Gloves
- Typical price
- €40–180
One pair does not cover training. Bag gloves are firm and compact, sparring gloves are heavier and softer to protect your partner, and competition gloves are whatever the sanctioning body dictates. Buying a single pair for everything means either damaging your hands on the bag or hurting people while sparring.
What to look for
Spar in 16 oz if you are above about 75 kg and 14 oz below it — the weight is there to protect the person opposite you, not you. Bag work is fine in 12–14 oz. Leather lasts several times longer than synthetic and is worth the difference if you train more than twice a week. Lace-ups fit better; velcro is what you will actually use when nobody is there to lace them.
At a glance
- Sparring: 14–16 oz, softer padding, protects your partner
- Bag: 12–14 oz, firmer padding, protects your hands
- Competition weight is set by the promotion, not by you
- Leather outlasts synthetic by years at the same price point