Has your child started to show an interest in boxing? You might welcome the interest with pride and maybe a bit of apprehension. After all, boxing is a combat sport that can be dangerous.
To keep your child safe, they have to get the best gear and headgear is primarily designed to keep your child safe.
Considering how important the headgear is, the onus is on you to get the right one. We know that due to the number of products on the market, it can be difficult to select the right headgear that delivers value for money and protection.
This is where we come in. We have come up with a list of the 8 best boxing headgears for kids in 2021. We spent nearly 80 hours researching and testing each of the products below, and we are confident that the products reviewed below will deliver the right level of comfort and protection that children need to feel both safe and confident when boxing or kickboxing!
The primary role of a boxing headgear is to remove cuts and bruises from the equation. But the heavily padded head guards also offer a little protection from the cumulative impact.
In this post, we will offer you in-depth reviews of the 8 best boxing gear for kids. Aside from the in-depth reviews, we have also provided you with a buying guide section that contains essential information you must know before making a buying choice.
Want to see the buying guide first? Click here
8 Best Boxing Headgear in 2021
If money is no issue, and you want a headgear for your kids that will last for a very long time, while offering the very best in protection and comfort, then we highly recommend the Winning Headgear FG2900. It comes in different sizes, and you will find a size for your kid. We know that once worn; your kid will want nothing else!
Verdict
If you can afford it, we recommend that you go for this headgear. It comes in 11 colors for the picky child and offers excellent fit, padding, support, and comfort.
PROS
- Lightweight
- Great for kids
- Comfortable
- High durability
CONS
- Very expensive
Our next pick in this roundup is this high quality headgear from RDX. It is one of the most protective and durable options that we tested. It is currently one of the most desired headgear on the market today, and for good reason! It offers your child complete protection of the head during sparring or training sections.
This headgear comes in several sizes, and there are sizes for adults. However, the small size models should fit your child very well and offer incredible protection.
Verdict
We strongly believe that wearing this headgear will improve the confidence levels of your child as he or she engages in the sport. Since safety is the biggest concern of parents, this headgear’s complete protection makes it very appealing.
PROS
- Made with shock-absorbent gel material
- Maya leather is durable
- Plastic grill offers extra facial protection
- Feels very comfortable
CONS
- The plastic grill reduces visibility
- The face is very exposed without the grill
Our next pick is an option from one of the most popular brands in the world of boxing: Everlast. The company is renowned for the high quality of its sports gear, and to our delight, it has provided an excellent boxing headgear for the kids. It is a very affordable headgear, but don’t be fooled, it is one of the best for your kids! Everlast has made this in one size, hence it comes with adjustments that will let it fit your child.
Verdict
If you are in the market for a cheap option that still offers good protection, then we believe that you will love this particular product.
PROS
- Made from the same materials as speed bags
- Offers excellent visibility
- Adjustable chin strap
- Decent face protection
- Lightweight
CONS
- Might feel tight around the face
The next pick on this roundup is a sleek and contoured headgear from Ringside. It is designed to offer the whole head a high level of protection and has been made from high quality materials that will last for a long time while maintaining its high quality. It comes in a small size that will fit your kids well.
Verdict
If safety is your biggest concern, then the Ringside Headgear is what you should be looking for. This is an amazingly affordable and well-built headgear that comes in all sizes and an array of colors to match with your other fighting gear. Among other things, we appreciate that its outer shell is crafted from Maya leather (the closest that synthetic leather can go to replicate genuine leather) and it’s heavily padded so you can train hard.
PROS
- Made from durable leather
- Lovely design
- Comfortable
- Excellent nose protection
CONS
- Short chin strap
- Metal buckle isn't durable
If you haven’t found a headgear so far that you like for your kids, then this next option might be what you are looking for. The Sanjoin Boxing headgear is made for amateur boxers and comes with all the perks that your kids will likely love. It is one of the best options for kids and comes with closures that will fit the head size of most children.
Verdict
An affordable option, this product is great due to the padding, sweat resistance, and lightweight construction. It might not be as durable as some of the others on this roundup, but it is good enough to protect your little ones.
PROS
- Thick double layer of foam padding
- Adjustable size
- Water and sweat-resistant
CONS
- Face hole reduces visibility
This entry level headgear is an excellent product from a manufacturer that aims at providing customers with budget-level equipment that can rival even more expensive offerings from competitors. The Elite Sports Boxing headgear comes with several features that make it an excellent choice for your kids, and fits their head size while being friendly on your pocket.
