The question “How much do boxing gloves cost?” is something I get asked every single week as I’m at the gym hitting the heavy bag. Many people who are new to boxing and combat sports want to know how much boxing gloves should cost before buying a pair. While many others are naturally curious about how much boxing gloves should cost because they are looking to get into boxing and other combat sports. Either way, we’re here to help as there are many things you should know before buying a pair of boxing gloves.
Chances are you’re someone who is just getting into the sport of boxing or martial arts and want to know how much you should spend on a pair of boxing gloves. The truth is, boxing glove prices can vary anywhere between $10 and $500, although the average cost for a decent pair of boxing gloves is around $100. The cost of boxing gloves varies on many factors such as brand, material, and even the specific type of boxing gloves you’re looking to buy.
Factors that Influence Boxing Glove Cost
Brand
I’ve talked about this topic many times before and have mentioned it in my article of Ultimate Boxing Glove Buyer’s Guide. Boxing glove brands are the biggest influence of cost when it comes to pricing boxing gloves. Brands such as Winning, Grant, and Cleto Reyes are the top tier boxing gloves and commonly cost anywhere from $200-$500. These types of gloves are usually used by professional and semi-professional Boxers and MMA Fighters. The reason why these top-tier gloves are used by professionals like Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez are because they’re the highest quality available when it comes to boxing gloves.
Mid-tier gloves such as Hayabusa, Ringside, and Title Boxing Gloves are a great value and are also solid gloves for beginner boxers. These gloves are priced around $100 and are reputable brands that make affordable gloves. Although you won’t see any pros compete with $100 boxing gloves, it doesn’t mean they are bad gloves for amateurs and beginners to use. I personally recommend mid-tier gloves for beginners because they will last a long time and will protect your hand/wrist while you practice and learn appropriate form and technique.
Finally, we have budget glove brands such as Venum, RDX, and Sanabul. Although these brands don’t make boxing gloves with the best material, they can still be a great pair of boxing gloves for beginner boxers on a budget and combat sport athletes. These gloves are priced anywhere from $20-$100 and are made primarily for beginner boxers. These aren’t the highest quality of gloves but they are the most affordable and they will still get the job done. Another brand that makes some solid entry-level boxing gloves is Elite Sports.
Material
The truth is, some material will be much more durable and comfortable than others and the material used to make boxing gloves is a direct indicator of how expensive or inexpensive they’ll be. Better material means that the gloves will come with a higher price-point. Cheaper gloves are typically made with cheap material such as vinyl or synthetic leather. Vinyl and synthetic leather aren’t bad material for boxing gloves but their duration and durability won’t hold up nearly as long as genuine leather.
Genuine leather (also known as cowhide or goatskin leather) is normally used by high-tier and mid-tier brands because of how durable and flexible the material is. Real leather is the primary choice amongst many professional boxers and fighters today because they only want to use the very best. Cowhide leather is very comfortable and offers good stretch for the fist as it’s higher quality material. Goatskin leather is actually cheaper to use than cowhide leather, however, both are well worth the price.
Synthetic Leather (also known as Polyurethane or PU) is a lower-cost material used for boxing gloves. It generally looks and feels just as good to use, but it won’t be as durable as boxing gloves that are made from real leather. Gloves made of this material are usually low to mid-tier gloves and are generally marketed towards beginners. These types of gloves will have odor issues if they are used regularly and aren’t properly cleaned. I personally wouldn’t recommend synthetic leather to a professional or semi-professional fighter.
Vinyl material is a good alternative if you’re on a budget or prefer not to use real leather (vegan fighters). The main problem with vinyl gloves are that they won’t be nearly as durable as real leather boxing gloves. The good thing about Vinyl gloves is that they’re much easier to clean when compared to other materials such as leather. I would only recommend vinyl boxing gloves for beginner boxers who are just picking up the hobby, or those who would like to stick to a budget.
