When starting a boxing hobby, purchasing your own gloves quickly comes to mind. First-timers can try gloves at boxing gyms, but for reasons of ergonomics and hygiene, own gloves are always the best solution for those who continue the hobby. The right kind of gloves make exercise both comfortable and safe. Using the wrong kind of gloves can cause problems in punching technique, and as a result, puts the hands in the wrong way. For a beginner boxer, choosing gloves can seem challenging at first - where should you start?
To make your task easier, we put together the main points that you should at least consider before clicking the gloves into the shopping cart.
Purpose of use
When choosing gloves, you should start from the intended purpose. Think about where you are going to use the gloves, for what purpose and how often? Boxing gloves are roughly divided into sack gloves, sparring gloves and match gloves. But what is the difference between them?
As the name suggests, a punching glove is used for punching a punching bag. The design of the glove is designed to repel shocks and reduce the vibration caused by hitting a tight sack. A good sack glove supports finding the right punching technique and also forgives most technique mistakes. Sack gloves are sometimes also referred to by the general name boxing gloves, and they are usually also great for track training, fitness boxing and even light sparring, if there is enough padding.
Sparraushanska is designed for training with a training partner, i.e. match training. The sparring glove has plenty of padding so that punches do not damage the training partner or the boxer's own hands. The padding of a sparring glove is softer than a sack glove, and is optimally distributed so that it takes the sharpest point from the blow. There must be no seams or stitches in the hit area of ​​the sparrau glove, as they could cause nasty wounds to the opponent.
However, the division between uses is not always completely straightforward, many The training gloves are well suited for both light sparring and bag work. For a hobbyist, one good general glove is usually enough, while a goal-oriented trainer should get his own gloves for different uses.
Competition gloves, or match gloves, are the lightest in structure, so that they do not slow down the movements of the competitor. However, the protection of the hands in professional racing gloves is not optimal, and therefore they should not be used for training. The padding of the competition gloves is denser and thinner than others, so that the fighter can attack as quickly and sharply as possible.
Size and weight
Boxing glove size is defined by their weight: the heavier the glove, the more padding. A heavier boxing glove means more protection for the hand, but also slower punches and more strain on the muscles. In technique training, lighter gloves can be used, so that the hands do not tire as quickly. A beginner should choose more protective (heavier) boxing gloves, and switch to lighter ones as the technique develops.
Boxing glove size is indicated in ounces, abbreviated as oz. One ounce is 28.35 grams. Typically glove sizes range from 8 to 18 oz depending on the intended use. Junior gloves can be 4, 6, 8 or 10 oz.
- Gloves around 8-12 ounces are recommended for bagging. The most common size for men is 10 oz and for women 8 oz.
- Gloves between 12 and 18 ounces are recommended for sparring gloves. When sparring with lighter gloves, a boxing helmet should be used as additional protection. The most common sparring glove size for men is 16 oz and for women 14 oz.
- Competitions generally use gloves that weigh 8 to 12 ounces, depending on the competitor's size and division.
The boxer's own weight also significantly affects the choice of glove size. Manufacturers often provide a size chart that indicates the ideal glove size corresponding to the boxer's weight, and this is a good place to start.
At the end of the day, you only find the right gloves for you by trying them on. The boxing glove should fit snugly, but they should not squeeze. Remember to always match gloves with armbands or undergloves if you plan to use them! Read more about the use of hand ties here.
Material
Looking for cheap boxing gloves? Or do you want the gloves to last for years? The service life, comfort and price of the gloves are largely determined by the materials used in them.
Traditionally, boxing gloves have been made of either leather or vinyl. Today, however, synthetic materials have been developed enormously more, and their properties even reach the level of leather gloves. The advantages of synthetic materials are especially lower price and veganism. Perhaps the most commonly used synthetic material is polyurethane or PU. Artificial leather made of polyurethane resembles genuine leather to a great extent in both its appearance and properties. Polyurethane gloves are often very durable and of high quality. Boxing equipment manufacturers may market their own synthetic materials under various trade names referring to leather, which despite the name, are not genuine leather. So you should be careful here, if the binoculars have genuine leather gloves!
Genuine leather boxing gloves convince with their comfort. The leather adapts over time to fit the user's hand, and thus offers a first-class fit. Genuine leather is slightly more expensive than synthetic materials, but it is definitely an investment that will pay for itself in its lifetime. If properly cared for, leather gloves can last for decades. Some gloves have a combination of materials so that the surface is cowhide, but the palm side has a more breathable, synthetic material.
Different foam mixes, cellular rubber compounds, smart gel pads or horse hair are used in the padding of the gloves. Horse reins are an ecological and long-lasting choice, but they protect the hands less than synthetic materials.
Fastening
As a rule, professional boxing gloves have a strap fastening. The straps provide a better fit and wrist support, but require someone to tie and untie the straps each time for the boxer. For this reason, amateur-level boxing gloves most commonly have a Velcro fastener. The Velcro strap is easy and quick to tighten yourself, offers almost as good wrist support, and is therefore an unbeatable choice for all enthusiasts.
Color and style
The color of the gloves does not matter in terms of boxing performance. We recommend choosing training equipment that suits your personality and preferences, which will give you a good feeling and an additional boost to your training. However, remember to make sure that the previous items on the list have been checked first, and the color is only the last criterion influencing the choice. Comfort and safety above all!
You get to see our entire selection of boxing gloves from here.
If possible, you should consult your boxing coach when choosing gloves. If necessary, you can also ask for more tips from our customer service, tel. 050 466 7269 (weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) or kaskapalvelu@treenikamat.fi