Verdict
This affordable product prides itself on the comfort delivered and the ability to adjust it at different points. This, along with the good field of vision it provides, makes it an excellent choice for kids.
PROS
- Feels natural and lightweight
- Offers excellent field of vision
- Highly adjustable
CONS
- There isn't padding at the ears
Our penultimate pick is this excellent headgear from Meister. Meister is a rather popular brand, and the company is renowned for high quality gear, with careful attention paid to detail. This headgear is no exception in this regard. It comes in adult and kid sizes. It is one of the best headgear on the market, and from research and testing, it is arguably the most comfortable headgear your kid can wear.
Verdict
Overall, this excellent product offers all the protection that your kid needs during a sparring session. It is affordable, lightweight, and feels so lightweight on the head. Therefore, if you are looking for an option for an entry level boxer, then you should consider getting this product.
PROS
- Multiple layers of padding
- Easy to wear
- Excellent protection
CONS
- It lacks sweat-absorbent properties
The last option on this roundup of the best boxing headgear for kids is this product form RDX. It is specially made for kids and those just starting out in boxing. We love several things about this product, and we recommend it for parents looking for an effective headgear for their children.
Verdict
This affordable option is excellent for little kids and youths as it comes in different sizes. With its wide face opening, you kid will see around which can help to improve reactions and make a success of boxing.
PROS
- Made of durable Maya leather
- Affordable
- Excellent viewing angle
CONS
- Small for bigger children
The question of whether a headgear really helps in a fight is a serious issue of contention today. As a matter of fact, since 2013, the Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) banned the use of head guards for male-senior open-class elite fighters claiming that the fighters are at a higher risk of suffering brain damage with the padded helmets on than without.
In one of the theories in their study, protective boxing headgear impede vision thereby making it hard for boxers to dodge blows on time. And this, as they explain, was responsible for the high rates of concussions in boxing competition.
This leads us to a very important question, ‘‘does the best boxing headgear prevent concussions?’’ Well, the jury is still out on this issue. However, considering that a well-trained boxer can deliver a punch weighing up to 1000 pounds, it’s very unlikely that even the best padded boxing headgear will ward off the risk of your brain jarring due to the impact.
In addition, a head guard tends to offer a false sense of protection to the fighters thereby encouraging them to take greater risks that may be detrimental to their well being.
Headgear, however, have been found to prevent lacerations and serious facial cuts and head injuries that might bring a sparring or a competition to a halt.
Most gyms today have left the decision on whether or not to wear a headgear when sparring solely to the boxer. And that’s why it’s not uncommon to find some boxers training in these protective helmets and others without.
Bottom line:
The main role of a boxing headgear is to protect you from cuts and facial injuries. Although the padding may also help in minimizing the impact of the punches, that’s no excuse to neglect your guard and defense techniques. In addition, it’s highly important that you get a helmet that fits you nicely without slipping around or blocking your vision. The next section has a few pointers on how to buy the best boxing headgear for sparring and competition.
BUYING GUIDE
In this section, we will discuss some important information that you must consider before making a buying decision. We will discuss some of the parameters that we considered in choosing the products above as well. Armed with this information, you will be equipped to make the right buying decision.
Types of Boxing Headgear
There are different types of boxing headgear on the market today. These headgears differ in terms of design and the level of protection offered. Let’s see what these types are.
- Open-face Headgear
This is the first type of headgear that we will consider. These helmets are excellent for boxers that desire to enjoy a wide range of vision as they box. It offers the greatest field of vision of all the types of headgear on the market.
However, with this advantage comes an apparent disadvantage. They leave the face exposed to attacks that can form nasty bruises and even scars.
Open-face headgear is the most popular type of headgear on the market, and they are also usually very cheap.
- Mexican Style Headgear
Our top pick in the reviews above, the Winning Headgear FG2900 is an example of this type of headgear. It is similar to the open-face headgear; however, it comes with cheek protection. They offer more protection than open-face headgear. However, they still do not offer the most protection since they leave the nose exposed to attacks.
They aren’t as common to find as the other types of headgear, and they are also more expensive than others.