Type
Believe it or not, there are many different types of boxing glove types available. There are heavy bag gloves, competition gloves, boxing gloves for sparring, and many more specific types of gloves available. The reason why there are so many different types of boxing gloves is because they are made specifically for certain training types. It wouldn’t be safe to spar in competition gloves as they are much smaller than your typical sparring gloves and you run the risk of injuring your sparring partner. This is why it’s important to know what type of boxing gloves you would find the most practical depending on your training regiment.
Many fighters own multiple pairs of gloves in multiple weights, so that they can train in a variety of ways safely. Most heavy bag gloves are made for “all-around” use and can be used in a variety of ways. However, you should only spar in boxing gloves 16 ounces or heavier so that you protect yourself and your partner. Sparring gloves are also made of a softer material so that you lessen the risk of injury. You can usually find affordable pairs of sparring gloves and heavy bag gloves, however, competition gloves are usually the most expensive pair of gloves one will own.
How Much Should You Spend on Boxing Gloves?
The answer to this question is going to be different for each person. There are many factors that go into this question depending on if you’re new to the sport, what your budget is, etc. If you’re a beginner, I usually recommend staying under the $100 range because you should learn proper technique before breaking the bank on an expensive pair of gloves. The last thing you want is an expensive pair of boxing gloves that allow you to get away with improper technique.
Depending on your training type I always recommend buying the high-tier boxing gloves (if you can afford it) because they truly are the best for your hand/wrist. You would be surprised how easy it is to break one of those small bones in your hand and it’s always best to minimize any risk of getting injured. There are many high-tier boxing gloves around the $100-$200 range that are very durable and protective, such as Cleto Reyes.
What are the Best Boxing Gloves for Beginners?
I actually wrote an entire article about this exact question in my “Best Boxing Gloves for Beginners” guide because I understand how hard it is for someone new to combat sports searching for the perfect first pair of boxing gloves. When I first started training Muay Thai many years ago I was clueless when searching for boxing gloves that were affordable yet high quality and durable. My goal is to help other’s find their perfect pair of boxing gloves so that they can further their own martial arts goals.
Guru’s Choice: Hayabusa S4 Boxing Gloves
Hayabusa S4 Boxing Gloves
- A NEW STANDARD FOR BEGINNER BOXING GLOVES: A boxing glove that checks all of the boxes, from protection and comfort to durability and fit. Comfortable and supportive the moment you put them on, featuring PU leather construction, nylon lining, and a mesh palm to ensure the S4 will stand up to high-intensity workouts week after week, month after month.
- BUILT FOR COMFORT WITH A TAILORED FIT: The pre-curved ergonomic pocket, grip bar and proper thumb position ensure proper fist closure and alignment — sizes 10 oz 12 oz, 14 oz, and 16 oz.
- SUPPORT YOU CAN TRUST: The single strap works in tandem with the splinted wrist support to deliver a secure, protective fit that prevents risky and damaging bends
- PADDED KNUCKLE PROTECTION: Most starter gloves don’t fully protect your hands. S4 delivers splinted wrist support and cushioning foam to keep you properly protected while you hone your technique.
- PACKAGE CONTENTS: 1 pair of S4 Boxing Gloves. S4 is perfect for training, sparring, kickboxing, combat sports, taekwondo, kickboxing, MMA, muay thai, and martial arts.
The Hayabusa S4 boxing gloves is perfect for beginners and has everything you need to get started. The S4 provides free hand wraps as well so that you’re ready to go once your gloves arrive. I personally vouch for Hayabusa, they are a quality brand that is well known in the combat sports world. They are superior craftsman and know how to construct a proper fitting beginner boxing glove. I personally believe these are the best boxing gloves for beginners right now.
The best thing about the Hayabusa S4 is the breathability these gloves offer. While they do feel snug, they also feel breathable and comfortable from the moment you put them on. There is no real break-period with these gloves so the moment you get them they’re ready to go! Multiple people have talked about these gloves feeling a little tight, so be warned that you may need to size up.
Additional Boxing Gear You’ll Need
Now that you’ve decided on a pair of gloves, it’s time to complete your boxing gear bag. You’ll also want to pick up a mouthguard, boxing shoes, and maybe even a heavy bag if you’re training at home.