Best boxing gloves 2024 for boxing, kickboxing and muay Thai workouts

The best boxing gloves for sparring, boxing and muay thai training

Best boxing gloves: pictured here, a fit young woman using boxing gloves to punch some suspended tyres in a photo studio
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Now is the time to buy the best boxing gloves, thanks to the boom in offline and especially online combat-based fitness training and even 'white-collar boxing' (plus its ancient and less la-di-dah predecessor, 'no-collar boxing'). Didn't think investing in a decent pair of boxing gloves was a good idea? Think again.

These high-impact sports test more than your stamina, coordination and skill. The punches you throw at either your opponent or training equipment test your gloves, too, which makes investing in a decent pair a good move. Sure, many gyms will rent you a pair, and we're not hung up on hygiene or anything but come on, you want your own.

Trying to build a boxing gym at home? Have a look at our dedicated buying guides first, including the best punch bags and best workout shoes, to get a feel for the market. Here are a couple of boxing workouts to get you started: the best home boxing workout and a 12-minute full-body boxing workout. Now you're ready to go!

Best boxing gloves to buy right now

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How to choose the best boxing gloves for you

For those looking to get fit rather than become the next Anthony Joshua, a full-size, traditional Western boxing glove is not necessarily what you're after. Something lighter and more accessible, like an MMA or Eastern martial arts glove (for muay Thai, for instance), or a more lightweight Queensbury Rules glove could well be a better bet. 

However, if you intend to punch slabs of meat full-force, in the style of the first Rocky film training montage, you want the best glove you can get because the alternative is being introduced to mister T's friend, Pain. And also Mr T's other friends, 'agonising hand fracture', 'nerve damage' and 'bone deformity'.

There are three types of gloves out there for those new to the sport – training gloves, sparring gloves, and competition gloves. Training gloves are designed for hitting bags rather than people and can go two ways. Some are lower in weight – good if you want to feel the punch and learn the technique – but not so good for absorbing impact. There are also heavier gloves, which boxers use to build their stamina and endurance. The typical training glove weighs 12 oz.

Then there are sparring gloves. They are for use with your training partner in the gym. When you’re training against your partner, typically 16oz gloves are used, as they build stamina and protect you and your opponent from becoming injured before the big fight. 

An amateur lightweight competitor could wear 10oz gloves in the ring, while pro heavyweight boxers need 12oz gloves with more padding. But no matter which level you’re at, your gloves will need to be of decent quality to last. Make sure you buy leather gloves that are stuffed with good padding. 

Although pro gloves are lace-up, there's a lot to be said for Velcro for training – just try lacing up that second glove when you're on your own, and you'll see what we mean.

Matt Kollat
Section Editor | Active

Matt Kollat is a journalist and content creator who works for T3.com and its magazine counterpart as an Active Editor. His areas of expertise include wearables, drones, fitness equipment, nutrition and outdoor gear. He joined T3 in 2019. His byline appears in several publications, including Techradar and Fit&Well, and more. Matt also collaborated with other content creators (e.g. Garage Gym Reviews) and judged many awards, such as the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance's ESSNawards. When he isn't working out, running or cycling, you'll find him roaming the countryside and trying out new podcasting and content creation equipment.