Boxing isn’t just about hitting other people in the face until they fall over. It takes training and dedication to win a fight. Whether you are just a beginner or are an advanced boxer, you need to have a good pair of gloves. While gloves won’t make you any better or worse at boxing, they can help improve your performance and keep you comfortable during the fight. There are hundreds of gloves available so finding the best boxing gloves can be tough. That’s why we put together this helpful chart and other resources to help you find the perfect pair of gloves.
Ultimate Boxing Gloves Guide
| Picture | Gloves | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Picture | Gloves | Type | Price |
 | Anthem Athletics STORMBRINGER II Leather Boxing Gloves | Competition | $ |
 | Fairtex Muay Thai-Style Sparring Gloves | Sparring | $ |
 | Elite Pro Style Training Gloves | Sparring | $ |
 | Hayabusa T3 Boxing Gloves | Competition | $$ |
 | Rival Aero Boxing Gloves | Competition | $ |
 | TITLE Gel Intense Bag/Sparring Gloves | Sparring | $$ |
 | TITLE Gel World Bag Gloves | Competition | $ |
 | Hayabusa T3 Pro Style MMA Gloves | Sparring | $$$ |
 | Venum Elite Boxing Gloves | Competition | $ |
 | TITLE Classic Hook and Loop Leather Gloves | Sparring | $ |
Types of Boxing Gloves
There are three types of boxing gloves available: sparring gloves, bag gloves and competition gloves. All boxers must have a pair of gloves for training and, if they compete, second pair of gloves for the fight. Sparring gloves and bag gloves are most commonly used for training. The type you will need will depend on your training regime and what you prefer.
Sparring Gloves – Sparring gloves are training gloves that have extra padding so you don’t hurt your sparring partner. They resemble the gloves used in competition and are often the same size and weight. Beginners should choose sparring gloves that are a little bit bigger than they want to use in competition and move to smaller gloves as they get more experience.
Bag Gloves – Bag gloves are training gloves that do not have much padding. They are used to practice with punching bags. Since the bags are often padded so there is no need for padding in the gloves. However, many people would rather have padding in their bag gloves so they choose to use sparring gloves with bags instead. There are also all purpose training gloves available that work for both bags and sparring.
Competition Gloves – Competition gloves are used during the fight. There are certain size restrictions that will be determined by your weight class. Your gloves will have to be approved by the appropriate sanctioning body before you allowed to wear them in competition. Your trainer will be able to find out the type of gloves you need for your competition. Overall, your competition gloves will be bigger than your training gloves.
What Size or Weight Do I Need?
When it comes to training gloves, beginners should choose gloves that are bigger than you want to use in competition. This will give your hand more protection and will protect your sparring partner from injury. Using a bigger glove will make you faster when you move to a smaller size glove because you will be used to the heavier weight. You can use the chart below to find the best boxing gloves for your weight.
| Weight | Size |
|---|---|
| Less than 120 pounds | 12oz to 14oz |
| 120 – 150 pounds | 14oz to 16oz |
| 150-180 pounds | 12oz to 20oz |
| 180 pounds or more | 18oz or bigger |
Buying Tips
Buy Online – When buying online, you may be worried about getting gloves that are the wrong size, wrong weight or just aren’t comfortable. If this happens, you can easily return the gloves and purchase another type or size. Most places offer free shipping and have hassle free returns. If you are really worried about it, you can visit a local sporting goods store and try on gloves in person. After you have found the perfect pair, you can come home and order them online. This will save you money and you’ll be sure that you are getting the right fit.
Proper Fit – It is important to get the right fit when it comes to boxing gloves. Always try on gloves while wearing handwraps. Many people will find the perfect fit without handwraps and realize later that the gloves don’t fit with the handwraps on. Don’t make this mistake. You’ll know you have the right fit when you can make a comfortable fist inside the gloves.
Brands Make a Difference – Every brand makes their gloves with different materials and in different styles. A similar size sparring glove from TITLE will be completely different than a similar size sparring glove from Everest. One might be designed to protect your fist while the other is more focused on wrist support.
Top 3 Best Boxing Gloves – Reviews
Fairtex Muay Thai-Style Sparring Gloves
Fairtex makes some of the best gloves on the market. Most boxers agree. We think the Fairtex Muay Thai-Style Sparring Gloves are the best training gloves on the market. These gloves are handcrafted in Thailand and are manufactured using premium leather. Boxing is everything in Thailand and they take pride in their boxing equipment.
The Muay Sparring Gloves can be used for sparring, bag and pad work. They have a wrap-around hook & loop closure for comfort and wrist stability.
As far as appearances go, Fairtex has offered two colors to choose from: black or white. If you are serious about boxing then you’ll want to consider the Fairtex Mauy Thai-Style Sparring Gloves.
Title Classic Pro Style Training Gloves
The Title Classic Pro Style Training Gloves are one of the top training gloves out there. They are very affordable, well-built and would make a great investment for anyone who doesn’t want to spend a ton of money on boxing equipment.
What’s so special about these gloves? First of all, they are built with a super strong elastic along with a hook and loop attachment for easy adjustments. It is designed with no sharp edges so you won’t need extra tape. Unlike other gloves, these gloves do not need to be broken in. You can put them on and go about your normal training routine without having to get the inner foam set up. It is ready to go right from the box.
The best thing about the Title Classic Pro Style Training Gloves are the durability. They are constructed to last. These gloves are made from an all leather outer construction and contain a satin nylon inner layer for comfort. They come in black, red or blue and are available in four sizes from 14 ounces up to 18 ounces.
Hayabusa T3 Kanpeki Boxing Gloves
If you are looking for a competition glove that can boost your performance, then consider the Hayabusa T3 Kanpeki Boxing Gloves. These gloves were developed using world-leading university research. They maximize punching power by removing energy leaks. Tokushu gloves are the only ones on the market that use state of the art Deltra EG inner core which have been proven to provide maximum performance and protection.
The Dual-X closure system and Fusion Splinting help protect your wrists by providing perfect hand and wrist alignment. This helps to maximize striking power and prevents injury. These gloves are manufactured out of a high performance Vylar which is engineered leather that has been scientifically proven superior to other materials.
Hayabusa has left nothing out when designing these gloves. Even the interior was designed for maximum performance. These gloves contain a Ecta carbonized rayon bamboo lining to provide ultimate comfort while boxing. With the Hayabusa T3 Kanpeki Boxing Gloves, you can be certain that you are receiving the best competition gloves available.