Boxing gloves come in many shapes and sizes, but one of the big divisions that can be made is between traditional boxing gloves and Muay Thai gloves. Out of the second group, only some models have been more popular than the Fairtex BGV1. Fairtex are a popular manufacturer of fight equipment, dominantly focused on Muay Thai. The company is based in Thailand and is widely popular, both there and internationally. The BGV1 is Fairtex’s flagship product, and is famous throughout Thailand and all across the world, with a design tailored for Muay Thai practitioners.
Let's delve into a comprehensive review of the Fairtex BGV1 Muay Thai Boxing Gloves, examining their key features, craftsmanship, comfort, and overall performance.
Fairtex BGV1 Muay Thai Boxing Gloves: Key Features
Fairtex produces dozens of different models of boxing gloves, covering every possible segment and inventing a few along the way, but their flagship model is the BGV1. It's not the most expensive or the newest one, but it's THE Muay Thai glove you will see in every single Thai or MMA gym. Their original design still stands strong. While it is not for everyone, it is a solid, reliable, and preferred model for beginners and professionals alike.
Let's see what the official promo card says:
- High-quality gloves designed for training and competition in Muay Thai
- Made from premium leather for durability and protection
- Contoured and snug fit for easy and comfortable hand movement
- Strategically placed padding for maximum protection and support
- A velcro closure system for a secure and customizable fit
- Top-of-the-line choice for serious Muay Thai training
Here is the place to say that Fairtex offers similar gloves to the BGV1, some with mesh palms, others with longer cuffs, and others still with grip bars. But we will take a look at the classic and original BGV1 model.
Read also: Read our Fairtex Banana Bag Review
These boxing gloves are available in two variants, a ‘breathable’ version with a mesh palm for increased breathability, and a standard version with a classic leather palm. The version reviewed here is the standard version. It’s important to note that some BGV1 variants also have a grip bar built in, however the ones reviewed don’t.
The Fairtex BGV1’s are sold as 10oz, 12oz, 14oz and 16oz variants. We’ve personally reviewed the 16oz versions, so it’s important to note that the fit of the glove is relative to this.
As the flagship glove, BGV1’s are available in almost any colour imaginable, many with the trim highlighted with another, and there are just as many versions with special graphics and unique patterns on. All have the same iconic Fairtex logo written across the back of the hand with a small circular ‘hand made in Thailand’ stamp below, as well as the stitched logo on the Velcro cuff.
Personally, the black glove with the red trim was my favourite, although I was tempted by a variety of other colours. For anyone who is highly motivated by style, these gloves look great, while still remaining understated. Style may be one of the less important factors in the making of a good glove, but the quality of materials used is definitely a big factor. Fairtex have truly excelled here.
The exterior of the glove is high quality leather, which really does feel nice to the touch, as I’m sure many who have used the gloves will agree. The interior is just as luxurious, with the lining being smooth and generally comfortable on the skin. Internally around the wrist, the lining is replaced with leather. While this may sound uncomfortable, I actually found it basically unnoticeable.
Read also: Fairtex Gloves: Performance Analysis
The Fairtex BGV1 is a Velcro boxing glove. The velcro is undeniably strong, and the connecting areas cover about three quarters of the wrist circumference, so there is next to no worry that they’re going to come undone or wear down too much over time. This isn’t always such a good thing however, as I found myself having to twist my wrist a lot to get the velcro off completely when removing the gloves. There are absolutely no tags on the inside of the gloves, so no accidental scratching to worry about.
Fairtex BGV1 Review - The Perfect Muay Thai Sparring Glove?
Craftsmanship and Quality
When you see the stamp "Handmade in Thailand/Genuine Leather," you can be sure you are getting high-quality materials and excellent craftsmanship; these gloves are just another proof.
Leather/Material
I’ve yet to try Thai-made gloves that are not great quality. The genuine cowhide leather Fairtex uses is thick, of high quality, and has a very pleasant feel to it. You can see the grain on the leather, and the color is rich. The gloves have a gloss finish, further enriching the feel and look of the leather.
