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Top 10 Best Sparring Gloves You Should Consider
Sparring is one of the best ways to prepare for a fight. Nevertheless, you still need to keep both you and your training partner safe, so you should be sure to have the right sparring gloves.
Settling on the right pair of gloves doesn’t always come easy as they’re all designed based on intended use, and then narrowed down further due to weight, size, padding, etc.
To assist you in that search, we have reviewed 10 of the best sparring gloves, focusing on features that should enhance your sparring.
At A Glance: Best Sparring Gloves
The Cleto Reyes Hook & Loop Training Gloves are made using high-quality leather material so that they will last you a long time. With the thin padding around the knuckles, they work well in a sparring match where you won’t be throwing hard punches.
Twins Special Boxing Gloves are designed with a wider appearance, which makes them ideal sparring gloves. They even have an attached thumb design to prevent injuries.
RDX Maya Hide Leather Gloves use an extra thick Supremo-Shock Foam padding around the knuckles for better protection while also having a separate padded block across the wrist joint. The technology used also helps it equally disperse force throughout.
The Venum Elite Boxing Gloves feature triple density foam for better protection throughout the gloves. It also has a reinforced palm that helps provide maximum impact absorption.
Cheerwing Half Finger Leather Gloves can be used for a variety of training activities from MMA to kickboxing. They’re super easy to slip on and off and allow you greater mobility with adequate padding for protection.
Fairtex Muay Thai Boxing Training Sparring Gloves are constructed with premium leather and are ergonomically designed to contour to the hands for a snug, secure fit. The foam system provides padding and even shock distribution.
The Everlast Women’s Pro Style Training Gloves work well for beginners and are designed to help promote proper punching technique. The dense, two-layer sandwich foam gives you adequate protection.
Venum Challenger 2.0 Boxing Gloves can benefit beginning users and those looking for an affordable option. They use triple density foam throughout for better protection, and this can help extend your training time.
Sanabul Essential GEL Boxing Kickboxing Training Gloves use a Longitudinal Arch Design so that your hands are aided in keeping a proper fist. The Gel Impact Protection Foam provides both softness and protection against impact.
The TITLE Boxing Pro Style Leather Training Gloves have multi-layer foam padding over the front and back of the gloves to deliver complete shock absorption. The satin nylon hand compartment helps repel moisture, and the gloves fit snug without being too constricting.
Reviews of The Best Sparring Gloves
Cleto Reyes Hook & Loop Training Gloves
Handcrafted in Mexico, the Cleto Reyes Hook & Loop Training Gloves are made using 100% grain leather material. It has a full Velcro leather wrap for a secure fastening and good wrist support.
They generally run small, so they may not be best for those with larger hands.
Padding-wise, there is enough there to keep you and an opponent protected while sparring. The thinness of the padding, however, ensures that you may feel it if you use heavy strikes.
Overall, the gloves can help provide a good balance between power and comfort.
Things We Liked
- Full Velcro leather wrap
- Contoured hand compartment provides comfortable fit
- Durable 100% grain leather and high-quality stitching
Things We Didn’t Like
- Can take a long time to break the gloves in
- Listed weight may be different than actual weight
- Too small for larger hands
Purchase these gloves on Amazon
Twins Special Boxing Gloves
These leather gloves are designed with an attached thumb to help prevent injuries.
They go up in weight as heavy as 16 oz., which is a general size best used during sparring matches.
The gloves are versatile as well as you can find use in them with boxing, MMA, Muay Thai, and kickboxing.
The Twins Special Boxing Gloves have even padding distribution throughout, especially around the knuckles. The gloves tend to be referred to as ‘pillows’ due to their width and size, which can be beneficial for those into harder sparring.
Things We Liked
- Even padding distribution
- Attached thumb safety feature
- Wide/large enough for hard sparring
Things We Didn’t Like
- May be a tight fit with hand wraps
- Wrist support is not always right
- Thick padding throughout may be uncomfortable for some
Purchase these gloves on Amazon
RDX Maya Hide Leather Gloves
Around the knuckles on these gloves are extra thick, padded foam for protection against heavier hits in addition to the separate padded block around the wrist joint.