- Face-savers Headgear
Also referred to as the Full Face headgear, this headgear, as the name implies, is designed to protect the entire head and face. They are usually worn by professional boxers and reduce the chance of getting a bruise or scars. These headgears often come with a metal or plastic bar that protects your nose.
The disadvantages of these types of headgear are that they greatly reduce visibility. They are also more expensive than open-face headgear.
Aside from the design, another way headgears are differentiated is by the intended purpose. With this in mind, there are two main types of headgear: Competition and Sparring Headgear.
- Competition Headgear
As the name clearly implies, competition headgear is used by professional boxers, and prior to being used, it must be approved by a governing body. Some unique features of this type of headgear is that it comes with streamlined padding and little padding in the cheek area. As it is used in actual fights, it is often lightweight to allow boxers to move freely. These type of headgear are often open-face styled to ensure that the boxers have the greatest level of visibility.
- Sparring Headgear
Sparring headgear is not meant for professional use. It is not approved for such an application. Instead, it is excellent for folks that are training or that box for fun. They come with thicker padding all-round which offers greater protection. However, due to the bulky nature, it reduces visibility. It is excellent for children.
Features to consider when choosing boxing headgear for kids
As a parent, you want the best for your kids, and that involves providing them with the right headgear. There are several parameters to consider before you make a buying choice, and the discussion of these parameters is the purpose of this section.
Fit
When choosing headgear for your kids, consider the fit. For some experts, the fit is arguably the most important parameter when choosing headgear.
Choose a size that is right for your kid’s head if you want it to offer a high level of protection. From the reviews above, some of the products come in a one-size-fits-all. If you are choosing such a headgear, ensure that it comes with several adjustable straps and closures that will help you to customise the fit. If your kids wear headgear that doesn’t fit, this can demotivate them and cause them to quit boxing.
Comfort
This parameter is closely related to fit, and some parents tend to confuse the two together. Well, if the fit of the headgear is wrong, then it won’t be comfortable. Comfort is an essential factor to consider since boxing requires plenty of movement. If the headgear is not comfortable, it can cause issues during a bout.
In the roundup above, we have chosen headgear that is comfortable, and that will help your kid in having a great time. Nobody enjoys wearing anything that will cause discomfort or pain, and headgear is no exception. That is why in creating the list above, we were careful to choose only headgear that will feel comfortable when worn.
Material
There are different types of materials used in making headgear. Leather, whether synthetic or genuine, is one of the most popular choices. Some of the best headgear comes with a gel lining and most come with foam padding for impact absorption.
In choosing the material of your headgear, you should select a very durable one, and that is comfortable. Some kids must react to leather or other materials; therefore, you must be careful to choose only materials that won’t cause a reaction in your kid.
Another factor you should consider in terms of material is sweat or water resistance. If the material is sweat resistant, it will prevent the growth of bacteria and reduce the possibility of odors.
Effectiveness
Some boxers have argued that wearing headgear limits boxing capabilities of the wearer. For such folks, the best way to box is without any headgear. However, common sense shows that boxing with headgear is safer than boxing without it. The main arguments of such “helmetless” folks, is that helmets will limit visibility and affect the speed of reactions.
While that is true, some headgear are designed to provide as much visibility as possible without compromising too greatly on protection. In choosing the best headgear for kids, we selected some options that come with a large enough area that will allow kids to see through easily. Hence, your kids will react faster and defend punches better while enjoying the protection offered by headgear.
Q&As
Q:What is the best material for boxing headgear?
A: Well, according to professionals and trainers, synthetic or polymer material is considered to be the best material for boxing headgear.
Image: Everlast.com
Image: titleboxing.com
Image: rivalboxing.us
Q: Can I wash my kids’ headgear?
A: These helmets are not machine-washing friendly. The best way to clean them is by air drying or using dry solution wipes.
Q: Will boxing headgear prevent all injuries?
A: While headgear reduces the risk of serious injury, it doesn’t prevent all injuries. The types of injuries sustained usually depend on the type of headgear worn. We advise that boxers, young and old, should be careful while boxing and not do so to inflict lasting harm on the opponent.
Conclusion
From our roundup above, we have shown you the 8 best boxing headgear for kids in 2021. These come in a wide variety of styles and prices. We have also provided a buying guide that can help you make a good buying decision. We hope that the information provided will help you make the right choice!
