Muay Thai Archives - Page 17 of 20

So you want to choose the perfect pair of Muay Thai gloves for you. That's great to hear because this is what this article is going to be entirely about. What we'll do is cover everything you need to know to make the wisest choice regarding which Muay glove to buy. We'll dive into a few factors that'll help you decide which glove you want to get and which size. After you read this article, you'll have a much better understanding of how the world of hand-protective gear works. As you might know, Muay Thai is one of the most dangerous combative sports in the world. Therefore, you must protect yourself if you're ever thinking of doing it, especially if you're thinking of sparring and competing, which resemble real fights. As a result, they're much more competitive and dangerous to participate in. Because of that, you must get all the necessary protective equipment to ensure you're not going to get caught with your pants down and leave the Muay Thai gym injured. If you don't know what to get, I wrote a complete guide to the necessary protective equipment to do Muay Thai in a gym and professionally. Check it out! How will this article be formatted? What we'll do is break down eight factors that are all here to ensure you know everything you need to know to choose the best Muay Thai gloves for you. Let's dive into the first one! Factor #1 – Glove Size The first factor in choosing the most suitable Muay Thai gloves for you is their size. This is perhaps the most important one you want to look into, as it drastically changes for the purpose you're doing. So if you want gloves for sparring and training purposes, you'll buy different sizes than someone who wants gloves for competitions. Muay Thai gloves are typically measured in ounces (oz). The most common sizes are 8 oz, 10 oz, 12 oz, 14 oz, and 16 oz. The size you choose depends on your weight, purpose, and personal preference. Here's a general guideline: 8 oz: Usually used for competitions by lighter weight classes. 10 oz: Suitable for lighter weight classes, pad work, and bag training. 12 oz: A versatile size suitable for pad work, bag training, and sparring. 14 oz: Ideal for sparring and heavier bag work. 16 oz: Primarily used for sparring, providing more protection. Of course, there are more sizes, such as 4oz, 6oz, 18oz, and 20oz. However, I just want you to understand the general theme here. The heavier the glove, the more it'll be suitable for sparring and heavy bag work. The lighter it is, on the other hand, the more it's suitable for competition, pad work, and bag training as well. All gloves are suitable for working the heavy bag, which means that the question here is whether you want gloves to spar or compete with. The heavier the gloves, the more padding there is, and the fewer bruises your opponent will have when you punch him in his face. This is the first factor. Factor #2 – Purpose Determine the primary purpose of your gloves. Are you training for competition, sparring, or bag work? Different gloves are designed for specific purposes. Competition gloves are typically lighter and offer less padding while sparring gloves have more padding for safety. We've already covered sizes, so I'll expand no further on the subject. However, there's one more thing you want to consider. You also want to train the way you compete. That means that, as a general rule, using lighter-weight gloves in spars sometimes can be beneficial. But, let's assume you can only own a single pair of Muay Thai gloves. In that case, I would assume your primary goal is to train and spar. If you were to compete, you would have been able to invest in getting a second pair. However, if your purpose is to just train, then buying a heavier set will be ideal. Another thing I would recommend is to ask the Muay Thai gym you're about to attend which size you should get. I'm sure they'll have a straightforward answer for you. So the second factor is the purpose you want the gloves for. Now that you know how to adapt the size you get for the purpose you want the gloves for, it's time we move on to the next factor. Factor #3 – Hand Wraps Now that you know how to choose your next pair of Muay Thai gloves in regards to the purpose you want them for and their size, it's time we look into another factor: whether you wear hand wraps. You'll be surprised that many Muay Thai gyms don't require you to wear hand wraps. In fact, I train in a martial arts gym and they haven't told me to wear hand wraps, whether it was in Boxing, Muay Thai, and MMA. Consider whether you prefer to wear hand wraps underneath your gloves. Hand wraps provide extra support and protection for your wrists and hands. If you plan to use hand wraps, you might want to select gloves with a slightly larger size to accommodate them. Imagine wearing 6oz Muay Thai gloves with bulky hand wraps underneath. That would be a pain to do. If you're planning on wearing hand wraps, consider pairing yourself with bigger gloves, which will boost comfort and breathability, two important factors when considering which fighting gloves to buy. Factor #4 – Padding and Protection In general, beginner and advanced trainees might benefit from wearing different Muay Thai gloves. If we take a beginner disciple as an example, his punching technique isn't as good as a more experienced trainee, which makes total sense. Therefore, getting a glove that provides more padding to ensure the safety of his hand will be wiser than getting one with less padding and protection. Assess the level of padding and protection you require. Beginners and those who focus on bag work may prefer gloves with thicker padding to reduce the risk of