While a lot of clubs will have spare sets of the best boxing gloves for beginners to offer their members, these tend to be worn out, miss-matched, and often, very smelly. I will go over the Best Boxing Gloves for Beginners, so you can quickly get comfortable with your own set, and get training as soon as possible.
For those new to boxing, knowing what to look out for, what size to get, and which brands are best can be fairly tricky.
If you’re one of the lucky ones who have the time and willpower to go to the gym every day, then good for you. If not, maybe it’s time for you to consider investing in a punching bag for your apartment and building a modest home gym.
It definitely doesn’t have to be as equipped as an actual gym. That’s going to cost you a lot of money. Not to mention that you probably don’t have much space in your current living situation.
Why it’s Important to Have a Good Pair of Gloves?
Making sure you have a choose the best boxing gloves is incredibly important for two main reasons.
Firstly, the best boxing gloves for beginners are going to be protecting your hands. The quality of the gloves will determine how effective they are at cushioning the blow from any punches that you throw. Low-quality gloves could leave you with an injured hand, especially when you haven’t fully got a grasp of the technique.
Trying to save money and buying a cheap pair of gloves is only going to cost you more down the line. Many boxers have made this mistake, myself included. I thought I’d save a few bucks, get a cheap pair of gloves and I’ll be set. Unfortunately, spending less now and you’ll spend more down the road.
Due to the nature of boxing, cheap, ill-made gloves will fall apart very, very quickly. Learn from others’ mistakes and get a good pair of gloves from the offset, you won’t regret it.
Finding the Right Boxing Gloves Size
The first step to get started is to determine what glove size is going to be the best fit for you. The best boxing gloves size for a beginner is typically based on what they will be training for. Common boxing glove sizes are 8 oz, 10 oz, 14 oz, and finally 16 oz. It’s important to know your glove weight because it must fit your chosen training method. It’s good to know that professional boxers typically train in heavier gloves because they want their hands to be faster on fight night, compare this to a baseball batter that uses “bat weights” before stepping up to the plate.
Heavier gloves, such as 14 and 16 oz, have more padding which means they offer better hand protection. Larger gloves are helpful for when you hit the heavy bag, mitts, and other boxing training aids. Sparring in larger gloves is also preferred because it’s safer than sparring with smaller gloves. You’re more likely to knock someone out (or get knocked out) when using lighter gloves. Lighter gloves, such as 10 or 12 oz, are commonly used in competition.
The best boxing gloves for beginners wear should have a snug and comfortable fit, with your fingertips able to reach the top of your gloves and the ability for your hand to comfortably make a fist. Keep in mind that your glove will also need to fit your hand wraps (if you choose to protect your hands with hand wraps). If you don’t have hand wraps with your while shopping, get a roll of quarters in your palm and wear the boxing gloves.
What Type of Gloves Should You Use?
The type of boxing glove you choose for your training depends a lot on what you plan on doing. There are a few different styles of best boxing gloves for beginners that you might consider when shopping around. Here are three that are most commonly used by beginners.
Training boxing gloves
These are your every day boxing gloves that every boxer has in their locker. Boxing gloves are multi-purpose and intended for bags, mitt training, sparring, and mat work.
Training boxing gloves are popular for beginners because they address every situation you’ll encounter, but they’re not necessarily perfect at anything. If you plan to focus on specific, you’ll most likely get a different pair of gloves.
Bag Gloves
Bag boxing gloves contain a lot of padding and ample wrist support. Choosing and getting comfortable with bag boxing gloves early on will better prepare you for high-intensity training down the road.
Sparring Gloves
The last pair of boxing gloves for beginners that a beginner would consider buying are sparring gloves. These are designed to protect you and your partner from pain and injury.
Sparring gloves are the closest thing to competition gloves, but they have more padding so you can train live without injuring someone. These are lighter than gloves, so they help improve technique and fundamentals.
Best Boxing Gloves Material: Leather vs. Vinyl
If you’re starting out you want to choose vinyl for a few different reasons:
- Affordability
- Availability
- Shock Absorption
Vinyl boxing gloves are cheap, and you can buy them at the most popular online retailers.
As a beginner, you don’t want to think too far into these small details. Your focus should be on getting comfortable with the setting and the training. You’ll have time to worry about gloves and other training gear later.
Pick Velcro Over Laces
The next decision you’ll have to make when you buy the best boxing gloves for beginners is the method of closure on them. Laces fit tighter to your wrists, but there is one major issue to consider.
