If you are a beginner entering the boxing world, you are likely primarily concerned about finding boxing gloves to keep your hands protected. While gloves will provide an element of protection, there is so much more consideration needed in selecting the right pair.
Make sure you set yourself up for success in the ring by finding gloves that are the right fit for you in all regards.
So, how do you find the best boxing gloves for beginners? Let’s discuss as we dive in deeper to determine what characteristics to look for and some of our top picks.
Rank: | Photo: | Model: | Rating: | More Info: |
#1 |   | BEST OVERALL | ||
#2 |   | BEST FOR TRAINING | ||
#3 |   | BEST FOR WOMAN | ||
#4 |   | BEST FOR SPARRING | ||
#5 |   | BEST BUDGET |
Table of Contents
- Things to Consider Before Buying Boxing Gloves for Beginners
- How to Use Boxing Gloves
- Why Are Good Boxing Gloves So Important?
- Best Boxing Gloves for Beginners
- 1. Venum Challenger 3.0 Boxing Gloves
- 2. Trideer Pro Grade Boxing Gloves
- 3. Liberlupus Boxing Gloves for Men & Women
- 4. Everlast Pro Style Training Gloves
- 5. JAYEFO Beginners PRO Model
- Final Thoughts On Beginner Boxing Gloves
- Frequently Asked Questions About Boxing Gloves
Things to Consider Before Buying Boxing Gloves for Beginners
Identifying the best boxing gloves for beginners comes down to a wide variety of different elements, including comfort, durability, and weight, among others.
Size and Weight Of Your Boxing Gloves
Finding the right glove size is crucial. If the gloves are too small, like 8oz mixed martial arts gloves, they will be uncomfortable and are more detrimental to your hand. If the gloves are too large, chafing and blisters may occur.
Professional boxers use larger, heavier gloves to train to have faster hands during fight night. However, for beginners getting into the “sweet science“, this may not be a concern. Smaller gloves, in comparison, are used during competitions. Also, heavier, larger gloves tend to have more padding.
The general sizing of boxing gloves are:
| SIZE | WEIGHT |
| 8oz to 10oz | People under 100lbs |
| 10oz to 12oz: | People between 100 lbs to 125 lbs |
| 12oz to 14oz: | People between 125 lbs to 160 lbs |
| 16oz | People over 180 lbs |
Generally, a beginner needs a heavier glove, such as a 14-ounce glove. This higher weight means that the glove has more protective padding. But as you advance, you can begin to consider lighter-weight gloves. The lighter the weight is, the faster your hands can move as you throw your strikes.
Materials
In the boxing world, materials such as authentic leather make a considerable difference in their decision to use those gloves. The main reason people like leather is for the longevity and durability.
For some people, synthetic leather is fine as long as it’s engineered to last and is tear-resistant. Also, synthetic leather tends to be cheaper, which is excellent for those who are budget-conscious.
Are Muay Thai Gloves Good For Boxing Too?
Some gloves are made from Thailand, home to Muay Thai, and create durable material similar to leather. These gloves are solid for boxing and heavy bag training, with a decent price tag.
Also, some brands design their own technology, amping up their quality and durability.
Padding
There are two main factors in boxing glove protection. The first is the padding, which absorbs impact and shields your knuckles from impact. The second factor is wrist support. A glove with good wrist support prevents your wrist from bending into an awkward position.
Safety is most important, but comfort matters too. You should look for a glove that fits your hands well and won’t open or fall off while you punch.
After meeting those needs, you can begin to consider some relevant but less important aspects of boxing gloves. These features can further contribute to your comfort and enjoyment when wearing and using boxing gloves.
All Boxing gloves come with their own padding design
Some gloves have 3 layers of natural foam, and other pairs have five layers. Popular padding material is also gel, which is an excellent shock absorbent. The gel-infused lining is typical amongst boxing gloves, as they provide exceptional impact resistance.
Padding also protects the hands, particularly the knuckles, from becoming sore after extended use. Bigger sizes tend to have the most padding, as they are more for training. However, the size must be a comfortable fit.
Type of Boxing Gloves
There are several types of boxing gloves to be aware of, such as:
- Training: Most common with beginners and have multiple purposes. However, they may not be necessary unless you are undergoing specific training like professional fighters. Training gloves also protect you and your partner.
- Sparring: These gloves protect your partner and have thicker padding to avoid injuries. Serious boxers should consider sparring gloves, as they’re great for practicing fundamentals.
- Bag Gloves: Heavy bag boxing gloves tend to have better wrist support and thicker padding than training gloves. It’s the primary type of glove beginner, and professionals use it to avoid hand injuries. They’re challenging to use but worth it in the long run.
