Boxing is a fantastic way to get into and stay in shape! It promotes cardiovascular health, it helps build upper body strength, and you get to hit stuff. It is wins all around! However, because of the physical intensity and potential hazards that come with boxing, you want to be sure that you not only have the equipment you need but also the best equipment you can get. Where could you find such a place full of such wisdom?
Well, right here, of course! This article will take you through the boxing gear you need, as well as some reviews of popular gear you may see available. And to top it all off, we will show you Reddit comments talking about the gear in question. This will help you get an objective view of how good (or bad) the gear really is!
And without any further waiting, let’s start talking about boxing!
Even after reading this guide, you are likely going to have questions about your boxing journey. You may realize that there is a specialty piece of gear you want, or you may need practical advice on how to stay in boxing shape and be consistent in your training. There are some wonderful, free communities you can be a part of that are full of people to keep your encouraged and well-informed.
This is a piece of equipment that you may be tempted to overlook when you starting to box. You are wearing gloves, right? It may surprise you that hand wraps are probably one of the most important pieces of gear you will have. Hand wraps act as a support for your smaller, weaker tendons in your hands, and they help prevent strains, sprains, fractures, and other hand and wrist injuries. If you plan on boxing with a person or even enjoying a home boxing set-up, you need to be sure to get hand wraps.
What should you look for in quality hand wraps? The ideal hand wraps are going to be long enough to properly wrap around your hand and wrist to give it ample support without being too long to have needless extra fabric. The materials will generally be cotton or lycra, but the most comfortable kinds of hand wraps will include some type of elastic to ensure a tight fit.
The following are high-quality hand wraps that will be ideal for most boxing enthusiasts:
These hand wraps are going to be a great option. They are available in a 200 in length, but their website offers a sizing chart to help make sure you are not using too much depending on your frame. They come in three colors; red, blue, and black, and are sold in pairs. This product is ideal for those with larger hands that struggle to find a comfortable hand wrap fit, though they make a choice for most boxers in general.
Check Price on AmazonThese are another great option to consider for hand wraps. They are made with a cotton and spandex blend, making them the ideal material for hand wraps. What makes these hand wraps than the Rigside Pro Mexican is that these are thinner. If you have struggled with hand wraps feelings too bulky, these may be a great option. If you like the feel of a thicker wrap and have been dissatisfied with thinner wraps in the past, you may want to look elsewhere.
Check Price on AmazonIf you plan on sparring with other boxers, a good set of headgear is a great idea. However, during your research on what kind of gear you need to get, you may have found mixed opinions about whether or not headgear is a good choice when sparring. We will go over some of the pros and cons so you can get a good perspective of what to expect when using headgear.
Pros to Using Headgear
The most obvious benefit of headgear is the protection it provides during sparring, giving you and your opponent a little more leeway with landing actual punches. The cushion of headgear can help ease the impact of punches your opponent lands, your eyes, cheeks, nose, and it will help protect your face from cuts.
Cons to Using Headgear
The most notable cons for using headgear is that it makes your head a larger target for your opponent. This might be a minor problem if you never plan on being in an actual boxing match, but if you are training for a real bout, it is frustrating to get clipped by a punch that would otherwise miss. It also obscures your vision, making it hard to read your opponents movements.
Conclusion for Headgear
Even with the cons, sentiment seems to be overwhelmingly in favor of using headgear for training. Many have said that having to move more quickly or further to avoid hits helps them dodge real punches in a fight better and that the inconveniences caused by headgear are outweighed by keeping your face safe. You definitely should be planning on using headgear if you are sparring with a partner.
Choosing Headgear
How you choose your ideal headgear really comes to mitigating the inconvenience of using it as much as you can while highlighting the benefits. You want one that offers as wide a range of vision as possible while still providing ample protection. You also want it to be able to meaningfully reduce the impact of punches without being so bulky that you are not able to effectively dodge them.
Consider the following products that do a great job finding that middle ground:
This headgear is a great option for those that want to feel completely protected. It offers thick padding to help absorb punches, additional padding on the front to help protect your face, and the all-leather exterior makes it quite durable. It also features a chin strap to help make sure it stays tight and snug in place. This model of headgear is available in four sizes. Its ease of use and very modest price-point makes it quite attractive to those looking to get started boxing.
Check Price on AmazonWinning is a Japanese based company known for its high-quality line of boxing products, and their headgear is no exception. The Fg2900 is notably lightweight and provides fantastic protection against blows. Though it protects very well, it still provides great vision while in use. This headgear, as well as much of Winning’s equipment, are used by professional boxers worldwide. The price is much higher than other headgear you may be considering, but you certainly get what you pay for.
