The best boxing gloves
For the punchbag in the garage, a boxing fitness class or a first night at the club: gloves that protect the hands and feel good from the first round.
Boxing gloves are sold by weight in ounces, and more ounces means more padding. Light gloves suit children and quick bag and pad work; heavier ones carry more padding, which is kinder to a sparring partner.
Whatever the glove, wear hand wraps underneath to support the wrists and knuckles, and let the gloves air-dry after every session. A pair left zipped in a kit bag soon lets everyone know about it.
What matters
- Weight in ounces: more padding for sparring.
- A secure wrist strap that's easy to do up.
- Padding that spreads the impact.
- A breathable palm for long sessions.
#1 of 5
Best overall
RDX Kara Series Training Boxing Gloves (4oz to 18oz)
£29.99 RRP
Pre-curved padding and an attached thumb help the hand close into a proper fist, and the full wraparound strap keeps the wrist straight on the bag. It comes in every weight from 4oz to 18oz, so the whole family can train in the same glove.
What owners say: Owners find them comfortable and well made, with a snug fit that stays put, and say they break in quickly and handle bag work, pads and sparring.
A closer look: RDX recommends the 4oz to 10oz gloves for young people up to 14; adults go heavier, with more padding for sparring. The hook-and-loop strap means children can get them on and off without help.
- 4oz to 18oz sizes
- Quadro Dome 3 padding
- Attached thumb
- Wraparound hook-and-loop strap
- Ventilated palm
Best for: Bag, pads and sparring
- Outer
- Maya Hide
- Padding
- Quadro Dome 3 (EVA foam and SpongeX)
- Wrist closure
- Hook and loop, full wrap
#2 of 5
Best for fitness classes
adidas Speed 50 Boxing Gloves
£30–£50 Price range
Light and quick, with a one-piece moulded foam shell and a wide elasticated strap that's easy to fasten between rounds, so they suit boxing fitness classes and home bag workouts.
What owners say: Owners find them comfortable and light, with straps that are quick to fasten, and say they fit smaller hands well.
Heads up: They're made for fitness and bag work; for regular hard sparring, a heavier glove with more padding is kinder.
A closer look: adidas's own advice is 10 to 12oz for classes and pad work and 14 to 16oz for the heavy bag; check the size guide on the listing too, as fit depends on hand size. The soft lining helps against rubbing in long classes.
- PU outer
- One-piece moulded foam
- 7.5cm elasticated wrist strap
- Soft inner lining
- 4oz to 16oz sizes
Best for: Fitness classes
- Outer
- PU
- Padding
- One-piece moulded foam
- Wrist closure
- Hook and loop, 7.5cm elasticated
#3 of 5
Best budget
SAWANS Training Boxing Gloves
£10–£20 Price range
A low-cost pair for someone trying boxing fitness or setting up a punchbag at home: a synthetic leather outer, multi-layer foam and a mesh palm that lets hot hands breathe.
What owners say: Owners say they're comfortable and smart-looking, fit well and do the job for punchbag sessions and light sparring, at a price that's hard to argue with.
A closer look: A sensible first pair while someone finds out whether boxing sticks. At this price, a second pair for a training partner is easy to justify.
- PU leather outer
- Multi-layer foam padding
- Mesh palm vents
- Hook-and-loop wrist strap
- Sizes from 10oz
Best for: A first pair
- Outer
- PU leather
- Padding
- Multi-layer foam
- Wrist closure
- Hook and loop
#4 of 5
Best for bag work
Everlast Elite 2 Boxing Gloves
£34.99 RRP
Three layers of foam soak up the impact over a long heavy-bag session, and a wedge-shaped strap locks the wrist so punches land cleanly. Everlast started in the Bronx in 1910 making swimsuits meant to last, hence the name, and made its first boxing kit in 1917 when a young Jack Dempsey asked for headgear that would last more than 15 rounds.
What owners say: Owners like the snug, comfortable fit and the padding, find the wrist support good, and think they're good value.
A closer look: Everlast makes it for beginners and casual boxers, for bag work, pads and light sparring. Look after it by wiping it with a damp cloth rather than washing it, and undo the strap fully before pulling it on and off, which saves the lining.
- Synthetic leather outer
- Triple-layer C3 foam
- Wedge-shaped hook-and-loop strap
- EverCool mesh palm
- Attached thumb
Best for: Heavy-bag sessions
- Outer
- Synthetic leather
- Padding
- Triple-layer C3 foam
- Wrist closure
- Hook and loop, wedge-shaped
#5 of 5
Best for kickboxing
Venum Contender 1.5 Boxing Gloves
£44.99 RRP
Venum's entry-level glove, made for training three or four times a week: semi-leather outside, multi-density foam inside, and a fully attached thumb that stays tucked in on every punch.
What owners say: Owners find them good quality and good value, comfortable and smart-looking, and like how soft the padding feels on the bag.
Heads up: Fit varies from hand to hand, so check Venum's size chart on the listing before choosing a weight.
A closer look: It suits someone joining a club or a kickboxing class who wants a glove to grow into. Let them dry at room temperature after training, not on a radiator, so the outer doesn't crack.
- Semi-leather outer
- Multi-density foam
- Fully attached thumb
- Wide hook-and-loop strap
- Boxing, Muay Thai and kickboxing
Best for: Kickboxing and Muay Thai classes
- Outer
- Semi-leather
- Padding
- Multi-density foam
- Wrist closure
- Wide hook and loop
How they compare
| Feature | #1RDX Kara | #2adidas Speed 50 | #3SAWANS | #4Everlast Elite 2 | #5Venum Contender 1.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for fitness classes | Best budget | Best for bag work | Best for kickboxing | |
| Picked Rating | 9.4 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.8 |
| Price | £29.99 RRP | £30–£50 Price range | £10–£20 Price range | £34.99 RRP | £44.99 RRP |
| Outer | Maya Hide | PU | PU leather | Synthetic leather | Semi-leather |
| Padding | Quadro Dome 3 (EVA foam and SpongeX) | One-piece moulded foam | Multi-layer foam | Triple-layer C3 foam | Multi-density foam |
| Wrist closure | Hook and loop, full wrap | Hook and loop, 7.5cm elasticated | Hook and loop | Hook and loop, wedge-shaped | Wide hook and loop |
| Best for | Bag, pads and sparring | Fitness classes | A first pair | Heavy-bag sessions | Kickboxing and Muay Thai classes |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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