What’s in the Training Bag? Boxing Edition
- Bethany-May Rowe
Thinking of starting boxing?
You’ve finally made it. Your first boxing session at a new gym.
You walk in and, naturally, you don't bring your own gloves. So, you politely ask if there are any spares and get pointed towards a wall of gloves that are well past their use-by date. You weigh up which ones look the newest and which might be the least offensive, but the truth is, there is no right answer. They all smell like moist Doritos, a scent that will soon haunt your hands and your soul.
You slide them on with a spongy, warm squelch that confirms there was a boxercise class just before you arrived. The session itself is great. It’s tough, but you love it. Once the final burpees and last round of bag work are done, you peel those sweat-soaked gloves off your hands. In that moment, you realise with absolute certainty that you are never violating your hands like that again.
It is time to buy your own gloves, immediately. While you’re at it, you may as well pick up everything else you need. The question is, what else belongs in the bag to make that second session smoother and significantly better smelling?
Hand wraps
When you shop for these, you’ll see a bajillion different lengths. Make sure you pick up 180-inch hand wraps, minimum. Anything shorter and you’ll struggle to wrap your hands properly and give them the added protection they need. If you plan on boxing more than twice a week, grab a couple of pairs so you can rotate them. They get seriously sweaty inside your gloves and wearing the same pair too many times in a row isn’t ideal.
Go funky with the colours if that’s your thing. One of my favourite pairs is from the Hayabusa x Arcane League of Legends collaboration. Having great wraps is the boxing equivalent of having a great socks collection. Be shameless about it!
My recommendation: Hayabusa x Arcane League of Legends (180 inch)
Budget recommendation: Adidas Hand Wraps (450 cm)
14-16 oz boxing gloves - for sparring
Boxing gloves designed for sparring don’t come in small, medium or large. They’re categorised by weight and how much padding they have. For sparring, most clubs won’t allow you to participate in gloves smaller than 14 oz. Your partner is likely going to feel your knuckles through the glove in a lighter pair. Generally 16 oz sparring gloves are preferred and you want to go for a pair with softer padding. You’re using them in live situations, so quality protection matters. These gloves are worth investing in.
My recommendation: Fly Superloop Team Gloves
Budget recommendation: RDX F4 Boxing Sparring Gloves Hook & Loop
Small/medium (10-12 oz) boxing gloves - for pad and bag work
If you’re a heavy hitter, you may want to go with a larger pair of bag gloves for extra hand protection. However, when your focus is speed and precision, the smaller the better. Regular bag and pad work breaks down your gloves quicker. Ideally, go for denser padding with a reinforced knuckle for the most durability.
My recommendation: RB50 INTELLI-SHOCK COMPACT BAG GLOVES
Budget recommendation: RB4 AERO BAG GLOVES
Headguard - for sparring
If you’re doing full body sparring, a headguard is essential. You’ll see two main types: one with a face bar, and one with just cheek protection. The face bar style offers additional cover on the front of your face, but can inhibit your vision and be a little distracting. Headguards with cheek protection offer you a much wider field of vision, but offer less overall protection.
There’s no right or wrong, choose whichever you feel most comfortable in. Just make sure to take your head measurements and buy the correct size. If you order it too big, it’ll feel loose and move around on your head when you’re sparring. It can also compromise your vision and fail to protect you properly during intense exchanges. This is another piece of kit where quality counts, so invest in a good one.
My recommendation: Phenom SHG-210 HEAD GUARD
Budget recommendation: PRO FITNESS HEAD GUARD SYNTHETIC LEATHER
Glove spray/deodoriser
No matter how clean you are, your gloves will develop a bit of a pong with regular use. The key to minimising it is simple. Spray your gloves with a deodorising glove spray after every session and make sure you air dry them thoroughly between each use. You can also buy glove deodoriser’s which sit inside your glove, helping to absorb the moisture and neutralise the smell.
Glove insert recommendation: Meister Glove and Boot Deodoriser
Glove spray recommendation: MyFresh Tropical Bloom
Gum Shield - for sparring
If you plan on doing any sparring at all, buy a good gum shield and wear it every time. Even body sparring without one is tempting fate. Accidental punches miss their target or ride higher than intended more often than you think. For open sparring, it becomes even more important. You don’t want to end your session early because you lost a tooth or split your lip. Biting down on your gum shield during exchanges also helps stabilise your jaw and disperse some of the impact if a hit lands. Personally, I swear by Opro, specifically the Gold Tier gum shield. It fits well, comes with its own case and includes 12 months of free dental warranty when you register it online.
Boxing boots
When you’re boxing regularly, especially as an amateur, you need to look after your feet and ankles. You’re on your toes pivoting, turning through punches, skipping and jumping. That puts a lot of pressure through your joints and it’s easy to roll your ankles in a standard training shoe. Some good high-ankle boxing boots will provide plenty of support and stability when you move. Note that you should only wear your boxing boots in the gym. Wearing them outside as everyday shoes will ruin them very quickly.
My recommendation: Nike Machomai 3s
Budget recommendation: Adidas Boxhog 2.0
Skipping rope
Most boxing gyms include five to ten minutes of skipping in the warm-up. Scrambling for a rope that is a decent length before only the dregs are left is not worth the stress. Pick yourself up a speed rope and cut it to size. You can then practise skipping at home in your spare time. If you’ve never skipped before, it never hurts to get some extra practice in. It takes time to find your rhythm and build up to skipping smoothly for a few minutes at a time.
My recommendation: Beast Speed Rope
Hand towel
If you’re not a sweaty mess by the end of your session, you probably weren't doing it right. The downside is that many coaches love to finish class with core work. If you’ve ever tried holding a plank with sweaty elbows, you know it’s nearly impossible. You just slide around like a penguin on ice, even with a mat underneath you. Laying a towel under your elbows gives you extra friction for balance-based core exercises. It also comes in handy for a much-needed mop down when the suffering is over.
Time to fill your bag
The great thing about boxing is that once you know what belongs in your bag, it rarely changes. You only need to replace items as they wear out, and most equipment lasts a long time if you look after it properly. All that’s left to do is pick your fit for the day’s session. Keep an eye out for the Tough Cherry boxing range, coming soon.