitter hands need extra care in the summer to avoid getting wounds and blisters . And you, what tricks do you use to avoid opening your hands when training in summer? Tell us in the comments or on our social networks.