Muay Thai Glove Guide
Alright guys,
The number one question I get asked in regards to training is:
What gloves should I buy?
Let me start off by saying, every glove is different. This muay thai glove guide can also be used for any sport invovling striking with the hands. The amount one spends doesn’t necessarily commensurate the quality of the product. I have used gloves that cost near the hundreds that, within the week the stitching has come undone, or I have seen premium gloves where one weighed more than the other (left glove weighed 16 oz, right glove weighted 15.2 oz).
In contrast i have used gloves that were mid-range priced (your average cost per pair of gloves) that have lasted me YEARS. sure, they smell worse than that sweaty gym shirt you forgot in the back of your trunk; but that’s neither here nor there.
The last thing I will say is it always a good idea to have two pairs of gloves, one for bag/pad work, and one for sparring. This rule doesn’t generally apply to everyone, this is more for the fighter or aspiring fighter to be. Reason being is that when you spar, you have to consider the health and safety of both your partner and yourself. Training gloves get the padding that protects the knuckles beat the heck out of, thus leaving you with a small layer of leather and whatever materials used to pad the gloves. If you a heavy puncher, expect the gloves to wear out faster than your average user. What this translate to is gloves that won’t fully protect your hand when it is time to spar, or gloves that will hurt your partner during your session.
For example:
I remember an instance where i sparred someone with worn out, used up gloves and the first jab he connected, i could feel the bones in his fist across my forehead. Conversely there was a time i fractured my hand throwing a hook because i was the guy using worn out gloves.
Safety first, it’ll save you much heartache later down the line.
Ok, furthermore, this guide will cover mostly Boxing brands or Muay Thai brands. Don’t get me wrong, I love MMA, but if we approach this logically, one would consider the authority of boxing gloves to be a long standing, reputable boxing brand, correct? It would only make sense that we use equipment made by companies who’s primary purposes is to create products for punching.
Those are just my two cents.
Next Question:
What size/weight?
The size of glove depends on your body weight. Not everyone follows the rule but it’s a good one to go by.
I found that this works best:
under 100 lbs to 120lbs: 10 ounces
120 lbs to 150lbs: 12 ounces
150 lbs to 165lbs: 14 ounces
over 165 lbs: 16 ounces
This guide is for training gloves. There are a few exceptions to consider. If you have fragile hands, it’s always a good idea to buy heavier gloves for more padding and protection. Or if you want to increase hand speed, heavier gloves are good for that as well.
In regards to sparring gloves: Whether you’re just technical sparring for timing and speed or going full contact, it’ is always a good idea to use heavier gloves. 14, 16 or even 18 ounce gloves for safety.
Lace up or Velcro??
Uhm, definitely velcro. The only time I would suggest lace up is if you are doing a lot of boxing training and sparring where you have someone that is able to lace you up tight. There are accessories that can convert lace ups to velcro, if you absolutely MUST have lace ups, but want the convenience of velcro. I don’t know up to you. In regards to a class setting, please save the group and your coach some time and just some fucking velcro gloves.
Well, enough reading, what damn gloves should I buy?
I can’t tell you what gloves to buy, but I can suggest some. The beauty of this guide is all the research has been done for you, it’s just a matter of choosing weight, color, and brand, ordering, waiting for them eagerly by the door, them getting to you, you taking social media pictures to post and THEN actually using them.
Right on.
THE NITTY-GRITTY
ok, so I broke them down by the price range, and then gave you a few pro-tips. Hope you enjoy and if you find this useful, please share it, retweet it, reblog, etc. etc. comments are always welcomed and appreciated. :). The images link to the product page if you are interested in buying them or researching further. oh, and always consider shipping cost!
AFFORDABLE (~ $30)
Ok, I used to recommend a specific brand of gloves, but since have opted our of it since they were made with cheap vinyl that would eventually crack and pose a risk hazard, so since then I have moved from cheap title boxing gloves to sanabul. They might be the only MMA product I can speak for and they serve a great purposes as a introductory pair of gloves since they are decently made and quite affordable. Consider this an entry level glove that you may out grow with your first year of training, but certainly not a bad investment
MID-RANGE ($30-$60)
This is about the average range for cost of gloves. The gloves i listed in this section vary from the ones listed above as in the quality of material used. These tend to be made out of synthetic leather or leather and the material used for padding tends to be a little more sturdier.
