What Boxing Gloves Should a Beginner Use?

Trying to figure out what gloves work for you is important. There are different reasons you may want different-sized gloves. Is there a massive difference between 14 and 16oz? Would using the wrong size cause problems? This quick and easy guide will help you on your way to answering all your questions.

At first, all the different styles and sizes of gloves might throw you off. But do not let it! We are here to help.

How do I Choose Boxing Gloves?

1. Your gloves should not slip off when boxing.
2. They should not feel too tight. As if they are cutting off the circulation or restricting you.
3. The gloves should not feel too bulky.
4. Your gloves should fit over your hands.
5. Your gloves should have good ventilation.
6. They should be providing good support for your wrist and knuckles.
7. If your gloves have a velcro strap, you should make sure it is long-lasting.

What Oz Boxing Gloves Should I Use?

Read the chart below to help you figure out what boxing gloves will be right for you:

4 oz      For children aged 4 to 5 years old.

6 oz      For children aged 5 to 7 years old.

8 oz      For children aged 7 to early teens.

10 oz    Thinly padded glove, ideal for light pad work.

12 oz    Slightly more padding, good for pad work & bag work.

14 oz    An all-around training glove, good for pad work, bag work and light sparring.

16 oz    A protective glove, good for pad work, bag work and hard sparring.

If your glove is too loose make sure to get the next size up and if it is too loose you should get the next size down.

10oz boxing gloves should be used by:

• Amateur boxers that are competing in the welterweight division or lower.
• Women in the 50 to 60kg weight category.
• Men in the 51 to 63kg weight category.

12 oz gloves should be used by:

• Women in the 60 to 70kg weight category.
• Men in the 64 to 74kg weight category.

14oz gloves are suitable for:

• Sparring,
• Training.
• Hitting focus pads.
• Getting used to heavyweight,

160z gloves should be used by:

• Older fighters.
• Heavyweight boxers.
• Those who weigh more than 84kg and have a hand circumference of more than 8.5 to 9.5 inches.

Are Gloves Better Tight or Loose?

Knowing how to choose the right size boxing gloves might feel overwhelming but it does not have to be complicated.

You want your boxing gloves to fit well. They will need to not be so tight that they cut off your circulation. Equally, they do not want to be so loose that they are shifting around.

Ultimately you want to find the size that is most comfortable for you.

Do Heavy Gloves Hurt More?

Heavier gloves do not always hurt more, despite what you might think. A 160z, heavier glove weighs more and therefore will tire you out faster. A lighter glove, at about 10oz, will increase your risk of injury though.

It is ultimately your technique and your positioning that will help you hit harder. Sizing up gloves is not necessary.

When you get a heavier glove it is less about hitting harder and more to do with assuring the safety of your partner and of yourself. This is because heavier gloves contain more padding and therefore will soften the blow.

Ultimately smaller gloves will have a stronger impact and therefore hit harder as they have less padding in. Less force is absorbed by the glove and more of the force of the punch will be absorbed by the puncher’s hand and the partner’s body.

How to keep safe

• Always wear boxing gloves. Do not ever punch a bag with bare fists.
• Make sure your gloves fit you correctly.
• Make sure to take plenty of breaks and not overtire or overtrain yourself. If you do this it could result in anything from exhaustion to stress fractures.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Make sure you have all the protective gear and equipment that you need. Hand wraps, shin pads, arm pads and headgear are all hugely important in reducing the risk of small or even serious injuries.
• Double-check that there is nothing in your space that could easily trip you or cause a hazard while you are boxing. Glass cabinets are always a good one to make sure you move before you get started.

What is the Best Glove Material? Leather vs. Vinyl

Vinyl gloves are cheaper than leather as they are easier to clean and are produced on a larger scale. They are considered a good alternative to animal leather. However, the durability is just not the same. When vinyl gloves are subjected to frequent use they will likely split

So which is better leather or vinyl? Well, that is up to you. Are you happy to replace them more frequently? Or would you rather invest more in leather gloves that last longer but are more difficult to clean?

Make the right decision for you.

Velcro Or Laces

An important decision you must make when choosing a pair of boxing gloves is how you want them to do up. Velcro or Laces?  Velcro is the favourite among fighters for combat sports and is thought to be the best for fitness training despite lace-up boxing gloves having existed for almost 100 years.

Training Gloves

Training gloves are boxing gloves that are designed for daily usage. They are great for heavy bag training, mitt and pad work and partner drills. Training gloves provide the best

Our training gloves at Sport Maxx will support you well, we use high-quality materials so you can be assured you are in good hands.

MMA Gloves

MMA gloves are different to boxing gloves and are designed for more complex moves that we see in mixed martial arts. The fingers are protected but also partially exposed with a knuckle-guarding design made from leather. They are also lighter and have less padding as MMA uses grappling and kicking which boxing does not.

You should NEVER use MMA gloves for boxing! In no scenario is it a good idea. You should not even use them on punch pads, punchbags or a boxing dummy. This can be really dangerous and damaging to your wrists and knuckles.

If you use MMA gloves whilst actually boxing you could seriously hurt your partner because they have less padding so they do not absorb punches as much. They are smaller and leave a portion of the fingers out that allows for grappling. They also tend not to come with longer wrist straps leaving you without the support you need to train properly for boxing.

MMA gloves must be agile and ensure the fighter can move competitively, which is exactly what the entire Sport Maxx collection offers.

Sparring Gloves

Sparring gloves are designed specifically for training and skill-based fighting that improves your technique. These gloves also will have injury-reducing padding to minimise injury to keep you and your partner extra safe while sparring.

At Sport Maxx we can offer you differently weighted glove options to suit you. This way you can make sure you are using the right gloves for whatever activity you are doing or whatever equipment you are using.

Whether you are a professional boxer or a brand-new beginner sparring gloves are a necessary addition to your boxing life. They are perfect for opponent-based workouts and your training.

Beat your competition to every punch with quality Sparring Gloves from equipment experts Sport Maxx.

What do we suggest?

Up there with our most popular gloves are The Maxx Boxing Competition Boxing Gloves Lace Ups. These gloves do up with a 14-point lace-up system and come in 10, 12, 14 and 16oz.

The Maxx Boxing Competition Boxing Gloves Lace Ups are perfect for training but are also great for professional fights and competitions. This is because of just how durable they are. They also offer brilliant protection and are very comfortable.