The current market for boxing/MMA/fighting gear is more confusing than ever for consumers, with more brands and choices (design, color, price-range) all claiming to be the highest quality. I review over 60 brands, and hundreds of different gloves…explaining everything from materials, padding, and stitching to shape, comfort, and protection. I hope to shine some light on the boxing glove industry, telling you how boxing gloves are made, which qualities are most important, and which ones to buy.
This review covers everything from materials and padding to stitching, shape, comfort, and protection. I’ve tried out MANY gloves and seen them new, used, completely torn apart. I can look at a glove and tell you how it’s going to feel and how it’s going to fall apart later. This experience comes from being in a serious boxing gym-with dozens of champions training inside at any moment. I got to try out many different gloves and see what everyone else uses.
NOTE: I have affiliate links for many gloves below. Whatever you buy may earn me a small commission. I only promote gloves that I would personally use and NEVER because of commissions (although many companies have tried).
Top criteria for training gloves are quality-of-construction and protection, then comfort. Gloves made for bagwork have denser cushion to last longer and also prevent you from punching through the padding. Gloves made for sparring have softer cushion to minimize power transfer and protect sparring partners. Having several pairs of gloves helps to preserve your soft sparring gloves, since they don’t last long when used on the heavy bag. Those with hand injuries may prefer softer/bigger gloves for bagwork. 16oz is the standard for male boxers. Don’t use any glove under $150. Winning, Casanova, and Rival are my favorite stock gloves. TopBoxer and Mexican gloves are my favorite custom gloves.
Even the honest reviews are written by guys who’ve tried only a few brands and never worn out a single glove in their entire life. Some of you guys know my story. I’ve been boxing since 2004. Way back in 2008, I wrote a popular guide called the Boxing Gloves Buyer’s Review that circled the web a hundred times, spawning copycat review guides ripping off everything I said.
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Skip ahead if you’re too busy to read the entire article. Most pros (and amateurs) prefer Winning gloves for training because they have the best protection. Even if you don’t have a lot of money, it is still worth it to save up the $300 for Winning-they are THAT good! Older fighters or those with hand problems practically have no choice but to use Winning.
Fighters that like Winning/Grant gloves but can’t afford them will default to Rival or one of the Mexican glove brands (Reyes, Casanova), which are still very high quality but more affordable. Those wanting customization or flashy styling will go with customized Mexican gloves; ones with bigger budget will do Grant or Adidas MyGloves. Boxers on average budget will default to Ring2Cage C17’s. Those on a tighter budget will get either Fighting Sports or Ringside IMF sparring gloves (which go on sale often).
MMA guys or boxers venturing outside the traditional boxing brands will go for Hayabusa (which I don’t like), Ring 2 Cage’s C17 model (a respectable Winning clone) or one of the Thai brands (Fairtex, Twins, etc). First-timers, beginners, and especially MMA guys are known to walk into the gym with cheap Everlast, Fairtex, Hayabusa, or even Venum (whichever they find first at sporting stores)-many of which are not on my top 5 lists because of poor quality or overpriced. Some people will be lucky enough to have found Title, Fighting Sports, or Ringside, which go on sale often.
In countries outside of the US, local brands are more common…such as Rival in Canada, TOP TEN in UK, Winning in Japan, Twins in Thailand, Mexican gloves in Mexico, etc. And then Winning is worn as the “status brand” to show off regardless of any country.
Of the hundreds of “boxing glove reviews” out there, most are either a vomit of self-serving Amazon links or sponsored reviews advertisements hyping up gimmicky features.
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Complete Guide to Boxing Gloves | Boxing Gloves 101 ft. csquaredboxing
Top Boxing Glove Brands
1. Winning
The #1 brand for the past decade if not longer. Winning is the most protective glove ever created, with the best padding cushion (most pillow-ey) thanks to the marvel of Japanese engineering. Top quality materials and perfect construction. Don’t be tempted by lesser brands, these gloves look and feel great! Comes with an expensive price tag to live up to and yet not a single person has ever called them over-priced. Many pros and amateurs refuse to wear anything else. An absolute must for fighters with sensitive/injured hands. Due to its success, Winning’s glove design is the most imitated glove on the market today with every copycat claiming to be ALMOST as protective as the real thing. Great for sparring and bagwork. The laces version has more support, also more popular (like 20- to-1). Their velcro glove, while not as supportive as the laces, is also the best velcro glove on the market! Quality leather, buttery smooth inner lining, perfect thumb position, protective pillow-ey padding, and total comfort all around! Standard A-level gear used by everyone.
