I'm all in favor of gloves 100% of the time- to be something between palms and the pavement, but for me, padding in gloves is a source of added circulation/nerve pinch with resulting discomfort or numbness.
I'd still vote for the Northwoods or Map bar and look at this as an exercise in correct riding position.
Either bar will use all your same controls. The first thing you have to look at closely is the bar diameter at the stem, which has to match the stem. Common sizes here are 25.4, 26mm (usually not on mountain bikes), and 31.4mm.