Choosing the right boxing gloves is one of the most important steps for any new fighter. This crucial piece of equipment will protect your hands while also allowing you to throw punches that have a solid impact. Using cheap, shoddily built gloves could seriously hamper your chances of becoming a good fighter.
There are lots of different boxing gloves around for you to choose from. How will you make a good decision on them? Choosing from the most expensive boxing gloves is certainly one way of guaranteeing quality but what else do you need to take into account before we look at our top 5 options?
The truth is that there are a few factors that you need to know about before you go any further.
If you’re in a rush, here’s a quick look at the top 5 most expensive boxing gloves.
5 Most Expensive Boxing Gloves 2018
- Cleto Reyes Hook & Loop Training Gloves
- TITLE Gel World Bag Gloves
- Venum Elite Boxing Gloves
- Hayabusa T3 Boxing Gloves
- Fairtex Muay Thai Boxing Gloves BGV1 Limited Edition
The Different Materials Used
As with most types of sporting equipment, the price difference between products often comes down to the quality of the materials used. With boxing gloves, the following are the most common materials you will come across.
- Synthetic leather. One of the most noticeable differences between cheap gloves and more expensive gloves is with the type of outer material used. The cheaper models will tend to use synthetic leather, with the most basic boxing gloves often coming in a poor-quality vinyl that doesn’t look great and also doesn’t stand the test of time.
- Real leather. On the other hand, the most expensive boxing gloves will typically be made out of real leather on the outside. This material is more durable than its synthetic equivalents and you can expect gloves made of real leather to last for a lot longer.
- Horsehair padding. Believe it or not, this is what the padding in all boxing gloves used to be made of in the past. You will find that some top-quality brands continue to use this material even now. Horsehair padding is more environmentally friendly and provides more punching power, but gives a degree less protection to the boxer’s hands.
- Foam padding. This is the type of material now most commonly used as glove padding. The quality of the foam used will largely determine the cost of the gloves. They will typically last less than horsehair padded gloves but offer greater protection. Some people prefer this type of padding and others like the more traditional sort of padding mentioned above.
- Injection Moulded Foam padding. It is worth pointing out this type of foam padding, as it is designed to hold its shape better than any other type.
Size and Weight Considerations
There are numerous different sizes of boxing gloves around. This is because each different kind has a specific use. For example, the bigger, more padded boxing gloves will typically be used for training and sparring. Smaller ones will be used in fights, with the exact size depending upon the weight of the fighters.
It is clear that the bigger gloves use more materials, particularly in terms of the padding needed. However, you shouldn’t expect to see a huge difference in price between the different weights. Buying 10 oz gloves isn’t necessarily going to cost you less than buying 16 oz gloves would.
The most important issue is to get the right gloves for each occasion. Saving some money but getting unsuitable equipment is a false economy and could prove to be dangerous for the health of your hands as well.
Therefore, the best idea is to work out the size of gloves that you need. After that, you can look through the different models and see what kind of budget you need to get the quality that you are after.
The Most Expensive Boxing Glove Brands
As with anything else in life, going for the best brands will usually involve paying a premium price. If you want to know what the most expensive brands are then take a look at what the pro fighters use. The price tags on each model will also give you a good idea of how highly regarded they are.
Everlast, Cleto Reyes, Rival, Title and Venum are some of the big brands that you will come across when you go shopping for upmarket gloves. Some brands also have different ranges within them that appeal to various types of customer. For instance, they might have a set of budget gloves for beginners as well as pro-quality models at a higher price.
Most boxers will eventually find a manufacturer that they like and prefer to stick with. Others will keep trying out a few different brands over time to see which ones most appeal to them. Bearing this in mind, it is a good idea to start off by looking at good-quality, highly respected brands if you can afford it.
Are More Expensive Gloves Better?
Having looked at the basics, now is a good moment to ask whether paying more for your gloves is going to guarantee you a better product. Will you just be paying for the brand or for true quality? Or it is simply the case that they look better or will impress people in your gym more than budget brands would?
In general terms, paying more will give you better quality in terms of durability, safety, comfort and long-lasting materials. A cheap pair of gloves simply won’t give you the same protection as more expensive gloves will and they may come apart at the same a lot quicker too.
Of course, it still pays to look for the right gloves rather than just the ones that cost the most. We looked at horsehair padding earlier and these are known as puncher’s gloves because they give you more force but less protection. Buying a pair of expensive horsehair padded gloves for sparring or training work doesn’t make sense no matter how expensive they are.
Having said that, if you need to choose between similar cheap and expensive boxing gloves then the pair that costs more should do a better job for you. You should look to avoid paying more simply for the sake of it, though. It should be clear what benefits you are going to get by paying more money.
