I have been playing guitar since I was 7 years old. I am 71 now and lately I've been having trouble with my thumb getting numb to a point where I could not hold my guitar pick after a while. I tried cortisone shots. They would work for a while but then it would return in a few weeks and actually be worse. I was running out of options so I thought I would give this a try. Long story short, this has been a God send for me. I can play the guitar again for as long as I want without my thumb getting numb now!
The Thumb Stabilizer
- Stabilizes without locking
- Type at full speed
- Backed by experts and research
I only take them off at night or when getting my hands wet. After spending hundreds of dollars on thumb splints, these are the most comfortable things l've ever worn. My thumbs start hurting when the gloves come off.
Our thumb stabilizer provides extra support at the base of your thumb.
It contains a pad that cushions the CMC joint and so provides support for repetitive thumb motions.
| Size | Inches | Centimeters |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 7″–7.5″ | 18–19 cm |
| Medium | 7.5″–8.5″ | 19–21.5 cm |
| Large | 8.5″–9″ | 21.5–23 cm |
Finding your size
It takes a minute, and you only measure once.
- Measure. Wrap a soft tape measure around your palm at its widest point, just below the knuckles, with your thumb relaxed out to the side. No tape measure? A strip of paper or a piece of string works just as well — wrap it round, mark where it meets, then hold it against a ruler. Measure your dominant hand, or whichever is wider. Each order includes a left and a right, so one size covers the pair.
- Read. Keep it snug but not tight, and note the measurement.
- Match. Find your number in the chart above.
On the border between two sizes? Choose the smaller one. A snug fit at the base of the thumb gives the best support, and the fabric gives a little as it settles in.
What matters is consistency.
Our thumb stabilizer provides support over time, so steady daily use is what builds results.
Here's what our customers report:
- Days 1–2: Subtle shifts. Slightly easier movement, a little less tightness by the end of a session. Nothing dramatic yet.
- Weeks 2–3: Less stiffness, better range of motion, that low-grade ache at the base of the thumb finally letting up.
- Weeks 4–6: Most people hit their stride here. The cumulative effect of consistent support at the CMC joint shows up in how the thumb feels during and after long sessions — not just while you're wearing it.
- Ongoing: Continued use maintains results. Stopping generally puts the full load back through the joint, and the old tightness tends to creep back over several weeks.
One note: Our stabilizer is a wearable support, not a medical device or a treatment for arthritis. If you've been diagnosed with a joint condition or you're recovering from an injury, check with your doctor before use.
What is it made of?
Made from a blend of synthetic materials: polyester fiber, nylon, spandex, and a foam insert.
Allergy & sensitive skin information
- Latex-free. Contains no latex.
How do I care for it?
Hand wash gently in cool water with a mild detergent, then lay it flat to dry in the shade, out of direct sunlight.
What people actually say
First brace that didn't kill my typing
"Been writing code for 22 years and my right thumb finally hit a wall last spring. I tried a thumb spica from the pharmacy first, but it turned my whole hand stiff. I couldn't reach the shift key without rotating my wrist.
Then I bought a $90 rigid CMC brace I saw recommended on Reddit and the plastic edge dug into the base of my palm so badly by hour two I had a red welt. This is the first one I've worn that actually lets me type properly. Spacebar feels normal, modifier keys are easy, and my thumb's not on fire by 3 PM."
Literally saved my career
"My orthopedist said the next step was a cortisone shot, but my colleague had cortisone twice for the same thing and ended up with worse tendon damage, so I asked if there was anything to try first. He shrugged and said to try a soft stabilizer.
I'm an accountant and I was about three weeks away from telling my boss I had to step back as I couldn't make it through a long session without my right thumb seizing up.
Eight weeks of wearing this through every workday and that's just not happening anymore, so glad I bought it."
That needle feeling in my joint is gone
"My hand therapist suggested this after I described the way my thumb would start feeling like there was a needle pressing into the joint about an hour into my afternoon.
She said most of the clinical braces she sees aren't actually built for the repetitive micro-impacts of keyboard work because they're built for resting an injured joint, not using one.
Three weeks of wearing it through my workday and that needle feeling doesn't show up anymore, even on heavy editing days."
That spacebar sting, gone by week two
"Switched to remote work three years ago and eight-hour keyboard days finally caught up with me. Every spacebar tap felt like a sharp sting at the base of my thumb by 2 PM. Two weeks of wearing this, and that sting just doesn't show up anymore."
Outlasted every Amazon brace I've tried
"Three months of daily wear and nothing's gone slack, the pad's still firm, and the elastic still snaps back. The two Amazon ones I tried before this both wore out inside a month."
My desk was an ergonomic graveyard until this
"Two vertical mice, a $400 split keyboard, a trackball, a wrist rest, three pairs of compression gloves, and two thumb braces from the pharmacy. None of it touched the actual pain at the base of my thumb.
