Boxing gloves
Boxing gloves for bag work, training, sparring, competition and signature editions
The essentials: more than 85 pairs of boxing gloves for every level and every discipline — boxing, Muay Thai, kickboxing and MMA. From bag gloves to genuine leather sparring gloves, lace-up competition gloves, MMA gloves and signature editions (No Boxing No Life, Muhammad Ali, Rocky Balboa). Brands stocked: Winning, Cleto Reyes, Grant, Twins Special, Fairtex, Venum, Everlast, RDX and the in-house Esprit Boxe range. Sizes 6 to 18 oz, leather or synthetic, hook-and-loop or laces. Club customisation on request, real stock and fast worldwide shipping.
Gloves are the single most important piece of kit a boxer owns: they protect your hands, they protect your partners, and they shape the quality of every punch. Picking the right pair comes down to three things — what you do (bag, technique, sparring, competition, MMA), your body weight, which sets the weight in ounces, and your budget. This collection covers every case, from a beginner's first session to a professional's fight-night glove.
Just starting out? Our complete beginner kit list sets out what to buy first, and our guide to choosing a combat discipline helps you settle between boxing, Muay Thai, kickboxing and MMA before you pick a glove.
🥊 The types of boxing glove
Every use has its glove. These are the main families, from the lightest bag glove to fight-night.
Bag gloves. Lighter and less padded than fight gloves: you feel the impact and work your technique on the bag or on the pads. For inanimate targets only, and always over hand wraps. See the Esprit Boxe bag gloves.
Training gloves. All-round training gloves are the best starting point: padded enough to hit safely, light enough to string rounds together on the bag. The obvious beginner choice. Entry-level PU leather models such as the 7-colour beginner glove open the range, while the Everlast Protex2 steps up for regular training. See also the all-round training glove.
Sparring gloves. Sparring calls for thicker padding and an even spread of impact to protect your partner. The Esprit Boxe genuine leather sparring gloves are built for exactly that, as are the Fairtex Glory favoured in Muay Thai. Usually taken in 14 or 16 oz.
Competition gloves, laced. More compact and closed with laces for maximum wrist support and power transfer, competition gloves are made for sanctioned bouts. Look at the Esprit Boxe horsehair gloves or the laced Cleto Reyes, a professional-ring benchmark. Glove regulations vary by sanctioning body and by weight class, so always check your own federation's rules before an official fight.
MMA gloves. Open fingers, free palm and reduced padding to grip, strike and grapple: they now have their own page. See the MMA gloves — 5 models from recreational to genuine leather, including a version customisable with your club logo.
All-round and kids' gloves. The boxing and MMA all-rounder comes in junior and adult versions: small sizes (6 to 8 oz) protect growing hands on the bag and on the pads.
Signature and collector gloves. For those who want to hit with style: the No Boxing No Life gloves, the Muhammad Ali gloves, the Rocky Balboa style gloves and our skull and Mexican calavera models.
📏 What oz size of boxing gloves should you choose?
Glove weight is measured in ounces (oz) and is picked first on your body weight, then on your use. Simple rule: the heavier you are, the heavier the glove. In competition gloves are deliberately lighter for speed and power; in training and sparring you go for padding. Always leave room for your wraps.
| Profile / use | Recommended weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Child / teenager | 6 - 8 oz | Growing hands, first steps |
| Under 57 kg / 125 lb | 10 - 14 oz | Light frames, women, technique |
| 57 to 72 kg / 125-160 lb | 14 - 16 oz | Standard training and sparring |
| Over 72 kg / 160 lb | 16 - 18 oz | Sparring, heavier frames |
| Competition | 8 - 10 oz | Sanctioned bouts, power transfer |
| Bag / technique | 12 - 14 oz | Bag work, boxing fitness |
That table is the quick marker. For the full detail — weight-to-frame mapping, edge cases and mistakes to avoid — read our complete guide to glove sizes in oz.
🥇 The major boxing glove brands
Esprit Boxe stocks the names that matter in rings worldwide, alongside its own range:
- Winning — the Japanese grail, exceptional protection and comfort.
- Cleto Reyes — Mexican leather, the puncher's glove.
- Twins Special — the Thai legend of Muay Thai.
- Fairtex — genuine leather (BGV1) or vegan microfibre (BGV14).
- Venum — modern combat sports styling.
- Everlast — the historic icon of the sport.
- No Boxing No Life — Mexican style, laced.
- Esprit Boxe range — our own genuine leather line, from bag work to fight night.
🧤 Leather or synthetic: which material?
The material decides lifespan, comfort and price:
- Genuine cowhide leather: the professional choice. Longer life (1 to 3 years), better breathability and a fit that moulds to the hand. Ideal for regular practice and sparring.
- Microfibre: the modern leather-free option (vegan), tough and breathable — the material of the Fairtex BGV14, for instance.
- PU leather / synthetic: perfect to start out or for fitness boxing. More affordable and easy to look after, suited to one or two sessions a week.
Our advice: steer clear of cheap vinyl, which wears fast and protects poorly. A good synthetic glove beats a poor-quality leather one.
