Finding the right boxing gloves can be pretty daunting for beginners. There are hundreds of brands that offer boxing gloves in a range of prices, styles, and qualities. So, where do you begin? For starters, you can visit findbestboxinggloves.com for all the best options on combat sporting gear.
Before you make your choice, you want to know what size boxing gloves to purchase. The size or weight of the gloves impacts the quality of your training. Get these figures wrong, and you increase your risk of injury over time.
Picking the Right-Sized Gloves
It is especially important for beginners to find gloves that fit just right. Glove sizes are indicated in ounces, with the most common being 10, 12, 14, and 16. Bag and pad workouts usually call for 10-ounce gloves, while sparring requires gloves that are 14, 16, 18, or 20 ounces.
Aside from size, here are other considerations to keep in mind:
Thickness
The thickness of the padding determines the weight of the glove, so the heavier it is, the more protection you have. However, this will also reduce the speed of your punches and make them more predictable. Hence, bigger gloves are more ideal for beginners.
Weight
Your body weight and purpose also determine the type and weight of your gloves. To be on the safe side, beginners should opt for larger gloves and work their way to smaller ones as their skills improve.
If you’re looking to practice mixed martial arts, flexible gloves would be the best choice. Generally, heavier gloves are better for training, while lighter gloves are more ideal for competition fighting.
Fit
Boxing gloves should fit snugly and comfortably, with the tops barely grazing your fingertips. If you are fitting them with hand wraps, make sure the gloves are snug around the wraps but not overly so. They should still allow you to make fists with your hands easily.
Break-in
No matter the type, the ideal boxing gloves for amateurs shouldn’t hurt when you throw a punch. Still, you want to keep in mind the break-in period for gloves. That means just because a pair isn’t initially comfortable doesn’t mean it will continue to be. After a few weeks, a brand-new pair of high-quality gloves should be able to adapt to your needs fully.
Price
Lastly, if you’re still testing the waters, it’s better to start out with a relatively inexpensive pair. You can work your way up to pricier and more specialized pairs as you progress and gain experience.
How About When Shopping Online?
If you are looking to buy online, an easy way to determine the ideal glove size is to measure your hand’s circumference. Using your dominant hand, wrap the tape measure around the widest part of your other hand without including the thumb. You should also consider your body weight.
Here are some recommended sizes for specific hand circumferences and body weights:
- 5 – 6.5 inches and 40 – 54 kg: 8 oz.
- 5 – 7.5 inches and 54 – 68 kg: 10 oz.
- 5 – 8.5 inches and 68 – 84 kg: 12 oz.
- 5 – 9.5 inches and 84 kg and above: 14 oz.
Beginner Boxing Gloves
Each type of boxing gloves has its own purpose. Experienced and professional boxers have various pairs to choose from, while beginners will usually have just two options.
These options take into consideration the fact that newbies are still learning the ropes and need extra protection to compensate for their lack of skill.
Bag Gloves
Beginners usually do a lot of bag work, and these gloves are designed for such an activity. They are especially advantageous for home training sessions that don’t involve sparring. They have thicker padding that provides extra protection from the hard leather covering of a heavy bag.
Training Gloves
When you first start out, you probably don’t know what to focus on yet, so it helps to have a pair of gloves that are multipurpose. Training gloves are ideal if you are doing a mix of sparring and bag work, which is the best way to progress in boxing. You can also try other types of boxing with this particular pair.
Should Beginners Go for Laces or Velcro?
If you are looking for tight-fitting gloves with great wrist support, go for laces. The downside of this choice, though, would be that it is not as practicable. With this, you are always going to need someone to tie the laces for you.
Without a regular training buddy, lace-up gloves are best. Professional boxers almost always choose gloves with this feature because it keeps them from relying on anyone else to do their training sessions.
Gloves That Meet Your Needs
Still fresh off your boxing journey? The standard bag or training gloves should be enough to meet your needs. Make sure they fit comfortably with hand wraps and don’t hurt when you throw punches.
Once you progress, your glove choices will broaden considerably. Thankfully, by that time, you will have enough knowledge and experience about your journey to make the best choices.