I'd genuinely started believing my hand was the problem, not the setup. Six weeks of wearing this and the thumb pain has finally backed off. Everything else I bought was guarding the wrong thing."
Came faster than my other orders
"Ordered Tuesday evening expecting the usual seven-to-ten working day wait you get with most online shops.
Tracking email landed the same night, dispatch confirmation by Wednesday morning, on my doorstep by Friday lunchtime.
The whole thing felt like a real product from a real company before I'd even typed a word. Glad I purchased from here."
Got the wrong size, swapped without drama
"Ordered a Small to start and it sat way too tight on my thumb, couldn't keep it on more than half an hour before my fingers went a bit tingly. Emailed support Monday morning expecting the usual back-and-forth.
Got a prepaid return label that afternoon and confirmation the Large was going out the next day. Had the replacement on Wednesday. Fits properly, no more tingling, no chasing anyone down.
First online return I've done in years that didn't eat half a day of admin."
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The Thumb Stabilizer
Finally, SupportDone right.
Here's why the cheap ones failed — and we don't.
Finally, SupportDone right.
Here's why the cheap ones failed — and we don't.
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Our Thumb Stabilizer
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Other Thumb Braces
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Stabilizes the joint without locking the thumb - so you can actually type at full speed
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Leaves your fingertips and thumb tip completely free for full keyboard feel
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Slim and flat enough to wear discreetly in meetings or under a shirt sleeve
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Easy to slip on with one hand
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Holds the joint firmly through a full 8-hour workday, even when your hands get sweaty
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FAQ
Answers to the questions we get most
Slide your hand in like a fingerless glove, with the firmer contoured part sitting snugly across the base of your thumb where it meets the wrist. Your four fingers stay free. For the first few sessions, wear it for 15 to 30 minutes so your hand settles into it. After that, wear it for as long as you are comfortable.
Finding your size
It takes a minute, and you only measure once.
1. Measure — Wrap a soft tape measure around your palm at its
widest point, just below the knuckles, with your thumb relaxed
out to the side. No tape
measure? A strip of paper or piece of string works just as well:
wrap it round, mark where it meets, then hold it against a ruler.
Measure your dominant hand, or whichever is wider. Each order
includes a left and a right, so one size covers the pair.
2. Read — Keep it snug but not tight, and note the measurement.
3. Match — Find your number below:
Small 7"–7.5" (18–19 cm)
Medium 7.5"–8.5" (19–21.5 cm)
Large 8.5"–9" (21.5–23 cm)
On the border between two sizes? Choose the smaller one. A snug
fit at the base of the thumb gives the best support, and the
fabric gives a little as it settles in.
Hand wash gently in cool water with a mild detergent, then lay it flat to dry in the shade, out of direct sunlight. Please skip the tumble dryer and do not use bleach.
It is shaped to support the areas most affected by these. It runs along the thumb side of the wrist and cradles the base joint at the inner palm, and it supports thumb movement where catching sensations like trigger thumb are felt.
It is a daily support to wear during activity, not a medical device or a cure, so if you have a complex hand history we would always suggest a word with your hand specialist first.
Many customers came to us after rigid splints and compression gloves did not suit them, and found this a gentler, more comfortable support.
It is made from a blend of synthetic materials: polyester fibre, nylon, spandex, and a foam insert. It is latex free and contains no wool, no lanolin, and no mammalian derived fibres, so it suits those with an alpha gal allergy.
If your skin reacts to polyester or spandex specifically, please know they are present before you order.
Yes. Every order comes as a matched pair, one shaped for your left hand and one for your right, so you receive both. We are not able to split pairs or sell two of the same side.
Every order is covered by our 60 day money back guarantee with free returns. That gives you plenty of time to wear it through a few sessions and see how it suits your hands. If it is not right for you, write to us and we will sort it out.
We are a small American brand that ships from partner warehouses in several countries including the UK, Canada, and Australia, so most orders travel a shorter distance to reach you. Your shipping cost and delivery estimate show at checkout before you pay.
Orders are usually dispatched within 1 to 2 business days and arrive within about 5 to 7 business days after that, depending on where you are.
We ship internationally. Your price shows in your local currency, and all shipping costs and totals appear at checkout before you pay, with no hidden fees.
A tracking link follows by email once your order is on its way.
See Why 150,000+ People With Sore Thumbs Swear By Hand Hearth
I am just writing to say that I received my Thumb Stabilizer today. I love knitting and have recently taken up crochet but I have arthritis in my right thumb. I was sceptical it would make any difference. I was wrong. It is a game changer. Thank you so much. I can knit and crochet without pain for hours on end. It is wonderful.

