What to Look for When Buying Boxing Gloves
Choosing the right pair of boxing gloves is a right of passage for any boxer, whether you’re a total beginner or an established professional. Boxing gloves are an important part of your boxing experience so you need to make sure you know everything there is to know about what to look for when buying them.
We at Maxx Pro are here to help you find the perfect pair and there is plenty of options to choose from on our website.
Why are boxing gloves important?
No boxer could fight without using boxing gloves as they are a shield of protection for both the boxer wearing them and their opponent. Boxing gloves reduce the impact of punches but that’s not their only function in boxing and choosing the right pair is paramount to your performance.
Boxing gloves protect your hands so you can throw much harder punches than you could using just your fists.
Boxing gloves have a padded surface, which absorbs the shock of every punch thrown by the boxer, whether that’s with an opponent or with a piece of boxing equipment such as a punch bag. This makes the punch hurt less for the boxer and protects their hands from bruises and injuries.
Throwing a heavy punch naturally causes a jolt due to the shock in your knuckles when contact is made. Wearing boxing gloves helps boxers deliver a punch by absorbing some of the shocks due to the larger surface areas of the glove and the additional padding.
Boxing can be an intense, impactful sport whether you’re fighting, sparring or training which poses a risk to the boxer and the opponent’s skin. Fighting can break bones, and cause bruising and general injuries to the hands, which is why boxing gloves are important to protect your hands from potential injuries.
What will you use your boxing gloves for?
The boxing gloves you choose will depend on the intended use for them. For example, will you be using them as a beginner? For sparring? For training? For fighting? Or are you looking for a good all-round pair of gloves? Once you have answered these questions, you can choose the right gloves for you.
Choose boxing gloves suitable for a beginner if you’re just starting out, equally, if you’re an experienced boxer, you should be using different gloves based on your experience, weight and what you intend to use them for such as sparring, training or competing.
Here is a breakdown of the intended use of different boxing gloves:
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:
- Sparring and bag work
- 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.
Choosing the material
Most of the time, boxing gloves are made using leather and vinyl. For beginners or kids, vinyl gloves are most suitable as they are cheaper than leather gloves. Once a beginner has developed their boxing skills and established themselves as regular boxer, they should upgrade to leather boxing gloves are they are more durable and they’re more expensive because of this.
Choose the right size and weight
Boxing gloves are categorised by ounces such as 8oz, 10oz etc., and it isn’t as simple as choosing heavier gloves with bigger hands as different sizes have different intended uses. If you’re sparring, usually you’ll need 14-18 oz gloves, depending on your weight. If you’re going to be training on a punching bag, then 12-14 oz gloves are a great fit. For amateur fighters, use 10-12 oz and for professional boxers use 8 or 10oz gloves as a general rule unless otherwise stated by the sanctioning body sponsoring the match.
Some boxers think heavier gloves hurt more so they choose heavier gloves, and although heavier gloves give more protection, they won’t hurt your opponent more during a fight. If your intended use for your gloves is to pack a powerful punch during a match, going heavier isn’t going to help you achieve this.
Weight guide and boxing gloves
Use this 6-16oz guide to help you decide which gloves to choose for your weight class and intended purpose.
Oz (ounces) Boxer Weight Fit for
6oz Up to 100lbs/45kg Juniors
8oz Up to 110lbs/50kg fighting/competition/professional
10oz 100lbs + /45kg + pads/competition/professional
12oz 100lbs +/45kg + pads/bag work
14oz 151-175lbs/68-79kg All-round glove/sparring/bag work
16oz 80kg +/175lbs + heavy sparring
Choosing between 12 or 14oz boxing gloves is a challenge for some boxers but generally speaking, if you are over 45kg in weight and intend to use your boxing gloves for pads and bag work then 12oz gloves are fine and if you are over 45kg and you’re looking for a good all-round glove, 14oz will be best. Usually, professional boxers in heavier divisions use 10oz gloves.
Closure option
Boxing gloves are usually either lace-up or velcro and whilst this can come down to personal preference we recommend velcro gloves for training, sparring and heavy bag practice and we recommend lace-up for professional matches as they provide a snug fit and there is no chance of slippage.
Velcro boxing gloves are super easy to put and off without needing assistance, whereas with lace-up gloves you will need someone to help you. Most amateur boxers choose to use velcro boxing gloves for the convenience of them.
Hand wraps or no hand wraps?
Do you need wraps for boxing gloves? Boxing wraps are essential. There is no question about that. You want your hand wraps to be durable, protective and comfortable on your hands and wrists.
You could also choose to get quick wraps if that is more suited to you as there are many different ways to put them on. These wraps are much easier to put on and will protect your hands in your gloves in the same way. The support and protection they offer is not something you want to miss out on. They will significantly reduce the risk of abrasion, chafing and scarring on your knuckles.
Boxing gloves from Maxx Pro
Boxing gloves from Maxx Pro are well made, they’re high quality and we have a range of different sizes and weights.
At Maxx Pro Boxing we think protective gear is hugely important in the world of boxing, especially boxing gloves suitable for every different type of boxer. Maxx Pro Boxing offers the ultimate selection of boxing gloves and other sporting equipment. Our collection doesn’t stop at gloves; it spans the entire world of boxing, with some additional sporting accessories thrown into the mix. We stock boxing gloves for professional and amateur boxers for different weights and purposes, so we have the perfect pair of gloves to suit your needs.
We have been supplying professional boxing and sporting products for over seven years, so you can rest assured that by choosing us, you’re getting expertise and experience in our range and specially picked products.
Once you have chosen suitable boxing gloves, investing in the best punch bag should be the next thing on your list. Using a punching bag is an excellent form of cardio as it simultaneously works your arms, back, legs, chest and core, making it a great workout buddy. A punching bag, coupled with your boxing gloves, makes for a fun exercise activity or for serious boxers wanting to improve their power punch.
So, what should you look for when buying boxing gloves? Consider what you will be using them for, what material is best for your experience, what size you will need and make sure you get some hand wraps too.
