Who Needs Boxing Gloves?
Boxing gloves are an essential part of any fighter’s kit bag. In Disciplines like Boxing, Kickboxing, muay Thai and any other sport which involves strikes with the fists it is important that a solid pair of boxing gloves are worn to protect the fists from injuries which can arise from repeated punches and the associated blunt force impact. Boxing gloves provide wrist support and are padded on the thumb and fist to provide protection.
What type of boxing gloves are there?
There are 3 main types of boxing gloves, and each have their own unique use and method of training which they are best for. Firstly, Bag/training gloves are intended to be the workhorse of a boxer’s kit bag, they are manufactured with thick high-density padding to provide the best level of protection and therefore are best used on punching bags and pads held by a coach. Due to the nature of the padding and its materials, it is not recommended that these type of gloves are used for sparring to prevent injury to sparring partners. The Rival RB7 boxing gloves are the most popular bag gloves.
Fight Gloves, are usually lace-up style gloves made in competition regulation 8oz or 10oz size to provide a comfortable fit. These gloves feature a lightweight design and efficient in transferring the boxer’s punching power. They are usually made from the most premium materials – high-quality leather soft foam and horsehair. These gloves are designed for performance. The most popular fight gloves include the Cleto Reyes Lace-up Fight Gloves and the Rival Rfx-Guerrero Pro Fight Gloves.
Lastly sparring gloves, used by many as a hybrid overall glove for both bag work and sparring, they feature the same protective aspects and ergonomic design as the bag gloves, but the materials used, usually leather and or softer low-density padding allow them to be used for sparring with a training partner. The best sparring gloves would be the Fairtex BGV1 gloves and the Twins BGVL6 sparring gloves.
Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash
How Should I choose a pair of boxing gloves?
When choosing a pair of boxing gloves, there are various factors to consider, materials is the most important whilst most premium gloves are made using leather, entry-level gloves made of synthetic materials are also available. In terms of fit and style, industry leading brands like Faitex, Twins and Rival have introduced key distinguishing feature to their gloves to provide the best fit. When beginning a boxing journey, many people choose to buy 1 pair of gloves to use as a hybrid for both bag work and sparring. It is important to note that many gyms will only allow sparring in 14/16oz size gloves. For expert advice and to try gloves on before purchasing, pop down to either of the Minotaur Fight store Locations in Aylesbury or Waterloo.
How Can I take care of my boxing gloves
Boxing gloves just like any other piece of sports equipment will get sweaty with use and if not cleaned properly the gloves will smell. For glove cleaning and maintenance, it is important to clean and wipe down gloves after every use and allow them to dry fully before your next session. For leather boxing gloves, it can be important to condition the leather to maximise usage and maintain the familiar quality of gloves that the user is used to and preserve that ‘new glove feeling’ as long as possible.
