A high-quality boxing glove is essential to boxers of all levels. Whether you are an experienced boxer or a newcomer to the sport, understanding what to look for in a boxing glove, and when to use a specific type of glove, will help you be a stronger, more effective athlete.
With so many brands and models available, choosing the right glove can be confusing. Are you choosing the right type? Will it last for years or fall apart after a month of training? Fortunately, there are a few aspects of boxing gloves that will help you train in a healthy, sustainable manner.
By choosing the right glove, you’ll not only decrease your chances of injury, you’ll increase you overall enjoyment of the sport. With that in mind, let’s explore the top features for a bag glove, and look at a few of the top brands in the industry…
What to Look for in a Bag Glove?
Value
Although you don’t want pricing to be the only factor in your selection, you need to look for a glove that delivers a good value. With the glove you select, are you getting your money’s worth? For the price, are you getting the features you need for a quality experience at the bag and in training?
In general, the longer you are involved with boxing, the more money you’ll spend on a boxing glove. Of course, this doesn’t mean beginners should simply buy the cheapest item at the store; it means you should find a reliable, affordable, high-value (which doesn’t mean high-priced) item to start your boxing experience. If, after a few months or a few years, you find that you truly love boxing, then you can move into higher-priced items. But even then, always look for a good value.
Durability
Closely related to value is durability. After all, if it’s not durable, you’ll have to buy another one soon, and that’s not a good value! Will the glove last as long as you need it to? Some gloves, and some brand in general, are better for durability and will last through years and years of training, all while you become a faster, stronger boxer.
Knuckle Protection
Even the most experienced, hardened boxers need good protection for their knuckles, and this is even more important for new boxers. When you enter into boxing, you will find that your knuckles need to ease into the constant punching, and you should have a glove that gives you padding and protection for your training so you can avoid excessive bruising.
Wrist Support
There are many bones in the wrist, and, quite frankly, wrists and hands were not meant for the constant, prolonged abuse of boxing. A good boxing glove should give you the right protection by supporting the wrist in a firm, stable manner.
Comfort/Fit
The gloves you select should have the proper fit for the size of your hand. They should fit firmly on your hand, with no loose movement on the inside. Fit is important for many factors, and can affect the wrist support and knuckle protection, so no matter which model you select, always look for a good fit.
Some gloves have a lot of space on the side of the hands, which can allow for movement inside the glove. This can lead to a sloppy feeling and can also lead to inaccurate punching. When your hand is allowed to move around inside the glove, it can also lead to blistering, which could sideline your training or competitions.
Gloves – What Weight?
One of the first variables you’ll look for in a glove is the right weight or size. Typically, for bag work and pad work, most experienced boxers prefer a 12-ounce bag glove. If you are heavier or want to build shoulder endurance, you may find that at heavier glove, such as a 16-ounce glove, is a better option. However, most people will be happy with 12 ounces, as this is a well-balanced weight.
As you become more experienced in boxing, you’ll likely build a collection of gloves, and many experienced boxers will use both heavy and light gloves for their training. However, when you start out, 12-ounce is a good weight.
Why 12-ounce gloves? Boxing is very much a mental game, and with 12-ounce gloves you are able to build the mind-hand connection. This weight better simulates the fight experience, where boxers usually use 10-ounce gloves. Therefore, using 12-ounce gloves for your training, as opposed to 16, will replicate conditions that better resemble a scheduled fight.
Where Do 16-Ounce Gloves Fit in Your Training?
Most of the time, you will be sparring with 16-ounce gloves. Sparring is an important part of fight preparation, so using a 16-ounce glove on the bag can make your sparring more effective. For this reason, you may eventually want a pair of 16-ounce bag gloves in your collection.
Budget: How Much Should You Expect to Spend?
For some people, spending $300 on their first pair of gloves is perfectly fine. For others, $300 represents a significant investment that may not be reasonable, especially for a sport you are just learning, and may not stay with. Higher-priced gloves, such as Winning-brand gloves, usually give you your money’s worth in terms of protection and durability, and they can be a good value despite the higher price.
