Choosing the right boxing gloves
Carbon Claw offers a wide range of Boxing Gloves to suit all your Professional Boxing, Sparring, Fitness and Training requirements, but before purchasing your first pair of boxing gloves there are a couple of things to consider.
If you are a newcomer to boxing training and wish to train once or twice a week then you will require a boxing glove that will give you good performance, comfort, hand support, durability and that should serve you well for up to twelve months and beyond.
Your new gloves should fit you well with your fingertips just touching the top of the inner glove with little side movement when your fist is formed inside. Your hand should feel comfortable and protected. Good padding and a good wrist support strap is important whilst learning the basics of punching correctly on a bag and where the glove protects against maximum force of your punch thrown verses minimum impact on your hands and wrists in return.
With frequent training your gloves will loosen up and the padding will offer less support as they wear over time so it’s important you look after your gloves and inspect them regularly. Old and worn out gloves will offer little support to your hand, and an inner glove or wraps do provide added support until you feel it’s the right time to replace them avoiding any long term hand injuries.
What Size of Boxing Glove should I buy?
Boxing Gloves are sold in Ounce weights and not Sizes and are based on height, weight and hand circumference.Â
Boxing Gloves with Laces are used for boxing and combat competitions inside the ring and come in either 8oz or 10oz dependant on your class weight category.
Boxing Gloves with Velcro Wrist Strap are generally used for training outside of the ring and vary in ounce weights, the common ones being 8-10-12-14-16oz
A common myth is the heavier the glove the larger it is. An 8oz glove may have a slightly tighter fit than a 16oz glove although the weight variation should be in the amount of padding used rather than an increase in Size and glove surface area.
what size boxing glove do I need?
Boxing Gloves are sold in Ounce weights and not Sizes and are based on height, weight and hand circumference.
Boxing Gloves with Laces are used for boxing and combat competitions inside the ring and come in either 8oz or 10oz dependant on your class weight category.
Boxing Gloves with Velcro Wrist Strap are generally used for training outside of the ring and vary in ounce weights, the common ones being 8-10-12-14-16oz
A common myth is the heavier the glove the larger it is. An 8oz glove may have a slightly tighter fit than a 16oz glove although the weight variation should be in the amount of padding used rather than an increase in Size and glove surface area.
General Guide to Size Gloves based on Hand Circumference
Boxing Mitts -Sizes are more commonly found for Bag mitts and not Gloves, and they can be in general standard sizes (S) Small (M) Medium (L) Large (XL) Extra Large.
As sizes fit vary from Brand to Brand there are various ways of selecting the size and weight of glove you require but measuring the circumference of your palm area just below the knuckles in inches/cms with a fabric tape measure or piece of string when the fist is clenched will give you a more specific size/weight rating.
General Guide to Ounce Gloves based on Gender and Age
Juniors Ages 6-9 years recommends using specific Junior Safety Gloves 6oz/8oz. Safety meaning a good wrist support, good padding, and a safety thumb where it is stitched to the main body of the glove at the thumb tip to ensure it does not get bent backwards. Most Gloves at all levels have this feature but steer clear of those that do not.
Youths Ages 10-15 years recommends using 8oz/10oz
Ladies Adult recommends using 8oz/10oz/12oz
Men Adult recommends using 12oz/14oz/16oz, and 18oz and 20oz gloves available.
General Guide to Ounces based on Height/Weight
To decide which Ounce weight of glove you require some Brands base this on your height and weight alone and this would be a general guideline only. This suggests that the smaller and lighter you are the smaller and lighter Oz glove required. The taller and heavier you are the larger and heavier the Oz glove required. The theory being that the larger you the more weight you will throw behind your punch, requiring more padding in your glove to offset the impact to your hands when hitting an object.
Carbon Claw Sizing Guide
Body Weight 40-55kgs Hand Circumference 13-16cms Size Small / 6oz/8oz
Body Weight 55-70kgs Hand Circumference 16-19cms Size Medium / 10oz
Body Weight 70-85kgs Hand Circumference 19-22cms Size Large / 12oz
Body Weight 85-100kgs Hand Circumference 22-25cms Size XLarge / 14oz
Bodyweight 100kgs + Size XL+ / 16oz/18oz/20oz
How much should my Boxing Gloves cost ?
Boxing Glove prices vary greatly dependant on the quality and material specifications.
We should start with the material most commonly used for Boxing Gloves and what would suit your training needs.
Most Boxing Gloves are manufactured from either a cheaper cost effective Vinyl PU Synthetic Leather Material (Not Leather) or a more expensive Leather Material.
A Vinyl PU Material Outer shell can be a less expensive option priced around £30-£50 and would suit less or infrequent training of maybe once or twice a week maximum.
If you are using your gloves regularly two to three or more times a week then we recommend investing in a more expensive Leather Material Outer shell that has much longer lasting qualities and prices for a good glove may range from £40 and upwards.
It is important to note that if a glove fails it will fail on the material around the stitching seams where the material has been sewn and then constant impact on the same area will force the material to fail around the thread. As leather is a naturally tougher material than Vinyl then for this reason alone leather gloves will stand more wear and tear than PU Vinyl Gloves.
How Do I Take Care of My Boxing Gloves?
With all Gloves and Mitts (as with sports trainers) the heat and sweat of your hands will penetrate the inner glove lining and will produce a sweaty odour over time. To keep your gloves as fresh as possible we recommend that you air your gloves immediately after a boxing/training session so as they can dry out before repeated use.
Aftermarket charcoal/bamboo absorbing products are available that can be inserted into the gloves to help absorb sweat and add fragrance to minimise odours.
Also wearing washable inner mitts or wraps will help to reduce sweat into the linings.
Always wipe your gloves down after a training session with a damp cloth and mild detergent, dry off immediately and leave to air in a vented room.
