Having sweaty hands while playing video games can make it more challenging and be quite annoying. Especially if you enjoy being competitive or playing for hours, you need a way to control the hand sweat so you can focus on winning instead of wiping your hands and your controller constantly. Below, I’ll discuss some of the best ways I’ve found to solve this problem.
What Causes Hand Sweating on Game Controllers?
People who experience ‘above normal’ hand sweating most likely have a mild medical condition known as Palmar Hyperhidrosis. This simply means the individual’s palms and hands have over productive sweat glands. Doctor’s know little about the cause, other than the condition is genetic, and that it’s linked to an over-stimulated sympathetic nervous system.
There are ways to treat clammy hands; but in this article, I will focus only on solutions specifically for hand sweating while gaming.
What Can You Use to Stop Hand Sweat When Playing Video Games?
Here are 6 things I’ve found that can help with this problem…
DryHands
This is what many athletes use in the gym to have a better grip on handle bars and other workout equipment. But guess what? It also works for game controllers. You just rub it on your hands, and you’re good to go for a few hours.
Pros:
- Improves your grip
- Non sticky, powdery, or greasy
- Small bottle and easy to keep with you
Cons;
- Must be reapplied every so often
- Replenishable item that you need to keep buying
Gaming Gloves
Gaming gloves are made of moisture wicking material that can help you keep your grip and keep your hands from leaking sweat all over your controller. If you’re somewhat serious about gaming, you’ll probably want a pair of these. They can help reduce slippage while keeping your hands cool and comfortable.
Pros:
- Moisture wicking material keeps sweat from getting on your controller
- Has rubber grips to prevent slipping
- Non-replenishable. Buy once and use for a really long time.
Cons:
- Upfront investment
- Can’t try them on first if purchased on Amazon. Some users had to send them back for a different size.
Check Out Gaming Gloves on Amazon
Air flow game controller
When I first discovered an airflow game controller, I was quite surprised it was a real thing. This told me that if a company is going to invest in making a game controller specifically to keep your hands cool and prevent sweating, then I’m definitely not the only one with this problem.
An airflow game controller has built in fans that keep the air flowing to your hands. This helps prevent your hands from sweating keeping them cool and dry. It’s rather genius.
They make them for all types of gaming consoles. They also make attachments if you don’t want to upfront the cost of a controller.
Pros:
- One-time purchase
- Convenient because it’s already there built into the controller
- Most have multiple speeds to fit your preference
Cons:
- Not all gaming consoles offer airflow controls.
- Expensive (unless you get just the attachment)
- Can be noisy
Controller Grips
If you can’t afford an airflow controller right now, you may want to consider controller grips. They’re usually made of rubber and you stick them onto your existing controller. They can help with your grip, as well as wick away the sweat and moisture from your hands.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Easy to apply
- Improves grip and comfort
Cons:
- Some people claim they smell funky
- If you don’t end up liking them, they’re not easy to remove.
Gamersack
If you want to keep it simple and avoid putting any kind of chalk or antiperspirant on your hands, a Gamersack could come in hand-y. Its an ultra-absorbent beaded sack that you can use to squeeze a few times while you’re gaming to wick away the moisture from your hands and palms.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Keeps you from having to apply any chalk or chemicals to your hands
Cons:
- Have to multitask or pause your game to wipe your hand sweat on it
- Will need to be washed or replaced over time
Antiperspirant Hand Lotion
If you suffer from hand sweating in general, and not just while gaming, you’ll probably learn to love antiperspirant hand lotion. Antiperspirant hand lotion works by blocking the sweat ducts when it’s applied. Whenever you sweat, it activates the antiperspirant and sweat is kept from reaching the skin’s surface. I’ve written a review on Carpe antiperspirant hand lotion, which happens to be what I use. You can read my review on Carpe Antiperspirant Lotion here.
Pros:
- It stops hand sweating altogether and not just gaming
- Inexpensive
- No side effects
Cons:
- Have to apply it twice a day (once in the morning and once at night)
- Takes a couple of weeks of regular use to get maximum results
- Have to keep replenishing
While choosing one of these options can help you keep your hands dry next time you’re playing your favorite video game, you may want to try a couple combinations of things, such as using controller grips while applying DryHands. Keeping your hands dry just may give you an advantage in winning your next battle, race, or whatever adventure you find yourself enveloped in.
Happy gaming!