injuries. However, if you're an experienced fighter or focus on sparring, you might opt for gloves with less padding to enhance your striking ability. For instance, the following boxing glove is more suitable for beginners, not only because of the padding and protection it provides but also because of the price and affordability. Shop Now – Amazon These are the best Muay Thai gloves for beginners, as they'll provide you with anything you need. If you're a beginner and you're about to order a pair, I recommend going for the 14-16oz, as they'll provide you with all the protection you'll ever need. On the contrary, if you're an advanced trainee who wants to invest in a premium pair of Muay Thai gloves, here's the one I recommend you buy. Shop Now – Amazon These are more expensive but provide a much more enjoyable punching experience. So consider the amount of padding and protection each glove provides. Factor #5 – Closure System The 5th factor we'll review is the closure system. In Muay Thai, you can choose between two, which we'll review in this section. This is another factor to consider as you might dislike one but prefer the other one. So you're able to filter out many gloves that otherwise you would have to consider. There are two main closure systems: Velcro and lace-up. Velcro closure offers convenience and easy adjustment, making them suitable for training purposes. Lace-up gloves provide a secure fit and are often used in professional fights or sparring sessions with a dedicated trainer to help you put them on. This ties back to purpose. If competitions are your goal current goal with these Muay Thai gloves, lace-up will be more suitable, as they're more secure. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Vsbgbm_r7vY How to Put on Lace-Up Gloves by Yourself However, if you want to spar and train regularly, which is what most people want, then get the Velcro. That said, both will, eventually, do the job. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/__SADRFWBPc How to Put on Velcro Gloves by Yourself Factor #6 – Brand and Quality The upcoming factor we'll review is related to the company that made the product. Which brand or company sells you the gloves? Are they trustworthy? Do they have positive reviews on their website? Or do they have many negative comments? Choose a reputable brand known for producing high-quality Muay Thai gloves. Some popular brands include Fairtex, Sanabul, Twins Special, Top King, and Yokkao. Research customer reviews and considers the durability, stitching, and overall craftsmanship of the gloves. This is a critical factor to consider prior to deciding on your future Muay Thai gloves. Make sure to see which brand you're buying from before you click the purchase button. By the way, the two Muay Thai gloves I've listed in one of the previous sections are from Sanabul and Yokkao, which are the leading companies in the martial arts industry, especially in protective equipment and gloves. So buying them will be a great choice. Factor #7 – Try Them On The next factor is more of a practical step to do if you're unsure which size you want or whether the glove will fit you. I encourage ALL beginners who are serious about their training to do this step. If you already have experience with Boxing or Muay Thai gloves, I would say it's more optional, but still recommended. If possible, visit a local store that specializes in combat sports equipment. Trying on different gloves will give you a better sense of the fit, comfort, and overall feel. This step is especially crucial if you're unsure about the glove size or closure system. Factor #8 – Price and Budget If you checked out the two Muay Thai gloves I listed in one of the previous sections, you've already realized something very important to understand. There can be a massive gap in price between one glove and the other. While some expensive Muay Thai gloves are worth the price since they provide unmatched quality and experience, others aren't worth it. The same applies on the other hand. Many cheap Muay Thai gloves are worth the money – but some are not as much, as they're of lower quality and don't provide the required protection and comfort you need. Set a budget for your Muay Thai gloves. How much are you willing to spend on a pair? If your budget is $200, you can go with a premium pair by Yokkao. However, if your budget is $30, the Sanabul gloves, which are also listed above, are the most suitable. Set a budget and that'll help you filter many Muay Thai gloves that otherwise you would have considered. I wrote a few articles reviewing many Muay Thai gloves, which I encourage you to read. https://www.blinklift.com/best-muay-thai-gloves-for-sparring-and-competing/ https://www.blinklift.com/best-muay-thai-gloves/ Final Words And that's it for this article. If you found the factors helpful, you're now more capable of making a wiser choice and choosing a high-quality pair of gloves. However, if you're less experienced with gloves, you won't be able to differentiate between low and high-quality ones. Therefore, buying one of the gloves I listed in this article—would be ideal for you. Make sure to consider all the factors and tick all the boxes before you press purchase. It'll be best to go through everything I've mentioned in this article and only then buy a pair you have 100% confidence will be good. And don't forget to go to your local Muay Thai gym and train; this is why we're all here for. Here are other articles you'd enjoy reading: https://www.blinklift.com/best-muay-thai-gear/ https://www.blinklift.com/how-to-teep-in-muay-thai/ https://www.blinklift.com/muay-thai-kicks/ https://www.blinklift.com/muay-thai-all-punches/