Hand Wraps
Despite ample padding in boxing gloves, hand wraps are required for extra support. Your hands need to be protected, and while high-quality padding is helpful, hand wraps protect the bones and joints, avoiding fractures.
Benefits of using a hand wrap include:
- Protects knuckles: An intense workout may affect the knuckles with no hand wrap. This leads to less training and more pain in the long-run. A hand wrap may prevent fractures, which can sideline you for weeks.
- Fills in gloves: If your gloves are loose, they may slide when you land punches. Using hand wraps may avoid this problem, offering a more snug fit and better security.
- Wrist stabilization: Wrists are prone the hyperextension, and a tight wrap may prevent this injury. Awkward angles while training can occur and hand wraps provide an extra level of support to reduce harm.
Hand wrapping also may prevent Boxer’s Knuckle, caused by a tear in the knuckle.
Closure Options
Boxing gloves come with laces or Velcro closure options.
Many boxers like laces, as they believe them to be more snug and little chance of slippage. They’re old school but still work more effectively than Velcro.
However, most beginner gloves today come with Velcro wraps, which do a solid job of protecting the wrist and providing a tight fit.
Velcro is also easier to put on and off, while laces require someone else to tighten.
Price
It’s essential to consider your budget. If you are a beginner yet plan to train casually, an expensive pair may not be a good fit.
However, if you plan to train heavily for years to come, it may become an investment.
Materials, brand name, design, and more determine the price. Some gloves also cater to entry-level, while some are for advanced users but suitable for beginners.
Ventilation/Breathability
Breathability is one such characteristic you should consider. Proper ventilation in your gloves makes it so that there won’t be an excessive amount of moisture in your gloves that arises from the sweat you will inevitably produce.
Without ventilation, your gloves will be less comfortable, more odorous, and more likely to degrade at a rapid rate.
Style/Appearance
Style is another consideration you can make after you meet the functional needs of a boxing glove. As you shop, you’ll find that there are many different patterns and color schemes that will allow you to express your individuality while training.
How to Use Boxing Gloves
Why Are Good Boxing Gloves So Important?
Boxing gloves add safety to your training for you and your sparring partners. Without gloves, you may fracture your hands or sprain your wrists.
Likewise, sparring without gloves is extremely dangerous. Without gloves, your hands not only have little to no protection, but you also run the risk of cutting your opponent with the sharpness of your knuckles.
You may also make contact with hard parts of your opponent’s body, such as the forehead, leading to fractures in your hand.
Proper punching form is another way to limit injury as that form implies an appropriate alignment for your body. Since beginners are still working on their form, gloves are that much more critical to the process.
While you are developing your ability to throw a punch correctly, the gloves and wraps you wear can compensate for your lack of form. While there is no guarantee that gloves will prevent injury, they make them far less likely.
How to Wrap Your Hands
Best Boxing Gloves for Beginners
Now that you understand what characteristics to look for in your first set of boxing gloves, here’s a look at some of our top picks.
1. Venum Challenger 3.0 Boxing Gloves
The Venum Challenger 3.0 boxing gloves are ideal for a wide range of fighters, from beginners to advanced. Designed in Thailand, the lightweight design comes from quality polyurethane leather, providing high performance and durability.
These gloves are very breathable, with an interior mesh, meaning that you won’t need to worry about a build-up of moisture as you train. A triple-density foam allows for high shock absorption levels for bag work, mitt work, and fitness.
For me, nothing is more annoying than gear that does not fit well or moves around during a training session. The velcro for these gloves is strong enough to stay in place and gives you a custom fit every time you wear them.
Pros:
- Breathable interior mesh
- Shock absorbing triple density foam
- Large, secure velcro closure with elastic
- 15 different color options
Cons:
- Limited foam durability
- Seam detachment
The most significant setback in these gloves has to do with durability under extreme training usage. Some users found that the foam padding and seams began wearing after prolonged intense training.
As a beginner, though, these issues shouldn’t be prevalent. And if so, they are relatively inexpensive to replace as needed.
2. Trideer Pro Grade Boxing Gloves
Support and protection meet comfort with the Trideer Pro Grade boxing gloves. These gloves are ideal for all types of boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, MMA, sparring, and fitness workouts with a pre-curved form fit explicitly designed with a grip palm to increase durability and performance.
Made from heavy-duty, easy-to-clean synthetic leather, these gloves eliminate much of the hassle of cleaning by being very easy to sanitize after training. The material is wipeable and dries relatively quickly.
It is valuable for new boxers to purchase gloves from a company that will give you on-going support. You can return these gloves within 30 days, and you will enjoy a lifetime of customer service if you have any questions.