Our Top 5 Choices.. If You Want The Most Expensive Boxing Gloves!
Now that we have looked at the main issues, it is time to check out some of the best boxing gloves that it is worth setting aside a healthy budget for. The following are 5 pairs of gloves that will cost you a fair amount of money but that turn out to be great investments.
1. Cleto Reyes Hook & Loop Training Gloves
The first product for us to look at is the set of gloves from the ever-popular Cleto Reyes brand. Made from goatskin leather and available in a range of colours, these gloves look the part and have some useful features included. For example, they have 2 inches of latex foam padding for extra hand protection.
The hook & loop closure means that you can easily put them on and take them off in a few seconds without needing help from anyone else. They are hand-made in Mexico and are designed for training with rather than for actual fights.
Pros
- Excellent wrist support
- Comfortable, snug fit
- Waterproof
- They look great
Cons
- They may feel too tight for the first few uses, until you break them in
2. TITLE Gel World Bag Gloves
The Title Brand is another of the most sought-after names in the boxing world. These gloves are top-quality pieces of equipment that will make you feel on top of the world when you use them. They are 16oz gloves that have an all-leather outer.
The wraparound wrist strap is adjustable and there is a special hand compartment lining used, for comfort and dryness. Your hands are kept well-protected through the use of Gel Enforced Lining™ along with multi-layered foam padding. A hook & loop closure makes them easy to slip on and off. They are topped off with a stylish look that makes them a pleasure to wear to training sessions.
Pros
- Soft, comfortable materials
- Easy to use
- Stylish look
- Good level of hand and wrist protection
Cons
- Some people have found it difficult to get the perfect size for a comfortable fit
3. Venum Elite Boxing Gloves
The highly-respected Venum brand brings us these excellent gloves, which are hand-made in Thailand. A 100% premium Skintex leather construction gives you gloves that you can rely upon tie after time. Your hands are protected behind a barrier of triple density foam to help you to avoid injury.
These Venum Elite Boxing Gloves come in a variety of colours and are highly attractive. Among the most eye-catching details are the large velcro enclosure and the reinforced panel. Overall, this is the kind of boxing glove that it is a pleasure to use for a variety of reasons.
Pros
- Good quality construction
- Extremely high level of hand protection
- Comfortable to wear
Cons
- Some boxers feel that their hands aren’t well enough protected.
4. Hayabusa T3 Boxing Gloves
These Hayabusa gloves are marketed as not needing any time for breaking in. They are designed for use in sparring bouts and for bag work. You get a 5 layer foam structure and a DUAL-X closure system that the manufacturer says gives a lace-like fit.
You are promised unbeatable wrist support thanks to the 4 interlocking splints fitted at the back of the hand. These gloves are hand-crafted and use PU leather to ensure that they are resistant to cracking or tearing even with heavy use.
Pros
- Good wrist support
- No breaking in needed
- Snug, secure fit
- Durable and long-lasting
Cons
The closure system means that they aren’t the quickest gloves to put on and take off
5. Fairtex Muay Thai Boxing Gloves BGV1 Limited Edition
Described as being all-purpose boxing gloves, these Fairtex gloves give a feel of quality and power once you slip them on. They come with a tight fit design that makes them feel nice and secure when you are punching. Are they the most expensive boxing gloves that you will ever buy.
These gloves are made out of premium leather. Velcro straps make them easy to use even when there is no helping hand available to assist you to put them on. They are hand-made in Thailand and come with a feeling of quality that you should love
Most Expensive Boxing Gloves: Conclusion
As we have seen there are some terrific premium boxing gloves around that will do a great job for you. It isn’t as easy as just choosing the pair that costs the most, though.
Instead, you need to think about your aims and find gloves that suit your boxing style, your needs and your budget as well. If you do this then there is every chance that you get the perfect boxing gloves that let you train and fight without any hassles.
FAQ
Are expensive boxing gloves better?
This isn’t always the case, as it is more important to choose gloves that suit you. However, paying more should give you a higher level of quality.
What are the best boxing glove brands?
Among the best brands we have looked at here are Cleto Reyes, Title, Venum, Haybus and Fairtex.
Are cheap boxing gloves less safe?
It all depends upon the materials used and the suggested use of them. Some cheap gloves offer plenty of protection, while expensive gloves are often designed for maximum force.
Should expensive boxing gloves last for longer?
This really depends upon the model that you choose. The superior materials can the most expensive boxing gloves last longer but some are designed to give you more power or more comfort rather than durability.
Should I buy one expensive pair of gloves or several cheaper pairs?
Most boxers end up using several pairs of gloves of different weights, as they are used for different purposes. Therefore, it is a question of working out whether your budget stretches to buying all of them at the quality you crave. Perhaps you could slowly build up your collection while focusing on the quality.
