Boxing Gloves

What weight boxing gloves do professionals use?

Boxing glove weight is an important, yet often misunderstood aspect of the sport. How exactly does the weight of the glove play a role in your training and sparring? Why are there different weights of boxing glove? And what are they all for?

We’ve been through this in other articles - including one where we talk about what weight boxing gloves you should get and why, but in this article we’re specifically going to look at professional competition gloves, as the type of glove you’ll use for professional competition won’t necessarily be the same as the one you use when you train.

Let’s first look at why professionals use differently weighted gloves, and the type of glove you ought to use depending on the type of boxing you do and how heavy you are.

Note - we’re also going to talk about sanctioned amateur boxing here, as while these boxers might not have officially turned professional, amateur boxing is also very organised and driven by rules, and deserves a mention.


Why boxing gloves are different weights


We won’t go into this section in a huge amount of detail, since we’ve already covered it in the article linked above. However, there are several different types of boxing gloves - training gloves, sparring gloves, bag gloves, etc. Training gloves tend to sit around the 10oz - 12oz range, pure bag gloves will be a lot lighter at 6oz - 10oz and sparring gloves are at least 14oz and usually 16oz to ensure the safety of your opponent.

What you use in training won’t necessarily be what you use in professional competition. We should also state that what’s written below is a general guide based on experience. This doesn’t in any way overrule the regulations of the governing body sanctioning your fight. They should tell you what kind of gloves to use - and nothing here replaces that.

We’re also going to talk about male and female boxing here - generally female boxing weight categories are lighter than male categories by about one division - e.g. welterweight in male boxing would be middleweight in female boxing. 


What weight boxing gloves do professionals use?


Male Boxers

Male amateur boxing - welterweight and lighter (152lbs or less)

Fighters in this category tend to wear 10oz gloves 

Male professional boxing - welterweight and lighter (152lbs or less)

Fighters in this category tend to wear 8oz gloves 

Male amateur boxing - heavier than welterweight (152lbs or more)

Fighters in this category tend to wear 12oz gloves

Male professional boxing - heavier than welterweight (152lbs or more)

Fighters in this category tend to wear 10oz gloves 


Female Boxers

Female amateur boxing - welterweight and lighter (152lbs or less)

Fighters in this category tend to wear 8oz gloves 

Female professional boxing - welterweight and lighter (152lbs or less)

Fighters in this category tend to wear 6oz gloves 

Female amateur boxing - heavier than welterweight (152lbs or more)

Fighters in this category tend to wear 10oz gloves

Female professional boxing - heavier than welterweight (152lbs or more)

Fighters in this category tend to wear 8oz gloves 


A guide to the different weight divisions


Just in case you’re not sure where you should be (although if you’re going for a sanctioned fight, you should have a pretty good idea) so we’ve put together a handy table, so you can see which weight division you’re in and as such, the weight of the gloves you should be using for professional/amateur sanctioned fights.

We’ve done this by what’s generally agreed for amateur boxing. The reason for this is that it’s standardised - while the weight classes for heavyweight among all the awarding bodies is very similar, there are some discrepancies (particularly with the WBC) in terms of what certain weights are called and the actual limits.

Unfortunately there’s no universal agreement on weight divisions for female professional boxing, but there are for amateur boxing, so this is another reason why we went for the weight divisions at amateur level.

Note - these are weight limits. e.g if you weigh 160lbs, you’re below the middleweight limit, but above the welterweight limit - so you’re a middleweight. If you put on some weight to 170lbs, you’d then be above the middleweight limit but below the light-heavyweight limit, so you’d be in the light-heavyweight division.


Weight 

Male (kg)

Male (lbs)

Female (kg)

Female (lbs)

Light flyweight

49kg

108lbs

Does not exist at amateur level

Does not exist at amateur level

Flyweight

52kg

115lbs

48kg

106lbs

Bantamweight

56kg

123lbs

51kg

112lbs

Featherweight

Does not exist at amateur level

Does not exist at amateur level

54kg

119lbs

Lightweight

60kg

132lbs

57kg

126lbs

Light welterweight

64kg

141lbs

60kg

132lbs

Welterweight

69kg

152lbs

64kg

141lbs

Middleweight

75kg

165lbs

69kg

152lbs

Light heavyweight

81kg

178lbs

75kg

165lbs

Heavyweight

91kg

201lbs

81kg

179lbs

Super heavyweight

Anything over 91kg

Anything over 201lbs

Anything over 81kg

Anything over 179lbs

Thanks to the guys over at britannica.com for this information.


Choosing a pair of gloves for a fight


Of course, all this information is helpful, but really before you go into any fight you need to test a few different pairs of gloves to see how they feel. Not all gloves are created equal, and there will be certain types of glove you prefer to others. Try a few on and see how you get on with them. 

We’ve written a few guides on choosing some of the gloves available on the market, including reviews and tips on choosing the right gloves. Check them out below:

Read More
Boxing Gloves

The Best RDX Boxing Gloves

Regular readers of this blog will know that we primarily cater for the beginner or novice boxer looking for tips on how to start boxing, which boxing equipment to buy, etc. Today we're going to cover boxing glove offerings from RDX Sports - a brand that gets a lot of publicity on this channel, because they're one of the first brands people go to when they look at entry-level boxing gloves.

There are a huge number of brands and products on the market that will suit the needs of the entry level boxer and it's very difficult sometimes to weed out the good brands from the bad ones. There's a lot of rubbish out there, and I want to focus your attention on products that will provide you with a decent boxing experience for not very much money. 

The Brand

I won't delve too much into the specifics behind the brand here as I've already done that in other articles. RDX is a UK-based boxing equipment manufacturer that's been in business since 1999, focussing on producing decent quality equipment at an affordable price. Regular readers will know that I like RDX's equipment - I feel it's good value for money and it provides a far better product than the likes of Everlast or some of the other Eastern brands at the same price point. For me RDX is on par with TITLE for this; and in all honesty if you're looking for a pair of gloves under about $50, you should start with one of these two brands.

My experience with RDX has been good - I've trained with a number of their products and have liked them all. It's certainly not the best equipment money can buy, but in my view it's pretty close to the best bang for your buck, and if you're on a budget or you don't want to splash out too much on equipment that you might not use very often if you're new to boxing, then this is a great brand to consider.

Without further ado, let's get into my picks for the best RDX boxing gloves available on the market today.


The Best RDX Boxing Gloves 

(updated for 2021)

Glove

Our Rating

Buy Now

RDX T17 Aura 

Boxing Gloves

RDX Heavy Bag

Gel Boxing Gloves

RDX KARA

Leather Boxing Gloves

RDX Maya Hide Leather

NOIR Boxing Gloves


Let's go through some of the detailed specs of these individual gloves and why they're a great beginner's choice.

RDX T17 Aura Leather Boxing Gloves


Our Rating: 4.5/5

Pros

  • Vegan leather - good for the environmentally-conscious boxer
  • Forces your hands into alignment - reducing the potential for injury
  • A great-looking, unisex and neutral design

Cons

  • Personally, a lot of the features feel a little bit gimmick-y - however this is not necessarily a bad thing, and shows RDX has thought a lot about the design and manufacture of these gloves


In this article we’ve tried to pick a wide variety of gloves at different price points to suit all boxers. These gloves are priced at the mid-to-high end of the market, meaning they’re probably suited for those of you who take your boxing quite seriously - maybe you spar regularly, maybe you’ve got a home gym setup. If you’re looking to spend a little more money than you did on your previous gloves, or maybe you’ve decided it’s time for a sweet upgrade, you’ll definitely want to check out the RDX T17 Aura Gloves.


