Bag gloves? Sparring gloves? Both?

Fully padded bag gloves look a lot like sparring gloves but there are some important differences. The main one being sparring gloves have a soft outer layer of padding to reduce the risk of cuts and bruises. Some bag gloves also have exposed metal or plastic which are liable to cause injury. Sparring gloves are designed to have a smooth surface with no hard edges.

Most people who start boxing and join a club get one pair of gloves to do everything. Bags, pads, partner drills, push-ups, sparring. Can one pair of gloves do all that? The short answer is yes, but that might not be the best option for you.

The soft outer layer of padding in a sparring glove does not give your sparring partner extra protection from heavy shots, but it does reduce the incidence of cuts and marks. For most of us, turning up to work or social events with cuts and black eyes is something we want to avoid. So if you want to make sparring part of your training, you have to have a pair of sparring gloves.

When you join a club, check out what requirements they have for sparring gloves, they will tell you what minimum weight of glove you can use for your weight class.

Bag gloves are better for bag and pad work

The padding in a bag glove is stiffer and more durable to stand up to heavy bag work. The quality of the padding will vary depending on the quality of the glove but, in general, stiffer padding will offer better impact protection.

That firmer padding means that bag gloves will give you better feedback from your punches, helping you to develop good technique. It will also give you better stability on contact, reducing the strain on your wrists.

Sparring gloves wear out more quickly than bag gloves when used on bags and pads. This means less protection for your hands, and less protection for your sparring partners as the soft outer layer will be the first to break down.

If you’re not going to be sparring then you will be better off with bag gloves. They will last longer and will be better for pad and bag work.

If you’re going to be doing any sparring then you have to get sparring gloves. The question then is, should you also get bag gloves? The answer depends on how often you intend to train, and are you sure you’re into boxing for the long term. If you plan to train regularly for any length of time then getting both types of glove makes sense. Your sparring gloves will last longer, and your bag gloves will be better for your hands and your technique. Gloves are expensive, but in the long term having sparring and bag gloves will save you money as they will last much longer.

If you’re starting out and you’re not sure if boxing is for you, then using one pair of gloves for everything is fine. If you do get into it seriously, then you can think about getting a second pair. Get some good quality hand wraps and spend time practising wrapping your hands, finding the way that feels most comfortable and gives you the best support. Most importantly, take time to work on technique and conditioning. These will protect your hands better than any equipment you can buy.