You can’t lace gloves by yourself.
For beginners and anyone who isn’t sparring professionally, velcro is always the way to go. You can put the best boxing gloves on and take them off by yourself which is necessary for group training sessions.
If you have to grab a drink, go to the bathroom, or take a break, you’ll have to ask someone to help you lace back up again every time.
Our 7 Best Boxing Gloves For Beginners
TITLE Pro Style Training Gloves
As a beginner getting into boxing, you can’t go wrong with a reputable brand such as TITLE. Their Pro-Style boxing gloves for beginners will give you a taste of what high-quality gloves feel like, whilst not being overly expensive.
As any boxing enthusiast will tell you, genuine leather gloves are the way to go. Genuine leather is the most durable material used to construct gloves and allows them to be used for years on end.
Unfortunately, genuine leather gloves typically come accompanied by a fairly hefty price tag. However, that’s not the case with the TITLE Pros Style Gloves. Despite being made using top-quality materials, they’re very budget-friendly and therefore perfect for beginners looking to spend on a budget.
One area that’s particularly important to pay attention to is the padding, especially if you’re just beginning boxing. The TITLE boxing gloves make use of multi-layered foam padding, constructed with both high and low-density foam.
Not only does this provide a ton of shock absorption, but it also dissipates the force equally around your hand and wrist. This is particularly ideal for beginner boxers who may not have the best form and therefore need maximum protection.
One thing you’ll notice as you continue to use a pair of boxing gloves is the smell. Poor quality gloves will allow sweat to be absorbed into the padding, causing a build-up of odor. In order to help prevent this, TITLE has implemented a satin nylon lining on the inside of the gloves. This helps to wick away moisture, in turn reducing the amount of sweat that builds up inside the gloves.
The TITLE gloves are available in 10-16oz, increasing in increments of 2oz. If you’re looking for all-around training boxing gloves, I would suggest going for 14oz or 16oz, as these will allow for you to partake in all the different elements of boxing training i.e. – pad work, sparring, and bag work.
For the price, these are probably the best value-for-money gloves you’re going to find and are absolutely perfect for boxing beginners.
Ringside Training Gloves
Up next we’ve got the Ringside training gloves. First of all, if you’re planning on sparring, these may not be the best boxing gloves for beginners as they’re fairly lightweight. If you do spar in them, there’s a good chance you’ll be making some enemies down the gym.
With the small/ medium size weighing in at 10oz, and the large/extra large size weighing in at 12oz, these gloves are designed for pad work and light bag work. As a beginner, there’s a slim chance you’ll be sparring, so it doesn’t matter too much.
Just be aware that if you want to spar further down the line, you’ll need some 14oz or 16oz gloves at least.
In terms of protection, Ringside has gone all out with these gloves. They’ve used injected molded foam (IMF) padding in order to provide the gloves with durable protection that will consistently safeguard your hands, even after years of use.
The shape of the boxing gloves themselves has been designed to align with the natural curvature of a hand, allowing for a super nice fit that doesn’t slide around, even if your hands get sweaty.
Inside the boxing gloves is also a grip bar that allows you to tightly make a fist when throwing a punch. This will help to prepare your hand for impact and help to reduce the chance of sustaining an injury, which is an extremely useful feature for beginners.
I also really like the mesh palm, as this will keep your hands cool whilst training. Even when your hands do start to sweat, the moisture-wicking lining will prevent the vast majority of it from being absorbed into the gloves. Both of these features will allow your gloves to smell fresh for longer, which is always a good thing as smelly gloves aren’t nice to train in.
Fairtex Special Boxing Gloves
If you’re into Muay Thai, you definitely will have heard of Fairtex. They’re absolutely massive and have started to use their expertise to tailor their gloves towards boxing enthusiasts.
As such, their Fairtex gloves are a very popular choice amongst beginner boxers thanks to their high-quality craftsmanship and reasonable price tag.
The gloves are made using genuine leather, which as I mentioned earlier, provides a ton of durability. This means that although the gloves cost slightly more, you won’t need to buy another pair for a good few years, even if you’re training on a regular basis.
Fairtex pretty much offers everything you would look for in the first pair of gloves. They provide ample wrist support, high-impact padding, and fit like a glove (excuse the pun).