These gloves are particularly designed to be porous, meaning they wick away sweat from your hands as you train. Sweaty gloves are not pleasant to train in, and this isn’t something you’ll need to worry about with the RDX T17 gloves. RDX’s Inter-Aura lining and Cool-X Nylon mesh traps in cool air and helps to expel warm, humid air, meaning your hands stay dry as you train. Additionally, RDX has developed something they call “Nova Tech”, which basically acts as a type of foam that reduces the impact of your punches on your hands, meaning you can train harder for longer. We still highly recommend hand wraps, however.


One particular thing that impressed me about the RDX T17 gloves is how versatile they are. Not only are they a neutral, unisex design that will appeal to most people, but they’re also specifically designed to be “one-size-fits-all” - so even if you’ve got particularly small hands, you should still be in for a comfortable experience. I’d say if you have large hands these probably aren’t the gloves for you, as alongside your hand wraps you might find the fit a little bit snug, but they’re perfect for most hand sizes.


One of the more unusual things about the RDX T17 Aura gloves is that they’re actually made of RDX’s Kalix vegan synthetic leather. Not only will this appeal to those who don’t want to use animal products, but they provide an exceptionally hard-wearing, pliable and rugged surface, ideally suited to the punishment of a heavy bag workout, extended sparring session, pad work and more. They’re a great all-round glove, and one that we’re very happy to recommend to most boxers. As we said - for the beginner, they’re overkill, but if you’re taking your boxing seriously, you won’t go far wrong with a pair of these.

RDX Heavy Bag Gel Boxing Gloves


Our Rating: 4/5

Pros

  • Really nice, solidly constructed pair of gloves made from real cowhide leather
  • Nice design - again, more professional-looking than a lot of other RDX products
  • Very well-padded - some of the reviews even mention not having to use hand wraps (which I do NOT recommend)

Cons

  • Don’t come in a 16oz size - which is what a lot of beginners will be looking to purchase
  • They also don’t come in an 8oz size; given the price I would expect this for more experienced boxers looking for a good heavy bag glove without excess padding
  • Quite pricey compared to comparable options from other brands; e.g. TITLE Boxing



These particular RDX gloves are a little more expensive than some of the other options explored here - and for good reason; they’re fully handmade with real cowhide leather, and the whole glove oozes quality (much more so than some of the cheaper gloves on this list.) This glove has design features that help support the alignment of your hand and wrists while training, in addition to being well-padded. They come in one design - white, black and red, and in 10oz, 12oz and 14oz weights. 


One thing that’s going to definitely cause a polarised opinion is the fact that the foam padding on these gloves is layered with a shock-absorbing gel. I’m not a big fan of gel gloves; I just don’t like the way hitting the bag or an opponent in them feels. You may think otherwise; and if you do, then these gloves will definitely fit the bill, but for me I prefer a glove that’s padded with foam only. If you’ve not tried a set of gel gloves before, I’d encourage you to give it a shot; but at the kind of price you’re paying for these gloves, I’d test it out on a cheaper pair first.


These are bag gloves - designed for the heavy bag but just as suitable on a double end bag or a speed bag. I personally wouldn’t suggest you spar in them, and one of the most frustrating things about these otherwise good gloves is that they only come in 10oz, 12oz and 14oz sizes. You can read my other article on what weight boxing gloves you should get if you’re not sure, but suffice it to say this doesn’t really provide for the beginner, or even the slightly more experienced boxer who wants a gloves with a little less padding to work the bag - which is a shame given the price.


I have no doubt these gloves would hold up to years of training and abuse - the experience I’ve had with RDX in the past certainly speaks to the quality and longevity of their products, and in terms of customer service, I’ve never been disappointed. I’d encourage you to give these gloves a try if you’re more than a novice, and you’re looking to upgrade your bag gloves. 

RDX KARA Leather Boxing Gloves


Our Rating: 3.5/5

Pros

  • A big fan of the design - in my view a lot more understated than a lot of other RDX designs
  • Excellent value for your money
  • Great protection thanks to significant extra padding around the knuckles

Cons

  • Allegedly quite stiff, and something you’re better off trying first before committing to using these as your training gloves


The second-to-last entry on this list, and in many ways the one I feel provides the best value for money. I’ve written about the RDX KARA Leather Boxing Gloves before in another review and want to reiterate my feelings about them in this one, simply because I feel like you get so much for your money. Starting with the design - it’s not flashy or garish like some cheaper boxing gloves from RDX can be; it’s very understated, finished in all-over black with gold, red, silver, pink or black trim. These are probably my favourite looking gloves; stylish and sleek but give off a professional look - not like a lot of beginner gloves from other brands with crazy designs and graphics. These gloves come in a variety of sizes - 8oz, 10oz, 12oz, 14oz and 16oz. 


Using these gloves you’re likely to be sparring or working a punchbag, and so protection to the knuckles and wrist is likely to be of most importance to you when choosing a glove. I’m pleased to say that these gloves don’t disappoint - these gloves are made out of RDX’s Maya Hide Leather, which is anatomically contoured and designed to provide extra protection to the wrist and hand. What’s worth bearing in mind is that there are a few reports of these gloves being very stiff as a result of this - your mileage may vary, so I’d encourage you to pick up a pair of them to try for yourself.


These gloves are padded pretty well, however, and should allow you to go reasonably hard without hurting yourself. It’s important that you wear additional hand protection in the form of wraps, but it definitely seems to be a feature of these gloves that they provide more protection to your hands than a lot of other gloves on the market today. The marketing material makes reference to a special type of foam that RDX have put into these gloves, but I’m not sure about that - again it’s something you’ll need to try to yourself. If anything this could contribute to the stiffness that some people are complaining about.


Overall, these are a solid pair of entry-level gloves; although more experienced fighters might want to look into a more expensive pair of tried and tested real-leather gloves such as the FA3s or the A4s.

RDX Maya Hide Leather NOIR Boxing gloves


Our Rating: 3.5/5

Pros

  • Excellent value for money as a starter glove
  • Decent protection with sponge and foam padding
  • Excellent ventilation allowing for sweat to dissipate and be wicked away

Cons

  • I’ve noticed with RDX gloves that they can be pretty tight for those who have large hands. My hands aren’t huge and I struggle with RDX gloves sometimes - even when wearing RDX wraps; so something to consider.


The RDX Maya Hide Leather NOIR gloves are another viable option from RDX, similar to the KARA Leather Boxing gloves we’ve already spoken about. These gloves are a little more expensive (although only marginally so) and only come in matte black with black graphics. They’re available in 10oz, 12oz, 14oz and 16oz weights.


The best thing about these particular gloves in my opinion is the sweat-resistant lining. Coupled with decent mesh fabric ventilation, they wick away the sweat that accumulates from significant heavy bag use. These gloves are also padded well with sponge and foam (very much like other RDX gloves) and offer decent hand and wrist protection. They’re not quite in the same league as RDX’s more expensive gloves in terms of comfort, but they’re perfectly adequate for a beginner looking to knock the heavy bag about a bit.


This is another set of gloves that uses RDX’s Maya Hide skin leather, and gloves that use this leather in my experience do allow you to hit that little bit harder than equivalent gloves in this kind of price range from brands such as Everlast, Fairtex and Twins. 


One thing that I will say about this particular set of gloves is the reviews are fairly mixed. I personally feel they’re a great starter glove, and are good value for money for this purpose, however there are a few people who have complained about very light use causing the gloves to fit. Whether this is a defect in manufacturing I’m not sure as there are lots of other people who say the opposite; that these gloves hold up to constant heavy bag punishment, week after week. I’m inclined to believe it’s the latter in all honesty based on my experience with RDX products - I find them pretty robust; but it’s something you may want to consider when choosing your boxing gloves.


