Pushing My Limits: How Weighted Gloves Took My P90X Workouts to the Next Level
I've been doing P90X for a while, and when I wanted a new challenge I started adding weighted gloves to my routine. They gave me a new level of resistance and helped me build strength and endurance faster across nearly every workout in the program. Here's what changed, workout by workout.
What Are Weighted Gloves and What Did They Change in My Workouts?
Weighted gloves are gloves with small weights built in, typically adjustable from one to five pounds. I picked a pair that fit comfortably and gave me a good grip, and the added weight let me put extra resistance on my upper body movements. When I first started, my arms fatigued faster and I needed more breaks — but after a few weeks of consistent use, my strength and endurance improved noticeably, and workouts that used to be tough got more comfortable. The added resistance also helped tone my arms and shoulders by engaging more muscle at once.
How Did Weighted Gloves Change Kenpo X and Cardio X?
Kenpo X is P90X's cardio kickboxing segment, built around jab, cross, hook, and uppercut combinations thrown at the air. Wearing weighted gloves through those combinations made my arms activate more, which boosted muscular endurance and helped build arm and shoulder strength. In Cardio X, the added resistance showed up during jogging in place, jumping jacks, and the kickboxing-style moves borrowed from Kenpo X — all exercises with a lot of arm movement, which is exactly where the gloves make a difference.
Which Core and Ab Exercises Got Harder With Weighted Gloves?
In Core Synergistics, wearing the gloves during the Plank to Chaturanga Run — holding a plank while running the knees toward the chest — made my core and upper body work noticeably harder. The Prison Cell Push-Up was another one where the gloves engaged my triceps and shoulders more than usual. In Ab Ripper X, I wore the gloves through the bicycle, the cross-leg/wide-leg sit-up, the Fifer scissors, and the Mason twist — all dynamic core moves where the added resistance made each rep more demanding and helped build more strength and definition over time.
What About Plyometrics and Yoga X?
Plyometrics is P90X's explosive, jump-heavy workout, and I wore the gloves through jump squats, jump lunges, and the Jump Knee Tucks exercise — all moves that call for explosive power, which the added resistance helped build over time. In Yoga X, holding poses like warrior and chair for longer periods with the gloves on engaged my arms and shoulders more than the poses alone, which supported muscle development and endurance during a normally low-resistance workout.
Train With Adjustable Weighted Gloves
S.W.A.G. Adjustable Weighted Gloves
Adjustable finger and hand weights let you dial in resistance for Kenpo X, core work, plyometrics, and everyday training.
Weighted Gloves for P90X FAQ
Yes. They can add resistance to Kenpo X, Cardio X, Core Synergistics, Ab Ripper X, Plyometrics, and Yoga X, since all of them involve arm movement or holding positions.
Start at the lightest adjustable setting and add weight gradually as your hands, wrists, and forearms adapt.
Kenpo X combinations are thrown at the air. S.W.A.G. weighted gloves are built for that kind of shadow boxing only — never a heavy bag, mitts, pads, a partner, or sparring.
Yes. Wearing them during moves like the bicycle or Mason twist adds resistance to the arm swing involved, which can make those reps more demanding.
They can be, but start at the lightest setting — explosive, jump-heavy moves already add joint stress before any extra weight.
Wearing them while holding poses like warrior or chair adds resistance to the hold, which can help build additional arm and shoulder strength over time.
Take Your P90X Routine Further
From Kenpo X punches to Ab Ripper X core work to holding a Yoga X pose, an adjustable pair of weighted gloves lets you dial in resistance that matches your training level and grows with you.
