In this guide, we explain how to choose boxing gloves and review the best boxing gloves available in the market for beginners and experts.
Are you looking for boxing gloves? Are you going to enroll in a dedicated gym or have you decided to buy a lot to train at home and now you’re considering which ones to take? Whether you’re looking for cheap boxing gloves or a specific model like the fit box gloves, you’ll find plenty of useful information in this guide that will help you find the best for your needs.
Boxing is one of the oldest forms of combat and was already practiced at the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Born as a personal self-defense sport, it was subsequently structured so that it could be practiced as a competitive sport. The use of gloves in the discipline began as a means to protect the hands of boxers who, striking the opponent with bare hands or simply bandaged, were fractured.
What are the best options to buy? A classic question that probably you are doing, but giving an answer is not so immediate, you need to evaluate some factors to be able to respond. Let’s look at the main aspects that will show you how to choose.
How to choose boxing gloves?
Choosing your ideal boxing gloves is easier than it seems, but if you do not know at least all of its characteristics it is most likely that when you go to the boxing store you will get lost among the many options, designs and brands.
Let me explain what you should take into account before buying.
Practice level
The first thing you should keep in mind when buying your gloves is what level of use you plan to give them. A novice boxer does not use the same type of gloves a professional, or does not serve you for fighting the same gloves you use for heating.
That’s why I explain below how to differentiate each one.
Aerobic
There are several disciplines in which personal defense is trained without the need to include combat with other comrades, such as Aerobic-Karate, Cardio Kickboxing,
For this type of activity, it is necessary to use gloves that resemble MMA gloves, a smaller type of glove whose purpose is not to hit but to make you aware of the weight of your hand and help you keep your fist closed in training.
The models of aerobic gloves are usually cheaper, but at the same time, they are the least resistant among all.
Coat
In any contact sport that is not aerobic, you will have to face the punching bag and gloves suitable for it. With the sack you will develop more precision and speed in the blows, you will strengthen the muscles, you will harden the knuckles and many other benefits for the combat, but since the punching bag is quite hard and rustic to the contact it is necessary to have suitable gloves for this activity.
The characteristics of the bag gloves are that they have thicker and more compact padding in the knuckle area and have a greater adjustment in the wrists to protect them from the
Training
This is the most standard model of gloves for boxing. It is a type of multipurpose glove with good resistance that has the appropriate quilting padding for the knuckles and has a velcro strap to secure the wrists.
They can be used for the sack, but the precision and strength achieved will not be the same, because, unlike bag gloves, the filling is heavier and is usually distributed in a more integral way around the knuckles and the back of the bag. the hand, with the intention that sparring can be done without seriously hurting the partner.
Competition
For competitions, lighter gloves are required and only with enough protection to avoid wrist and knuckle injuries, but they do not offer much protection for the adversary.
They also differ from the rest of the gloves in that, instead of being tied with a Velcro fastening band, they are tied with laces or braids. The Muay Tai gloves are a good example of gloves for boxing competitions.
In the case of gloves for Amateur competition, they have the characteristic of a small air chamber in the padding, to protect both opponents, and the differentiation by colors, since they are allowed only in blue and red.
In some stricter Amateur combat regulations, the glove is required to have a white mark on the area that should be used to hit.
In general, gloves for the competition are the most expensive because they are usually made with the most resistant materials.
Size (your weight and the weight of the glove)
The next thing to consider before buying your boxing gloves is the right size. Taking into account that the gloves are adjustable, the most important thing is not really the size of your hand, but your overall weight, since the gloves also come by weight: in ounces.
The heavier you are the heavier glove you must wear. Of course, heavier does not mean more damage. On the contrary, the heavier gloves distribute the impact better because they have more filling, this being a way to balance the confrontations.
Material
This is one of the points where you could lose yourself more easily. There are many materials available, each with its advantages and disadvantages.
Vinyl or PVC
They are cheap and lightweight but not very durable. The protection on the wrists and knuckles is the minimum that a boxing glove can offer. They are ideal to experiment in contact sports when you are still not sure if you will dedicate yourself to it in the long term and do not want to make big expenses.
Leatherette or faux fur
These are the favorite training gloves by most. They are usually much more resistant than vinyl or PVC and are better made to protect you at the time of punching, as they have padding reinforcements padded on the knuckles and a double seam on the wrists.
