The Right Types of Boxing Gloves for Beginners
Are you new to boxing? Then one of the things that you ought to know right from the get-go is the kind of gloves that you need to get. Making sure that you choose and use the right pair of boxing gloves is crucial because it is going to help protect your hands from injury. You wouldn’t have to worry about hurting your hands when you throw combinations or even single punches to the heavy bag, pads, or your training partner/opponent.
Just as important is the fact that having the right pair of gloves will impact the quality of your performance, whether it’s in training, sparring, or in an actual fight. You’ll be more confident and able to focus more on the drills and techniques that are being taught to you. So you’re going to improve and get the results that you want out of your training.
The same goes if you’re a newcomer to kickboxing or Muay Thai. Choosing the right gloves is just as important because the hands are also used extensively in those combat sports. But can you use the same type of gloves that you use for boxing in kickboxing or Muay Thai? For beginners, there is no problem in doing and you can definitely get away with it. Although if you do progress in the sport of your choice, then you might need to get something more specific, which is certainly the case in Muay Thai.
How to Choose the Right Types of Boxing Gloves for Beginners
Take a look at this simple guide that we came up with on how to choose the right types of boxing gloves for beginners. First, we’ll take a look at the basics of choosing the right type of boxing glove, and later on, we’ll take a quick look at the best Muay Thai gloves for beginners as well.
Types of Boxing Gloves
Before we move on to actually choosing the right gloves for boxing beginners, let’s first take a look at the different types of boxing gloves. These gloves are categorized according to the exact purpose that they serve:
Training Gloves
Training gloves are the most versatile type of gloves since they are used for all kinds of purposes. They’re usually used in daily training sessions in the gym, from mitt/pad work to heavy bag training, to doing partner drills. These gloves are great for a variety of uses while still providing great support, which is why they’re probably the most balanced of all the boxing gloves and make them perfect for beginners.
Sparring Gloves
Sparring gloves are meant to maximize protection from the impact of punches during sparring sessions. We need to talk about this particular type of glove even though we’re talking about beginners since they’re likely to make the jump into sparring sooner than later. They would thus help minimize, if not eliminate, the potential for injuries and so they are larger and have more padding. The usual sizes of sparring gloves are 16 and/or 18 oz.
Bag Gloves
Boxing beginners are also taught to use the heavy bag a lot for training. Bag gloves are specifically meant for that part of a boxing practitioner/enthusiast’s training. They are designed to help with a boxer’s punching form and they don’t have as much padding, which also makes them great for developing speed. We have to emphasize the fact though that this type of glove isn’t as popular with people who take up boxing for fitness and recreation. It’s more favored by professional fighters that use it extensively when training on the heavy bag.
Competition Gloves
Competition gloves are also not recommended for beginners, at least not initially. These gloves are used for competing and do not have as much padding as other gloves. They are relatively lighter and that plus the lesser padding could lead to more damage to the fighters/practitioners that use them. Competition gloves can range in size and weight from 6 to 10 oz. depending on the rules, etc.
Safety First
Safety should always be your priority - particularly when it comes to combat sports and martial arts. This means you need to find the boxing gloves that provide the right amount of padding so your hands will be adequately protected. The force and impact of the punches that you’ll throw could potentially injure your wrist or the many small bones in your hands.
Choose the Right Size and Weight for Your Boxing Gloves
So how do you choose the right size and weight for your boxing gloves? They are determined by the size of the gloves, which actually refers to the padding that’s placed inside them. The more padding, the more protection they provide to the individual wearing them. For beginners, the bigger sizes are recommended to maximize safety, especially since the hands are not yet used to hitting the pads or the heavy bag. But as time goes by and the person’s skill level increases, they can get used to using smaller gloves.
The sizes of boxing gloves are given in specific weights (ounces) and the range is from 6 oz. to 18 oz. It would actually depend on several factors, such as the size of the individual’s hand, their weight, and the exact purpose of the gloves. The following are the different boxing glove sizes and who they are suited to.
- Below 100 lbs (45 kgs) - use 6 to 8 oz. boxing gloves
- 100 to 125 lbs (45 to 57 kgs) - use 8 to 12 oz. boxing gloves
- 125 to 150 lbs (57 to 68 kgs) - use 10 to 12 oz. boxing gloves
- 150 to 180 lbs (68 to 80) - use 10 to 12 oz. boxing gloves
- Above 180 lbs (80) - use 16 oz or higher boxing gloves
The suggested sizes and weights above are typically for all-around training use of beginners. As we mentioned above, sparring gloves should be larger and heavier, preferably 16 or 18 oz. While competition gloves used for actual fighting tend to be smaller, usually from 6 to 10 oz.
The Best Boxing Gloves We Recommend for Beginners
So what do we recommend as the best boxing gloves for beginners? The best gloves for beginners should have several qualities, such as comfort as well as versatility. With that in mind, the best options are probably the standard hook-and-loop boxing gloves as they have the added advantage of being widely available.
Here’s our specific recommendation for the right types of boxing gloves that are best for beginners:
YOKKAO VERTICAL BOXING GLOVES
The YOKKAO Vertical Boxing Gloves are excellent for beginners of both boxing and Muay Thai as it offers tremendous quality while being a more affordable choice. Here are some of its tremendous features:
- Microfiber Leather
- Comfort Fit
- Double-stitched Seams
- Embroidered YOKKAO logo patch
- Multi-layered Foam Padding
- 100 % Handmade in Thailand
YOKKAO INSTITUTION BOXING GLOVES
The YOKKAO Institution Boxing Gloves is yet another terrific option for boxing and Muay Thai beginners. Made from microfiber leather, it’s also a non-expensive option that still offers tremendous quality. Check out its features:
- Microfiber Leather
- Multi-Layered Foam Padding
- 100 % Handmade in Thailand
- Embroidered YOKKAO Logo Patch
- Handcrafted by Thai Professionals in Thailand
- Hook and Loop Closure
YOKKAO MATRIX BLACK BOXING GLOVES
The YOKKAO Matrix Boxing Gloves are the best for Muay Thai training. This is the option for those boxing and Muay Thai beginners that want gloves that are made from real leather. It has these features:
- High-quality premium cowhide leather
- Black embroidered YOKKAO logo on cuffs
- Long-lasting shock-absorbing foam
- Handcrafted by Thai professionals in Thailand
- Attached thumb for added support
- Double-stitched seams for extra reinforcement
- Hook and loop closure
- Also available in lace-up
As we’ve learned, choosing the right types of boxing gloves for beginners depends on several factors. If you’re interested in starting out in boxing, or even in kickboxing or Muay Thai, it helps if you know all of those and then some so you can make the right choice. After all, choosing the right pair of gloves will play a major role in your enjoyment and progress in the sport!
