Getting gloves is an important decision in Muay Thai, MMA, or Kickboxing. You’ll be putting your hard earned money into the gloves, and you want to make sure your purchase has ko power. This is an investment into your performance, safety and training longevity.
Just like in fighting it’s all about shot selection. Where can you get the most bang for your punch.
Whether you’re a beginner stepping into the gym for the first time or an experienced athlete this guide breaks down everything you need to know about choosing gloves. We’ll go over what matters the most. By the end of this, you’ll understand the purpose of gloves, how weight matters, and the style of gloves in combat sports.
What’s The Purpose Of Different Gloves
There are 5 main choices to choose from. There are training, competition, bag, sparring, and mma gloves. We’ll break down each.
Training Gloves
Competition Gloves
Bag Gloves
Sparring Gloves
MMA Gloves
Why Fairtex Training Gloves Are The Best All Around Muay Thai Gloves
Most people start with the basics. These are training gloves. They are great all around gloves. For Fairtex these are the classic and best selling BGV1 gloves. They are used for padwork, bagwork, and in some cases technical sparring. We’ll get into sizing below but they tend to be between 14-10 ounce. It depends on the size of the hand and how the athlete likes them fit.
Gloves That Are For Fighting – Competition Gloves
The name says it all. Competition gloves are for just that. They are specifically designed for competition. Usually, that means they are lace up gloves and between 6-10 ounces.
The weight is dependent on the size of the fighters.
So 6 ounce gloves are used for Mini Flyweight to Featherweight. That’s atheltes up to 126lbs. The next biggest size, 8 oz gloves, are for Super Featherweight to Welterweight. These athletes are 126 lbs to 147 lbs. Finally 10 oz gloves are for Super Welterweight and above. Fighters above 147lbs use these. Some promotions give the gloves to their athletes as a courtesy gift. So the boxers use them in the gym. Other athletes get a pair of their fight gloves to have a more accurate feel for how the fight gloves perform.
Competition gloves are usually reserved for promotions themselves or for higher level athletes who want to test themselves before the fight.
What Are Bag Gloves And Why Are They Used?
On the smallest side of gloves are bag gloves. These gloves have little to no padding in them. They are light, they are small, and they give the boxer the most feedback on their technique. Athletes use these to correct their form and to feel where and how they are exactly striking. Because they are so small the fighter can feel where the knuckles land. They get feedback on how their wrist is when the blow lands. Bag gloves are also used on Muay Thai pads. They are not used in sparring.
Why Do I Need Sparring Gloves In Muay Thai
Sparring gloves are bigger than training gloves. The cushioning is much bigger. This allows the boxer’s to punch with more power but without causing major injury. Sparring gloves come in a variety of sizes but are generally 16-20 ounces. These gloves are used solely for sparring. If used for padwork and bagwork as well the cushioning reduces. This makes the boxers’ blows harder and is unsafe for their sparring partner.
Why Use MMA Gloves For Striking
With the rise of small glove Muay Thai, more athletes are using MMA gloves. These gloves come in two different types. First is the normal competition style. They are small and cover the hands. MMA competition gloves are very similar in size to bag gloves. They are open handed though so the fingers move freely. MMA sparring gloves have a large cushion on the back of the hand. This covers the knuckles so athletes can lightly strike each other. The cushioning is about the same as an 8-10 ounce competition glove. So unless the boxers are fighting they still need to be careful. Using MMA gloves for training is very important for athletes competing in them. The angles, positioning, and grabbing ability make the fight very different. These gloves are great for Muay Thai fighters and boxers competiting in different rule sets.
How Much Should Gloves Weight
Glove Weight Tips
• Size matters - larger people = heavier gloves
• Bigger is safer
• Beginners 12-14 ounce/Advanced 10-12 ounce
A good rule of thumb for the weight of boxers is: the bigger the body, the bigger the glove. Larger people typically need larger gloves. Not only is the cushioning better on bigger gloves but also the hand compartment and wrist sizing is larger. This makes the gloves more comfortable to wear.
While this is a good rule of thumb, beginners may want to start with bigger gloves. This helps them with conditioning their hand. If you don’t have picture perfect technique to start with you may want bigger gloves. This helps protect your hand from any injury.
What Style Of Glove Should I Choose
Fit tips:
• Should be snug but not painful
• Leave a small gap at fingertips
• Wrist should feel fully supported
There are a handful of styles for gloves. But there are three main things to look at when considering styles.
First is the cushioning of the glove. Fairtex uses a variety of different foams and padding structures. This means that different gloves have a different knuckle and hand feel. Some gloves are less dense in the knuckle area, especially when the ounce size goes down.
The second is wrist support. The wrist area is fitted via Velcro straps with a hook and loop system or with laces. The great thing about Velcro straps is they are easy to take on and off. Laces take more time to tie on and off but can be fitted tighter to the wrist. The wrist is also extended on some gloves. This gives them more support. Other gloves have a shorter cuff. This helps with things like clinching in Muay Thai. There is more flexibility in the wrist. Boxers can grab and control their sparring partners and opponents more easily.
The last is aesthetics. Some gloves just look cooler than others. Fairtex’s selection of gloves covers a complete fashion spectrum. There are simple color gloves, metallic gloves, polka dot gloves, patriotic gloves, and more. Choosing a glove is just as much about choosing a style as it is about choosing for function.
Bonus! How To Maintain Your Gloves
Even the best of gloves don’t last forever. But you can extend their life by taking care of them. Plus this will keep them smelling fresh. You’ll want to do the following:
After Each Training Session:
Clean the exterior of the glove and remove any sweat or grime
Open the glove and ventilate in a dry area this prevents mold
Never leave your glove in a dark area like a gym bag or car trunk this is where bacteria can thrive
Avoid sunlight when drying as this cracks the leather
Weekly Maintenance:
Use glove deodorizers to keep the gloves smelling fresh
Wipes can be used for the interior of the glove but make sure they dry
When To Replace Your Gloves:
When the knuckle area feels uneven or compressed
If the gloves smell particularly bad even after cleaning
If the wrist support is no longer secure
Invest a few minutes each day into your equipment. This extends the glove’s lifespan and keeps you healthy. Clean gloves mean fewer skin infections and other problems.
Taking care of your gloves can dramatically extend the life of your equipment. Make the purchase pack a serious punch!
Author: Matt Lucas
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