“The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses—behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.” – Muhammad Ali. Boxing is the greatest sport in the world and has produced the greatest sporting champion the world has ever seen: Muhammad Ali.
If you’re reading this, then you have made the choice to begin boxing. All we can say is “congratulations” for coming to the right spot to find your first pair of gloves. So, what are the best boxing gloves for beginners? This is the toughest and most important decision you will make with boxing so let us help you.
In this article, you will find the 5 best beginner boxing gloves available. Don’t make the mistake of buying the cheapest pair of the first pair you see on amazon.com. Here, we will look at everything you need to know to help make this difficult choice just a bit easier for you.
These 5 gloves are great choices for beginners. However, let us help you make your decision easier by looking at each glove in a bit more detail.
When first starting out, you will want a cheap glove that is of high quality. Well, you may have found the ideal glove here with the Sanabul Essential which is one of the best boxing gloves for beginners. These gloves boast a Longitudinal Arch Design, which promotes natural and correct fist closure for striking; perfect for beginners who are learning to punch correctly.
Another feature of these gloves is the gel impact protection foam. Your hands are going to be well protected here with plenty of padding around the hand and thumb area. Basically, you’re going to limit the risk of injuries while you learn to strike your opponent hard and correctly.
PROS
- The Longitudinal Arch Design combined with the gel impact protection foam means an amateur will have good protection and correct technique
CONS
- The extra protection does result in the gloves appearing bulky. If you’re a smaller build, these gloves will look too big on your hands
Being handmade in the home of Muay Thai – Thailand – the Venum Challenger 2.0 is one of the best gloves for beginner boxers. One of the best features is the triple density foam padding. To put it simply, you can punch hard with these gloves and have the confidence that your hands are going to be nice and safe. This triple density foam padding also has shock absorption technology to help you train for longer.
Another great feature for beginners is that these gloves are made from high quality PU leather. Although not as strong or durable as genuine leather, you are going to pay a lot less – ideal for beginners.
PROS
- Keeps your thumb in nice and tight when compared to other gloves offering further protection from injury
CONS
- These gloves can be quite expensive when compared to other beginner gloves, but they’re of high quality so you will get plenty of use out of them
The Adidas Response gloves are one of the best boxing gloves for beginners. These gloves are great for beginners because they are made with one solid piece of cow hide leather. This means that this glove is going to last you for years while offering everything a pro looks for in a glove.
Another huge bonus with this glove is the versatility. If you want a glove that you can use for all the different drills you’ll be put through, this glove is going to give it to you.
PROS
- Being made from a single piece of leather means that there is less chance of cracks and tears
CONS
- When training this glove does not offer as much protection for your hands or sparring partners as other gloves on the market
The makers from Title have produced one of the best beginner gloves for youths out there. One of the best things about these gloves is the great knuckle protection. When first learning to punch, you need this extra protection to ensure there is limited pain which can turn kids off boxing. This glove has it in spades.
Also, the Title Youth Boxing Gloves are made of a tough vinyl cover. This is a nice touch and something you won’t find in many junior gloves that fall apart after only a few months.
PROS
- A quality brand that offers a purpose built glove for juniors
CONS
- If these gloves are for someone over 10 years of age, you might want to look elsewhere because they’ll quickly outgrow them
VALUE:
These gloves are all a great place to start. Whether you’re a parent looking for some gloves for your child or someone who wants to step into the ring to lose those few extra pounds, these gloves are the best you can find and we believe you won’t be able to get any better. However, let’s break down the best features of each to help make your choice a little bit easier.
BUDGET:
Getting into boxing doesn’t need to be expensive. If you’re looking at getting started without breaking the bank, go with the Sanabul Essential GEL Boxing Kickboxing Training Gloves. These gloves aren’t as cheap as the Title Youth Boxing Gloves, but they’re more versatile. You will be able to get the Sanabul Essential in a smaller size (as small as 8oz) if you want them for a junior and will give you a lot more use in the gym.
FAQ – should I spend more money and get a better glove?
No. These gloves will give you everything you need to get started without costing you the earth.
BEST PROTECTION:
It’s hard to pick this one here. All gloves will give you the protection you need. However, the Sanabul Essential GEL is hard to beat. But Valour Strike Black Paw will give you just as good protection and won’t be as bulky as the Sanabul Essential which will be better for juniors.
FAQ – should I use anything else to protect my hands?
Yes. Get a decent pair of hand wraps and get someone at your gym to show you how to wrap properly. It’s important you do this because it will give your wrists and knuckles that extra protection you need – in boxing always protect your hands because you’re useless without them.
BEST TECHNIQUE:
Technique is crucial when boxing and thankfully for beginners the Sanabul Essential GEL will get you throwing punches naturally with the Longitudinal Arch Design.
FAQ – how important is it to get a glove that promotes natural striking?
It is important, but not completely necessary. Anything that gets you punching with correct form quickly is going to be a bonus, but if you want to go for a different option than any others on our list will serve you well. We also recommend speaking to people in your gym – you’ll find the boxing community to be close knit and there will always be someone there willing to help you for a minute or two.
LONGEVITY:
When buying gloves, you want them to last. We’ve recommended all these products because they’re built to last. But, the Venum Challenger 2.0 Boxing Gloves just edges out all the competitors. Ask any boxer and they will say the same thing about any Venum product: they’re tough.
FAQ – HOW LONG SHOULD I EXPECT TO GET OUT OF A SET OF GLOVES?
This is a tricky question to answer. How often do you use them? What do you use them for? How do you store them? To play it safe, stick with any of the gloves on our list because they are all quality. Just be aware that the more you use them, the quicker they’ll wear down.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Buying your first set of gloves is such an important decision and we want you to get the best pair for you. All five of these gloves are quality and will get you into the ring fast. However, we have gone and rated each glove on the following:
PROTECTION:
the best protection for your hands, thumbs and wrists.
COMFORT:
a combination of fit and breathability contribute to this rating.
VERSATILITY:
some gloves are designed for specific drills, so we rate this section if they are effective in a range of different areas.
VALUE:
we rate the quality against the price of each glove – bang for your buck.
So these are the best 5 gloves for beginners out there. All gloves reviewed here are the best and whatever choice you make, these gloves will be a great option for you. Remember, we haven’t reviewed the most expensive gloves or the flashiest looking; we chose the best for you.
Welcome to boxing and remember, keep your hands up and keep moving forward.