They can be tight at first, but will generally loosen up over time. The padding is soft enough for sparring while still allowing you to use them on a heavy bag if you wish.
They are breathable and lightweight, and should give you minimal hand fatigue.
Things We Liked
- Padded foam for versatility in use of the gloves
- Heavy duty Velcro wrist strap
- Air ventilation for better breathability
Things We Didn’t Like
- May be too small/snug with hand wraps
- Not always easy to get on and off
- Inside lining may rip over time
Purchase these gloves on Amazon
Venum Elite Boxing Gloves
Venum is known to have some of the best boxing gloves out there, and there Elite Gloves are no different.
The utilize premium Skintex leather construction for durability and have a 100% attached thumb for better safety.
Inside is triple density foam for protection. The reinforced palm helps absorb impact.
These gloves can naturally fit with your hand for better comfort even with hand wraps. Around the wrists, the cuffs are designed longer, a feature that can aid in guarding against punches or kicks thrown during sparring sessions.
Things We Liked
- Long cuffs offer optimal wrist protection
- Triple density foam for padding
- Excellent absorption and distribution of hits
Things We Didn’t Like
- Actual weight of gloves may be different than what’s listed
- May retain sweat and moisture
- Inside lining can come apart
Purchase these gloves on Amazon
Cheerwing Half Finger Leather Gloves
The Cheerwing Half Finger Leather Gloves can be an ideal choice for those in the market for some of the best MMA gloves.
They are available in two different designs/colors and are made of high-quality PU leather. These gloves are versatile as well as they can benefit individuals in other sports or exercises like cardio kickboxing.
These one-size-fit-all gloves have plenty of padding to protect you and your opponent. You are given complete mobility as well as the gloves lack a thumb pocket.
This feature does, however, lessen the support to the thumb. Overall, the half finger gloves provide adequate padding and protection for strike training.
Things We Liked
- Greater mobility
- Easy to slip on and off
- Highly versatile
Things We Didn’t Like
- Don’t provide enough knuckle protection without hand wraps
- Can be rather loose around the wrists
- One-size-fit-all doesn’t fit everyone
Purchase these gloves on Amazon
Fairtex Muay Thai Boxing Training Sparring Gloves
These genuine leather gloves come designed with a foam system that evenly distributes shock while protecting the hands and knuckles.
The hand compartment is contoured and tight-fitting so that you get a snug fit every time.
For those interested in aesthetics, there are over a dozen designs and color options to choose from.
The gloves provide good support for the wrists, and they have enough padding to go through several rounds of light sparring without injury or hand fatigue.
Both the stitching and high-quality leather ensures that these gloves can stand the test of time.
Things We Liked
- Premium leather design and well-done stitching
- Contours to the hands for a snug fit
- Foam system padding
Things We Didn’t Like
- Start off stiff, so break in period is tough
- Lack of proper wrist support
- Can be too hard for hard contact sparring
Purchase these gloves on Amazon
Everlast Women’s Pro Style Training Gloves
These gloves are constructed with 80% polyurethane and 20% polyester material.
A dense, two-layer sandwich foam provides protection, and both the front and back of the wrists are padded, a feature that can aid in helping you develop proper punching form.
Ventilation is done well so that you get excellent breathability out of them.
They work well for beginners at any stage in life from older children to adults.
Cushioning is good enough to provide protection and comfort for extended use, especially during sparring in classes like Krav Maga.
Things We Liked
- Two-layer sandwich foam design
- Good ventilation for added breathability
- Good choice for beginning fighters
Things We Didn’t Like
- Can have a chemical-like odor
- Thumb doesn’t have much cushioning
- Sizing can be tricky as they can be too small or too big
Purchase these gloves on Amazon
Venum Challenger 2.0 Boxing Gloves
The Challenger 2.0 Gloves are lightweight in construction and are meant to fit the style of both beginners and advanced users.
They have triple density foam for enhanced shock absorption, and the PU leather material helps the gloves hold up over time.
