If you are new to boxing and are just getting started then you probably know that before you can do anything at all as far as training goes, you most definitely will need to get a set of boxing gloves.
But now you may be asking yourself a series of questions like:
How do I go about choosing the best boxing gloves?
What are the factors that I need to consider?
What if I have small hands?
What are the different types of boxing gloves and what are they meant for?
These are excellent questions and we will be going over them in this how-to guide will cover everything you need to know to pick the out the perfect pair of boxing gloves, whether you are a beginner, have small hands, or are just looking for some top tips.
How to Choose the Best Boxing Gloves?
Picking out the perfect pair of boxing gloves requires a bit more intellect than simply walking into the store and trying a pair out and calling it a day. There are things that you need to consider if you do not want to waste your money and end up having to go out and buy another pair.
What Factors Do I Need To Consider?
The very first thing that you need to consider is the weight and size of the gloves. Everybody is different, and boxing gloves are not a one size fits all. To find the best boxing gloves you need to take a look at your weight first. Boxing gloves typically come in different weights rather than different sizes.
For the sizes below we are going to assume that you are mainly going to be training on the heavy bag, rather than sparring and competing so we have outline the best weights of boxing gloves for heavy bag training.
Heavy Bag Boxing Glove Sizes
Up to 100lbs 6-8oz Gloves
100-150lbs 10-12oz Gloves
150-175lbs 12-14oz Gloves
175-200+ 14-18oz Gloves
Use these sizes as a general rule of thumb when going to pick out the best gloves for boxing to fit on your hands.. Do keep in mind though, that there is a couple exceptions to this rule, mainly this is if you have small hands.
If your hands are smaller than normal, such as those of Floyd Mayweather, then you are going to need to determine use how much smaller your hands are and go down in weights from there. The best boxing gloves for small handed fighters will usually be around 2 sizes down from normal sized gloves. Our recommendation would be to start with the 10-12oz boxing gloves as these are typically going to be the best choice for small hands.
Other than Weight what other factors do you need to consider when choosing the best boxing gloves?\
The next few things that you need to consider other than weights, are the style of gloves that you are going to be after.
Heavy Bag Gloves
Heavy bag gloves are designed specifically to be used with punching bags such as the hanging heavy bag, or the freestanding punching bag. These are the type of gloves that most people who are getting started in boxing will be after. These gloves come designed with thicker padding and are much more protective than sparring or competition style gloves, allowing you to train to the fullest without bashing up your knuckles and wrist.
Kickboxing Gloves / Mauy Thai Gloves
Kickboxing gloves are designed for just that. Kickboxing. These gloves as well as Mauy Thai Style training gloves come designed pretty much the same. They are built with less padding and typically lighter and easier to move your hands in, allowing for ease of movement, but also allowing for you to hit the heavy bag and other punching bags without hurting your hands.
MMA Gloves, Competition Gloves, and Sparring Gloves
These gloves are all designed very similar in the fact that they have less padding, and meant less for boxing and more for grappling, hand movement, and mixed martial arts.
IF you get hit with someone wearing these gloves, be prepared because it is going to hurt.
What’s The Best Boxing Gloves Material?
When picking out the perfect set of gloves, you will also need to consider what the gloves are made out of. There are few different main materials that boxing gloves are made from.
Vinyl – The Cheap Stuff
I would say this is the most popular material that cheaper gloves are going to be made from. The reason this material is used so much is simply because it is cheap and easy to fabricate gloves from. The reason I never recommend people to get gloves made from vinyl is because they simply do not last and are not worth it. You will end up having to just get another set of gloves in a few short months. Not worth it.
Poly leather A.K.A Fake Leather
Although, yes this is fake leather, it is not all that bad in my experience, as I have had the same gloves made for this stuff for a couple years now. While they do show their wear, this is a great choice for beginners because it is cheaper than real leather and will last long enough to see if you are actually going to stay with training.
Real Genuine leather
Obviously the most expensive material used but also the best and it is clearly apparent in my many gloves. These thing just simply last. If you plan to stay with boxing or mma for your training then this is by far the best choice for you.
Do I Need Velcro Straps or Lace ups?
Next thing to consider when choosing the best boxing gloves is whether you want velcro or lace ups.
To be honest, it frankly does not matter what so ever. In my experience they both work equally as well. Although, you will typically find that the better quality gloves will come with lace ups, and they usually are a tad bit better but this would take a top level fighter to know the difference. They both offer excellent support.
Our Recommendation When Choosing Your Perfect Gloves
Use this article to help you narrow down your decision and help you find the gloves that will be perfect for your body size, style of training, and your intentions. This should help you narrow down your large selection, but we also recommend always trying on your gloves before you buy them to make sure they will fit you correctly. They need to fit snug and allow for you to be able to wear hand wraps as well.