It used to be that purchasing a pair of boxing gloves was a reasonably straightforward process. That’s because there were not much not options to choose from in the market. Fighters just go whatever they could get their hands on. That’s obviously no longer the case today, and much has changed over the years.
In this article, we’ll go over a few essential things that you need to know and consider if you’re in the market for boxing gloves.
The purpose of boxing gloves
Generally speaking, there are two types of boxing gloves — competition and sparring gloves. Neither of these gloves is meant to be used on punching bags and pads. Of course, that’s not going to stop anyone, but just know that it’ll reduce the service life of your boxing gloves, which means you may need a new pair after some time.
Competition gloves are usually smaller sized, and their purpose is to secure the user’s hands and wrists while fighting. Competition gloves also afford some protection against cuts and help absorb blows from an opponent.
You can expect to pay a higher price for competition boxing gloves, and they’re generally more comfortable than sparring gloves. Nevertheless, in training, this is less practical, and they are usually only used in competitions (hence the name).
Sparring gloves are more common and design for more frequent sparring sessions (don’t forget the headgear). As the name implies, the glove can be used for boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai.
How much can you expect to pay?
Retail prices for boxing gloves vary widely from $44 to as much as $400. The average cost for a decent pair is around $100.
Like most things in the market, price doesn’t always signify quality. That said, products from reputable sellers like Boxing Gloves The Fight Factory are typically good indicators of quality.
What material is it made from?
Most of the best boxing gloves on the market are made from 100% cowhide leather. Less expensive or lower quality gloves utilize either synthetic products or low-grade leather or a mix of both.
One thing that you would want to look out for when choosing a boxing glove is the quality of the straps. Most gloves feature Velcro, which, if left exposed, can cause injury to yourself and your sparring partner. Hence you would want to choose a boxing glove with straps that are cuffed in leather.
Palms are usually leather, although some more recent designs are starting to experiment with breathable materials. This helps prevent the glove from degrading while stored inside kit bags and dries faster after sparring sessions.
If you follow the advice above, then it is unlikely that you’ll go wrong in your choice of boxing gloves. Keep in mind that while you can always start with something cheap, you’ll generally get what you pay for. Most cheap boxing gloves don’t have the pedigree of recognized brands, and you’re bound to find that there’s a big difference in quality.