Check out some of our other boxing equipment reviews!

Read More
Boxing Gloves

What weight boxing gloves should you get?

When beginners get into boxing, often one of the first bits of gear they look to buy are a set of boxing gloves. And very often they get quite confused when seeing that you can’t just go out and buy a set of boxing gloves; you need to pick a specific weight of glove. So why do you need to do this; surely a glove is a glove, right? Well, not necessarily so. In this article we’re going to take a quick look at the different types of boxing glove you can get and why boxing glove weight matters for the type of training you’ll be doing.

We’ll also be going through which weight boxing glove you should get depending on your weight, gender, height or experience level. When choosing the ideal glove you need to be aware of all of these things - so let’s get into it. What weight boxing gloves should you get?


Why boxing gloves are different weights

Firstly, you may be wondering why boxing gloves even come in a variety of different weights. The reason is that boxing is not just a sport that uses gloves for competition. You’re just as likely to be using your gloves for training as you are for fighting. This presents a bit of a problem.

If you’re a novice boxer, you get into the ring to spar with someone and you’re wearing competition-weight gloves (usually 8oz or 10oz) you’re liable to injure the other fighter. This is because with such light weight on your hands and such little padding, you’re able to punch faster and harder. This is why 16oz and above gloves exist - you won’t see people fighting in them in competition, but people spar in them because they’re padded so they don’t hit so hard, and they’re heavy so it’s difficult to throw punches as fast.

On the contrary, sometimes you’re training for speed and agility. As a result, a set of 16oz pillows on your hands isn’t going to do you any good because they’re going to slow you down. Training with 16oz gloves, and then getting into the ring with 10oz gloves means your reflexes are going to be slower than they otherwise would have been. If you’re training the double end bag or the heavy bag, you’ll want at least a 12oz set of gloves, if not a 10oz set, as they’ll allow you to punch harder and quicker, working your power, speed and agility.

It’s worth saying that if you’re just starting out boxing I’d recommend you get the heaviest gloves you can, even if you’re only intending to do bag work. The reason for this is that if you’re not used to punching something you may do yourself an injury with 8oz or 10oz bag gloves, and it’s better to start at a heavier set and work your way down as opposed to starting with a very light set of gloves and getting injured.


How is boxing glove weight measured? 

What’s interesting is that we’ve established that boxing gloves are measured by weight, which is different to a lot of other gear - most gear is measured in size (S, M, L, XL and so on.) However, one of the things you may be curious about is how boxing glove weight is measured.

Boxing glove weight is measured in ounces - it’s what the “oz” means after the number. This means that each separate glove (not the two gloves combined) weighs a certain number of ounces. So, if you put on a 12oz pair of gloves, each glove should weigh (roughly) 12oz, which is about 0.75lbs. 

What this effectively means is that the larger this number, the heavier the glove and the more padding on your knuckles. This is why we recommend for beginners, they stick with the heaviest gloves possible - because you’re less likely to hurt yourself due to the increased padding. When you’ve got a bit more experience, and you want to train for speed, you can drop down to a smaller set of gloves when working the heavy bag, which should allow you to punch faster at the expense of a little padding.

It’s also why they say you should pick the heaviest gloves possible (usually 14oz or 16oz gloves) for sparring; because the more padding on your gloves, the less likely you are to hurt your sparring partner. If you try sparring in a set of 8oz gloves, you’re much more likely to knock someone out than if you’re wearing a set of 14oz gloves.

It’s also worth mentioning that as gloves get heavier, they also tend to get bigger, which is why if you’ve got bigger hands, you might want to pick a 16oz set or more. Hand sizes in boxing gloves are usually pretty standard across the board, but you’ll often find that those with smaller hands find heavier gloves a lot roomier, so they compensate for this with hand wrapping. If you’ve got really big hands, you might even have to go for a 18oz plus pair of gloves.


Different boxing glove weights and what they’re for

Now we’ve spoken about a few things; why boxing gloves are measured by weight, and why boxing gloves are manufactured in different weights. We’ve spoken briefly about the below as well, but I just wanted to break down each individual category of weight, and state what and who they’re for so when you come to pick the best boxing gloves for you, you can go in fully informed and you won’t waste your money on a set of gloves that are unsuitable.

8oz or below

8oz gloves aren’t too common any more, however they are still available from a lot of the big manufacturers. 8oz gloves are for bag work and mitt work. 8oz gloves are sometimes used in professional competition, but you should NOT be sparring in them for fear of injuring yourself or your sparring partner.

8oz gloves are ideal for lighter men in the bantamweight to lightweight range (roughly 115lbs to 135lbs) as a glove any heavier might slow you down when training on the bag. Of course - as we always say, sparring means a 16oz glove or more, but someone who trains the bag on 8oz gloves might prefer a 14oz glove for sparring. Any heavier on the bag, however, and you’ll struggle to practice your speed.

8oz gloves are also good for women, as well as kids and junior tournaments. However, for extra petite women (below around 100lbs) you might want to look at an even lighter set of gloves (usually 6oz), for the same reasons we’ve already stated - you’re likely to get more speed and more power, and you might find the 8oz gloves to have too much weight.

If this applies to you, you’ll definitely want to try a set of gloves out first - and I’d encourage you to take advantage of any retailer’s return policy in this regard, as it’s hugely important to make sure the gloves you pick are the right ones for you.


10 - 12 oz

A set of 10oz gloves are probably the most common choice among most men and larger women for bag and mitt work. These again aren’t a set of gloves you’ll be sparring with, but they are a common glove weight for professional competition as well as the majority of novice and amateur boxers for their training regimen.

For men, you’ll want to be between lightweight and light heavyweight (roughly 135lbs to 170lbs) for these gloves to be the perfect weight for heavy bag training, double end bag training and pad work. If you’re any heavier you might want to consider a set of 12oz gloves. For women you’ll probably find these a bit too heavy unless you’re above around 130lbs - at which point you might feel pretty comfortable in a set of 10oz or 12oz gloves.

It’s worth saying again that at this level, these are not sparring gloves, and you should not be sparring in gloves as light as these. 


14 - 16 oz

This is where we move away from specific weights of gloves depending on how much you weigh - because for me, 14oz to 16oz gloves serve only one of two purposes. They’re either bag and training gloves for absolute beginners, or they’re sparring gloves for everyone. It doesn’t matter whether you’re 90lbs or 175lbs, whether you’ve got experience in boxing or not - everyone should be sparring in gloves no lighter than 14oz. 

Of course, common sense suggests that the lighter you are, the more likely a 14oz set is going to be suitable for you, and the heavier you are the more likely a 16oz set or greater is going to be suitable for you. Again I’d urge you to try these gloves wherever and whenever possible, as that’s going to give you the best feel for the type and weight of gloves that you’re going to be comfortable with.

The only situation you won’t be sparring in gloves at this level is when you’re a lot heavier (think 200lbs plus) and you’ll need gloves heavier than 16oz, which we’ll touch on in the next section.


18 - 20 oz

This is about as heavy as gloves get (although there are custom gloves that you can get that are even heavier than this) and these are really designed for those who have either exceptionally large hands, that when wrapped won’t fit into smaller gloves, or those who are very heavy (200lbs or more) and need more padding on their knuckles in sparring.

In my view there’s no real need for gloves as heavy as this in any other situation - other than that if you’re a complete novice and you’ve got big hands, you might pick these gloves for general training. I wouldn’t recommend it though as you’re going to struggle with your speed in a set of gloves this heavy.


So which boxing glove weight should you get?

