Getting the necessary equipment for your first Muay Thai class will help you avoid frustrations that might eventually lead to you quitting. Getting the equipment part out of the way will free up your mind and allow you to fully focus on the training itself, which will boost consistency and mindfulness.
This is why I’ve decided to write this article, as I see the same phenomenon happening time and time again. People who want to start training in Thai Boxing never take the initiative to start training because they don’t want to show up unprepared.
Luckily for you, I’ve shown up unprepared on numerous occasions in life, more specifically, in four different martial arts. One of these was Muay Thai, which I initially came with MMA gloves. Let me tell you something, they weren’t suitable for the job.
This article will be separated into two different parts. The first is necessary (must-bring) equipment for any Muay Thai class. The second part will be about helpful equipment that you want to eventually get, but it doesn’t have to be in the first class or any class along your fighting journey.
So now that you know what’s waiting for you, let’s dive into the first part.
Required Equipment (Must-Bring) to Muay Thai
This part of the article will be about must-bring equipment for any Muay Thai class. What the gear we’ll list in this article will do is protect you. As you can imagine, protection is the number one priority. Without it, there’s no training and there’s definitely no learning and progression.
Thus, any Muay Thai gym that respects itself will not let you spar or even do simple heavy bag work if you don’t have one of the following pieces of equipment.
Let’s dive straight into the first one.
#1 – Hand Wraps
The first piece of equipment is hand wraps, which is critical to wear in any striking-based martial art, including Kickboxing and Boxing. What it does is protects your wrists, knuckles, and fingers, which is your primary weapon in Muay Thai.
Hand wraps are essential to protect your wrists and hands during training. They provide support and help prevent injuries to your knuckles, thumbs, and wrists. Make sure to learn how to wrap your hands properly to get the maximum benefit.
Getting your hands (pun intended) on the right set of hand wraps is critical. The last thing you want to happen is to wrap your hands with low-quality, unprotective, and not durable hand wraps, which will deduct overall protection levels.
That’s why I’ll also recommend products along the way, as I believe that buying the right products will definitely help you along your fighting journey. Think about it, how can you train if you’re injured? Thus, buying high-quality equipment is going to prevent more injuries and boost your learning and progression rate in Muay Thai.
Here are the hand wraps I use.
Hayabusa Boxing Hand Wraps
#2 – Boxing Gloves
When I began my Muay Thai training, I showed up with MMA gloves, which if you don’t know, are half-open to be suitable for grabbing the opponent (for takedowns and throws.) I think that everyone found it amusing, but I definitely didn’t. Let me help you prevent that from happening to you.
Good-quality boxing gloves are a must for Muay Thai training. They come in various sizes and weights, but for beginners, 12-16 oz gloves are typically recommended for all-around use.
The way it works is the heavier the glove, the more padding it has and the more protection it provides. If you show up to training with 6oz gloves, the coach is likely to not allow using them, as they’re unprotective.
I highly recommend buying a high-quality pair of boxing gloves, as it’ll allow you to protect yourself and avoid embarrassment from showing up with the wrong type of gloves.
Here’s the pair I encourage you to get!
Boxing Gloves for Men and Women
If you’re interested in seeing more Muay Thai gloves, here are articles you’ll definitely benefit from reading:
The 7 Best Muay Thai Gloves for Beginners – Knockout Guide
A Guide to Selecting the Perfect Pair of Muay Thai Gloves for You
The 5 Best Muay Thai Gloves for Sparring and Competing
The 7 Best Muay Thai Gloves for Protection and Power
#3 – Mouthguard
The next piece of equipment we’ll review is a mouthguard. In my eyes and from my experience, this is the most important out of all the list because it protects your mouth and teeth. Only some of you will understand the amount of pain and suffering that’s involved in dental injuries from combat sports.
I’ve been lucky enough to never have any mouth injury of any kind, and I blame my mouthguard for that. It has been extremely protective while allowing me to focus on the fight itself since I feel extremely protected. It’s also why you want to get a high-quality mouthguard.
Protecting your teeth is crucial during any combat sport, including Muay Thai. Invest in a comfortable and well-fitting mouthguard to prevent dental injuries.
A head guard isn’t necessary for Muay Thai. In Boxing, on the other hand, you’ll wear head guards when performing any type of hand-to-hand combat, such as sparring and amateur competitions.
However, in Muay Thai, there are no head guards, primarily because of the clinch, which is a fundamental technique you’ll learn. To learn more about what the clinch is, follow the link.
Here’s the mouthguard I encourage you to get.
Fairtex MG3 Gel Mouth Guard
To see more suitable mouthguards for Muay Thai, follow this link!
#4 – Shin Guards
You probably know that you’re going to learn to kick in Muay Thai. In fact, I throw more kicks than I do punches, which is just my style. But, that also means that you want to protect your legs as much as your hands. And you wear two protective layers on your hands. So we need at least one for the legs.
During Muay Thai training, you’ll be kicking heavy bags, focus mitts, and sparring with partners. Shin guards offer protection for your shins and your training partner’s safety during these drills.
Shin guards are extremely important in Muay Thai. I actually had no idea such equipment existed before I began training in Muay Thai. I absolutely fell in love with the protection they provide to one of the most vulnerable body parts in your body, the shin.