However, there are some great brands available for the beginning boxer. You can still spend $70 to $120 and get a high-value glove. However, anything below $70 may not give you the support, comfort, or durability you need from a bag glove.
Bag Gloves: Rounded vs Flat Tops
A lot of the newer models of gloves will have a rounded front or knuckles area. If you look at the area where the glove makes contact with the back (the front or knuckles area) you’ll generally see that it is either rounded or flat.
Rounded-top gloves generally offer a little more protection and forgiveness in the glove. If you miss your target slightly, you’ll usually have more protection from a rounded glove. For example, when you make contact with a flat surface, the rounded top will give a little more cushion, and if you hit off-center, you’ll still have protection on your hands.
However, the flat gloves, which are made by recognizable brands like Hayabusa and Rival, give you a feedback of when you hit precisely on the bag. Beginners, however, will usually find that round-top gloves will give you better comfort and protection.
Sparring Gloves
If you can afford it, a high-quality sparring glove can give you the protection you need for both delivering and blocking punches. Sparring gloves should have a long, solid cuff around the wrists, which will allow you to properly block punches without damaging your wrist. A longer cuff is one of the top features you should have from a sparring glove.
Sparring gloves should also be thick and firm. First, it will take some abuse off of the sparring partner, and will also absorb some of the abuse that comes with blocking shots. If you want to spar, you will appreciate the larger, thicker padding.
The issue with sparring gloves, however, is that they are not made for bag work, especially heavy bags. If you use them on the bag, you’ll wreck them quickly and they will be no use for any of your training. So if you get sparring gloves, use them only for sparring work.
Can’t Afford Bag Gloves and Sparring Gloves? Choose Mexican-Style Gloves
If your budget doesn’t have room for both a pair of bag gloves and a pair of sparring gloves, you should consider purchasing a pair of Mexican-style gloves, preferably in 14-ounce. A lot of amateur boxers in Mexico and other parts of the world don’t have the money for two pairs of gloves, so they need to purchase one glove that can essentially do everything, from the bag to the sparring ring to the double-end bag. This style of glove has a well-balanced design and is built to last, so it can withstand all the different drills required from rigorous training.
The only issue with Mexican-style gloves is that if you are sparring, your partner may not want you using these gloves. They are generally tougher and harder, so your sparring partner may want you to use a different style. However, you can talk with your sparring partners to see if they are okay with the use of a Mexican-style glove.
Top Brands for a Bag Glove
Ringside
With a wide variety of bag gloves, including many high-quality designs like the IMF Tech standard bag glove, Ringside is a brand that many boxers have used since they first started in the sport. Ringside has many benefit, including value. For what you pay, a Ringside glove like the IMF Tech, will give quality protection and last for many years, especially if they are used and cared-for properly. They’re not only a great value, but these gloves offer good protection, allowing you to get the most from your training without a significant risk of injury to your hands or wrist.
Many of Ringside’s products use their “IMF Tech” padding, which is a single-layer multi-foam mold. It may not offer as much protection as a multiple-layer molds, but it will give you reliable protection, largely due to the way it’s built and because of the overall density of the foam.
If Ringside gloves have a weakness, it’s probably that they can be a bit too bulky. In general, they can also be too heavy. You may find that Ringside gloves don’t have the nice form-fit that many boxers prefer in a bag glove.
However, when it comes to overall value, durability, and protection, Ringside remains a popular glove for beginners who are just starting to learn about the sport. For a decent price, beginners can purchase a pair of gloves that will allow them to test the sport without making a significant investment. If, after working with Ringside or another beginner’s brand, you decide that boxing is right for you, you can purchase a higher-priced option.
Title
Like most brands, Title has a large variety of gloves, from bottom-budget options to high-priced, elite boxing gloves. A popular option is often their upper-mid range boxing gloves, such as the Title Gel series, which is good for the heavy hitter that needs maximum hand protection. If you are a beginner, a bigger person, or naturally hit with a lot of power, you’ll likely appreciate the protection offered by the Title Gel series.