So hopefully this has helped you out a bit in terms of which gloves to choose. I can’t say this often enough - in this sport, safety is paramount, and the last thing you want to do is injure either yourself or someone else. So where you can, try on gloves before buying and see what they’re like. If you can even get a gym session in with them on, so much the better. 

It’s also worth testing the water with cheaper gloves, before investing in a good pair. For example I wouldn’t drop $300 on a set of Winning or Cleto Reyes gloves without knowing the weight I needed first - and I’d test that out with a cheap pair of Everlast or Lonsdale gloves if I needed to.

If you’re looking for a beginner set of gloves to work the heavy bag, don’t forget to check out my recent reviews on the best boxing gloves for heavy bag work.


Check out some of our latest articles!

Read More
Boxing Gloves, Boxing Heavy Bags

Best Boxing Gloves for Heavy Bag Training

Most boxers or aspiring boxers looking at this article are going to be looking for a pair of gloves that might never see the inside of a ring. If you’re someone looking to get fit, you might have noticed a heavy bag at your local gym and thought that boxing might be a good way to get some more cardio in. And you’d be right - but with boxing comes needing to buy boxing equipment.

There’s a lot of junk on the market unfortunately, from manufacturers that are selling cheap products. My intention is to show you which products are worth spending your money on and which ones you should avoid (unless you’re an absolute beginner who doesn’t care that they might have to replace their gloves in as little as three months because theirs have fallen apart.)

In this article we’re going to go through the best boxing gloves for heavy bag training. These aren’t designed to be used in the ring - we’ll have a separate article for that. These are squarely aimed at the beginner boxer - and as such these gloves are all well below the $80 mark.


The Best Boxing Gloves for Heavy Bag Work 

(updated for 2022)

Glove

Our Rating

Buy Now

RDX Kara Leather 

Boxing Gloves

Hayabusa Leather S4

Boxing Gloves

TITLE Boxing PRO Style

Leather Training Gloves

Adidas FLX 3.0 Speed

50 Boxing Gloves

TITLE Boxing PRO Style

Heavy Bag Gloves


Which type of gloves are best for heavy bag work?


Firstly let’s get into why you need a special set of gloves for heavy bag work.


Sparring gloves


Sparring gloves tend to have more padding (to protect your opponent.) They tend to be a little heavier (although as a beginner I would recommend getting heavier gloves as opposed to lighter ones) and are designed to allow you to fight someone safely without causing them unnecessary injury.


Bag gloves


Traditional bag gloves tend to be light. They have less padding, and are designed only to protect your hands (and not your opponent - as your opponent is a heavy bag.) As a result, it’s not recommended to train in bag gloves.

There are traditional style bag gloves - which look a bit like this...

...but we’re not reviewing those today as I don't feel these are suitable for beginner boxers. In my view a traditional-looking set of gloves can be just as effective for bag work as they can be for sparring - you just need to ensure you buy the right ones.

Remember a few things when looking at the products below. A number of these products are “training” gloves that come in several different sizes. In my opinion, if you’re a beginner and you’re looking for the best gloves for heavy bag work, you need to be picking the heaviest gloves you can (ideally the 14oz or 16oz options.) This will give you the best possible hand protection. You don’t really want to be hitting the heavy bag (especially if you’re a beginner) with 8oz gloves.

Before you start punching, though - make sure you've wrapped your hands with inner gloves or hand wraps.

Heavier gloves can also allow you to spar with an opponent, as a heavier glove will mean more protection and also means you’re less likely to hurt someone you’re fighting against. If you’re wearing 10oz or 12oz gloves (like pro boxers do on fight night) you’re more likely to cause someone an injury in the gym. That’s why even though we’ve rounded up a set of gloves here for heavy bag work, you should be able to use these in some situations as sparring gloves as well, providing you pick the heavier options.


RDX Kara Leather Boxing Gloves


Our Rating: 4.5/5

Pros

  • Great design - really appreciate the understated look and feel of the gloves
  • A very solid glove - gives good protection of the knuckles and wrist
  • Very good value for money

Cons

  • Some have said that the forced-grip feature that RDX have included makes for a slightly uncomfortable experience - which is something you’ll need to try out for yourself before making a decision


We’ve long been a fan of RDX products on this site. We feel RDX provides decent-quality products to beginners and intermediate boxers at an excellent price - certainly a cut above what you get from other manufacturers that operate in this price point, and the Kara Leather Boxing Gloves are no exception. In our view after trying these gloves, the specification you get for your money is very, very good indeed. The design is sleek and understated - these gloves come only in black, with a choice of red, gold, silver or black trim. They also come in 8oz, 10oz, 12oz, 14oz and 16oz sizes.


One of the things that stands out about these gloves is that they certainly don’t feel like a cheap product, and give good protection to the knuckles and the wrist when working the heavy bag. These are leather gloves, which use RDX’s Maya Hide ConvEX Skin Leather, which is anatomically contoured and designed for a more comfortable hand position. This is what the marketing material says, and I’m not sure exactly what this means in all honesty, but they appear to be pretty comfortable gloves to train in.


These gloves are also very well padded, thanks to what RDX calls their “Quadro Dome 3-Mould” foam, which supposedly acts almost as a shock suppressant. As a result, they should be a little more impact resistant than other brands I’ve tried at this price point, and should allow you to go a little harder than you otherwise might with a pair of gloves like these. There might be an element of the placebo effect in this, but it’s worth trying them compared to your existing gloves and seeing what you think.


I will say that RDX products tend to be of a decent quality, well made and have decent longevity, so while you’re probably not going to be using these gloves for 20 years, they should last you a good while. RDX’s customer service has always been pretty decent to deal with from my experience, so even if you do have problems, it’s likely to be sorted pretty quickly.

Hayabusa Leather S4 Boxing Gloves


Our Rating: 2.5/5

Pros

  • Pretty cost-effective product - a lot of glove for your money
  • A new brand to the boxing scene but well-respected in the MMA scene
  • You get a free set of wraps

Cons

  • Really, really hard gloves. I do not want to spar with anyone wearing Hayabusa S4s
  • Synthetic leather which can feel very plasticky and artificial


Hayabusa is actually a name I’d not heard of before researching and writing this review. After doing some research (and finding some excellent information at Expert Boxing) it seems they’re a brand very popular with MMA fighters, and are trying to break into the boxing glove scene. I have to say I was quite interested in the design of these particular gloves, the Hayabusa S4s - it’s not really to my taste, but not something I’ve seen before. They include a thumb that’s not made of leather, but of microfibre, and it’s designed to allow you to wipe sweat away from your face while training. A nice touch, but what’s wrong with your t-shirt? They come in 10oz, 12oz, 14 oz and 16oz sizing, and are available in a range of colours, including black, white, pink, gold and blue.


One of the things you’ll likely find about Hayabusa gloves is that they’re exceptionally stiff. I’d read this in some of the reviews and found a lot of complaints in my research. These gloves tend to be hard and unforgiving. I would not spar with these - try them out for yourself, but based on what a lot of people have said online you could end up hurting someone given how stiff these gloves are. If you’re a heavier hitter, or anything over middleweight/super-middleweight, I’d really recommend you avoid these gloves - in fact one of the review comments on Amazon was “getting hit with these felt like getting hit with a 2x4.” 


That being said, for smaller boxers these gloves may suit your needs if you’re planning to do heavy bag work - which is the purpose of this review. However, based on my research these particular gloves and other Hayabusa gloves are likely to be very, very rigid. They seem to be padded reasonably well but in my opinion given the hardness of the leather it’s not enough, and if you’re boxing fairly regularly, I really would look at another option on this list for a more comfortable choice.