Check Price on AmazonWell of course if you want to start boxing you will need boxing gloves! You are going to have quite a few options to choose from when shopping for boxing gloves, so here are a few characteristics you should consider while shopping:
Size and Weight
You need to make sure that your hand will fit whatever boxing glove you end up buying. It may be helpful to try some on in-person to know what kind of size you are going to need if you plan on purchasing online. In addition, the weight of the glove is generally going to correlate to your body weight.
How they Close
Boxing gloves are going to close around your wrist in two ways: velcro or laces. Velcro is much easier to get on and get off by yourself, making them ideal for personal training or individual training. Laced boxing gloves will have a much more secure and tight fit, but do require an extra pair of hands to tie up. If you plan on boxing in competitions, these are generally the style of gloves you will use.
Materials
Boxing gloves are going to be made in two materials: leather and vinyl. If you are just getting started, vinyl gloves will suffice. They are inexpensive and will still hold up well for several years. Leather gloves are used by professionals and, if properly taken care of, can last a lifetime. However, as you can imagine, they are significantly more expensive. You may want to start with vinyl before making the several hundred dollar investment into leather gloves.
Those are just a few tidbits to keep in mind when you are shopping for gloves. Consider the following brand choices when shopping for gloves:
Again, Winning offers a solid choice for boxing gloves. These have a velcro closure and are 12 oz in weight and fit snugly on the hand. This model of boxing gloves is regularly sold out, and for good reason. However, they are still on the very expensive side of sparring gloves, even for ones that close with velcro. You may be able to find leather gloves in this price-range, so consider that before jumping into Winning. However, if you are sure they are offering what you want, you simply cannot find a brand that offers a higher-quality experience than Winning.
Check Price on AmazonThese inexpensive vinyl gloves make a great choice for beginner boxers. They sport an easy velcro closure and an anti-moisture wick material inside the glove to keep your hands from getting too sweaty. Their proprietary Infused Foam is a 2in thick cushion inside the glove to provide ample protection for your hands and wrists. Available in a variety of designs, these gloves are a good first step in getting into boxing.
Check Price on AmazonThese boxing gloves are another more high-end option that is more readily available than certain Winning designs. They offer a familiar hook and loop velcro closure, which means they are ideal for personal use. The material is goat-skin leather, so you can expect more durability than other less-expensive vinyl gloves. They offer sport anti-moisture materials inside the glove as well as 2 in of padding.
Check Price on AmazonLooking for a high-end leather option? Winning brings another high-quality choice. These gloves are a lace-up variety made with real leather. They are known for their exceptionally soft padding and being one of the best choices for bag training and sparring. Though they are quite expensive ($400 and up), you simply will not find a better brand or option than Winning.
Check Price on AmazonRingside offers a budget-friendly pair of sparring gloves. They are available in 14, 16 or 18 oz. They have 2.5 in of padding inside the gloves, and the exterior is synthetic leather. These gloves are ready and comfortable right out of the box and are a great option for those just getting started.
Check Price on AmazonThe final piece of equipment you are going to need to consider is going to be the mouthpiece. If you plan on doing any kind of sparring at all, a mouthpiece is going to be a necessity to protect your lips, teeth, and tongue. However, while doing bag work, a mouthpiece is something that you can go without (unless you plan on hitting the bag with your face).
Here are a couple of great choices when you are ready to fit a mouthpiece and start sparring!
If you have struggled with gagging on mouth guards in the past, the SISU Mouthguard is calling your name. It is thin and light, allowing it to easily fit into most mouths extremely comfortably. You will need to mold it, but you can use warm water as opposed to boiling water to do so. This mouth guard is extremely user-friendly and comfortable to boot!
Check Price on AmazonIf you have room in your budget, this mouthguard is really hard to beat. Designed to be extremely comfortable, this mouthguard not only lacks any kind of rough or sharp edge but can be highly customized to exactly what you need. It is available to be customized on dozen of sports, including boxing, colors or custom text can be added, and you can even order the level of thickness that you want on the guard. This is especially useful if you either need to make sure you have extra protection or need to make sure you have a smaller guard that will fit in your mouth. You pay a pretty penny for the ability to customize to this extent (nearly triple what the SISU is), but you will end up with one of the best mouthguards on the market.
Visit SiteRegardless of the kind of gear you end up getting, you are looking at a minimum of $150 to get the basics to get started boxing. That does not include items like appropriate attire or home equipment, like a punching bag or related items. Getting started boxing is an investment, and as such you should perform your due diligence in shopping and researching to make sure you get the exact kind of gear you need to have a smooth start.
However, and this is worth repeating, if you stick with boxing, you are going to end up having more and more questions. You will likely want to upgrade the gear you first started out with, discuss problems you have experience with certain gear or equipment or just general questions about boxing. The communities mentioned at the top of the article are prime resources to be able to find experienced boxers who can help get your questions answered.
Good luck, happy shopping, and enjoy getting started with boxing!
