Do you want to start boxing - or finally get better gloves?
Then you're not alone. Many beginners - but also advanced boxers - make classic mistakes when buying boxing gloves. This not only leads to frustration during training, but can even favour injuries. To prevent this from happening to you, I'll show you the 7 most common mistakes when buying boxing gloves - and how you can easily avoid them.
Mistake 1: You are confusing weight with height
A common mistake: 10 OZ is not automatically "small" or "large". The ounce number (OZ) stands for the weight of the gloves - not for your hand size.
What does that mean? The more ounces the boxing gloves have, the more padding. A 16 oz boxing glove protects you and your training partner better than a 10 oz glove.
Basic rule:
- 10 OZ - only for competition or very light work on the punching bag
- 12-14 OZ - for technique and partner training
- 16 OZ - ideal for sparring
Ask your coach what is worn at your club.
Tip: Also pay attention to the fit - many brands offer narrower or wider cuts. You can try on the boxing gloves in one of our shops if you're not sure.
Mistake 2: You don't buy bandages - or they are too short
Even the best glove is useless if you wear it without supports. Your hand is a complex structure made up of delicate bones, ligaments and joints - training unprotected is not an option.
What you need:
- 3.5 to 4.5 metres long Boxing bandagesFor optimum stability
- Alternative: Inner gloves with gel padding (Fit and Hobby Boxer) or Fastwraps
Attention: Short bandages (2.5 metres) often offer too little support. They are only intended for children. We recommend using at least 3.5 metres.
Mistake 3: You buy according to price - not quality
Of course, nobody wants to pay too much. But: Cheap gloves under CHF 50 are often made of thin artificial leather, inferior foam and only last a few months.
Worse still - they offer hardly any protection for your ankles and wrists.
Buy cheap, buy twice....
Better: Invest in a good pair made of high-quality PU or, even better, genuine leather that will accompany you for years to come. At Vikingstore you can get models with tested quality - e.g. from Benlee, , Leone194, , Venum or Fairtex.
Mistake 4: You're choosing the wrong brand for your style
Not every glove is suitable for everything. There are differences:
Kickboxers often need a different padding profile than classic boxers
Muay Thai gloves are more flexible in the wrist - ideal for clinch
Sandbag gloves have an open thumb so that you can grip the punching bag better.
Talk to us in the store in Bern or St. Gallen - we'll show you which glove suits your martial arts.
Mistake 5: You don't test the glove before buying it
A huge advantage, especially in stationary retail: you can try on the glove.
Many online shoppers only realise during their first training session that their thumb is in the wrong place or that their wrist is pinching. This won't happen to you in the Vikingstore - we will advise you personally in our BranchesAnd you can go straight away without a long wait.
Mistake 6: You underestimate the shape of your hand
Women or teenagers usually have narrower hands - a 10OZ glove in "standard size" can still be too wide.
Many brands offer special gloves that are cut smaller. With Leone1947 for example, this cut is called 10OZM. The same weight as a 10OZ model but made narrower.
Mistake 7: You train with the same glove for everything
One glove for sparring, punching bag and technique training? That sounds efficient, but it's not ideal.
Why?
You wear out the glove faster with the sandbag
For sparring you need more padding (at least 14-18OZ depending on body weight and punching power of the boxer)
You need more feeling for technology
My tip: Get two pairs - a lighter one for technique training & sandbag, a heavier one for sparring. There are also special bag gloves for classic sandbag training.
Conclusion: Get advice - or get the right information
A good boxing glove is no coincidence. It has to suit your hand, your style and your training. If you are unsure, drop by or write to us. At the Vikingstore, you don't just get products - you get real advice from people who live and breathe martial arts.
You can find suitable gloves here:
Boxing gloves view in the Vikingstore
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