2. Di Nardo
Di Nardo (custom-made from Italy) - best leather, best quality and craftsmanship, best support, best style, and VERY UNIQUE FEEL. Premium pricing for a premium glove. This glove sets the new standard for me in boxing gloves; they are far beyond anything I’ve ever seen. I want to call them the future of boxing gloves but I also know the industry will never catch up to this guy’s madness. Filippo Di Nardo De Leccese (the sole-owner and maker) has combined his family’s heritage in leather-craftsmanship with his self-devoted passion for boxing. They are like nothing you’ve ever seen in a boxing glove. A completely redesigned glove from inside-out, and truly a piece of art! The only reason why I don’t have them as #1 is because of the pricing and also that I’ve only had them for 2 years (they still look and function great, btw). Some of you may still prefer the softer Winnings but there is no dispute, these are by far the better-made glove. Great for sparring and bagwork. Highest quality gloves ever; unrivaled materials and craftmanship! Padding options are either TUTELALA (bagwork) or CAESTUS (slightly softer for bagwork & sparring). Customization available. Di Nardo is the real deal. Absolute works of art in the form of boxing gloves. These are such beautiful gloves, you have to see them in person to really appreciate them...
3. TopBoxer
An amazing boutique glovemaker with limitless customization options and expert craftsmanship. First, create the ultimate glove design that looks exactly the way you imagined it, then pick the right padding combination to get the perfect protection and comfort for your hand. He takes your hand measurements and walks you through every step of the process to create a truly customized glove. You can model yours after existing brands like Winning and Grant and add your own adjustments, or come up with a completely new design that hasn’t been done before. Explore rare colors, exotic leathers, and unique padding specs. The limit is your imagination. Great for sparring and bagwork.
4. Rival
A quality high tech brand-actually made in China-but with great padding, comfort, and durability. Rival is most known for their stylish aesthetic, innovative cuff designs (comfort), and d3o padding (shock absorption). Unlike other companies that hype empty gimmicky features, Rival fans can actually feel the difference in comfort and support from their unique glove designs. As a testament to their ingenuity, their designs have also been imitated by other brands. It’s no surprise this Canadian brand has grown to be a worldwide favorite. I love that Rival separates their gloves into sparring models and bag models; I recommend people buying only a SINGLE PAIR of all-purpose training gloves to pick their sparring models. Perfect for sparring, and occasional bagwork. A great choice if you love Rival’s ergonomic wrist design. Only intended as a bag glove, NOT for sparring, but very high quality.
5. Necalli
Necalli (like other Mexican brands) - great leather, padding, wrist support, comfort and craftsmanship. A trusted glove hailing from a long tradition of boxing and excellent glove craftsmanship. “Hecho en Mexico” gloves authentically handmade in Mexico with quality leather and materials. Necalli gloves are known for their old-school aesthetic (UGLY), wide hand compartment, great knuckle padding, great wrist protection, and comfortable hand shape (although slightly rough inner lining). They feel amazing and support my wrists like no other brand. A little-known trait of Mexican gloves is that the way they’re shaped helps you throw punches correctly. I’ve fallen in love with my Necalli’s and am now a convert for old-school Mexican brands. Diehards appreciate their no-nonsense design, fair pricing, and the way they smell! SPECIAL MENTION: Boxeo is another great Mexican brand with long-lasting durability, amazing protection and comfort (and also beautifully-ugly). Campeon and Classics are also similar quality. Good for sparring and bagwork. Great wrist protection. Boxy Mexican glove shape makes punches land very flat (it’s a good thing). Beautiful nolstagic old school vibe.
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Cleto Reyes is the best-known, highest craftsmanship, and best leather of all the Mexican brands. They make excellent quality gloves but aren’t recommended for training because they’re known as “puncher’s gloves”-designed for maximum power transfer rather than cushioning and hand protection. With that said, they are still favored by many fighters, especially competing fighters, and now offer models with extra padding.
Grant, alongside Winning and Reyes, is considered as one of the top 3 brands in boxing (especially amongst professional boxers). Their gloves offer great power transfer like Reyes gloves but are also protective somewhat like Winning. They’re handmade in Mexico with great quality and offer customization options. Unfortunately, that’s no longer the case. There are many complaints about inconsistent quality (especially with stitching). And adding further to the brand’s turnoff, their pricing has shot up dramatically and now costs a ridiculous amount at $500-1000 (when a superior Winning glove only costs $300). Their last unique feature was offering customization but new brands like Sabas offer the same features for a much lower price point. What was once amazing and unique about Grant has been successfully imitated and even exceeded by other brands.
Budget-Friendly Options
Of all the low-budget gloves, I would personally only use the RingtoCage C17 gloves or TOP TEN Superfight 3000 gloves for serious training. But that’s because I’ve got sensitive hands after boxing for so many years. A beginner or anybody else could probably make do with other gloves. If you feel you may need better protection, GO SAVE UP AND BUY IT.
1. RingtoCage C17
The closest you can get to a Winning glove, and the smartest buy at $100. Lots of cushion and protection (I love to use mine!). Seriously, it’s shocking how good these are. Most $150 gloves don’t even come close to this! It’s functional and comfortable. Great for sparring and bagwork. I also like that it’s a uniquely-designed glove (even if it was a copycat). The velcro version costs more. Tons of fun colors, too. My only annoyance was that the inner lining could be smoother.