What’s more, the gloves are available in a wide range of sizes, as well as provide you with the choice between black, blue and pink. I like my gear to maintain a similar aesthetic, so it’s always good when you’ve got the choice of a few different colors.
All in all, a great pair of gloves that are sure to be loved by anyone starting their journey in boxing.
Fairtex Microfibre Boxing Gloves Muay Thai Boxing Limited Edition
We’ve got another brand that made waves in the Muay Thai world and has opened up its doors to boxing enthusiasts. This time we’re taking a look at the Fairtex Training Gloves, which also come alongside a pair of Fairtex hand wraps.
This pair of boxing gloves are perfect for beginners, as the chances are you’ll need to get a set of hand wraps anyway. This way you’ll save a bit of cash, and get a great pair of both hand wraps and boxing gloves.
As with the vast majority of Fairtex gear, their Training Gloves are handmade in Thailand, home of Muay Thai, and where some of the best quality gloves are made.
Fairtex is known for their rigorous quality control and often test their gloves for years before allowing them to be purchased. As such, their gloves tend to last for an incredibly long time. I know some guys that have had a pair of Fairtex gloves for 5+ years, and those things have seen some battles.
The hook and loop closure system fastens the gloves tightly to your hand, as well as provides your wrist with the support needed to land high-powered punches.
What’s more, the boxing gloves come in a variety of different sizes, ranging from 12oz-16oz. This weight range is perfect for beginners looking to get a versatile pair of gloves that can be used for all aspects of training.
If you’ll want to spar, I would suggest going for the 14oz or the 16oz, as these are the most padded.
Considering the overall quality of the pro-style training gloves, it’s surprising you can get these for less than $100, plus with a pair of hand wraps thrown in. It’s a bargain, especially if you’re a beginner wanting to experience top-quality gloves and hand wraps on a budget.
Venum Challenger 2.0 Boxing Gloves
The Venum Challenger 2.0 Gloves are the best choice of fight gear for all fighters on any level!
Designed in Thailand, home of the finest quality fight gear, the Venum Challenger 2.0 Gloves are the most perfect pair of gloves at an affordable price.
Designed with triple density foam padding, top hand protection, and a large Velcro wrist strap, keeps your hands locked and loaded to pack a powerful punch.
Their Premium PU leather construction will bring you an excellent fighting experience, lasting durability, and extreme comfort.
The signature embossed Venum logo and vibrant colors of the Venum Challenger 2.0 Gloves are sure to make a bold impression.
Venum Elite Boxing Gloves
Fully handmade in Thailand with 100% Semi leather, our Venum Elite boxing gloves were designed to bring you the highest fighting experience at the best price with the finest quality.
The Triple density foam balances the shock, improving you as a fighter without the stress on your arms whenever you make an impact. The unique design and colors are fit for our fighters no matter what level you are.
The reinforced seams and mesh panels combined with their ergonomic shape will bring you a comfortable fit and feel as if you are truly one with the glove. Each strike you make will ensure your opponent will feel the elite power of your punches.
Packing in punches day in and day out is what an Elite fighter is all about!
The Sanabul Essential GEL Boxing Gloves
Boxing gloves from Sanabul are among the most unique on this list. Providing excellent softness and protection to your hands during training, Gel Protective Foam and Gel Infused Foam provide excellent impact protection. There is no other glove formula in the boxing glove industry like Gel-infused foam.
A pair of these gloves is the perfect introduction to boxing gloves for beginners.
How to Recognize a Good Pair of Gloves
It’s difficult to choose between all the different types of styles of boxing gloves for beginners. While it is an important decision, it shouldn’t be a roadblock.
Here are some things to consider when making that final decision on your first pair of boxing gloves.
Brand – The most common glove brands are Rival, Ringside, and Title. These brands won’t break the bank, and they’re great for beginners.
Comfort – If you’re buying online you’ll have a hard time knowing if they’re comfortable or not. Read plenty of reviews and see what other users are saying about the gloves. If they have any less than four stars, move on.
Padding – The best boxing gloves for beginners will have enough padding to absorb any shock. You want to find the sweet spot here and think about your goals. If you never plan on hitting a bag or sparring, don’t worry about the amount of padding.
What size training glove is best for an absolute beginner?
Purchase a pair of 16oz gloves and a pair of 12oz gloves
How much should a beginner spend on boxing gloves?
It’s best to buy gloves in the range of $100 or less if you’re a beginner so that you can learn proper technique before spending a lot of money.
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