At first glance, choosing a punching bag or boxing gloves may seem easy, but the reality is rather different. Before purchase, it is important for you to consider several key elements, such as your weight, boxing skill level, or whether you intend to use the products for training or in an actual match. This guide will help answer all your questions and provide all necessary information.
List of sections in this article:
1. Boxing gloves
- Boxing gloves type
- Boxing gloves size
- Boxing gloves weight
2. Punching bags
- Punching bag type
- Punching bag size and weight
3. Boxing accessories
- Necessary accessories
1. Boxing Gloves
What Type of Boxing Gloves to Choose?
Choose boxing gloves according to the way you intend to use them. The gloves differ in design, frame and materials and if you pick out the wrong type, you can damage the gloves and injure yourself or your opponent. The gloves are divided into two basic categories – training gloves and gloves used for matches.
Boxing match gloves – suitable for sparing and matches. These gloves are usually stronger and more padded to absorb shocks. The gloves have a large Velcro fastener around the wrist. You can browse through our selection of boxing gloves here.
Training gloves – suitable for boxing pads and punching bags. These gloves are usually thinner and they allow for a closer contact with the punching bag. Often, there is a thumb hole. Browse through our selection of training gloves here.
What Size to Choose?
The glove size is one of the things you should focus on when deciding on a right pair for you. However, most gloves have only one size, differing only in hardness. Even so, it is important that the gloves aren’t too tight or loose –they have to fit well. The fit can be adjusted by using wraps. They play an important role in boxing. Not only do they protect your joints from injuries and sores, they also fill the space inside the gloves, which is how you make your glove fit well. Boxing gloves with one size are used by both beginners and amateur boxers. However, professionals sometimes use them too.
Cheaper gloves or gloves for beginners can have a classic S, M, L, XL sizing. However, even with these gloves you have to choose the hardness of the glove.
Professional boxers usually use gloves that can be used in two sizes (usually S/M and L/XL), with different designs for men and women. To adjust the gloves to fit correctly, the aforementioned wraps are used.
How Much Should Your Gloves Weigh (oz)?
Besides the size, you should also carefully consider the weight of your future gloves. The weight is given in ounces (OZ), one ounce constituting approximately 28 grams. Boxing gloves can weight from 8 to 16 oz.
We can divide boxing gloves into 3 basic categories:
- boxing gloves under 10 oz – suitable especially for children, juniors and women
- boxing gloves weighing 10 oz – most often used in professional matches
- boxing gloves over 10 oz – usually used during training (depending on your weight)
Where training is concerned, you need to take into account the boxer’s skill level and weight. Based on their weight you can then determine which gloves are the most suitable. The weight of the gloves can vary with the type of training they are used for. For example, for speed training heavier gloves are recommended. A coach should advise you in these matters.
Recommended gloves weight in ounces (oz) according to the weight of the user:
| Weight of the user | Weight of the gloves |
| over 79 kg | 16oz (0,45 kg) |
| 67 - 79 kg | 14oz (0,40 kg) |
| 60 - 67 kg | 12oz (0,34 kg) |
| 48 - 60 kg | 10oz (0,28 kg) |
| under 47 kg | 8oz (0,22 kg) |
2. Punching Bag
Jaký typ boxovacího pytel zvolit?
A punching bag is equipment suitable mainly for martial arts enthusiasts. It serves as a replacement for an actual opponent. With a punching bag, you can train and improve your endurance, or kicking and hitting technique and develop more strength. However, punching bags can be useful for those who want to release negative energies after work or improve their physical fitness. Punching bags are often also used for fitbox training and other new ways of exercising. We can divide punching bags into three standard categories.
1. Punching bagThe most popular type of punching bag is usually hanged on a frame or from a ceiling. Because the bag is hanging, it has ideal qualities for training strength, as well as kicking and hitting. Punching bags are usually filled with chaff, cloth or other soft material.