2. TOP TEN Superfight 3000
Very unique shape unlike any other boxing glove but surprisingly comfortable and protective. The foam feels really thick and about above-average density. Protects your hands well on the heavy bag and almost soft-enough for sparring (although I prefer softer, maybe these can be worn down). I love the dual wrist straps; better support for different wrist sizes.
3. Title Boxing Gloves
Quality glove at a great price (especially when on sale). This model (unlike their others) most closely matches the shape of a boxing glove. Good leather and good cushion suitable for sparring and bagwork.
4. Ringside IMF Sparring Gloves
The older model from mid-2000’s was much better but this version is still quite functional for the price. (Some colors are cheaper!) Good sparring glove, and occasional bagwork. Don’t be tempted by the more expensive Ringside models-they aren’t much better!
5. Everlast
Probably the only functional boxing glove under $50. Can be used for sparring and bagwork.
Professional Fight Gloves
Professional fight gloves are designed for maximum power (good wrist support but minimal cushioning) and compact design (to squeeze past opponent defenses). They’re meant to be used for only a single fight so comfort matters more than durability, and they come with very little padding (the gloves weigh only 8oz or 10oz). Many of them are also padded with horsehair which only lasts up to 30 rounds. Some brands sell a foam version of their pro fight model in case you want to train in smaller gloves to get used to their weight/timing.
There are also MMA fighters who like to use professional boxing gloves (foam version) for their training, since MMA usually wears lighter gloves. Most fighters (especially power punchers) will choose Reyes by default and Grant as an alternative. Some will use Everlast MX if they can’t use Reyes for whatever reason (not comfortable, not sponsored by them, opponent negotiations won’t allow for Reyes). Those with hand problems but still want to punch hard will use Grant.
Grant is more common in the US, Adidas is more common in Europe, Rival is more common in Canada. All of these gloves are good for transferring power. Winning is the most protective but unfortunately transfers the least amount of power to your opponent.
Top "Puncher's Glove" Brands:
- Cleto Reyes - The #1 “puncher’s glove” in the market.
- Grant - Another popular “puncher’s glove”. Good power transfer AND protection (more than Reyes).
- Rival - Rival’s version of the “puncher’s glove”.
- Everlast MX - Everlast version of the “puncher’s glove”, hand-made in Mexico and filled with a horsehair/foam blend that has great power transfer.
- Adidas - Filled with foam instead of horsehair.
Adidas deserves a special shoutout because their pro glove line has grown a lot lately. I do see them used a lot in Europe (especially Germany) but they’re now aggressively tackling the US market as well. They’ve been signing many big name fighters like Amir Khan and young up-and-comers like Ryan Garcia. Back then, their pro gloves were 50/50 for me. The “Glory Pro Fight” gloves felt way too flimsy whereas the “Dynamic Pro Fight” gloves felt fantastic!
Now, they have a new line of gloves called “Adidas MyGloves” which are custom models with many colors and customization options, Made in the USA for around $500. These new custom models have been said to be exceptionally high-quality and made to rival Winning, Grant, Rival, and Reyes. I don’t know how much longer this brand will be sleeping under people’s noses.
Customization Options
Through our Ocelotl Workshop, you can personalize your gloves in various ways - from color and closure type to padding and embroidery.
Hand-Painted Custom Gloves
At Boxing Collector, we offer a unique customization service that transforms your Bayoneta gloves into one-of-a-kind pieces of art. Each pair is hand-painted by a talented Mexican artist using high-quality, durable paints and fine brushes. This isn’t just customization - it’s wearable art, made to reflect your personality and passion, all while maintaining the premium performance and durability Bayoneta gloves are known for. Each design is made to order. Handcrafted masterpieces made from high quality cowhide leather.
A tri-layered construction using polyurethane foams of varying densities. This configuration offers balanced shock absorption, excellent shape retention, and long-term durability. The best of both worlds-this hybrid padding combines the structured resilience of polyurethane with the flexibility and responsiveness of natural latex.
Traditional meets modern: this padding features a core of natural horsehair layered with foam for added comfort and protection. Our velcro strap gloves are entirely constructed with genuine leather - including the closure system. This premium build can add up to 3 oz to the total weight. Gloves made with metallic leather may show signs of wear from the first use. Due to the artisanal process, weights may vary slightly.
Production for custom/backordered gloves take 6 - 8 weeks. Yes, we ship worldwide. Delivery time varies by destination. Possibly. Import taxes are determined by your local authorities. Due to the custom nature of most of our products, we only accept returns when there’s a functional issue. Returns based on fit preferences may be accepted only if the item is unused and in brand-new condition. Contact us within 5 days of delivery. Include detailed photos of the issue and original packaging. Modifications can only be made within 24 hours of placing your order or before it is dispatched.