I have been a quilter for over 50 years and I've had 2 thumb surgeries. These gloves are amazing. They don't get in the way of my quilting and they give me the support I need. Every quilter needs at least one pair of these gloves, and the colors are beautiful. I bought the purple ones.

I am wearing one on my left hand. I've always had issues with that hand being weaker and getting slightly injured without much cause. So I'm wearing one of these gloves on my left hand and it really helps! I gave my friend the one for her right hand since she has issues with it. I love these and highly recommend them.

I received my gloves two days ago and they are really good, I am very pleased. It is making a great difference to my knitting enjoyment. I'd also like to add that the service I received was second to none. I'm 90 years old and made a mess of my order, I got in touch, and within hours you had sorted it all and returned my overpayment.

Last January I had my 3 surgeries on my hand. I didn't think I could crochet comfortably again. I was hesitant to try the glove. Well I was so surprised on how supportive it was and I was crocheting longer sessions. Thank you for designing this product. Keep up the great work!

I use the Hand Hearth gloves for both my hands for knitting and cross stitching. By keeping my thumb joints warm and supported I can enjoy my crafts for longer, which is amazing! I'm looking forward to being able to complete more projects without painkillers or rest.

I bought my first pair and use them daily. So I bought a second pair so I have a pair to wear and a pair to wash. I love the relief from the pain. Thank you.

This actually works great for pianists! Stays out of the way, allows freedom of movement for fingers and wrists. My only problem is that my hands are very small, so it doesn't give me quite as much support as it will to most people. Even at that, it makes playing way less painful.

I wore mine all day yesterday. Thought it was too soft to help but it isn't, it was really good. My adult daughter asked what the HH stood for, and before I told her, she said I know, it's Hurty Hand. It really helps, thank you.

I was unable to knit without pain while knitting, and for days after if I pushed through the pain. Now, with the gloves I can knit for an hour without pain, and if I have pain after, wearing the gloves without knitting helps relieve it.

As someone dealing with various types of arthritis, my hands often hurt a lot, but using these Hand Hearth stabilizers has been incredibly helpful. They are comfortable enough to wear all the time, even for writing, and it was so wonderful to finally get back to my knitting this past weekend.

I'm so glad I bought this! I no longer get pain in my thumb when I crochet, and the customer service is great! One of my gloves had a hole in it when I received them, and they sent me a replacement, which arrived in just a few days.

This brace is perfect. It fits well and basically eliminates thumb and wrist pain while allowing almost full mobility, enough to continue with knitting, crocheting and other activities that require the use of the thumb. It is lightweight and comfortable even in this hot and humid weather.

These thumb mitts have been very comfortable while sewing. I am a quilter and cross stitcher, and have arthritis in my thumbs. The support these mitts give helps ease the pain.

This item does seem to help my sore thumb on my guitar strumming hand, which has a touch of arthritis, although not perhaps to the extent I was hoping for. I've only had the glove a couple of weeks, so maybe too early to form a long term opinion. Overall I would recommend this product as there does seem to be a benefit.