Stitching
The stitching on the Fairtex BGV1 is excellent, and I haven't found any flaws whatsoever. There is double reinforced stitching in many places, like the palm and thumb, and everything is precise and clean.
As mentioned previously, these are handmade in Thailand. There’s always the worry with handmade goods that there will be a loss in quality or mild variations, however I can honestly say that these gloves are incredibly well made. The stitching for example is incredibly neat on all areas of the glove. One of the most apparent indicators of any boxing glove’s quality is how the leather folds at the edges around the fist, and these are incredibly neatly folded.
Read also: Sparring Techniques in Muay Thai
The leather palm of the glove is slightly more crumpled than anywhere else, however considering that this is often bent over into a fist, this is to be expected. The thumb and back of the fist are all one piece of leather, which adds to both the sturdiness and the visuals of the gloves.
Lining
The inside of the glove feels nice and smooth thanks to the nylon liner usually used in boxing gloves because of its sweat-wicking qualities. What is different here is that there is a piece of leather on the top of the wrist instead of nylon. I like this idea a lot because it feels more comfortable if you are without hand wraps.
Padding
The padding is three-layered foam. What is characteristic of the BGV1 is that this padding is very thin. I have a 12-ounce pair, but the same goes for the 14- and 16-ounce versions. It's evenly distributed around the gloves like a Thai glove, but there is just a little to it in terms of size, especially on the knuckles. However, the density compensates for the volume at least partially.
The outer layer is a bit softer, and the innermost is much stiffer, as it should be. This way, you feel the impact of the punches without hurting your knuckles.
There is also a very nice, thick, and firm piece of padding on the outside edge of the palm, which is perfect for blocking kicks. Outside of that, there is no padding on the palm or wrist.
Comfort and Feel
Shape
One of the biggest highlights of these gloves is how small they are overall. The BGV1 is perhaps the most compact glove I've tried, which is both a pro and a con. Again, I have the 12-ounce model, but the difference, even with the 16-ounce model, is not big at all, and they are on the small end compared to both other boxing gloves and Thai-style gloves.
Then the shape of the punching area is angular, with the big knuckles part more forward than the last knuckles, creating a flatter and more natural punching surface.
The thumb is placed in a classic Thai style, and it looks very wide from the side. The finger compartment is elongated and wide to facilitate clinching, something we will get back to a bit later when I share my experience training with the Fairtex BGV1.
The thumb has a small canvas attachment, which I find strange for such a nice-quality glove. Usually, genuine leather gloves have leather attachments, but this model has a small canvas attachment. It feels sturdy right now, though, so I hope it won't cause any problems.
The thumb has been crafted in a position which I find comfortable, however seems slightly further forward than most boxing gloves. This is not uncommon amongst Muay Thai Style gloves, making it easier to grab on and clinch opponents.
Comfort/Feel
The Fairtex BGV gloves are comfortable, that’s for sure. But I find it a small miracle how much space there is inside for such a small glove. Even in the 12 ounces, there is more than enough space for my very average-sized hands, and with the 16 ounces, you will need long hand wraps or gorilla hands to fill the space.
The finger compartment feels excellent and is both wide and long. There is no cramming of fingers at all. Making a fist is very easy, and the break-in period is short. Perhaps they will soften up more with time, but they feel perfect even after just five or six training sessions.
What is important to know, though, is that there is no grip bar, which is rarely found in modern boxing gloves. Of course, this is done to have your palm free for grabbing. The finger compartment is longer, and the padding itself is further elongated. This way, when you squeeze the fingers, they go all the way to the wrist.
With hand wraps on, the Fairtex BGV1 boxing gloves fit fairly well, but seem to have a noticeably larger compartment than other gloves, especially to the side of the hand. Despite this, the gloves are somehow a lot smaller than other brands of the same weight. Part of this is to do with the short cuff length, but it also seems to be down to the glove having slightly denser material. When compared to other gloves, this size difference is really noticeable.