For many boxers, especially heavy-hitting beginners, the hands have not been conditioned to the type of abuse that comes with boxing, both competing and training. There is a lot of force that can be thrown by a boxer, and while it may not be noticed after a couple of hits, an hour on the punching bag can create a lot of damage. Fortunately, Title gloves bring excellent knuckle padding and wrist protection.
The downside for Title gloves, especially for beginners, is that they tend to be a bit expensive. Obviously price will be affected by how and where you buy, but you’ll usually find that Title Gel series gloves are a bit higher on the price range.
For the money, however, you’ll get multi-layer foam in the knuckles, gel in the wrist area, and a compact, snug, comfortable fit. You’ll have a few extra features and reliable wrist support, so if you have the budget and don’t mind investing a little more into the sport, Title Gel gloves can be a smart choice for beginners; they’re even a top choice for intermediate boxers.
Rival
Of all the gloves on our list, few make as interesting and unique-looking gloves as Rival. They have bold, interesting, multi-color designs, and you can usually spot a Rival glove from a distance. These are something that look great in the ring, but are they effective for the hard work of boxing?
Rival gloves have a variety of features that assist with shock absorption in the hand, as well as unique, ergonomic engineering that provides excellent wrist support. Wrist support is important to your longevity as a boxer, and Rival gloves can be a good choice to keep you in the game for many years.
Whether intentional or not, Rival is a great option for people with long hands. This is because Rival has a long “glove box,” which is the area where your hands and fingers fit into the glove. If you are a taller person with longer hands, you may find that most Rival products are more comfortable than other gloves.
Rival gloves remain a solid beginner glove, but you generally need to spend a bit more to add them to your gym bag.
Reyes
If you are looking for a pair of gloves that will last a long time, look no further than Reyes. Made with thick, strong leather, these are high-quality gloves that bring durability to your bag work.
These gloves have great comfort and fit, so you’ll have a glove that you love to wear. Super Bag gloves and Pro bag gloves from Reyes are both excellent options for people who want a product that will protect their knuckles and wrists for many years.
You’ll likely notice that Reyes gloves tend to be wider, which obviously makes them ideal for boxers with wider hands. If you have a wide hand, you’ll probably be more comfortable with Reyes gloves, as the wider structure will disperse impact on your knuckles.
Unfortunately, Reyes gloves are not the best for knuckle protection. Yes, they offer adequate protection, but it’s certainly not the most protective of all the gloves we’ve discussed. If you’re a beginner, you likely haven’t built the hand strength and rough knuckles that you’ll need for long bouts or extensive training. Most beginners need the most knuckle protection possible, so choosing something other than Reyes may be ideal; once you build hand strength and calluses, you can move into Reyes bag gloves. Intermediate or advanced boxers, however, will likely love Reyes gloves.
Hayabusa
Although Hayabusa is normally associated with MMA and not necessarily boxing, they make some excellent bag gloves that can be used for training. These are compact gloves with some of the best fits you’ll find; when you put on these gloves, it feels like a part of your hand. They are snug and extremely well built, allowing them to stand up to years of punishment at the bag while keeping you comfortable. They have a durability that all boxers will appreciate, and the dense foam inside the glove allows for solid impact when you throw a punch.
If you are an intermediate or advanced boxer who needs add hand speed into your combinations, you will likely appreciate the sleek, light nature of Hayabusa gloves.
However, Hayabusa gloves may be a bit too hard for beginners. They are dense and tough, so they can cause problems with people who haven’t built the proper hand strength and durability required for rigorous training. If your hands are brand new to boxing, you may be happier with another brand.
That said, Hayabusa remains an excellent choice for intermediate or advanced boxers. Not only will you get a durable glove, you’ll have a lot of fun punishing a bag with Hayabusa on your hands.
Winning
If you’re willing to invest the money, Winning gloves can be a superb option. These gloves are extremely comfortable and give you advanced protection for hours of training, month after month after month. These gloves are incredibly comfortable and feeling like pillows on your hands, but they also protect your hands from injury, allowing you to continue training with less chance of injury.
