As with most things, you get what you pay for. More expensive gloves should offer better protection and should last longer. Better protection by way of better wrist support and better padding over the knuckles, and should last longer due to better materials and better craftmanship.

At Brawla, I have selected brands/models through trial and error and based on numerous reviews. I have selected gloves that are of a high quality in craftmanship and materials, offering great protection and support, but retail at a reasonable price.

Ideally, we would recommend having two pairs, a bigger, softer pair for sparring, and a smaller, denser pair for bag and mitt work. Sparring gloves tend to be made of a softer foam than bag gloves to protect your hands and your partner. All foam padding in gloves tends to break down due to the repetitive nature of hitting a bag - the softer foams break down faster, while this may be ok if you are only hitting the bag/pads, it becomes problematic once you start hitting your sparring partners.

We also believe that while bigger gloves offer more protection to both yourself, and your partner while sparring, it is beneficial to get as much training in as possible in fight weighted gloves (or close to it).

There are a few variables here. Do you plan on sparring? Or do you just want the gloves to hit the bags and mitts? Also, do you plan on getting one or two pairs of gloves (one for bag and mitt work, and one for sparring is recommended), and if your gym requires a certain size of glove for sparring? Most gyms that I am aware of in NZ require 16oz gloves for sparring (possibly larger if you are big hitter).

For bag and mitt work we generally recommend something similar to fight weight glove which are 10oz or in lighter divisions 8oz, for pads and mitt work we tend to recommend 12oz for a little added protection over the knuckles.

If we are out of stock, please feel free to email us as we can get most items fairly quickly and at no extra cost to the you, the consumer. If it is a model or even brand that is not displayed on the website let us know, we may be able to source it for it you, or at the very least offer an alternative.

Yes, but generally they can be used for either. Boxing gloves tend to have a longer cuff and more support around the wrist, also more of the padding should be centered over the knuckles as this is the only surface you are supposed to strike with. Muay Thai/Kickboxing gloves tend to have a shorter cuff and less wrist support which allow for more freedom of movement so that you can clinch, catch kicks, and throw elbows.

A lot of Muay Thai gloves also have padding along the cuff to add protection when blocking kicks and elbows. What glove suits you will come down which sport you are involved in and to a degree - person preference, are you punch heavy? Do you like to clinch and have flexible movement through your gloves?

While a lot of gloves nowadays offer excellent protection, a snug fit, and good wrist support, we would still recommend wraps. Not only add extra support, but they will also help to absorb sweat prolonging the lifespan of the gloves (and help reduce bad odors).

Velcro is obviously faster and a lot easier to get off and on, especially if you ever end up training on your own. Laces on the other hand tend to offer more wrist support, and a more realistic fight feel. While wrist support is generally better in lace up gloves there are a few models of velcro gloves which offer exceptional wrist support, an example of this would be any model with the Rival Wrist Lock or Wrist Lock 2 strapping system.

Check with your coach, some gyms require head guards for sparring. For those that have a choice here are some things to keep in mind; Head guards reduce superficial damage (cuts and bruises) but largely do not reduce the impact on the brain from getting hit, in fact the use of a head guard may increase the amount you get hit by reducing your vision and increasing the target size for your opponent.

TopBoxer is a brand know for have exceptional craftmanship and for being able to bring even the most creative ideas to life. You can order directly from the TopBoxer website or through us.