Boxing Equipment

Boxing is a unique combat sport in which two combatants will trade punches for a determined
amount of time. At most levels today, boxers wear some protective equipment, but it is near
minimal at the professional level. In its early days, boxers fought “bare-knuckle” with no gloves
or other protective gear. They would draw a circle on the ground and simply continue fighting
until one contestant forfeited or was unable to continue.

Boxing today is a more refined version of its historical predecessor, in part thanks to some
changes to the combat arena, protective gear, and development of new training equipment.

Clothing
Shorts or Trunks without pockets

Boxing shorts or trunks are used by boxers both in practice and during matches. White regular
athletic shorts can be worn during practice, most boxers chose to wear boxing shorts, made by
boxing equipment manufacturers. The trunks are usually made of satin, with a cooling polyester
base. Also, many trunks have a Velcro strap to prevent them from giving the boxer any trouble
during the action. It comes down to the boxer’s preference when it comes to choosing how long
the shorts are, as different models have different lengths. Boxing shorts cost between $20 and
$40.

While boxers fight shirtless in official boxing matches, some choose to wear a shirt or tank top
when doing drills or when sparring in practice. There are no rules on this matter, boxers can and
should wear whatever they feel the most comfortable wearing in practice, many boxing
equipment manufacturers sell shirts with their own logos and boxing-related phrases.

Fight Gear

Fight Gear doesn’t vary much from sparring gear other than removing some of the protections.
While the groin protector and petroleum remain, no organization allows body protectors for the
bout, and only non-professional settings (amateur and Olympic boxing) require headgear.
Another notable difference in fight equipment is that some boxers ditch their reusable cotton
hand wraps in favor of medical tape and gauze. The following is a full list of fight gear:

 Gloves
 Mouthguards
 Ring Robe
 Ring Shoes
 Wrap or Quaze
Gloves are a crucial part of Boxing, so it is very important to choose the right size and model, as
that will be worn in every practice and every match. Boxing gloves sizes are measured in weight,
so boxers have to choose between 10, 12, 14,16,18, or 20 ounce gloves. Your choice of glove
weight will vary depending on your skill level and body weight. While heavier gloves will offer
more padding, they will also make punches slower. Your gloves must make you feel comfortable
above all. Boxing gloves prices vary a lot, but good pair costs on average $100.

Mouthguards are essential protective equipment in boxing. Mouthguards are mandatory in

boxing, and spitting it out on purpose during a match can result in the loss of some points to the
boxer who did it. Mouthguards are made of rubbery material; they have to be comfortable and
the boxer must feel safe when using them. Mouthguards vary in price depending on the material,
double or single protection, size, and brand, but you shouldn’t find it hard to buy a really good
mouthguard for $20 or less.
It is pretty common to see boxers wearing robes before their match begins. Boxers will do their
preparations for a fight in a separate room in the venue where the match is taking place while
they wait for their turn to fight. A robe can keep the boxers warm between the warm-up space
and the ring. Boxers don’t necessarily war robes; they sometimes chose to wear simple shirts,
hoodies, or even elaborate costumes in an important fight. Traditional, satin-made, ring robes
cost around $60 to $100 if made by a well-known boxing equipment company.

Footwork is a major part of boxing, so having the right boxing shoes is crucial for a boxer to
perform at their best. No matter what level you are boxing, you need proper boxing shoes. The
right pair of shoes in boxing will provide you with ankle support while also being light enough
that they don’t compromise your agility. Because boxing is a popular sport, there are many
options for boxing shoes to choose from. You can find a pair for as low as $50, or you can
choose to spend a little more for pairs around $150.
Underneath their boxing gloves, boxers always have their hands tightly wrapped, around the
wrist, the palm, and the thumb, making It safer to punch and thus allowing for more power when
doing so. To wrap their hands, boxers either use gauze and tape or boxing preference; each boxer
has their way of wrapping their hands, either with cloth wraps or using tape and gauze. Neither
cloth wraps nor gauze and tape are expensive; wraps go for $20 or less, and gauze and tape are
standard products found in any drug store at a low price. Make sure you know how to wrap your
hands for minimal damage and maximum power.

Training Equipment

In training, boxers work to hone their punch precision, increase speed and stamina, and find
punch rhythms. Many different pieces of equipment have been developed and used for decades
to help with these skills as well as other fundamentals like punch form and footwork. The
following is a list of common equipment that you can expect to see in almost any boxing gym:

 Bell or Timer
 Double End Bag
 Heavy Bag
 Jump Rope
 Pads
 Parachutes
 Speed Bag
 Speed ladders
Bell or Timer

A bell or timer can be quite useful in a boxing gym, not only during sparring but also during
drills. Having something measuring time (timer) and something to signal after some time is
reached (bell) allows trainers and athletes to do interval training. Boxing timers can be analogs,
timers that mechanically countdown time, digital standalone, which can be hung on the wall and
can be programmed, or even be a small wearable device, which athletes or coaches can carry on
their wrists. While a standalone with many functions can cost up to hundreds of dollars, small
wearables go for as low as $20.

