Walk into buying your first proper pair of gloves, and it hits you fast: different weights, different colours, "bag" gloves, "sparring" gloves, lace-up, velcro, £30 pairs sitting next to £250 pairs that look near enough identical.
That's what this guide is for. We've been kitting out boxers since 2001, and our team is made up of boxers, coaches, and judges who have been through the worst, so we can give you the best. By the end of this you'll know exactly how to choose boxing gloves that fit your hands, suit what you're doing, and don't fall apart after a month.
Quick Guide on Boxing Gloves
The "right" glove depends almost entirely on the job. Buy a glove built for one job and use it for another, and you'll either wreck your hands, wreck your training partner, or wreck the glove.
Bag & pad gloves: Built for hitting things that hit back: heavy bags, pads, the speedball. The padding is firmer and shaped to protect your knuckles against hard surfaces. Great for solo training and conditioning. Not ideal for sparring, because that firmness isn't kind to a partner's face.
Sparring gloves: Softer, more evenly spread padding designed to protect the person you're hitting. Usually 14oz–16oz. If you're going to spar (and most people who stick with boxing eventually do), this is the pair your gym will want you in.
Training / all-rounder gloves: Loads of gloves are built to do a bit of both: bag work and light sparring. For most beginners on a budget, one solid 16oz training glove is genuinely all you need to start.
Competition / fight gloves: Lighter (8oz–10oz), less padding, for actual bouts. Amateur competition gloves have to be association-approved and usually have a marked scoring area. You don't need these on day one.
MMA gloves: Small, open-fingered, around 4oz–7oz, for grappling and striking. A completely different tool for a different sport.
Weighted gloves: Heavier than normal, for shadow boxing, conditioning and fitness — not for hard bag work or sparring.
Want the full breakdown of every glove type, including exactly why a bag glove hurts a sparring partner? Read Every Type of Boxing Glove Explained.
What weight do you need?
The ounces in product listings refer to the glove's weight, which comes mostly from the padding. Heavier glove = more padding = more protection for your hands and for whoever you're hitting (and, handily, more of a workout for your shoulders).
It is not a measure of how big your hands are. A 16oz and a 12oz glove can fit the same hand.
|
What you're doing |
Typical glove weight |
|
Kids & juniors |
6oz–10oz |
|
Bag & pad work (adult) |
12oz–16oz |
|
Sparring (most adults) |
16oz (14oz for lighter boxers) |
|
Amateur competition |
10oz / 12oz (must be approved) |
|
Pro fights |
8oz–10oz |
Bodyweight plays a part too. A heavier, more powerful boxer generally wants more padding, so a 90kg lad will usually spar in 16oz where a lighter person might be fine in 14oz. But for sparring specifically, more is safer, which is why most gyms simply require 16oz across the board. If in doubt, go heavier.
Sizing your hands for your boxing gloves
A well-fitting glove should feel snug with your hand wraps on, your fingers reaching comfortably to the top without being crammed, and the cuff holding your wrist firmly. Too loose and the glove shifts on impact (hello, sore wrists); too tight over wraps and you'll cut off circulation.
Two things make this easy:
Measure before you buy. A quick measurement of your hand does most of the work. Our Size Guide walks you through it in under a minute.
Factor in your wraps. You'll almost always wear hand wraps under your gloves, so allow a little room for them. If you're between sizes, sizing up slightly is usually the safer bet.
Different brands cut their gloves differently, which is one more reason it pays to buy from people who actually know the ranges. If you're stuck between two sizes, give us a shout; we'll tell you straight, because we've worn most of them.
Lace-up or velcro? Leather or synthetic?
Two practical decisions that shape how the gloves feel and how long they last.
Velcro vs lace-up
Velcro (hook-and-loop): On and off in seconds, on your own, no help needed. Perfect for training, bag work and anyone who trains solo. The vast majority of beginners want velcro.
Lace-up: A snugger, more locked-in wrist and a cleaner fit, and the reason they're the choice for competition and for boxers who want the best possible support. The catch: you need someone to tie and untie them, so they're a faff for solo sessions.
Leather vs synthetic
Genuine leather: More durable, breathes better, and moulds to your hand over time. Costs more up front, but if you train regularly it's usually the better long-term value.
Synthetic (PU / engineered microfibre): Lighter on the wallet and perfectly good for beginners and lighter use. Modern synthetics have come a long way — a quality synthetic pair will happily see you through your first year and beyond.
We put both debates head-to-head, with how to spot gloves that actually last, in Lace-Up vs Velcro & Leather vs Synthetic: Which Gloves Last Longest?
How much should you spend on boxing gloves?
Entry / value: Our own Geezers Boxing brand (designed and tested in our own gym), plus the accessible end of names like Everlast and Adidas.
Mid-range: Brands like Rival, Venum and Title. A clear step up in build quality and longevity.
Premium: Cleto Reyes and Winning sit at the top. Winning are famous for plush, protective padding that spares your hands over years of sparring.