Natural leather or leather
The gloves of this material are suitable for any athlete but are recommended for professional fighters whose training is demanding and continuous. Natural skin does not deteriorate easily, and although it is harder when new, after constant use is the material that fits better to the mold of the hand and allows to close more precisely the fist, in addition to feeling softer touch. They are made with buffalo, goat and cow skin, the latter being the most expensive.
Filling
The conventional filling of the gloves is foam rubber, which serves to cushion the blows and protect the knuckles. The denser foam rubber padding, the more safety you and your training partner will have.
The best gloves also include some layers of gel in the padding that distribute the impact of the punch through the glove minimizing the negative sequels.
To differentiate themselves from those that only have foam rubber, they are usually identified with the word “gel“.
Type of closure (Velcro or rope)
Both types of closure are good depending on the use you plan to give your gloves.
If they are for training, it is advisable to buy gloves with velcro closure, since it will allow you to put them on and remove them easily during your training routines.
If they are to compete it is mandatory that you buy gloves with string closure, as this is required by regulations.
Some athletes also prefer to have their gloves with braids to train, because these allow a better fit, but the negative part is that it involves asking a partner to help them put them on and remove them.
Design
In design, a large part of your choice falls.
- Gloves for boxing gloves Muay Thai should be closed gloves, all protected fist.
- But if you are in a contact sport that requires grappling, such as Mixed Martial Arts, you can use gauntlets that allow you to open your hand and that cover only the part with which the blow is given, that is, up to half of the fingers.
- Another aspect of the design is sewing; options with double stitching are more durable.
- And finally, if you are a woman, it is always a benefit to buying gloves designed for women, because they achieve a narrower fit for thin hands.
Comparison of the best boxing gloves on Amazon
Once you have reviewed those fundamental characteristics to differentiate boxing gloves you can choose yours.
Here I leave the comparison that I made with the best models and the best brands that can be obtained online and with an excellent quality/price ratio.
I also include the review of a couple of boxing bands that you will surely need if you do not want to have a bad time at the physiotherapist.
RDX Ego Boxing Gloves
This one of the best boxing gloves to buy. Built with durable Maya Hide leather and equipped with triple padding Shell Shock Gel Equilibrium Sheet, these gloves offer maximum impact resistance. The model is particularly ideal for practicing sparring or kickboxing, but they are also used successfully for pack training.
The SPP ventilation system has been designed to offer greater breathability on the hands: the perforations are in strategic positions and allow excellent ventilation. The use of ties is always recommended. The Quick-EZ Hook-and-loop Velcro closure provides easy grip and adjustment and is also great wrist support that will also improve the shape of the fist.
The RDX gloves are available in different colors: blue and white, red and white, green and white, gold and white, pink and white. There are no particular patterns, but the colors are well balanced and give a simple but modern effect.
The seams are very durable and combined with real leather, they are long-lasting. The use of real leather instead of synthetic leads inevitably to a higher price, but still excellent for the type of product.
+ PROS
- In real leather
- Excellent wrist support
- More perspiration
– CONS
- Greater price compared to models in leatherette or synthetic
Discover more and the price here
Fairtex Muay Thai Style Training Sparring Gloves
The most famous and best-selling gloves in the world are those of Fairtex, a Thai brand known all over the world. Their fame is completely deserved: those who buy Fairtex gloves, choose genuine leather gloves that are born to last very long.
In addition to padding and high-quality leather, Fairtex also boasts a tapered design that makes them look smaller and less bulky than other brands. Fairtex gloves are a bit softer than the classic M
Among the best Fairtex models, we find BGV1, BGV14,
One of the reasons for the success of Fairtex is that over time it continues to maintain very high-quality standards, thanks also to the continuous quality checks carried out on its products and which it is very proud of.
+ PROS
- Tapered and less cumbersome
- Wide wrist support
- Last for a long time
– CONS
- Lack of protection
- You will need a premium model if you want to cover every aspect, which means more money.
Discover more and the price here
Twins Special Boxing Gloves
This is one of the top-rated brands in the world of boxing gloves right now. These top-quality cowhide gloves are the favorites of everyone, starting from the beginner, passing through the instructors, and up to the professional fighters.
Since Muay Thai is a high-impact sport, what you are looking for is a glove that provides good wrist support and adequate protection for the knuckles, and Twins Special offers all this.
The padding gives total protection to the hand, from the knuckles to the back, so that you can work better on the technique. Soft and easy to wear, they give adequate protection and support to the wrist.
They offer a rather large space for hands compared to other Thai gloves with a more snug fit, making them the ideal choice for those with medium and large hands.