These are also not real leather gloves (although you can’t really expect that at this price point) being made out of a synthetic, PU leather that feels a bit plasticky. It’s certainly no worse than any other brand as most brands make a synthetic glove (but there are much better options, such as the RDX option we’ve already spoken about.) Despite all this, the Hayabusa S4s are a pretty capable glove - for working the heavy bag or the double end bag for a few hours each week they certainly won’t do you any harm, but anything more and you’ll want to get yourself a better pair of gloves. There are definitely options in this price range I’d pick over the Hayabusa S4s.

TITLE Boxing PRO Style Leather Training Gloves


Our Rating: 4/5

Pros

  • Real, full-grain leather - rare at this price point
  • An iconic brand that’s been in gyms across the country for more than 80 years
  • Very high-quality gloves that feel like they will last a long time

Cons

  • A lightweight glove with less padding than you might be used to - therefore might not be suitable for heavy training on a regular basis




Title Boxing is an old-school brand that’s been around forever, and has garnered a lot of respect among old-school boxers as the glove of choice for those on a budget. The Pro Style Leather Gloves seem to be a bit of a recreation of their gloves of old, albeit with modern twists such as a velcro strap. These gloves come in 10oz, 12oz, 14oz and 16oz sizes and come in a variety of colours - black, blue, red and pink.


One thing I particularly like about these gloves is that they appear to be of a much higher quality than a lot of other options in this price range. In fact, I believe these are on par with the previous RDX model we spoke about for the best gloves under $50. These gloves are lightweight and pretty solid - with good protection around the wrist and knuckle area (which is vital even in a pair of gloves at this price point.) What’s great about these gloves is that they’re made of real, full-grain leather, which (while not being the highest quality leather you’ll ever find in a boxing glove) is a great addition and a definite USP for these gloves, as most offerings in this price range are made of the synthetic plastic stuff. What this should mean is that you get more for your money, and ultimately a pair of gloves that are going to wear better, feel better and last longer. 


In terms of how they feel in the gym - you’ll have to try them for yourself to see if you get on with them - they’re certainly not the same kind of moulds that are used for others at this price point. They do seem a bit light on the padding, and how this would fare long-term if you planned to use these for long heavy bag sessions a few times a week remains to be seen, but for the casual boxer wanting a good pair of gloves to train with, you won’t go far wrong with these.

Adidas FLX 3.0 Speed 50 Boxing Gloves


Our Rating: 3/5

Pros

  • A personal thing - but I really like the design; classy and understated
  • Not very expensive and will serve as a good entry point into the sport

Cons

  • Judging by the reviews on these gloves, they’re not particularly remarkable to train in
  • Adidas gloves tend to be pretty rigid and stiff to train with


Adidas is a brand that, while not new to the boxing scene, don’t have the brand recognition or perhaps the heritage of more familiar boxing brands such as Everlast or Lonsdale. However, they’ve been in boxing a long time, primarily making boxing shoes - in fact, in Ali vs Frazier I in 1971, both boxers wore Adidas boots. Their gloves don’t perhaps have the same legacy, although some Adidas gloves do have a following among some amateur boxers in the UK. These particular gloves are starter gloves, and come in a number of colours - fluorescent yellow, classic red and black with a number of different trim colours. They also come in 6oz, 10oz, 12oz, 14oz and 16oz sizes.


Again, we’re looking at another PU leather set of gloves, which makes them hard to recommend against the Title Boxing gloves we’ve already reviewed which are full grain leather. The polyurethane in these gloves isn’t particularly cheap, but it isn’t particularly pricey either - it’s pretty much what you’d expect in this price range. 


Polyurethane leather gloves are usually pretty stiff and rigid to punch with. You aren’t likely to find them particularly comfortable for heavy bag work. However, for a beginner, they’d probably be fine for a few months while you decided whether you wanted to continue with the sport. At which point, you’d want to look at getting a better set of gloves. 


While the price point on these gloves is very low, which serves as a good entry point into the sport, I’d urge you to spend the few extra dollars and pick up the Title Boxing or the RDX examples. The reason for this is that these gloves are unremarkable - they’re not particularly bad or particularly good, and to be honest you don’t expect much else from a pair of gloves as cheap as these, but I do think you’ll get better value for money by spending a bit more.


I will say I am a huge fan of the design and the way these Adidas gloves look - especially the white ones with gold trim. It’s not enough to make me overlook the cheapness of construction and the unremarkable experience you’ll get when punching a bag with them.

TITLE Boxing PRO Style Heavy Bag Gloves


Our Rating: 3.5/5

Pros

  • Very comfortable set of gloves with a satin interior
  • A good quality brand that I trust, so longevity likely not an issue

Cons

  • Made of synthetic leather - despite being more expensive than Title’s real leather gloves?
  • They fit a little snugly - which is probably fine for some, but I can see those with large hands having issues


We’ve had a good entry from Title Boxing so far on this list, and I’m pleased to say that the PRO Style Heavy Bag gloves are a continuation of (some of) those good things I said about the previous model. While these gloves are slightly more expensive, they feel a little bit more substantial - a bit weightier. This may be because the Pro Style Leather Training Gloves are noticeably lighter than most other models. The PRO Style Heavy Bag gloves only come in 14oz and 16oz weights (which are the only two weights you really should be using on a heavy bag as a beginner) and come in a nice black/red design.


Let’s go over the things I didn’t like first. I can’t find anything in the marketing materials to suggest what material these are made of, but if I had to guess, these are made out of synthetic leather (polyurethane.) This boggles my mind a little bit because Title was obviously able to afford to make the PRO Style Leather Gloves out of real, full-grain leather - and yet they decided to do these ones on the cheap using PU and charging $20 more? That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.


Having said that, they’re not a bad set of gloves - a damn sight better than a lot of others at this price point. They’re well padded and the interior was made of satin which makes them very comfortable to wear. They seem to be a nice fit (if a little snug) and you should be able to train with them for quite a while without developing any kind of aches or pains characteristic of cheap, synthetic gloves. 


However, given the choice between these and the other Title Boxing gloves? I’d pick the full-grain leather gloves every time, because I know they’ll last longer.

Read More
Boxing Gloves

The Best Everlast Boxing Gloves for 2022

Let’s talk about boxing gloves. A must-have for any aspiring fighter - whether you’re looking to start fighting as an amateur or simply looking to get a better workout in your local gym. There are so many different types and brands of glove on the market that it’s very difficult to know where to start. 

I won’t go too much into selecting a brand in this article (that’s for another day) but suffice it to say that Everlast gloves are a common choice for a lot of boxers. As a result, we’ve rounded up what we think are the 5 best Everlast boxing gloves on the market today. Whether you’re a seasoned boxer or just trying out in the sport, Everlast is definitely a brand worth giving some consideration to.

Everlast - the brand

Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman, 1974. Note the Everlast gear Ali is wearing - trunks and gloves.

Everlast is a hugely popular brand. Once upon a time you could find Everlast gear in any gym in the US. The greats - Ali, Holmes, Tyson, Leonard - all wore Everlast gear at some point in their careers. However, nowadays it’s unlikely you’ll see a huge number of pro fighters sporting Everlast gear; as a brand, Everlast is primarily pointed at the lower end of the market.

I’ll say that from my research, and from my own experience, Everlast gloves are OK for beginners/intermediate fighters, but they’re not the type of glove that most pro boxers take seriously. This is fine for those of you who are starting out in the sport, but if you’re looking for something more durable or professional I suggest you read some of my other reviews where I go into the type of boxing gloves you should be using for competition. 

However, if you’re not worried about this and you’re looking for a simple training glove - let’s get into my picks.