🧼 Care and lifespan
Well-kept gloves last years and smell fresh far longer. A few habits are enough:
- Always wear hand wraps: they absorb sweat before it soaks into the foam. Our wrapping tutorial covers the technique step by step.
- Never leave gloves in the kit bag: take them out and air-dry them after every session.
- Slip a moisture-absorbing deodoriser inside between sessions.
- Feed the leather now and then with a suitable balm to keep it supple.
The full method is in our guide to washing and caring for boxing gloves.
🎨 Custom gloves for clubs and fighters
Fly your colours. Esprit Boxe produces custom boxing gloves and custom MMA gloves in your logo and your colours — ideal for kitting out a club, a gym or a team. Write to info@esprit-boxe.com for a bespoke project.
📦 The Esprit Boxe way
Ordering with us means dealing with a team that trains: real stock (the pairs shown are ready to ship), fast dispatch, easy exchange if the size is wrong, and expert advice on picking the right pair. We supply individuals, clubs and gyms across Europe, the United Kingdom, North America and Australia.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What size boxing gloves should I get?
Weight is chosen by body frame: roughly 10 to 14 oz under 57 kg (125 lb), 14 to 16 oz between 57 and 72 kg (125-160 lb), 16 to 18 oz above that. Children take 6 to 8 oz. For competition you drop to 8-10 oz. Always leave room for your wraps.
How do I know my gloves fit?
Always try them on with your wraps. The fist should close completely without the fingers touching the end of the glove, and the wrist should be held firmly with no side play. If you have to pull the strap all the way for it to hold, the glove is too big; if your fingers are crushed when you make a fist, it is too small.
What glove weight should a beginner use?
A training glove from 12 oz (light frames) to 16 oz (heavier frames) is the best starting point: padded enough to hit safely and to cover both bag work and sparring. At 16 oz it doubles as a conditioning tool.
How long do boxing gloves last?
A well-kept genuine leather glove generally lasts 1 to 3 years in regular use, against a few months to a year for an entry-level synthetic. Lifespan depends mostly on two things: how often you train and how you dry them. Gloves left damp at the bottom of a bag break down far faster than the leather itself wears. Replace them once the foam has packed down and no longer springs back.
Leather or synthetic: which should I choose?
Genuine leather lasts longer (1 to 3 years), breathes better and moulds to the hand: the choice of regular practitioners and professionals. Microfibre (vegan) and PU leather are more affordable and easier to maintain, ideal to start out or for one or two sessions a week.
What is the difference between bag, training and sparring gloves?
Bag gloves are light and lightly padded, for inanimate targets. Training gloves are all-rounders. Sparring gloves have thicker, more evenly spread padding to protect your partner during exchanges. Competition gloves are the most compact and the lightest.
Which gloves for Muay Thai and kickboxing?
Muay Thai gloves are softer in the palm and slightly more open than boxing gloves, to allow clinching and catching. Twins Special and Fairtex are the two historic benchmarks. A good all-round training glove in 14 or 16 oz also works perfectly to start.
Hook-and-loop or laces: which closure?
Hook-and-loop goes on and comes off unaided, handy for daily training. Laces give a more precise, firmer wrist hold and are preferred in competition — but you need someone to tie them.
Are there boxing gloves for children?
Yes. The 6 to 8 oz sizes are made for growing hands, on the bag and on the pads. Avoid buying too big to make them last: a loose glove does not hold the wrist and exposes the joint.
What glove brands do you stock?
Winning, Cleto Reyes, Grant, Twins Special, Fairtex, Venum, Everlast, RDX and No Boxing No Life, alongside our own genuine leather Esprit Boxe range.
Which gloves for MMA?
MMA gloves have open fingers and a free palm: they let you strike but also grip, control and submit. They weigh 4 to 7 oz against 8 to 16 oz for a boxing glove. Find them on the MMA gloves page.
Can gloves be customised for a club?
Yes. Esprit Boxe produces boxing and MMA gloves in your logo and your colours, ideal for a club, a gym or a team. Contact info@esprit-boxe.com for a quote.
How do I clean boxing gloves?
Wear wraps so they take the sweat, always pull the gloves out of the bag after training and let them air-dry, use a moisture-absorbing deodoriser, and feed leather gloves regularly. Never store them damp — that is what causes the smell and breaks down the lining.
🛒 The Esprit Boxe world
- hand wraps — essential under the gloves to protect the joints.
- punching bags — heavy bags, uppercut bags and signature designs.
- boxing headgear — for safe sparring.
- groin guards and body protection — groin guards, belly pads and chest protectors.
- mouthguards — jaw and teeth protection.
- focus mitts and Thai pads — for combination work with a coach.
- boxing shoes — pivot, grip and explosiveness.
- skipping ropes — conditioning and footwork.
- boxing rings — to equip a club or a gym.
Need a broader view? See our boxing equipment guide. To complete the outfit: boxing shorts from S to 4XL, plus boxing t-shirts and boxing hoodies. For kicking disciplines: shin guards — sized by height, not by weight like gloves.