Best Boxing Gloves for Beginners (Coach’s Guide)

Why the Right Gloves Matter

Your gloves protect your hands, your partner, and your progress. Pick the wrong pair and you risk injury or wasted sessions. As a beginner, you do not need ten different pairs, but you do need the right ones for the right job.

Bag Mitts — Not for Beginners

Bag mitts are the slim, flat gloves you sometimes see sold with cheap punch bags. They offer almost no padding or wrist support.

Verdict: Avoid them. They are only for light tapping, not for proper boxing training. If you are serious about boxing, skip bag mitts completely.

Bag Gloves — First Training Essential

Bag gloves are built for heavy bag and pad work. They give enough padding to protect your hands and wrists, but are not designed for sparring. Got the gloves, but don't know where to start? Check out the Heavy Bag System, a full, comprehensive guide.

Pros:

• Perfect for bag and pad drills

• Lighter weight builds speed

• Usually more affordable

Cons:

• Not safe for sparring

• Padding wears out quicker with heavy use

Recommendation: If you are new, get a solid pair of bag gloves (10oz–12oz). Always wear hand wraps underneath for wrist support.

16oz Sparring Gloves — The Safer Standard

When you move into sparring, you need 16oz gloves. The extra padding is there to protect your partner as much as you. Most gyms will not allow sparring with anything lighter.

Pros:

• Safer for sparring

• Strong wrist protection

• Mimics the weight of fight gloves (builds endurance)

Cons:

• Heavier, so not ideal for bag speed

• Good quality pairs cost more

Recommendation: Buy 16oz sparring gloves if you are going to spar. Treat them as separate from your bag gloves. My sparring survival guide has got you covered for every type of opponent you mya encounter.

Competition Gloves — Provided, But Worth Feeling

In sanctioned amateur and professional bouts, competition gloves are always provided by the organisers. The size depends on your weight:

• Welterweight (147 lbs) and under: 8oz gloves

• Above welterweight: 10oz gloves

These gloves are slimmer, with less padding, and built for impact. They feel completely different from 16oz sparring gloves.

Why Consider a Pair Anyway?

Some boxers choose to buy a pair of 8oz or 10oz comp-style gloves to use on pads with their coach. This gives you the exact feel of fight gloves before stepping into competition. It removes the shock of suddenly switching from 16oz sparring gloves to 8oz fight gloves on fight night.

How Many Gloves Do Beginners Really Need?

At the start, two pairs cover you:

1. Bag gloves for all your solo training.

2. 16oz sparring gloves once you are cleared for sparring.

Anything else is optional until you reach competition level.

Mistakes Beginners Make With Gloves

• Training in bag mitts instead of real gloves

• Sparring without 16oz gloves

• Never wearing wraps under gloves

• Thinking one pair can do everything

  
  

Final Thoughts

Boxing gloves are not just kit. They are your first line of protection and one of the biggest influences on your training.

Start with bag gloves for your bag and pad work, then add 16oz sparring gloves when you are ready to step in with partners. If you aim to compete, consider picking up a pair of comp-style gloves to get used to the feel.

Inside my Training Without a Trainer guide I cover not just gloves, but how to structure your solo training with bag work, pads, and conditioning. Explore the Marksman Digital Hub

Train with structure, confidence and focus even if you do not have a coach. The Marksman Digital Hub is a complete library of boxing guides and bundles, covering sparring, bag work, conditioning and self-coaching. See all guides here.