How To Choose The Right Boxing Glove


Finding the right pair of boxing gloves for the first time is always a bit overwhelming. The right size and weight are important, but when mixed with seemingly unlimited amount of choices of brands and on top of that whether the gloves are for sparring, training, or competition. Things can get confusing.

In this article, we are going to talk about what to look for when buying your boxing gloves and how you can find the right pair.

For starters, it is important to know how to find the size and weight of the boxing glove that is optimal for you. Having gloves too heavy or too light could hinder your experience or worse, not give the right protection. From there, you will want to look for boxing gloves that are going to fit the type of training you will be doing.

  • are you training for fitness
  • sparring with a partner
  • using heavy punching bags
  • are you working on speed or power

Those are some questions that you can answer to help gauge the type of boxing glove you should be getting. Whether for different workouts or as a secondary pair.

If you don’t need boxing gloves for a specific need and would want a pair for just casual boxing or training from home. There are types that can be considered to be “all around” or can be used in different situations.

The important part is that they fit well and have enough protection for your hands in order to do your workout or training safely.

[product_display title=”Everlast Boxing Gloves” description=”Everlast is a brand that offers high-quality boxing gloves suitable for beginners and experienced fighters alike. They offer a wide variety of gloves in different weights and sizes, ensuring a proper fit for everyone. If you want a versatile, innovative, and high-quality boxing glove, Everlast is definitely a brand to consider.” image=”https://thebasementwarrior.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Everlast-Boxing-Gloves.jpg” width=”300″ height=”300″ button_text=”Visit Everlast” button_link=”https://track.flexlinkspro.com/g.ashx?foid=156052.9115.494794&trid=1296557.160629&foc=16&fot=9999&fos=5″ banner_text=”Our Recommendation” affiliate_disclaimer=”We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.”]

Find The Right Size And Weight

Finding the right size and weight of boxing gloves can seem a bit daunting. There are many different styles that also come with different weights to choose from.

So how would you find the right pair of boxing gloves that are the right size and weight?

When choosing which boxing glove that is a good fit. First you would want to make sure your hand fits snug in the glove with your fingertips almost reaching the end, but not touching. To get the right measurement, you would need to first measure your hand size, your weight and then your height. Here is what i found worked best for me when finding the perfect fitting boxing glove.

The first step in how to find the right boxing glove for you is to measure your hand with soft measuring tape. Holding one end flush between your thumb and the side of your first knuckle, continue to wrap the tape measure around your hand – making sure the tape runs underneath your knuckles until the tape reaches itself again.

This is how you would find the circumference of your hand, where you can take the measurement and refer to the chart.

boxing glove weight chart

With the chart you will find the relation of your hand size, your body weight and the recommended boxing glove that you should be using.

The suggestion made from the chart should be the right option for you or at least get you started. Moving up or down in boxing glove weight is fine and isn’t much of an issue as long as they fit well and give adequate protection.

There’s actually some benefits you can get when choose a heavier or lighter glove depending on what kind of workout you plan on doing.

The heavier weighted boxing gloves that you get will typically come with more padding and with the added weight, it gives more resistance to each punch you take. Making it a good choice if you’re looking to tone arms or building more power into your punch.

Deciding to go with lighter boxing gloves has its advantages as well. Being lighter you will obviously be able to punch quicker and longer. But due to having less padding you will get more feed back with your punches. Meaning you will have a better idea as to how your punch is landing on the target.

What Types of Boxing Gloves Are there

 There’s actually more variation than you would expect, and each style of glove has its own uses. Here’s a quick run-down on most of the types of boxing gloves you may come across.

If you’re wondering what types of boxing gloves you need, here are a few main things to consider:

  • Are the gloves for competition or training?
  • If competition, what weight of gloves is required for your weight class?
  • If training, what will the gloves be used for? Bag/pad work, sparring, or a bit of both?
  • Are you going to be using it for a sport where you’ll need to block/catch kicks?
  • Are you buying specific gloves for each activity, or one pair which you can use for everything?

Sparring Gloves – are boxing gloves that are meant absorb more impact. They are build for the design of protecting the user as well as the person they are sparring with. Sparring Gloves are generally heavier in weight and have thicker padding around the fingers and thumb for added protection.

Training Gloves – one of the more “well rounded” type of boxing gloves. They have enough padding for if you want to spar with a partner. Also they are light enough to use on bag work excercises.

Bag Gloves – optimized for heavy bag use, Bag gloves generally come lighter in weight and less padding in at the top of the glove. These gloves are best in keeping your speed and working on form in your home gym.

Competition Gloves – super light weight with least amount of padding. Competition gloves are generally considered within the 6oz – 10oz range. With lighter weight and less padding, these gloves are meant to inflict as much damage possible during a bout.

