Whether you are a beginner or full-time boxer, the bottom line is; if you are investing your time, effort, and energy into boxing, then you should also invest in the correct gear and equipment that goes with it. Having a pair of boxing gloves that fit you perfectly can make ALL the difference. Better fitting boxing gloves can assist with better control, better blows and ultimately a more effective and successful workout or match. Most people do not even realise when they are using a boxing glove that does not suit and fit them correctly. It can feel overwhelming and confusing, but it does not have to be. So do not fret, we are here to help. Read on as we explain boxing glove sizes to help you decide what is best for YOU.
First and foremost, there are a few elements that come into play when deciding on the sizing of boxing gloves. Firstly, your weight and secondly the circumference of your dominant hand. These two measurements go hand in hand to determine the boxing glove size or weight that is best for you. Ultimately resulting in the perfect fitting boxing glove. You may be asking; how do I know if it is the perfect fitting boxing glove for me? Well, here are a couple of points for you to keep in mind:
- Your boxing gloves should fit snug and secure on the hand
- Your boxing gloves should be tight enough but not too tight that they are restricting or cutting off any blood flow
First of all, the type of boxing you plan to undertake will establish what gloves you will need. There are a range of different boxing gloves for training, sparring, competitions (real life fight scenarios), etc. For someone just starting out, the best type of boxing gloves would be a pair of boxing training gloves. These are meant for those training on focus pads and punching bags, which is often quite low intensity. There is a big difference between training gloves and competition gloves. This difference mainly lies in the design itself. As mentioned, training gloves are designed to be punched against pads or bags whereas competition or fighting gloves are made to be used in a match scenario (usually against another person / opponent).
Another thing to keep in mind is that what size (or weight) of glove you need also depends on what type of boxing you will be engaging in. For example, for real fight scenarios, the most common weight of boxing gloves is 10 or 12-ounce gloves. This is because they are far lighter than a 16-ounce boxing glove, meaning it provides lower resistance when throwing punches and ultimately less fatigue during a match. On the contrary, 16oz boxing gloves provide more resistance and therefore are more commonly used for sparring and training to help boxers build muscle leading up to a match.
Hand and wrist circumference
Your hand circumference plays a key role in determining the best boxing glove size for you. Measuring this will help you to determine more precisely what exact size boxing glove will fit you best…right down to the inch. A fabric tape measure can be used to measure your hand’s circumference but if not, another quick way to measure is by wrapping a piece of string around your hand (just below the knuckles) and then measuring that against a ruler. Easily done!
Dick’s Pro Tips 2020
Your weight
Weight plays a huge role in the boxing world and there are over 15 weight classes. Different weight classes determine who boxers fight against to ensure a somewhat fair fight in terms of physical stature. Considering this, it is not surprising that weight also plays a role when determining which boxing gloves to get. A boxers weight goes ‘hand in hand’ with your hand circumference to determine your correct size of boxing glove. Although the type of boxing you plan to engage in plays a role, your weight does also. Essentially the more you weigh, the heavier the weight of the boxing glove.
The relationship between your weight, hand circumference and boxing glove weights and sizes size can be seen in the charts below:
SMAI 2021
So there you have it, boxing glove sizes explained. Finding the perfect fitting boxing gloves is vital. Not only for your comfort, but also to better your overall performance and better protect yourself. Your weight, hand circumference and intended purpose of the gloves will determine what boxing gloves you end up with. Whether you are a professional or an amateur, the importance of correctly fitting boxing gloves never, ever diminishes.
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Until then, happy boxing!
