Boxing gloves – which ones are right for me (+ useful tips)

The history of martial arts and boxing gloves dates back to ancient Egypt. The first martial arts were practiced by soldiers defending the pharaohs who needed a way to train. At first, the soldiers simply wrapped their hands with a five-meter piece of cloth.

Boxing gloves did not appear until the early 20th century, when head injuries among Thai boxers became so common that measures had to be taken to soften the blows. In those days the gloves were larger than modern gloves and filled with hay or horsehair.

However, boxing gloves have come a long way, with many different types of gloves now available in stores. To make the right choice, here is a brief overview of boxing gloves and tips to pay attention to when buying and using boxing gloves.

What are boxing gloves and how do they differ?

Modern boxing gloves are filled with foam and tested on equipment. It is important that gloves cushion the force of impact on the person to prevent concussions and protect the skin and jaw. TopTen Olympic Boxing Gloves from Germany. They are the standard of classic boxing gloves. Similar gloves are used in kickboxing.

There are gloves specially designed for manual work. Thai boxing gloves are slightly flatter and have a reinforced handguard portion to block kicks. Strikes can be of two types: hand and foot-hand, and this is what is taken into account when making gloves.

Boxing gloves are made of natural or artificial leather. Both types of gloves are equally durable, but leather gloves are more expensive. When choosing gloves, a general rule is to wear heavier gloves in training than in competition. The light boxer competition gloves weigh 10 ounces and the heavy ones 12 ounces. For training, heavier gloves are used, since their surface area is larger and they do not squeeze the hands. Larger gloves are easier to protect.

What should you pay attention to when buying and using boxing gloves?

For various reasons under boxing gloves you must always wear bandages or internal gloves. First of all, they protect your teeth and wrists. Secondly, the bandages absorb sweat and are washable. Boxing gloves are not washable.

There are two types of bandages: slightly elastic and made of plain cotton. Thinner bandages are generally recommended as they are more comfortable. Different martial arts bandages have different lengths, for example a Thai boxing bandage is 5 meters long. There is another way to fill a boxing glove: you can use inner gloves. Boxing gloves should not slip from your hands.

Boxing gloves are produced in various sizes, widths and lengths. Gloves should be comfortable to wear on your hands. When wearing boxing gloves, it is especially important for women to keep their nails short, otherwise they will tear the glove. Before purchasing gloves, be sure to try them on.

What should you know about boxing glove care?

We often forget to clean boxing gloves. Fortunately, modern gloves are generally impervious to sweat and keep it away from the foam. However, never leave your gloves in a closed bag after training, you need to take them off and dry them.

The inside of the boxing glove can be washed with soap and water or with a special boxing glove cleaner. The glove must always be washed properly, otherwise the stitching may begin to disintegrate over time.

Also, make sure the band between the thumb and forefinger of the glove is tied. This prevents thumb injuries. When training with punching bags, you should wear special boxing gloves and not regular boxing gloves. Punch bag training gloves are smaller, sturdier and withstand harder punches. The material and construction of the punching bag gloves are designed to protect your hands. Regular boxing gloves are only suitable for training in the ring.

We summarize the main factors to consider when choosing a boxing glove

Boxing gloves protect the boxer and his partner. As a result, the padding of the glove is softer, and the padding is evenly molded into the cushion of the glove, thus ensuring softer contact with the opponent’s hand and body.

Be sure to check with your club coach before purchasing gloves. He has many years of experience and can help you choose the weight of gloves. Often the coach has his own requirements regarding the weight of boxing gloves – his recommendations make training conditions the same for everyone.

When purchasing, always tell us what kind of gloves you need: for competition or training?
– if for competitions, you need to know what requirements are imposed on the weight of the gloves
– if for training – what type of sport: for boxing training in the ring or with the bag; beginners or advanced etc

Recommended boxing glove size by weight:

• up to 45 kg: 8 – 12 oz

• 45 – 68 kg: 12 – 14 ounces

• 68 – 80 kg: 14 – 16 oz

• over 80 kg: 16 – 18 oz

Recommended Size boxing gloves based on your body size weight:

• up to 45 kg: 6 – 8 oz

• 45 – 68 kg: S/M

• 68 – 80 kg: L/XL

• over 80 kg: L/XL

How long do boxing gloves last?

It is very difficult to answer this question in a concrete and coherent way. This is due to many factors. The durability of the gloves depends on the frequency of use, care and materials, as well as the level of the sport. Gloves usually last 1 to 3 years. Attention! A professional athlete can turn leather gloves into razors in 3 months. Therefore, the frequency of training is quite an important factor.

The durability of gloves for beginners and advanced athletes is different, since their impact strength and technique cannot even be compared. An experienced boxer wears out his gloves much faster due to his superiority and technical skill. Therefore it is not wise to spend hundreds of euros on the first pair of boxing gloves: to learn the basics it is better to choose the most optimal quality-price ratio. If you are interested in this sport and want to reach a higher level, you can invest in more expensive leather gloves.

Evaluate your training – If you spend most of your time training with a punching bag, make sure you are wearing bag training gloves. There is no point in buying expensive ring gloves if you will only use them once a week.

What happens to the ring gloves if you use them for bag training? Typically, the seams of 14- and 16-ounce gloves come apart and the lining of the glove is simply flattened. Training in the ring with flat, unpadded gloves can hurt your hands and your partner.

So, if you train with ring gloves on a bag, their lifespan will be much shorter. If you train both in the bag and in the ring, we recommend purchasing more durable leather gloves.

In summary, the lifespan of your gloves depends on how you treat them and the training methods you use. Remember: it is normal for boxing gloves to wear out – they are perforated!

How to care for boxing gloves?

Take five minutes after every workout to care for your gloves and to ensure your safety.

• Remove your sweaty gloves from your gym bag and hang them out to dry.

• Use natural cleaners: The wrong chemicals combine with sweat and dirt to increase the risk of infection.

• Do not leave gloves in direct sunlight or on radiators: hot climates favor the release of unpleasant odors and the growth of bacteria. Remember that the smell of sweat is caused by the remnants of bacterial activity. Consider that the stronger the smell, the more bacteria will ruin your glove over time.

• Additionally, heat can cause gloves to shrink. Temperature fluctuations can have long-term adverse effects on gloves.

Features of Thai Boxing Gloves

Compared to classical boxing, Thai boxing is much more agile, various techniques are used. Therefore, gloves for this sport have the corresponding properties. The focus is on the even distribution of the padding and the reinforced protection of the upper arm.

Additionally, the gloves are more flexible for a better grip, allowing the palm to “open” more to absorb impacts. Many models also have additional padding on the palm.