These two are bundled so often that many people buy both without knowing which is doing what. They address separate problems, and one of them is more important than the other for most lifters.
What gloves do
They put a layer between the hand and the knurling, which reduces callus formation and makes a cold barbell tolerable. That is the whole function. They do not increase grip strength, and a thick glove slightly reduces grip by increasing the effective bar diameter.
For anyone whose hands matter at work, that comfort benefit is a good enough reason on its own.
What wrist wraps do
They stabilise the wrist joint under load, which matters on pressing movements where the bar sits behind the wrist line. A wrap is a support, not a strap - it does not hold the bar for you.
This is the more consequential of the two. Wrist pain in pressing is common, usually a positioning problem, and a wrap buys time while the positioning is fixed rather than replacing the fix.
Integrated versus separate
Gloves with a built-in wrist strap are convenient and compromise both: the wrap is shorter and less adjustable, and the glove has to come off to loosen it. Separate wraps and gloves cost slightly more and each does its job properly.
For someone training three times a week, integrated is fine. For anyone pressing heavy, separate wraps are worth it.
Wrap stiffness and length
Wraps come in lengths around 12, 18 and 24 inches and in stiffnesses from flexible to rigid. Longer and stiffer means more support and less wrist movement, which is right for maximal pressing and wrong for anything requiring wrist mobility.
An 18-inch medium-stiffness wrap covers most general training. Very stiff wraps are competition equipment.
Palm padding: less is usually more
Thick gel padding feels good in the shop and puts a squashy layer between the hand and the bar, which reduces the sense of where the bar is. Thin leather or synthetic palms transmit more feedback and last longer.
For deadlifts specifically, padding actively works against you by increasing bar diameter. Straps or chalk are the answer there, not gloves.
Straps are a third thing entirely
Lifting straps wrap around the bar and take grip out of the equation on heavy pulls. They are not gloves and not wraps, and using them for everything prevents grip strength developing.
Used on the last heavy set or two, they let the target muscles work past the point where grip fails. Used from the first warm-up set, they hide a weakness.
Fit and sizing
Gloves should be snug with no bunching in the palm - bunched material is what causes blisters, which is the problem they were bought to prevent. Sizing is by hand circumference across the knuckles, and it is worth measuring.
Half-finger designs are standard and let you handle a phone and a water bottle without removing them.
Hygiene
Gloves absorb sweat and are worn against skin. Wash them - most synthetic pairs tolerate a cold hand wash and air drying. Leather ones should be wiped and dried, never machine washed.
A pair that has gone stiff and smells has been washed too little or dried too fast on a radiator.
When you need neither
Chalk plus decent technique covers most general training, costs almost nothing and builds grip. Gloves and wraps are comfort and support items that solve specific problems.
Buy them because you have identified the problem, not because they came in a bundle. We list palm material, padding thickness, wrap length and stiffness on every pair we stock so the problem and the product can be matched.