If you ask yourself the question "which boxing gloves to choose", we will certainly help you in this article.
- Classic boxing gloves (or kickboxing, Thai boxing, muay thai). This whole article will be dedicated to them. They are large, oval in shape, and only the thumb is separate, but often attached to the rest of the glove.
- Gloves for bags. Special gloves designed for working on bags only. They are less padded and have a flatter shape.
- MMA gloves. They no longer fall into the classic box, but we present them here for completeness. These gloves have free fingers for the ability to grip opponents and have different sizes according to the size of the hand (eg M, L, etc.). Their variant intended for training are the so-called "sparring" gloves, which have larger padding of the joints.
Boxing glove sizes
Most boxing gloves are universal in size. So, in general, boxing gloves differ only in weight, so damping or padding of the glove. Homever it is important that the gloves do not push and at the same time are not too loose, they should just fit just right. The size can be partially adjusted with hands wraps (more about them below).
Weight of gloves
As mentioned, the size of boxing gloves as we know "size" plays essentially no role in the selection, as most boxing gloves do not have more than one size. It is all the more important to choose the right weight of gloves for boxing. It is given in units of OZ (ounces) and decides on the determination of gloves, the weight of the boxer, his performance, experience and ambitions.
By the way, 1oz is 28.3495 grams and normally weights range from 8 to 16 oz in two OZ increments, i.e. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 oz.
Of course, different weight gloves have different dimensions, heavier ones are larger (see illustration below). Also because heavier people using heavy gloves have a bigger hand.
Boxing gloves weighing 10oz are most often prescribed for matches, but heavier gloves are used, perhaps surprisingly, for training. The main reason is the protection of the sparring partner. Heavier gloves are heavier because they are more padded and the punch is not so devastating :-) Their owner also benefits from the greater weight of the gloves during training, because as they say - "hard on the training ground, easy on the battlefield". With heavier gloves, their user strengthens their own hands. However, too heavy gloves can affect the technique, so be sensible. If you are unsure, ask your coach, but for start you can use following table:
| Weight | Use | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| 8 oz | training | childrens 6-12 years old |
| 10oz | training + matches | ~ 48-60 kg juniors, women; professional adult matches |
| 12oz | training | ~ 60-67 kg |
| 14oz | training | ~ 67-79 kg |
| 16oz | training | 79 kg and more |
Glove design - materials
Professional boxing gloves are most often made of cowhide. For more common use (beginners, recreational boxing) artificial leather (PU) is used, which lasts less, but gloves made of it are much cheaper and therefore more affordable.
The intermediate steps are gloves that combine both of these materials, the more stressed parts are made of genuine leather and the rest are made of artificial leather. If you are buying your first boxing gloves, you will definitely not look for expensive gloves for professionals, so definitely do not worry about artificial leather.
Closure of gloves
There are two types of glove fastening, velcro and lacing (such as shoes). Velcro fastening is definitely more common, because it is much easier and faster. Lacing are used for professional boxers.
Maitenance of boxing gloves
It is important to take good care of your boxing gloves. Allow to dry after training, not on direct heat sources. The outer part of the gloves allows you to clean easily with a damp cloth, never wash the gloves and do not rub with a brush! Leather gloves can and can be treated with dedicated means.
Gloves can be stored dry and cool. Do not expose to excessive heat, light or humidity.
Accessories or something not to forget if you want to become a boxer
- Bandages - Hand Wraps. They strengthen the hand and wrist, protect the joints from injuries and bruises, fill the free space in gloves. They also prolong the life of gloves because they absorb sweat from the hands. Common lengths are 2,5, 3,5 m, 4m and 4,5 m. If you do not know what length, consult a coach or buy a gold middle variant, ie 3.5 meters.
- Head Guard - Helmet. These are used not only for training, but also for lower class matches. They should protect the chin, cheeks, forehead and ears. We probably don't have to add how important head protection is and why ;-)
- Mouth Guard - Teeth Protector. Teeth are an expensive affair and if you don't know it yet, You are happy. At the same time, dental protectors are cheap. Sold in sizes for adults and children. Less often there are mouthguards that protect both rows of teeth, more common are simpler protectors that attach to the upper row of teeth. Don't look for any major science in that. Before the first use, the tooth protector forms on the user's jaw, only then will it fulfills its function and will also be more comfortable to wear. Conventional mouth guards are not usable if you wear braces, then you have to buy a tooth protector special for braces.