The 5 Best Everlast Boxing Gloves 

(updated for 2022)

Glove

Our Rating

Buy Now

Everlast Pro Elite V2 

Boxing Gloves

Everlast Powerlock 

Training Gloves

Everlast Pro Style 

Training Gloves

Everlast 1910 

Classic Training Gloves

Everlast Pro Style Boxing Gloves


Without further ado, let's get into some detailed reviews on these gloves and why you should (or shouldn't) buy them.

Everlast Pro Elite V2 Training Gloves


Our Rating: 3/5

Pros

  • A comfortable experience - I didn’t get sweaty palms and my hands were well-protected
  • Quite a heavy glove (felt heavier than the stated weight) - and therefore may help your conditioning
  • Priced at the entry level and are reasonable value for money

Cons

  • Potential quality control issues - you may wish to watch out for this (and make sure wherever you buy them from gives you a guarantee just in case you get issues)
  • Complaints about hand protection when sparring - again, for punching the bag you should be OK but I personally wouldn’t use these for anything else


As we’ve mentioned, Everlast is a brand that caters for the newbie, and these gloves are no exception. Don’t be fooled by the “Pro” and “Elite” monikers - these gloves are nothing but, although they are a decent first entry into boxing training and should give a complete beginner enough to get started with basic heavy bag or sparring work. These gloves are available in a variety of colours (black, blue, gold, grey, green and more) and come in 8oz, 12oz, 14oz and 16oz sizes.


What I particularly liked about these gloves was the mesh palm - it’s a nice touch, and while I was training with these gloves I didn’t feel my hands get overly sweaty or clammy, so Everlast’s Evercool Mesh Palm system works well in this regard. Again - this is nothing special, and a lot of gloves at this price point do this well, but it was a feature I appreciated nonetheless.


However, longevity may be an issue with these gloves. After doing some research I’ve found people saying that they occasionally leak foam, and some people have experienced the leather splitting or the stitching coming apart. I can’t vouch for this myself as in all honesty I wasn’t testing the gloves long enough to experience this. It is something you might want to watch out for. To be honest, though, these are a very inexpensive set of gloves, and as long as you’re not using them for hours and hours every day, you should be OK.


I have to say, however - despite my criticisms, the Everlast Pro Elite V2s were a comfortable, capable glove that should serve any beginner as an introduction into the sport. You’ll want to upgrade pretty quickly if you’re taking things seriously, but just a few punch-outs on the heavy bag at your local gym? These will be fine.

Everlast Powerlock Training Gloves


Our Rating: 3.5/5

Pros

  • Synthetic leather feels nice to the touch and of a high enough quality
  • Gloves are well designed and comfortable to use
  • One of the better offerings from Everlast - and competitively priced

Cons

  • The interior of the glove felt like it had more space than most other gloves - it could be made a little more snug in my view
  • Not a glove you could really use when sparring - I don’t feel there’s enough protection for this
  • After about an hours’ use, they began to get quite sweaty - there is no real ventilation to speak of



Slightly more upmarket than the previous option, and with arguably better build quality, Everlast’s Powerlock Training Gloves are designed for the fighter with a bit of experience, who may want to use their gloves a little more intensively than a complete beginner. The Powerlock is a popular product, and is constructed from synthetic leather, with a velcro fastening arrangement.


The first thing that stood out to me about these gloves is that they felt of a higher quality than other Everlast products I’ve tried. In fact, I’d put them on par with RDX gloves (which I’m a big fan of) of a similar price range. Having said that, these gloves are also pointed at the lower end of the market, so I certainly wasn’t expecting miracles - but I was pleasantly surprised.


When trying these out in the gym I felt they were again, comfortable and capable for the task at hand. One thing I will point out (and I know a lot of other people in other reviews picked up on this) is that the punching surface isn’t really round - it’s sort of inclined, and I did have to take a while to get used to this. I can see that this might pose a problem for someone used to a more rounded glove as you may (out of habit) hit the bag and have the full force of your punch soaked up by your third, fourth or fifth finger. 


I have to say I threw a few punches and did feel it in my wrist, where my hand hadn’t hit the bag at the correct angle. I did have to adjust what I was doing, and it’s easy to see how you could do yourself an injury like this. However, this is nothing that can’t be overcome with a bit of practice. What I would say to anyone interested in purchasing these gloves at this price is to try them out first - again, go to a place where you’ll get some kind of warranty or money back guarantee.


Having said all this, these are perfectly acceptable gloves, and should serve an intermediate boxer looking to sharpen their game. I would not recommend these gloves for amateur fighters or those who do a lot of sparring - these are again pretty much for bag work only.

Everlast Pro Style Training Gloves


Our Rating: 3/5

Pros

  • Very accessible product - almost anyone could get into boxing with these
  • Machine washable - no more stinky gloves
  • Cost effective and seem well-made and durable

Cons

  • Minimal padding around the knuckles and not a lot of wrist protection
  • Strange thumbless design - I don’t really see the point of this
  • Designed for the absolute newbie with no prior experience in boxing - necessitating an upgrade pretty quickly



Now, these are a little different to the other gloves on this list in that they’re not really boxing gloves - they’re training gloves, designed just for hitting a heavy bag. As a result it’s difficult to recommend them in favour of or instead of any of the other products on this list, as they’re designed to do a different thing. However, I felt it was prudent to include them simply because anyone looking to buy gloves in this price range will primarily be using them for bag work - and that’s exactly what these gloves are designed for.


These gloves are actually not too bad - and appeal to the home or amateur boxer in a number of ways. Firstly they’re actually made out of a cotton or neoprene material rather than a hard leather, and this helps in a number of ways - they are actually washable, which is very unusual for a boxing glove. The design is thumbless (which I actually thought was a bit strange) and they are constructed in such a way that your thumb grips to the mesh backing and the rest of your hand covers it to protect it from any impact.


These gloves are easy to put on and take off - they have an elasticated retainer around the wrist - you simply pull the gloves on and you’re ready to go. The Pro Style Training Gloves are quite small, however, and I would definitely recommend that you use wraps with them but you may find them a little bit tight. 


Two of the things I didn’t really like about these gloves is that there’s minimal foam padding around the knuckles and not a lot of wrist protection. It could easily be argued that these are beginner gloves and therefore aren’t designed for someone who can hit like Foreman (although if you could, you’d probably hurt yourself wearing these gloves) but it’s something to bear in mind - I was a bit worried to let it rip on the bag simply because I didn’t feel like these gloves would be able to provide my hands adequate protection.


I will say - these are BEGINNER gloves. I would not recommend that they’re used for anything other than hitting a heavy bag once or twice a week. For that - they’re more than adequate. However, if you want to start sparing, using the pads, speed bag, anything like this - get a proper pair of gloves. I also implore you to use wraps (as you should be doing anyway) with these gloves because there isn’t really a lot of padding.

Everlast 1910 Classic Training Gloves


Our Rating: 4.5/5

Pros

  • Probably the highest-quality gloves I’ve tried from Everlast
  • Quite adequate for heavy bag work - I’d even be tempted to try them at some basic sparring as they seem better quality than most other examples on this list
  • Nice design - harks back to the gloves boxers of old used to wear

Cons

  • Some issues with protection and padding in the wrist area
  • Pricey for what you get - I wouldn’t say they’re fantastic value for money
  • Better gloves available at this price point



Probably the most expensive set of gloves on this list, and in my opinion the best-looking. Harking back to the classic designs of the past, including those worn by the great champions, these gloves are probably Everlast’s closest thing to a flagship line. The Everlast 1910 Classic gloves are available in a variety of colours (including a brown-ish colour, which I actually really liked as it reminds me of the really old gloves the great fighters of the 40s and 50s used to wear) and in 12oz, 14oz and 16oz weights. 