Before finding Hand Hearth Stabilizers, extreme pain limited my guitar playing to just 20 or 30 minutes a day, often requiring days of rest afterward. After using them for just five days, I've already been able to extend my playing time to a full hour with absolutely no pain or residual soreness.
I've been using my Hand Hearth stabilizer for about a week, and it has allowed me to knit with chunky yarn and needles completely pain-free. I've suffered from severe hand pain for a very long time, but by stabilizing my thumb joint, this small device has completely eliminated it. It's been an absolute lifesaver!
Following a fractured wrist I developed De Quervain's Tenosynovitis in my right thumb. The HH glove is the only thing that alleviates the pain. It's ridiculously simple and shouldn't work but it does! Worth every penny.
I find I am wearing these thumb stabilisers most of the day and night whether I am knitting or not. They offer me a soft comfort and gentle warmth that eases discomfort in my hands. I have used thumb supports before but found them uncomfortable and too restrictive. These are wonderful.
I'm 66. I JUST started playing. After a couple months I started to have pain at the joint on the base of my thumb. I tried other braces but they were constricting. Couldn't fret with it on. I wasn't sure if it would work because it isn't tight or stiff. Just that pad right over the joint. Now I don't notice it when I play. I couldn't play without pain before.
Tried both immediately and found when I used my left hand, the one that I have difficulty with, I was more confident as I didn't experience the pain and discomfort that I had previously. Delivery was fast, considering the parcel travelled across the world, and the quality is very good. It can be dodgy ordering something online that is advertised on Facebook, but not this time.
I have severe arthritis and my thumbs are very sore. These gloves have helped with my everyday chores, they are lightweight and very comfortable. I have gloves with thumb stabilizers that have velcro on the wristbands and they catch on everything. The knit on these gloves makes them perfect for everyday use.
The thumb stabilizer has helped to relieve pain I was having in my thumb from playing the guitar. I don't take the gloves off when I'm playing. They keep my wrist and hands warm and I feel a bit of support in my thumb. These are the only product I've tried that does that without getting in the way of my playing.
I have arthritis in both hands around the thumb joints. I had been using Ibuprofen gel when I play, but I have now abandoned it in favour of these gloves. They are comfortable, support the hand well, and I can play for longer with comfort. I am very pleased with them.
Our Hand Stabiliser is very comfy! We initially purchased it for my wife for her crafty things such as knitting and crochet. I happened to try it on and found it awesome for piano practice during the cooler winter we have been experiencing. The team at Hand Hearth is very responsive.
I have had several items for my thumb arthritis but these are by far the best! The minute I put them on, my hands relax. I mostly wear them at night, especially after a hard weight workout.
I have tried numerous different things and HH is the best of the best. I forget I have it on. Just ordered 2 more sets. It really does help the pain in my thumb and hand joint.
These are the best things that I have tried. I'm a crocheter and cross stitcher. The pain in my left thumb is debilitating without these. I'm in love with the thumb stabiliser. Thank you.
Not completely pain free, however I immediately noticed a difference. So much better. Would highly recommend. I have tried so many hand and thumb braces. Nothing compares to this.
They fit well. I was worried they would be too big. They are well made. They hug the area around my thumb and to my wrist so well. My hands don't hurt like they were before these gloves. Love them. Was hesitant to buy at first but I'm sure glad I made the purchase.
I bought my gloves to help with pain when I knit, but I use them so much more when I'm playing my PlayStation. The gloves feel so good on, I keep forgetting to take them off when I finish my hand work. Thank you, I love them!
I knit a lot, however I decided to try crocheting a granny square blanket. The hand movements are different to knitting and I was starting to experience pain in my right thumb. The thumb stabilizer is perfect. I bought two pairs, one next to my chair and one for my project bag.
For the first time in a long time, I had NO PAIN during a gig! I will gladly accept any XL samples you would like reviews on.
It helped from the moment I put it on. Even for a marathon knitting day, I had none of the previous pain in my thumb joint. I love this product!
These gloves are amazing. First time I used them it really stopped my thumb hurting while knitting. Wish I had found them sooner!
This is the second pair I've bought for myself, in addition to two pairs I've bought for my older sister. They feel nice and really support the thumbs while crocheting or doing other crafts.
I can't explain why the thumb stabiliser makes my thumb feel better, because it does not restrict its movement. It has not caused the swelling or the pain to reduce yet, but it makes the thumb feel supported and keeps it warm. It is less hassle to wear than a stiff wrist support. I work outside with animals.
I received this product and was excited to try it, I have bilateral thumb arthritis. I wore the supports last evening while playing the violin for over two hours. My fingers were able to move freely and the supports did not interfere with my playing at all. Unfortunately they were a little too big for my hands.
I was surprised that my thumbs were so supported by this product. In fact the joint pain I felt while knitting was pretty much alleviated. I feel that the thumbs could be a little tighter, especially on the left hand where it is quite loose. I will take in the seam myself.
I'm not exactly sure how much stabilizing they actually do, but they are a nice hug for your arthritic thumbs, while still enabling your fingers free for tactile craft.
I had some trouble figuring out how to put them on. Once I got going with them they were very comfortable and they seem to have helped the aching in my thumbs.
I ordered the medium, they are nice. I think they run a bit large so now I know a small would probably feel better. I like that they are breathable.
It makes a difference keeping things warm and loose. I am not sure how much actual support it gives but the warmth has a soothing effect that allows longer sessions.
The lady I dealt with, Emma Taylor, was extremely helpful and a pleasure to engage with. I will recommend not only the product but also the quality of after-sales service, which is so rare these days.
A lot less pain during playing. I was a very surprised skeptic.
My new brace seems to help, but I still have issues. The arthritis has been around for a year or so, but I also injured my arm, so the pain I had got worse. I can knit, but I need to take breaks, and I never know if knitting brings on the pain or it was something else entirely. I have some pain-free time, and that's a win.
I received my gloves, but unfortunately I think I should have ordered a smaller size. Although they go on my hand just fine, they don't seem to be giving me the support that I wished they would give me.
I feel a slight improvement in my thumb pain when playing guitar. It still feels looser than I expected. Hoping that it helps long term.
The small is too large. There was no option for extra small. I have had to make a few alterations in order to make it usable. However the quality and workmanship is top notch.
I ordered Large, but think now I should have ordered M, as it is a bit loose on my hand, and I don't think it has done anything much to support my thumb joint while knitting.