Good quality leather ensures a long product life, which seems never to tire or damaged. The Signature Fancy is a best seller with an essential design, without frills, solid color and you can choose between several beautiful colors.
+ PROS
- More padded than many other gloves
- Excellent for everyone, including the beginner
- Long product life
– CONS
- We found nothing
Discover more and the price here
Hayabusa T3
One of Hayabusa’s boasts is to invest a lot in research and innovation for the design of its products. The T3 are the result of their research: Hayabusa has in fact updated the Tokushu Regenesis gloves, which in 2017 had been very successful, and has further improved them. What has not changed is certainly an incredible quality.
The exceptional feature of these gloves is the double closure: the locking system ensures the glove on the wrist and provides unparalleled support. The effect is a
Another important detail is the functional and aesthetic insert in microfiber with a suede effect on the thumb.
Internally it is made of an antimicrobial material with an anti-odor effect thanks to the improved ventilation, the breathable fabric, and the thermo-regulating properties. In practical terms, this means that your hands remain dry and that the glove dries quickly.
+ PROS
- Anti-odor effect
- Double closure: stability and support
- Excellent fit without running-in
– CONS
- We found nothing.
Discover more and the price here
Adidas Boxing Gloves
This is another of the best boxing gloves to buy. Also part of our purchasing advice are the gloves that Adidas offers in the medium-low price range: among the ones sold online, are the most appreciated as far as wearability and robustness are concerned, taking into consideration the extremely advantageous price to which they are sold.
Young athletes and women can find the perfect one for their needs. It ensures good adherence to the joint and to avoids accidents and dislocations right on this extremely delicate area.
As expected from this type of boxing gloves, here too we find the inevitable strap closure, essential for solo workouts at home or in the gym. The padding is made with a special gel that can absorb and absorb the blow so that it does not lose power but its recoil does not damage the hands and joints.
This is a pair suitable for younger athletes or women who want to start fighting sports or maybe try a little sack of self-taught. Let’s see what their pros and cons are.
However, this is not suitable for those who fight, but only for those who do a lot or try a little light sparring.
Discover more and the price here
Venum Elite
The Venum Gloves are the most sold in the medium price range. Made of synthetic leather, but without saving on the overall quality of the product, these gloves have solid padding with fantastic shock absorption and a wide and secure cuff to fix them well.
A point also favors thermo-regulating meshes that help improve comfort and make the glove more breathable.
This product adapts perfectly to the hands of most people after the break-in of the first period. The very advantageous price is definitely another positive aspect, to which I would also add the excellent aesthetic impact of the glove.
The only compromise concerning this model is the external material: it is skin-like a little less resistant than the skintex of the Elite model (also this from Venum).
At the wrist level, they are quite flexible, which means they are ideal for the clinch, and they provide less wrist support.
Discover more and the price here
Everlast PowerLock Training Gloves
This is another of the best boxing gloves to buy. Everlast is an American brand of boxing equipment. These gloves represent an excellent quality-price ratio. For those who love leather gloves, but want to respect a specific budget, they are a must.
They are suitable both for training in a sack or with hitters and for sparring. Well-padded on the knuckles but also on the back of the hand, the cuff offers good support on the wrist.
They are solid gloves, a little “old school”. Adherents without being too tight; they have enough space to use hand bandages, which are recommended for these gloves.
They are structured in such a way as to allow an excellent position on the thumb.
For their price range, these lightweight, agile and durable gloves do their job well. They are characterized by a simple design and are great for those who start with Muay Thai or for those who practice occasionally. However, these gloves are only for beginners, so for fights, it is perhaps more advisable to look for other models.
Discover more and the price here
Conclusions
By now we have reached the end of this long article, which has presented you with the most important features to keep in mind when you go to choose a boxing glove. Before closing though, I would like to give you a couple more tips. First of all, you have to remember that with the regular use of gloves, these tend to spread out over time, as the fabric used to make them tends to adapt to the hand.
What happens is that when new gloves are worn for the first time, they are not particularly comfortable or flexible. You have to be patient, because, after a couple of weeks of training, the gloves will start to adapt better to the hand and become more flexible.
Finally, when you choose your new boxing gloves, remember to always choose a measure that leaves enough space to insert the hand, which must be covered adequately by special bandages, which must always be worn under the gloves, both during the ‘training, which in combat. If all this has not been enough for you, you can deepen the subject by reading our articles or having a personal trainer suggest what might be the most suitable gloves for your situation. Good boxing!