As mentioned a second ago, the padding does seem to be a bit denser than other brands, so this is certainly no pillow glove. From a comfort point, a breaking in period is necessary, but before long the gloves will start to become incredibly comfortable.
Wrist Protection
These gloves differ from traditional boxing gloves the most because the cuff is shorter and differently built. The cuff is round and made from a single piece of padding inside. This padding is stiff and provides a nice collar around the whole wrist. It is also relatively short, like all Thai-style gloves, and there are no long padding pieces on the inside of the wrist.
This is all done to allow the wrist some mobility, which is needed for clinching and catching kicks. For those, it works perfectly, but if you are used to more of a boxing glove feel with the longer and stiffer cuffs, the BGV1 may not be the best for you.
Visuals
Sometimes less is more. Fairtex hasn't changed the look of these in a very long time, and they don't need to. In my eyes, the design of the BGV-1 is excellent, recognizable, and perfect just the way it is. You get the iconic Fairtex logo in the middle, the handmade in Thailand seal beneath it, and a logo patch on the cuff. Clean and classy.
The colors are rich and stand out. I have dark blue, which is a bit cooler than pure black. Still, Fairtex also offers these in various colors and graphics, and the more vibrant ones are eye-catching. The visuals are just the classic look you'd expect from Fairtex.
Using The Fairtex BGV1 Boxing Gloves
The Fairtex BGV1 may be classic Muay Thai gloves with all the proper features, but it is also very much a puncher's glove. The punching surface, very compact padding, and overall slim design make them perfect for those who like to feel the impact of their punches and land their punches around and between guards.
Personally, I love hitting the pads with these. The feedback makes me feel like I can knock out a bull (or at least a horse), and you get some conditioning on the knuckles. For the heavy bag, they also perform great but are not the most protective pair I have tried.
Cinching is very easy, as expected by the features, including the elongated fingers and the lack of a grip bar. You get a better grip than you can hope for with other gloves, and the same goes for catching kicks. The wrist is also mobile, just as much as it should be. After all, these are Muay Thai gloves, which are great for what they are designed for.
Sparring is where the BGV1 is lacking the most. While the slimmer shape and thin padding are excellent for all kinds of training, they are bad for hard sparring.
Even the 16-ounce version will raise eyebrows compared to the pillows most people spar with. I have tried the 12 ounces in sparring (we don't have very strict rules about what you should spar with, to put it mildly). Still, I had to be careful with controlling the punching power.
If you want to be the enforcer in the gym, the BGV1 is perfect, but if you want to protect your partners, they will not do it. Then again, Thai fighters usually don’t spar hard, so there is no need for too soft padding.
But the features that make them suitable for Muay Thai also make these gloves very good for MMA sparring with big gloves. While you won't get any complex submissions, they allow much more hand and wrist mobility than other boxing gloves.
They can be perfect for MMA sparring with big gloves where you can do takedowns and some ground fighting. The slimmer contour also makes them closer to MMA gloves than other boxing gloves.
From sparring wearing the Fairtex BGV1, and against other people using theirs, I can’t say that it makes a noticeable difference to be hit with compared to most gloves.
All in all, the Fairtex BGV1 is a classic glove and a staple in countless Muay Thai and MMA gyms for a good reason. They are high-quality, great-performing train gloves with exceptional grip and punching feedback. All the negative sides of it are just deliberate features that help the model excel where it wants to.
It's why we've ranked the Fairtex BGV1 the best Muay Thai gloves for beginners.
If you need gloves for all-around Muay Thai training or MMA sparring with big gloves, I strongly recommend the BGV1. You should stay away from these if you are a heavier guy needing sparring gloves or someone with problematic wrists.
Price and Competitors
The price of the BGV1 varies depending on where you are buying them, but they go for around $90. In my opinion, this is a bargain. The craftsmanship is excellent, as always, with Fairtex. The leather and other materials are high quality, and there are few brands where you can pay that much for the same quality. And I've seen them sold for around $75, which is a steal and worth it even if you want to leave them on the cupboard as decoration.