These gloves can be used as part of your daily training regime. They slip on and off easily, are breathable, comfortable, and provide adequate support.
At first, they come across as stiff, but can be broken in within a few weeks.
Things We Liked
- Triple density foam enhances shock absorption
- Affordable and designed for entry-level users
- Comfortable enough for daily use
Things We Didn’t Like
- Have to forcefully clinch to make a fist
- Foam can wear down
- Thumb design can seem too far away for some
Purchase these gloves on Amazon
Sanabul Essential GEL Boxing Kickboxing Training Gloves
The longitudinal arch design on these gloves allows for you to retain a proper fist while striking.
It has a mesh palm to keep hands cool, and the gel infused foam adds protection and softness.
It has enough padding and softness to be good for some light sparring. They are not recommended for heavy sparring, however.
For the price range, they provide adequate protection while keeping your hands comfortable over continued use.
Things We Liked
- Gel Impact Protection Foam
- Mesh palm increases breathability and keeps hands cool
- Longitudinal Arch Design to help maintain a proper fist
Things We Didn’t Like
- Can be too snug with hand wraps
- Velcro tab can seem larger than it needs to be
- Can come across as bulky
Purchase these gloves on Amazon
TITLE Boxing Pro Style Leather Training Gloves
TITLE Boxing Gloves use multi-layer foams over the front and back to absorb shock.
For maximum support around the wrists, the gloves use a full wraparound, twin-ply leather strap with hook-and-loop closure.
Moisture is repelled with the help of the satin nylon hand compartment.
The gloves air out rather well. They’re snug without being too constricting, and they work well for those who are just starting out and looking to learn the basics in training.
The Velcro strap makes it simple to put on and take off quickly and easily without help.
Things We Liked
- Satin nylon hand compartment helps repel moisture
- Multi-layer foams over front and back of gloves
- Full wraparound twin-ply leather straps for better wrist support
Things We Didn’t Like
- Can remain stiff for quite some time
- Satin nylon may have your hands sliding back in the gloves
- Velcro strap may not get tight enough
Purchase these gloves on Amazon
A Quick Rundown on Sparring Gloves
Purpose of Sparring Gloves
As the purpose of sparring is to prepare you for a real bout, some may make the assumption that it’s okay to use the same gloves as you would in a competitive match.
However, you should not be out to hurt your partner during a practice match. In this case, sparring gloves (also known as training gloves) should have more soft padding when compared to competitive gloves.
While thinner gloves allow for greater force when throwing a punch, thicker gloves grant you and your opponent a greater amount of safety and reduce the risk of injury.
Features Good Sparring Gloves Should Have
A good pair of sparring gloves should have a decent amount of padding so that you keep your opponent as well as your own hands free from serious harm.
Some people decide to purchase all-purpose gloves that can be used for both sparring and bag work.
In many cases, these gloves offer the same amount of necessary padding (sometimes a bit more padding than needed for protection against heavy bags).
However, in some cases, versatile gloves may come across as too hard for sparring as you should lean more toward the softer side to ensure safety.
Look out for just how hard or soft a glove is in addition to padding as that can determine whether or not you should spar with another person with that glove.
Is There A General Weight for Sparring Gloves?
Much of the time, sparring gloves tend to fall somewhere between 12 and 16 oz. weight-wise. Some may decide to go heavier toward 18 or 20 oz.
When you are looking for a pair, remember to go with the weight that you are most comfortable using.
Also, your own body weight is another factor to keep in mind when choosing gloves regardless of whether they are bag, sparring, or competitive gloves.
Note that the heavier gloves may have you punching slower. However, making good use of them can help you increase your punching speed once you move back to lighter gloves as well as improving your overall power and endurance.
The Winner: Venum Elite Boxing Gloves
Of all the gloves we have reviewed for this article, we feel the Venum Elite Boxing Gloves are one of the best sparring gloves.
They use triple density foam padding for protection on top of having a reinforced palm that can significantly enhance an impact and shock absorption. For injury prevention, the thumb is 100% attached.
These features, along with the strengthened seams, can aid in lengthening your training time so that you can have more sparring rounds with less hand fatigue.
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