Although a seemingly simple affair, purchasing a pair of hand wraps might be a little bit perplexing since they come in different types made from different materials. The quality may also differ from one brand to the other, and so do the prices.

Here is a breakdown of all these considerations;

Types of boxing hand wraps

There are 4 major types of wraps that most boxers and Muay Thai fighters use today;

Cotton wraps (a.k.a Traditional wraps)

Cotton wraps are the most common and you’ll find them almost anywhere. They are commonly referred to as traditional wraps because they have been around for the longest time.

Thanks to the material used in their construction, these wraps are inexpensive and last long. That’s to say that they make the best boxing hand wraps for beginners as well as experienced fighters who want a substitute for their high-end models.

Worth noting is that cotton wraps are not elastic. Although this is what makes them the most durable, a lot of people say that this inelasticity makes them a tad hard to wrap around especially when alone.

Mexican hand wraps (a.k.a Elastic wraps)

These wraps are currently la crème de la crème in this niche. These are a hybrid between the traditional cotton wraps and gauze style wraps that are common with professionals.

What has made these wraps so popular in the recent years is their elasticity and reusability. Most users who have used cotton wraps also say that they are much more comfortable and don’t tend to cut off the blood supply.

On the other hand, keep in mind that these wraps come at a slightly higher price than the traditional ones. They tend to become overly loose and virtually unusable once they lose their elasticity.

Gel hand wraps

This is yet another style that you’ll come across. Gel hand wraps are relatively new and are not as popular as traditional and Mexican-style versions.

Wearing these wraps is fast and easy since all you do is slip your hand through and fasten using a hook and loop closure system at the back.

Thanks to the gel used in their construction, these wraps offer an additional layer of padding that excels in impact absorption. But that’s all these versions do. If you are looking for better wrist support, you are better off with a traditional or elastic wrap.

Tape and gauze wraps

We didn’t include any of these in our best hand wraps for boxing reviews but the market has them. These wraps are mostly used in competitions by expert boxers partly because they don’t add a lot of weight that would otherwise restrict your hand movements.

Using these wraps typically involves winding gauze around the wrist and hand before securing it with athletic tape such as the gaffa tape. This process takes some minutes and you might need another fighter to assist you.

The main drawback with tape and gauze wraps is that they are not reusable. That’s why you won’t find most people using them in training.

What material?

The materials used for the hand wraps determine their comfort, durability, ease of use, as well as price.

Pure cotton: Traditional wraps are made of 100% cotton; no wonder their excellent breathability and durability. A breathable fabric material keeps your wrists and palms dry thereby eliminating the issues of chaffing. The only challenge that pure cotton wraps present is their minimal stretch that makes it hard to pull for a tight fit.

Cotton blend

To curb the issue of inelasticity with traditional wraps, manufacturers now blend cotton and other materials such as gauze to create a version that is as strong as a traditional style wrap but with a good amount of elasticity.

Linen: Linen wraps are highly regarded for their ability to keep the fighters’ wrists even cooler. They are not common though but you can find them in several specialty stores at a relatively higher price tag.

Length- is longer better?

Hand wraps come in different sizes but the 108’’, 120’’, and 180’’ lengths are the most common. The length of the wraps is purely personal preference and may be determined by the size of your hands, your gloves’ sizes, as well as your favorite wrapping method.

The 180’’ wraps are the most recommended but a 120-inch long pair will work just fine if you have small hands and small gloves. 

Mind you, a 180-inch (4.5 meters) long wrap may seem like a lot of hand wrap in theory. But once you criss-cross it over your wrists, thumb, and between each finger, you won’t believe how fast it runs out.

Hook and Loop

Hook and Loop is just another term used in place of Velcro due to legal issues. We considered this type of fastener when compiling this list thanks to its ease of use and ease of replacement in case of losing its grip.

Brand

The brand does not matter so much as long as you are getting quality wraps with a good value for your money.

In fact, while it’s always a good idea to give reputable brands the first priority especially if you are not exactly sure on how to buy the best hand wraps, we’ve also come across quality and highly reliable products from manufacturers that we’ve not dealt with before: Fairtex, for instance.

All in all, Ringside, Everlast, Adidas, Meister, Venum, Title, and Elite Boxing are some of the most reliable brands for martial art accessories that you can never go wrong with here.

Thumb loop

Most of the best hand wraps for beginners and professionals do come with a designated thumb loop. We really recommend models with this design especially if you are still learning how to wrap your hands for boxing since it they are lots easier to deal with. Most experienced practitioners don’t find them necessary though.