Boxing is a fun, functional and highly effective form of exercise for building upper body & core strength, cardiovascular fitness and coordination. An excellent way to relieve stress, hitting boxing pads and/or a punching bag can also help maintain upper body bone density, whilst improving focus, self confidence and significantly improving mood.

Whether you’re setting up a home boxing gym and need bag gloves, or you’re a competitive amateur looking for sparring gloves, finding the right type and size of gloves can make all the difference. Important for comfort, protection and performance; high-quality boxing gloves are an essential piece of boxing kit.

In this guide we will look at the different types of boxing gloves, what size you will need and how to care for and maintain your gloves in order to keep them in the best condition, for the longest time possible.

Use the image below to find the right size of boxing gloves for you or your child. 

To determine the correct size of glove, you will first need to know your bodyweight in kilograms or pounds. 

A pair of boxing gloves that fit well and are the correct size should feel snug but not tight and restrictive. Your fingers should reach the top part of the inside of the glove, and you should be able to make a fist comfortably in them - although the material may be slightly stiffer when they are new. The wrist strap should fit firmly and securely; without the strap or any element of the glove’s lower section cutting off circulation or hurting the wrist or lower hand.

The hand wraps provide an additional level of shock absorption, that should prevent any knuckle abrasions from hitting a heavy bag, and will also add extra support to the wrists. Without adding a significant amount of bulk or weight to the gloves or hands, high-quality hand wraps such as the Mexican style FORZA 2.5m-4.5m boxing hand wraps made with a premium blend of nylon and cotton; will keep your hands and wrists protected and comfortable.

In addition to protecting the hands, boxing hand wraps will also keep your boxing gloves fresh; and greatly reduce the amount of sweat that accumulates inside of them. This in turn will prevent the interior of your boxing gloves from degrading, extending their longevity. 

When it comes to sparring, boxers will tend to use bigger boxing gloves. For example, anyone who weighs over 80kg should be sparring in 16oz gloves. Whilst these gloves are too big for pad work and hand speed drills, they provide a higher level of shock absorption and padding, which makes sparring much safer.

In addition to offering a greater level of protection to your partner should any of your punches hit his/her head or body, the bigger gloves with additional padding will make blocking and defending punches slightly easier and more effective. 

With concerns growing in the scientific community over the risks involved in head trauma and impacts to the head in sports including boxing, it’s important to keep full contact sparring to a minimum. Sparring should always be supervised by a qualified boxing coach and full contact to the head should be kept to a minimum. For more information on safe sparring practices, please visit the England Boxing website. 

As pad work often places an emphasis on hand speed and accuracy, most boxers will opt to wear slightly smaller or lighter gloves. For example, whilst an 80kg (12st 8lbs) boxer might use 16oz gloves for sparring, they can prove too bulky for accurate and effective padwork. Heavier gloves are also more likely to make holding the pads difficult and/or painful for the pad-holder, with the greater weight knocking his/her hands and shoulders back in a manner that can prove painful and cause injuries.

With this in mind, the same 80kg boxer will likely prefer to use 12oz or 14oz boxing gloves, as they will provide a high level of hand protection, whilst allowing him/her to punch at speed and with greater precision. This is also beneficial for the pad-holder, as the lighter gloves will tend to reduce the force of the punches, making it easier to hold the focus pads steady for a longer period of time.

When you get home, hang the gloves in a well ventilated area to dry. Once the gloves are dry, you can use a disinfectant wipe, or a sponge and a bowl of water containing a few drops of mild soap to wipe down the gloves again. If you use a sponge with water, be sure to wring out the sponge thoroughly, as excess water and moisture could damage your gloves.

Some people use some rather unorthodox methods to keep their gloves smelling nice. For example, some people tout the use of boot warmers/dryers and even cat litter to remove the moisture and smells from the glove interior; whilst others add a few drops of essential oils such as eucalyptus to their cleaning solution, or even direct inside the gloves. Whilst we don’t recommend these methods, they might be worth bearing in mind if you have a particularly unpleasant smelling pair of boxing gloves.

Are men’s and women’s boxing gloves the same?
Boxing gloves used by men and women are generally the same. As women on average are smaller than men, the boxing gloves that they use also tend to be smaller.

Can you put boxing gloves in the washing machine?
No, generally speaking you should never put boxing gloves in a washing machine or a drying machine. A washing machine or dryer can warp and damage the padding, the stitching and exterior material.

How do you stop boxing gloves from smelling?
As mentioned above, wearing hand wraps and wiping down the interior of the gloves with a dry towel or rag can help prevent gloves from smelling. The gloves should also be left in a well ventilated, dry area, away from direct light and heat, and should never be left in a kit bag or in the car for long periods of time. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for specific cleaning instructions. As a general guideline, once the gloves are aired and dried out after use, wiping down the interior with a cleaning wipe or wrung out sponge or cloth that has been dipped in water with a few drops of gentle soap can help remove any smells and bacteria. 

What does oz mean in boxing gloves?
“Oz” stands for ounces, which is an imperial measurement of weight. The table below shows the weight of different sizes of boxing gloves in grams.