One thing that stood out to me about these gloves is that they feel pretty solid. They’re a leather glove, with excellent breathability and have a mesh-like material at the palm, allowing air to circulate around your hands and stopping them from becoming overly sweaty and clammy. I tried a few rounds on the bag with these gloves and they felt like quite a good glove - not up to par with good brands like Cleto Reyes and Grant, but again, for amateurs and beginners looking to do heavy bag or mitt work, these will be perfectly adequate.


These gloves are probably the best pair of gloves from Everlast that I’ve tried, and while I can’t say that these would replace the gloves I use on a regular basis, they’re perfectly good for the job they do and would suit a beginner very well. I have to say, however, I do think there are better options from better brands at this price point.


I will also say that I felt these gloves didn’t provide quite as much protection as they could have, especially in the wrist area. I always say you should wear hand wraps when boxing - but with these, I’d really recommend learning to wrap your hands with Mexican wraps really, REALLY well, paying particular attention to the wrist area.

Everlast Pro Style Training Gloves


Our Rating: 2.5/5

Pros

  • Cost effective - they are a very cheap set of gloves
  • Interesting electric blue and green pattern that will suit some boxers (other colours are available)

Cons

  • Very little protection - hit the bag with any kind of force and you’ll definitely know about it the next day
  • Not great value for money even at this price point - doesn’t make sense to cheap out on these when you can get better gloves for only a little more money
  • Do not feel like they’d last a long time - probably only a few weeks before the leather either starts to split or the foam starts coming out



Our final pick on this list - the Everlast Pro Style Training Gloves. These are very similar to the previous Pro Elite Style training gloves we reviewed - however are only available in 14oz weight and in one colour - a blue/green mix. This won’t be for everyone, but I can see the appeal. Personally - I’d go for a pair of plain reds or whites, but that’s unfortunately not an option with these gloves.


These again are quite a comfortable glove for LIGHT sparring or heavy bag work. Again, like almost every other product on this roundup - using these gloves for extensive training is not advisable. I will say that while they were comfortable for a few rounds on the heavy bag, I did not feel like they’d stand up to repeated punishment. 


One of the things I’ve noticed with some Everlast gloves (and it’s nothing new, it’s been the case for years) is that they have an extra bit of material to hold the thumb in place between the thumb and the rest of the glove. They say that this is to hold your hand in the correct orientation, and to some extent I get this. However the more I tried these particular gloves, the more I felt like my thumb was in the wrong position, and that I almost couldn’t make a fist properly. 


Unfortunately these gloves are made for the lower end of the market, and you can definitely tell this when using them. They don’t offer a whole lot of protection around the knuckles and wrist area (a common theme in this article unfortunately) and these are not a set of gloves I’d want to use on a regular basis. As I keep saying - for light bag work, very light sparring, etc - they probably won’t let you down, but anything more serious and you’re definitely looking at a pair of gloves that won’t be up to the job with the Everlast 1200018s. 

I would really recommend you spend the extra few dollars on a pair of RDXs instead of these - they’ll serve you better in the long run.

Read More
Boxing Gloves

Boxing Inner Gloves vs Hand Wraps

Whether you’re a seasoned pro who’s been boxing for years or someone just looking to get started, one thing you’ll know is that you need some sort of hand protection before you slip a pair of boxing gloves on. This applies whether you’re sparring, working the heavy bag or getting into the ring for your next fight.

However, there are a few different methods of hand protection. Of course, there’s the tried and tested boxing wraps which have been used for decades, but recently manufacturers have released a few alternatives, aimed at the amateur and professional alike and primarily with the goal of cutting down the time needed to wrap your hands. These are mainly in the form of quick wraps or gel inner gloves.

There’s a lot of misconceptions about these products, and it’s easy for a beginner to get overwhelmed with what’s being said in forums and gyms across the country. What this article will do is provide some clarity on the situation, so you can make an informed choice based upon your budget, your needs and your experience level.


Why do you need hand protection?

First off, let’s go through why we need to protect our hands when we do combat sports, either with wraps or gel wraps/inner gloves. This may seem obvious, but it’s crucial (especially if you go down the route of wrapping your hands) that you understand exactly why we use hand protection in addition to boxing gloves, and what purpose it serves.

The main reason we use hand protection is to prevent injury to the hand or wrist. Hand wraps and inner gloves do this by providing support to small bones, joints, tissues and tendons within the hand. Bones in particular are fragile, and the constant force of punching either a bag or your opponent’s face can cause them to become fractured or damaged.

What hand protection does in addition to this is distribute the force of the punch across the entire hand. It does this by keeping moving joints, such as the fingers, in place. If you’ve ever punched something with your bare hand, you’ll know that for example if your fingers move as you strike the object, you’re liable to cause yourself an injury. A hand wrap or inner gel forces your fingers to stay still, and by doing so, the shock of the punch is absorbed by the whole hand and not just the small area of impact. 

What this also means is that actually, you can punch somebody harder than if you had no wraps, because you’re not in as much danger of causing injury to yourself. Hand wraps or gloves compress the hand, and keep it compressed at the point of impact. 


What advantages are there to using inner/gel gloves?

We’ve covered both wraps and inner gloves so far, but I just want to preface this with a word about hand wraps in general. Generally, to properly wrap your hands for a fight, your trainer or cutman will have their own method of wrapping. There are different ways of wrapping your hands to protect against different things - for example, more wrist support, more padding across the knuckles, etc. If you’re susceptible to particular injuries, or you have problems with a particular joint in the hand, you can change the way you wrap to provide extra support to problem areas.

You sacrifice this flexibility with inner gloves. Inner gloves are a catch-all, designed primarily for two things: speed, and ease of use.

If you’re a beginner, it’ll likely take you a while to learn how to wrap your hands properly. What’s more, improperly wrapped hands can lull you into a false sense of security, leading you to believe your hands are safer than they are (because you haven’t wrapped them properly) and causing injury. A good pair of inner gloves protects against this, because there’s nothing to go wrong; you slip the inner glove on, slip your boxing glove on and away you go.

There are two main types of inner gloves. These are just how I differentiate them - you may find them called slightly different things by other boxers.

Fast Wraps/Quick Wraps

Quick wraps or fast wraps are generally the lower priced of the two different styles. They look like a fingerless glove with padding around the knuckles. Generally the padding tends to be quite thick, as it’s layered foam. The foam is designed to absorb the impact of the punch, dispersing it across the knuckles rather than it being concentrated in one area.

In my experience, these are OK if you’re just starting out or you’re in a pinch, but they’re not great for long-term boxing training, for a few reasons:

  • They tend to wear out quickly. The foam tends not to be great at absorbing impact over and over again, and you may after a few months find yourself coming home scrapes or cuts on your knuckles after a training session. I’ve experienced this and it told me it was time to upgrade to a better set of inner gloves.
  • They tend to be too big. Usually the foam is quite thick, and this can be a problem if you’re training with smaller gloves. For example, my first set of wraps was a Lonsdale Quick Wrap glove, and I struggled to fit it inside my 10oz gloves, simply because there wasn’t enough room. This also applies if you’re training with a buddy, and you want to do some pad work - with hand wraps you could keep your wraps on ready for another session, but with these you’ll probably have to take them off, as you won’t be able to fit your hand inside the pad with them on.

Gel Inner Gloves

Gel gloves can be a little more expensive, but in my opinion, there are clear advantages over quick wraps. Full disclosure - gel gloves are my current hand protection of choice when I train, and I use a set of RDX X7 Inner Gloves, which I can’t recommend highly enough for the amateur boxer. 