Gloves from Winning are rarely for the new boxer. These are gloves for the advanced boxer (or at least an intermediate) who has been in the game for some time and is ready to continue training at a high level for an extended period. They are an ideal option for boxers who train through many round per week (15 to 20 rounds), so if you expect high-volume workouts in the near future, you may want to pony up the cash for Winning gloves. You’ll have to add a few extra hundred dollars to your budget, but if you’re in the game for a long time, you won’t have buyer’s remorse.
The Importance of Hand-Care and Fitness
We’ve talked a lot about gloves, but one subject that can’t be ignored is proper care for your hands. You can purchase the most expensive, high-quality gloves on the market, but if you don’t care for your hands, you won’t have a positive boxing experience.
Your hands and your wrists are essential to your boxing career, but there are 27 individual bones, which makes injury common. They are designed for flexibility and motion, not for the constant pressure of punching. This makes proper wrapping and protection essential, far more than what gloves you choose. Every boxer has to consider the care and longevity of their wrists and hands, because you can’t replace them and if they are severely damaged, recovery is extremely difficult. Success in boxing takes hundreds of thousands of punches, so you need to take care of your hands in order to maintain success in the sport.
First of all, proper care starts with proper wrapping. Wrapping is crucial to the health of wrists and hands for boxers, and it should never be neglected nor taken lightly. Basically, you want a wrap that gives good support across the knuckles and wrist. Many also like to have wrapping between the fingers and support around the thumb. Take care of your hands with a good wrap and you’ll increase your chances of success in boxing.
Mexican-Style Stretch Wrap
Mexican-style stretch wraps are popular for many boxers. They are long wraps that give you excellent support where you need it. They give you good padding and a compact fit, which increases comfort and protection inside the glove.
Many people have a hard time with knuckle scabbing and blistering. This can stop training for a long time, so it’s important to avoid the issue by using tape on the knuckles. A solution to this problem is simply hockey tape or medical tape. You can tape this material over your knuckles, giving you a firm hold over the fist and reducing material movement over the knuckles. Essentially, the tape stays in place so other material can’t scrape or wear down your skin. Tape your knuckles before you wrap and you’ll have better protection through your boxing career.
While it goes without saying for boxers, it’s essential to remember that fitness will also help you become the best boxer possible, no matter what glove you wear. When you are in excellent shape, you can flow through combinations with greater ease, accuracy, and effectiveness. Your mind will do more things in sparring and at the bag, allowing you to fire off a rapid succession of punches with less effort. You’ll also maintain longer combinations so you can keep the pressure on your opponent. When you are in shape, your mind and body will work together continuously, allowing you to be a more efficient boxer. For this reason, many experienced boxers prefer a 12-ounce glove for bag work. As we said earlier, it better simulates the fight experience, allowing your mind and body to become accustomed to the fight process.
So…What Bag Gloves Should I Get?
We’ve gone over a lot. We’ve looked at different characteristics and the general qualities of popular boxing-glove brands. Now it’s time for the final question: what should I get? Most boxers should try to purchase a high-value, quality bag glove if you will spend a lot of time on the bags. A lot of brands have excellent options available, but products from Ringside are often a popular choice.
If you’re going to be sparring as well, get yourself a separate pair of 16-ounce sparring gloves for use in the ring.
If you want to purchase one pair of gloves for all of your boxing adventures, consider a 14 or 16-ounce Mexican-style glove from Team Euroza, Casanova, or Reyes.
If it’s in your budget, consider purchasing a pair 16-ounce bag gloves to add to your collection. This will allow you to build shoulder strength and endurance, making you a superior boxer. Once you have the money, then purchase a pair of 10-ounce pro gloves to use on the double-end bag.
Remember, the right glove is crucial to you long-term comfort and is also important for reducing the chance of injury. Take your time, try multiple styles, and always use each glove for their appropriate purpose. With the right preparation, you can have a glove that keeps you punching for years!