Knowing the type of glove you are getting is pretty important whether you’re starting to boxing seriously or just for fitness reasons. Each type of glove has its specific purpose and provides a different level of protection.

Whether you are training, sparring, or competing, it is essential to choose the right gloves for your needs. Consider the size, weight, and level of padding when choosing gloves and ensure that they fit snugly and comfortably.

What Material Should They Be

When it comes to buying boxing gloves, the material used can make a huge difference in the comfort, durability, and protection provided. In this article, we’ll be delving into the different materials used in boxing gloves and what specific benefits they offer.

Leather Gloves: Leather is the go-to material for boxing gloves due to its durability and high quality. It can withstand repeated use and heavy impacts while providing exceptional protection for the hands and wrists. Over time, leather gloves conform to the shape of the boxer’s hand, offering excellent comfort. Cowhide, goatskin, and kangaroo leather are the most common types of leather used in boxing gloves, each with their unique properties. It’s important to break in the boxing gloves when they are brand new and also maintain them over time to ensure longevity.

Synthetic Leather Gloves: An affordable alternative to leather gloves, synthetic leather gloves are made from polyurethane or vinyl and mimic the look and feel of real leather. Although they may not be as durable as leather gloves, they offer adequate protection for the hands and wrists and are lightweight and easy to clean.

Gel Gloves: A newer type of boxing glove, gel gloves use gel padding that conforms to the boxer’s hand for a comfortable and secure fit. They are lighter and more flexible than traditional gloves, making them an excellent choice for speed and agility training. Gel gloves also offer excellent protection for the hands and wrists, reducing the risk of injury.

Foam Gloves: Designed for fitness boxing and cardio workouts, foam gloves are lightweight and easy to wear. Made from foam padding and synthetic materials, they offer adequate protection for the hands and wrists but may not be as durable as leather or gel gloves.

Padding Materials: Boxing gloves also have padding material inside, which impacts the level of protection provided. Foam padding is the most commonly used material and provides excellent shock absorption while being lightweight and durable. Horsehair padding is denser and offers more protection than foam padding but requires regular maintenance. Gel padding is also used in some gloves and conforms to the shape of the boxer’s hand for a comfortable fit.

Should You Use Hand Wraps?

When it comes to boxing, one of the most important aspects of the sport is hand protection. Your hands are incredibly important, and without proper protection, you could easily injure yourself during training or in a fight. The best way to keep your hands protected and what should be always worn when training is hand wraps.

Here’s an article of what to consider when wearing your boxing gloves.

In short, you should always wear hand wraps when boxing. When using boxing gloves, there is enough open space inside where your hands can easily shift when you’re mishitting the target. That would be the most probable way in injuring yourself.

With hand wraps you keep your hand and its joints tight together. So when punching your target, your hand may still shift but because everything is tied tightly, there is a much lesser chance of getting hurt.

Hand wraps also provide an extra layer of padding and support, on top of the boxing gloves. Which can help to absorb some of the impact and prevent injury.

Aside from protection, they can also provide a higher level of comfort when boxing. Hand wraps help to cushion your hands and make the gloves fit more snugly, which can reduce discomfort and make it easier to focus on your technique.

When training you will also find that a lot of sweat is produced inside the boxing gloves from your hand. Well made hand wraps can help absorb the perspiration and in turn help preserve the longevity inside the boxing gloves.

Even though you use hand wraps you should be performing proper maintenance on your gloves to keep them from stinking and deteriorating quickly. This article will help guide your through cleaning your boxing gloves.

There are a few different types of hand wraps available, including traditional cotton hand wraps and newer gel hand wraps.

Traditional cotton hand wraps are most popular and typically made from a combination of cotton and elastic. They are affordable and easy to use, but they do require some practice to learn how to wrap them properly.

Gel hand wraps are a newer type of hand wrap that uses gel padding to provide extra protection to the hands and wrists. They are often more comfortable than traditional cotton hand wraps, but they are also more expensive.

No matter which type of hand wrap you choose, it is important to make sure that you are wrapping them properly. A poorly wrapped hand wrap can actually do more harm than good, as it can cause discomfort or even cut off circulation to the hands. You can check out our list of best hand wraps here.

Conclusion

Choosing the right pair of boxing gloves doesn’t have to be difficult, especially for beginners who have to consider the right size, weight, and purpose of the gloves.

It is important to determine what you will be using them for, whether it is sparring, training, or competition, and from there find a suitable one that fits the need. Boxing gloves come in different sizes and weights, and the right fit is essential to provide adequate protection for the hands.

Recent Posts