When you throw a low kick and the opponent checks (a common defense against low kicks), you’re going to be in so much pain. When you have the shin guards on you, you’ll feel almost nothing, which you can use to continuously learn. Of course, you’ll feel some pain, which will make you learn through actual pain. You’ll now know that throwing low kicks when the opponent checks—isn’t a good idea.
Here’s the shin guard I recommend you get:
RDX Shin Guards
#5 – Gear Bag
I’ve decided to include a gear bag in the must-have equipment list although it might not seem like it’s mandatory to get. The only reason I included it is because I’ve suffered greatly by not investing in getting a high-quality, reliable, gear bag.
Invest in a sturdy gear bag to keep all your Muay Thai equipment organized and easy to transport to and from the gym. It also keeps the hygiene as clean as possible and doesn’t mix your equipment together, which can make a really bad smell (trust me on that.)
A gear bag is extremely important, especially if you dislike bad smells as much as I do!
Under Armour Unisex Undeniable 5.0 Duffle Bag
To recap, the must-have equipment you want to get to your first Muay Thai class is the following:
- Hand Wraps
- Boxing Gloves
- A Mouthguard
- Shin Guards
- A Gear Bag
Helpful Equipment for Muay Thai Class (Not Mandatory)
The second part of the article will be about helpful equipment to get to your first Muay Thai class. This is, as you understand, not mandatory. However, your training experience will become much more enjoyable, comfortable, protective, and clean, if you decide to bring a few of the items here with you.
So let’s delve straight into the first helpful item, clothing.
#1 – Comfortable Clothing
Wear breathable and comfortable workout attire. Muay Thai shorts are traditional, but any athletic shorts and a moisture-wicking t-shirt will work well.
Muay Thai shorts are what I recommend you wear in your classes. A high-quality, comfortable, and flexible pair will allow you to enjoy training to a much greater degree. So here’s the one I encourage you to get.
Anthem Athletics Resolute Muay Thai Shorts
You have so many other options, however. So you can choose whichever style or fit you want. This is the one I recommend you get.
At the end of the day, you don’t want to worry about clothing as much. If you show up with a flexible and comfortable shirt and shorts, you’ll be good to go.
#2 – Groin Protector (Cup)
For both males and females, a groin protector is vital to protect against accidental hits during sparring and drills. However, it’s not mandatory to wear during competitions or spars in most Muay Thai gyms.
However, some Muay Thai gyms might require you to wear a groin protector, especially if you’re new. So make sure to ask your coach whether you need to bring a groin protector to spar.
RDX Groin Protector
#3 – Hand Sanitizer and Towel
Stay hygienic by bringing hand sanitizer to clean your hands before and after training. A small towel is handy to wipe off sweat during breaks.
Hygiene was the missing part of my Muay Thai training. I was not investing time into keeping my equipment clean and sanitized that eventually my gloves and hand wraps got so stinky my entire bag was filled with a bad smell.
You want to avoid that, and the best way you can do that is to ensure you sanitize your hands before and after you take off your gloves and hand wraps.
I make sure to bring hand sanitizer and a towel to all my fighting classes.
#4 – Water Bottle
Staying hydrated is crucial during intense training sessions, so bring a water bottle to keep yourself hydrated throughout the class.
- Improved brain performance. Even mild dehydration—as little as 2% fluid loss—can affect memory, mood, concentration, and reaction time.
- Digestive harmony.
- More energy.
- Weight loss/management.
- Decreased joint pain.
- Better temperature regulation.
- Kidney stone prevention.
- Healthier heart.
Look at all these benefits. I’ve become a hydration fanatic because I see these benefits in real time on me. There’s no going back to not drinking enough water once you’re dehydrated and experience some of the opposite benefits to those listed above.
A water bottle is a critical thing to bring with you to your Muay Thai class.
#5 – Head Guard
The last piece of equipment that’s a must-have in specific Muay Thai gyms is a head guard. I’ve yet to be in a gym that requires that, although I’ve heard and seen various people using head guards in their Muay Thai training.
The best piece of advice I can give you is to ask your coach whether you need a head guard for your training. And if the answer is yes, here’s the one I encourage you to get.
Venum Elite Headgear
To recap, here’s all the helpful equipment you want to get to your first Muay Thai class:
- Comfortable Clothing
- A Groin Protector
- Hand Sanitizer and Towel
- A Water Bottle
- A Head Guard
Final Words
This is everything you need to pair yourself with for your first Muay Thai class.
I know how daunting it can be to step out of your really comfortable comfort zone and start heading to the unknown. I hope you take the first step and go get the required equipment for your first Muay Thai class. This is the first step in a long journey awaiting your entrance.
Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day and so it’ll take time for you to learn the basics. But you’ll get there if you stay consistent; that I can guarantee!
Here are other articles you’ll benefit from reading:
Best Muay Thai Headgear to Avoid Brain and Head Damage
11 Tips to Improve Punching Power and Speed in Muay Thai
11 Tips to Improve Kicking Power in Muay Thai
First Muay Thai Fight – 7 Signs You’re Ready (When to Fight)