You’ll find that with a set of gel gloves, they again look a lot like a set of fingerless gloves but with distinct differences to the quick/fast wraps we discussed earlier. They have a layer of gel padding over the entire back of the hand, rather than just on the knuckles (although the padding over the knuckles is slightly thicker.) 

What this means is that the force of the impact is distributed over a wider area, meaning you’re less likely to get injured. You’re also able to punch harder without feeling it as much. 

There are several advantages to a set of gel gloves vs quick wraps, but I’ll summarise my feelings below:

  • They’re smaller and therefore easier to use with smaller gloves. My regular training gloves are a 14oz set by Lonsdale, and my gel gloves fit snugly inside. I’ve also got a set of 10oz gloves that I sometimes use for bag work, and these also fit great. 
  • They’re also a lot more comfortable to wear. Quick wraps tend to be made out of this woven material that gets scratchy and quite unpleasant on the skin for a long session, especially between the fingers. A nice pair of gel gloves mitigates this as you get a little more finger protection than with a set of quick wraps.
  • You can also use them as MMA grappling gloves. I’m not into MMA, but if you are, gel gloves can potentially (if you get the right sort) serve as dual purpose gloves, both for boxing bag work and as grappling gloves. Not something I’ve tried myself, but I’ve heard they do the job.


What advantages are there to using traditional cotton hand wraps?

Now we’ve spoken a lot about why gel gloves and quick wraps are great, but what about the tried and tested solution of taking the time to properly wrap your hands, such as has been done by all the great fighters over the years. Why take the time and trouble to use traditional hand wraps?

Wraps are more customisable. As we said before, you can wrap your hands slightly differently depending on the area you want to protect the most with traditional wraps. For example, if you’re susceptible to wrist injuries, you can wrap in such a way that your wrists are extra-protected. You don’t get this kind of ability to personalise with a set of inner gloves.

Wraps are thinner and more versatile. As I’ve mentioned, it can occasionally be a challenge to get your gloves on if you’re wearing a set of inner gloves. You won’t have this problem with a set of wraps. You can also wrap differently depending on the gloves you wear, the type of training you’re doing, or as we mentioned above, if you want to increase protection based on previous injuries to certain parts of the hand. You can’t do this with a set of inner gloves.

Wraps last longer. The only thing that causes wear to a set of wraps in all honesty is washing them (which is another benefit of hand wraps because you can’t wash a pair of inner gloves.) Eventually, a pair of quick wraps will break down and in some cases, can burst with repeated impacts. The same is true for gel inner gloves - these can break down too, although it’s less likely than with quick wraps. Hand wraps, when taken care of properly, will last much longer.

Hand wraps are safer. If you wrap your hands properly, you’re less likely to get an injury compared to using gel gloves or quick wraps. Inner gloves are a trade-off - you get more convenience for not having to wrap your hands, but you lose out on the highest level of protection like you’d get with a set of hand wraps. If you’ve had an injury before, or you’re taking your boxing seriously, I’d recommend you get a set of wraps.


Do I need to tape and gauze my hands?

Now we come on to a pretty frequently asked question, which is that if you’re going to wrap your hands, is just wrapping them enough, or should you tape and gauze them? The answer is not quite as simple as you might think. 

I’ll just preface this by saying that if you’re going into an actual fight, you should tape and gauze your hands. It’s probably going to be required by the sanctioning body anyway, and it’s going to offer you the most protection. However, as we’re aiming this article at the beginner/amateur boxer, in all honesty tape and gauze is probably not going to be necessary for you.

There are several different types of actual hand wraps, which we’ll go into briefly.

Tape and gauze is what the pros do, in boxing, MMA, martial arts and UFC. Gauze is light and breathable, and is also thinner than cloth wraps, both of which make it much more comfortable under a set of gloves. However, you won’t be taping or gauzing your hands yourself - this almost always requires a second person to do it for you. If you’re training solo, you probably won’t have this luxury. Tape and gauze is also NOT reusable - you’ll need to cut it off and do it again with fresh tape and gauze next time you want to train, which can be annoying.

Stretchy cloth wraps are another way of wrapping your hands - sometimes called “Mexican” wraps. These are made of an elasticated material that stretches and conforms to your hand, providing increased comfort. Most amateur/home boxers I speak to agree that this is the best, most comfortable way to wrap your hands.

Reusable cloth wraps are the third and final type of boxing hand wraps. These are similar to Mexican wraps, but differ in that they are not elasticated. These tend to be a little thinner than Mexican wraps too, but are reusable and very cheap. 

My recommendation is that no, as an amateur/home boxer, you won’t need to tape and gauze your hands unless you really, really want to. I’d recommend you try a set of Mexican style wraps as you’re likely to find them more comfortable to wear, but a set of reusable cloth wraps will also serve you well. 


When should I use my hand wraps vs inner gloves?

This is an easy one to answer. Wear your glove wraps every time you train. Put them on as you go into the gym and don’t take them off until you leave the gym. That’s a surefire way to keep your hands protected and in good condition - especially if you’re doing pushups between rounds, for example; you don’t want to be taking your hand protection on and off several times a session.

It’s also great practice to wear your wraps when you’re training on your own, for example when shadowboxing, as it helps you get a feel for what your hands do when you throw a punch and therefore what works most comfortably for you. 

However, even if you choose not to keep your wraps on when jumping rope, doing push ups, etc - you must without exception wear them when doing the following:

  • ANY bag work (speed bag, maize bag, heavy bag, double end bag, etc)
  • ANY sparring with another person
  • ANY sanctioned fight or contest (be sure to check with the governing body about what method or type of hand protection is acceptable)
  • ANY pad work 

If you don’t do this, you are asking for a hand injury.

In case I haven't been clear enough - when doing any kind of contact boxing training, you MUST wear hand wraps or inner gloves. This also applies if you're doing other contact sports- Muay Thai, kickboxing, etc.


Boxing Inner Gloves vs Hand Wraps - Which is Better?

To conclude, hopefully there’s enough information here for you to make your own mind up. I’m not really aiming this article at the professional boxer - of course the pros are going to wrap their hands. This is more for the home gym boxer, or those with an interest in taking up boxing to keep fit. If you’re taking the sport seriously in any way, you should be wrapping your hands.

Ultimately, the choice is yours which you pick, but I’m going to tell you what I think. 

I personally don’t bother with quick wraps, as I find them pretty useless. They break easily (especially if you’re doing a lot of heavy bag work) and they’re not comfortable. 

I’m a big fan of gel gloves for training. This is mainly what I do now - I used to fight a little bit when I was younger (although nothing serious) but I don’t any more - and I think a proper set of gel gloves is fine for training in. If I was taking my boxing a little more seriously (training three or four times per week with a regime, etc) I’d probably be looking to gravitate towards proper hand wraps, but for the occasional boxer that likes a go on the heavy bag or the occasional sparring session, you won’t go far wrong with a good quality (not cheap rubbish) set of gel inner gloves.

You won’t go wrong at all with hand wraps. Yes, they’re a little bit of a pain to learn how to do it properly, and they’re not as convenient as a set of inner gloves, but if you’re looking for the most protection for your hands, this is what you should choose. There’s a reason the pros all use hand wraps and nothing else.

I’ll leave you with one more thought. It doesn’t really matter which one of these you pick - as long as you pick one of them. Don’t train without hand protection - boxing gloves are not designed to protect your hands and you’re going to cause yourself a serious injury if you’re training or fighting without hand wraps or inner gloves. Even if it’s just a light 20 minute session on the double end bag - choose one of them.

Check out some of our other boxing content - we've got lots of excellent reviews on some of the best boxing equipment available for beginner/intermediate boxers.

Read More