Hanging punching bags can be further categorized as:
I. Punching bag with adjustable filling
The advantage of buying a punching bag with adjustable filling is that you can increase the weight of the bag as your skills develop. They are suitable especially for beginners, who at the start of their training don’t have the necessary strength and experience, but gain them in time through training.
II. Filled punching bag
This type of punching bag is suitable for everyone, who already has at least some experience with boxing. The bag cannot be additionally filled, that’s why you need to choose a weight ideal for your training. Read further to find out how much should your punching bag weigh.
III. Unfilled punching bag
A punching bag that is not filled is suitable mainly for professional use. These bags are there for the users to fill them as they need. With unfilled punching bags, it is important to consider the filling material and be careful to balance the bag perfectly.
Freestanding boxing trainer is a practical heavy bag that has many advantages, especially for those who don’t want to drill into a wall, have low ceilings or just don’t have the necessary space. Customers often buy a boxing trainer for their variability, because you can move it from place to place or use it both indoors and outdoors. The trainer is stable thanks to a hollow base filled with sand, water or other material.
Freestanding boxing trainers can be further categorized according to the type of training you need:
I. Classic boxing trainer
This is the basic type of trainer, usually cylinder-shaped. This type of trainer is used for classic kick or hit training, as well as improving strength and speed.
II. Boxing trainer with a dummy
Boxing dummy allows you to land more precise hits when you need to train direct waist, head and body hits.
Speed bag is suitable for fitness training, reflex reaction training, speed training, eye coordination and also hit practice. Speed bags are usually made of synthetic or genuine leather with an air bag on the inside (inflated with a pump and a needle). Sometimes, you come across a boxing ball hanged on a rubber rope that has almost the same qualities as a speed bag.
Punching bag variations:
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| Punching bag with adjustable filling | Filled punching bag | Classic boxing trainer | Boxing trainer with a dummy | Speed bag |
What height and weight to choose?
Once you have picked the type you want, all you need to do next is to choose the correct weight and height. A punching bag should weigh a half of your own weight (i.e. if you weigh 90 kg, the ideal weight of your punching bag is 45 kg). This is the ratio used in fitness boxing. The more experienced or professional boxers should look for bags that have about 80% of their weight. For total beginners, bags under 35 kg are the most suitable.
Tip: It is recommended beginners use a fillable punching bag. This way you can increase the bag’s weight as your experience grows.
Another important factor is the height of the punching bag. A height between 80 – 120 cm is sufficient for regular training. If you plan on training kicks as well, the punching bag should be higher than 120 cm, ideally over 150 cm.
Warning: It is not recommended to try to regulate the height of the hanging punching bags with another chain. The length of the chain every punching bag is provided with is set to maintain the bag’s ideal boxing qualities. If you want to use the bag also for kicks, we recommend purchasing a higher bag.
3. Other Boxing Accessories
What accessories will you need?
Aside from boxing gloves and punching bags, you can use many other boxing accessories and protective gear while boxing. The essential ones are mouth guards, head guards, wraps or punching pads. These products will protect your body and make your training more effective.
Mouthguards
Many young boxers don’t exactly know what to do with mouthguards before first use. The first step is to put the mouthguard into boiling water and keep it there for a while, until it softens somewhat. After that, you carefully (don’t burn yourself) insert the mouthguard into your mouth and firmly bite down for a couple of seconds. This way the mouth guard’s shape will copy your teeth and gums. After a few seconds, take the mouthguard out of your mouth and put it in ice (you can also use ice water). The mouthguard will harden and after that, it’s ready for use.
Head guards
Head guards are an important accessory, especially for beginners that don’t have much experience. They are also used during lower-class matches.
Wraps
Wraps are a necessary part of every training or a match. Wraps fill the space in the gloves so that the gloves fit perfectly. At the same time, they protect your knuckles.
Boxing pads
Boxing pads are an inseparable part of every speed or reaction training. The pads are foam or textile blocks, usually oval or round in shape. The coach slips them onto their hands and the boxer tries to hit the blocks the best they can, as per the coach’s instructions.
