So, you are going to take up boxing. This in itself deserves every approval! It remains to deal with several organizational issues: find free time, a club for your pocket/convenience, and purchase the necessary equipment.
A guide to choosing boxing gloves:
Sportswear – shorts, T-shirts and sneakers, most likely, you already have, if not, it will not be difficult to buy them. With boxing gloves, otherwise, if you go to any online store, you will see that the choice is not just big, but huge – which ones to take, it is not clear.
First of all, it is worth noting that not everyone who comes to the boxing gym will continue training in a month. It may not work out with boxing. For example, you just won’t like it.
It is not necessary to immediately buy expensive best boxing gloves. Although, if you are used to having the best — this does not apply to you, immediately buy good gloves.
Criteria for choosing good gloves
When choosing boxing gloves, it is important to pay attention to the following points:
Glove design: The design of the glove case should provide a tight and comfortable fist compression, as well as the correct position of the thumb – the thumb compartment should allow you to give it an anatomically correct position relative to the clenched fist without effort and discomfort. Protection from the impact part of the glove is an additional plus. It protects the thumb from injury when applying inaccurate or sliding blows.
Packing: As the design, the padding is the most important element of the glove responsible for the safety of your hands. Different functional types of gloves (training, sparring, projectile, and combat) have different stuffing. Now we are talking about universal training gloves, we will consider the rest later.
The padding in universal training gloves should have shock-absorbing properties. At the same time, it should be elastic enough to provide a “sense of contact” when hitting, and also not be too rigid to minimize possible damage to the sparring partner.
Good training gloves are distinguished by a combination of these properties. They effectively extinguish the impact energy, allowing you to strike safely and accurately, enjoying it.
Another requirement for the stuffing is durability. In no case should the padding lose its physical properties for at least one year of intensive training.
Ask how to find out? Yes, just ask what is the warranty period for these gloves. As a rule, the warranty period is set by sellers in such a way that the product is guaranteed to survive.
Wrist fixation: In boxing gloves, the wrist is fixed with Velcro or laces. Novice athletes can recommend Velcro gloves, lacing is an option for professional boxers.
There is also a fixation of the wrist in a boxing glove with an elastic band – it is better to abandon this option immediately, due to poor reliability.
Thoughtful wrist locks use durable, high-quality Velcro. For a tight fit of the wrist, the Velcro should be wide enough and provide an excellent degree of grip on displacement.
Material: Gloves made of genuine leather, as a rule, will last longer. Although now there is high-quality artificial leather, not inferior to natural, and also about the same cost. In any case, the material should be sound to the touch, avoid gloves made of leatherette, similar to oilcloth.
Glove Size: Boxing gloves don’t have sizes, like, for example, shoes. Boxing gloves are selected by weight. Traditionally, the weight of boxing gloves is measured in ounces (28.4 g), the letter combination “oz” is used to designate them. For example, boxing gloves 8 oz 10 oz 12 oz 14 oz 16 oz.
There is a direct relationship, the greater the weight of the glove, the safer it is for the batter and for the receiver.
The minimum weight of training boxing gloves for an adult is 12 ounces. These gloves are suitable for athletes weighing up to 60 kg. 14 oz gloves are designed for a maximum weight of up to 70 kg, 16 oz gloves up to 90 kg. If you weigh over 100 kg, 18 oz gloves will suit you.
It should be noted that this relationship is conditional. In different boxing clubs, different coaches may have their own requirements in this regard.
For example, in clubs with a high culture of boxing (read – where they worry about the health of their clients), of which we know enough, they will not be allowed to spar with gloves less than 16 ounces.
In others (and we also know these), 10-12 ounces for adult men is the norm. No one really bothers. Except for those whose head is cracking after every workout, apparently.
As a rule, the greater the weight of the glove, the more space it has inside to accommodate the fist.
The weight and size of the hands are not always related to quantities. There are large people with relatively small hands and vice versa. The density of the fit of the hand in the glove is regulated by the degree of winding of the bandage. Boxing bandages are from 2.5 to 6 meters in length.
Accordingly, even on a small hand, you can put 16-ounce gloves, simply by wrapping a longer bandage.
Conclusion:
Novice boxers should choose universal training gloves. If the budget allows and there is a firm intention to engage – immediately take high-quality boxing equipment, it will last a long time and minimize the possibility of injury.
You can buy boxing gloves in specialized stores that sell martial arts products or order them from an online store with delivery.
When choosing a regular store, pay attention to the criteria for choosing good gloves, which are listed above in this article. When buying in an online store, you should pay attention to the reputation of the online store, as well as read reviews on the Internet about the brand you want to buy, it’s also a good idea to listen to the recommendations of the trainer.