Ringside makes great equipment, these will run you about 60 dollars but feel pretty good on the hands. Extra wrist support than the more affordable options.
EXPENSIVE? (over $80)
Yet again, as with price increases, build quality improves.
Top King as always been a favorite in regards to Muay Thai protective equipment. The gloves provide a great amount of support around the knuckles as well as tight wrist support. The round top of the gloves gives a good pop off the pads and the way the glove is constructed makes it feel light but provides the protection I like.
Twins is a Muay Thai institution. Almost synonymous with Muay Thai, the twins brand always delivers a great quality glove. Made with leather, they provide a snug fight with wraps on and I’ve seen pairs of these gloves last years.
Real quick, Let me just start by saying: Stay away from TWINS USA/twinsfightgear.com
They have a long history of scamming people and are NOT affiliated with TWINS SPECIAL/TWINS FIGHT GEAR.
I LOVE twins gear, and I order my equipment from either amazon or muaythaifactory.com
STAY AWAY FROM TWINS USA.com
Gloves I would recommend for thick arm/wrist individuals:
Their ‘Thinner’ Counterpart:
INVESTMENTS? (over $150??)
If you are looking for quality in both construction and performance.. a glove that will last you years, gloves that provide excellent support and gloves that will keep away from odor than this is the glove for you. There is a reason why these gloves go for over $100 dollars, and the reasons provided are why. Made out of genuine cow leather, Cleto Reyes are built to last.
From hitting the bag, mitts, pads, and sparring, they will hold and age beautifully and when they are in their last legs you can always hang them up as trophies. Very rarely will you see these gloves unner the $100 price range but typically people list them on Craigslist when they import a few from Mexico.
RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE BUT WORTH IT (over $???)
In the ‘RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE BUT WORTH IT’ category, there is only one glove. Accept no imitations. This brand is used by all boxing professionals around the world, frequently used by some Muay Thai professionals and enthusiasts that are able to afford the gloves. It is the holy grail of boxing gloves. Is the anticipation killing you yet… ?
WINNING is a brand from japan, made from japan. It is considered the greatest boxing glove ever made and the brand is so superior that they need not to sponsor any fighters. From headgear, to gloves to other protective equipment, If you are doing any sort of professional fighting or training, than this equipment is essential.
Why are they so special?
They are so special because of the material used and the way the gloves is made. Wearing these gloves provided the BEST type of protection and really are the lightest gloves ever. Feels like your wearing mitts of clouds on your hands. Take a look at the construction and design.
How much are these?
Well… That’s usually where we most inquiries stop. Winning glove prices vary by the ounce, typically starting at… (drum roll please) $250 dollars for 8 oz. Yes, jaw dropping i know, and the price just keeps getting significantly higher the heavier the glove ($350-$475 per pair). If you’re making this your career, will that is a goal to shoot for, being able to afford a pair of winning gloves.
Accessories
All things aside, let’s consider how to keep our equipment in good shape to last us for a while.
How To Keep Your Gloves Fresh
1. Wrap, wrap, wrap your hands. I can’t stress that enough. Wrapping your hands is super important in keeping your hands from hurting, but it also provides a ‘sweat barrier’ that is the leading cause of stinky gloves. Oh, and this may go without saying, but please try to keep your wraps clean.
2. Air them out after use, don’t leave them in your gym bag. Peel them open, shove a wire coat hanger in there and let them breathe. If you want to get a little more OCD with it, you can also shove dryer sheets in there to deodorize it further.
3. Spray them with a alcohol solution (1:1 water and rubbing alcohol) or spray them out with Lysol or a disinfectant or you liking.
4. Buy Glove Deodorizers
Glove Deodorizers are felt satchels with cedar chips in them which are used to absorb moisture from the gloves. You can also make your own by buying your own cedar chips from a lumber store and putting them in panty hose.
convert your lace ups to velcro:
La Fin
There you have it. When I purchase equipment, I usually go through the manufacturer. Amazon gives you the convenience of easy try and like or return, but up to you. I also recommend muaythaifactory.com as a reputable distributor for thai brands.
Enjoy the face punching!