Pros:
- Durable synthetic leather material
- Easy to clean breathable mesh
- Excellent customer support
- Wrist strap with hook-and-loop attachment
Cons:
- Stiff fit at first
- Minimal padding
The durability of these gloves may come as a downside for some users who feel they can be quite stiff in their fit while still providing minimal padding levels. Beginners need to determine what priorities they are looking for in their gloves before purchasing. These gloves are a great durable option if you are willing to compromise on other elements.
3. Liberlupus Boxing Gloves for Men & Women
The Liberlupus boxing gloves offer premium quality matched with superior protection, comfort, and fit. These synthetic leather gloves are ultra-resilient and easy to clean, making them an excellent choice for boxing beginners.
The interior of these gloves includes a grip bar. That bar helps a beginner know where to put their hands as they train. It also acts as a way to encourage the fighter to close their fist within the glove.
The hook and loop closure on these gloves makes it very unlikely that they will slip as you are punching. The extra-wide velcro strap adds to that level of stability in the fit of these boxing gloves.
Pros:
- Grip bar for better positioning
- Hook and loop closure ensuring a secure fit
- Attractive exterior design
- Three-layer interior padding
Cons:
- Linings can rip
- Stiffer fit
The three-layer padding and seams on this glove are durable, but some users report the linings are not the most durable and can rip at times after heavy use. Also, because of the durability of the materials, they may fit stiffer to some. Fit is entirely user preference, though, so be mindful of that as you look for your perfect pair of gloves.
4. Everlast Pro Style Training Gloves
Everlast uses a unique formula to reduce the odors you might experience during training in its Pro Style Training Gloves. The “Everfresh” antimicrobial treatment makes it so that your gloves will remain fresh-scented through your workouts.
This glove has an excellent fit for all hands, which is especially helpful for beginners. The curved design makes for a very ergonomically-minded shape.
“Thumb-Lok” is another feature specific to the Everlast brand. This feature ensures that your thumb remains in place as you train. That technology acts to reduce your risk of injury as you spar and hit the bags.
Pros:
- Everfresh antimicrobial odor prevention
- Comfortable ergonomic design
- “Thumb-lok” design
- Available in four weight sizes
Cons:
- Minimal wrist protection
- Weak wrist strap
The padding for this glove is decent, but the wrist support could be improved, especially for a beginner glove. Additionally, some say these gloves have a weak wrist strap that may open after a few punches.
If wrist protection is a high priority for you, these might not be the best starting gloves. Otherwise, the comfortable anatomical grip is something unmatched by competitors.
5. JAYEFO Beginners PRO Model
The Jayefo Beginners PRO Model boxing gloves are weighted, all-purpose gloveS that is great for boxing. When you are training, you need to switch between different types of practice. Luckily, these gloves allow for a seamless transition as you can use them for heavy bags, mitt work, or sparring.
These gloves are durable while being lightweight so that you can protect your hands without sacrificing punching speed.
While some gloves rely on material alone for breathability, these gloves incorporate extra vent holes. Those holes virtually guarantee good airflow through your gloves to reduce moisture.
This company stands by its gloves with a two-year replacement warranty, which is much longer than many other brands.
Pros:
- Multi-purpose gloves
- Vent holes for optimal airflow
- 2-year warranty
- Lightweight design
Cons:
- Sizing can be tough to dial in
- Limited color options
Be aware that some users report these gloves having a slightly different fit than advertised. Of course, you should take advantage of the warranty if you experience this issue. For the most part, there are limited style options for this glove, but the company does offer five different colors from which to choose.
Final Thoughts On Beginner Boxing Gloves
The Venum Challenger 2.0 Boxing Gloves are the winner for the best boxing gloves for beginners. In evaluating these gloves against the competitors, I found that they do a better job meeting a novice boxer’s needs.
These gloves give the protection that a beginner needs along with some other useful features. They are breathable and adaptable to a variety of training sessions. They also strike a nice balance between padding and weight.
However, the JAYEFO Beginners PRO Model boxing gloves deserve an honorable mention. They are a well-rounded option for those on a tighter budget.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boxing Gloves
Below are a few answers to the most common boxing glove questions to help you round out your knowledge and find the best gloves for you.
WHAT BOXING GLOVES SHOULD A BEGINNER USE?
In general, beginners should use gloves that are on the larger side. That extra padding can help prevent injuries as you sharpen your punching technique.
WHAT SIZE BOXING GLOVES DO I NEED?
You should look for a relatively heavy pair. Often, 14 and 16-ounce gloves are a safe bet. They offer enough padding to protect your hands and training partners during sparring.
WHAT BOXING GLOVES ARE BEST FOR TRAINING?
If you are looking for a glove that is good for all-around training, 12 ounces is ideal.
WHAT ARE 10OZ BOXING GLOVES USED FOR?
In training, boxers typically use 10-ounce gloves for hitting the heavy bag or for hitting pads. In professional competition, 10-ounce gloves are a standard size for heavier weight classes.