A double end bag helps boxers improve on their rhythm, accuracy, and timing. The equipment
consists of a small punching bag that hangs to the boxer’s height and is attached to both floor and
ceiling by elastic cords. That way, the bag moves around as the boxer punches it. Double-end
bags vary in shape, material, and size. The prices can go from $40 to $70.
A heavy bag in boxing is the traditional punching bag, the once that hangs from the ceiling is
long, wide, and heavy, and where boxers practice their sequence of powerful punches. By
punching the heavy bag, boxers practice not only the power of their punches, but they also get a
great aerobics exercise and increase muscle mass. Heavy bags are used in most martial arts so
there are plenty of options to choose from. Heavy bags usually go for $100 to $200.

Jumping rope is a huge part of boxing training; most boxers do it daily in their practice sessions.
Jumping rope helps improve key physical skills for the sport. Such as footwork, quickness,
speed, and endurance. Being such a big part of the training, it is recommended that boxers have
their jump ropes, best fitted to their size and preferences. Boxing jump ropes are made of light
and flexible materials such as PVC plastic, which allow for power and speed when jumping.
Ropes go for around $20 or less.
In boxing, pads are a type of glove used by coaches. Coaches wear pads, and boxers have to
punch the pads. Training with pads provides a more real situation than just using bags. During
training, besides punching the coach’s padded hands, boxers will also have to dodge to avoid
being hit by the coach, simulating a proper match. The pads are usually made of leather or some
similar material, and as the name indicates, have a lot of padding. A pair of pads go for around
$20 to $50.

Parachutes

No, boxers do not skydive during their training. The parachutes used in boxing are instead
attached to the boxer’s waist and offer resistance when the boxer runs. That way, the boxer
builds strength and resistance, which come handy inside the ring. This training used by athletes
of many other sports as well. A resistance parachute is not as expensive as you might think, most
options go for $30 or less.

Speed Bag

A speed bag is one of the most traditional pieces of equipment when it comes to boxing training.
It is a small relatively light punching bag that hangs at the boxer’s face height. The bag is
attached to a wooden platform by a small anchor, which is attached to the wall. Because it is very
light, the bag moves around fast when the boxer punches it. The movement is limited by the
short anchor. Using the speed bag improves the boxer’s hand-eye coordination, punching speed,
and hand position, as well as a defensive posture. Speed bags are sold for around $30.

Speed Ladder

Speed Ladders are a piece of equipment used in the condition of athletes of many different
sports, with each sport having their own specific drills. It is no different from boxing, where
footwork is really important. Speed ladders improved coordination, quickness, and agility. Many
boxing specific drills can be done with a speed ladder. It is not hard to find one; there are many
options with prices ranging from $10 to $25.

Sparring Equipment

Sparring is a unique time in a boxer’s training. Boxers live by the adage “practice makes
perfect,” and sparring is, in essence, a practice fight. That being said, boxers, like any athlete,
don’t want to be injured during practice, and as such, they use extra protective equipment when
sparring. Here is a list of equipment that boxers use while sparring:

 16 Oz Gloves
 Body Protector
 Groin Protector
 Hand Wraps
 Head Protector
16 Oz Gloves

16 Oz gloves are the best and most common size used in sparring. They are a little heavier than
gloves used in actual boxing fights, but because in sparring the goal is not to hurt the partner, the
extra padding is needed. If you plan to do some sparring when practicing boxing, 16 Oz gloves
are a must-have. These look just like any other pair of boxing gloves and are made from the
same material. A pair of gloves costs between $30 and $50.

Body Protector

A body protector is a padded vest used by the boxer’s partner during sparring or a drill. It covers
the stomach area, the low chest area, and the sides of the upper body, the main target points in
the body during a match. By training with someone wearing a body protector, the boxer can
practice and improved body shots, while not hurting the partner. The equipment has soft padding
and a lot of it. Body protectors are relatively expensive, you can expect to pay more than $100
for one.
Groin Protector

A groin protector or groin guard is a padded piece of equipment that protects the groin area of
boxers, coaches, or sparring partners. While by the rules the groin area cannot be hit in boxing,
accidents do happen, and so protecting an area as sensitive as the groin is important when
sparring. A good groin guards’ costs around $20.

Hand Wraps

Hand wraps very necessarily during sparring or practice that involves punching. They prevent
hand and wrists injuries. While boxers may choose to use gauze and tape to wrap their hands in
matches, it would require a lot of it to do it at every practice, and so buying cloth wraps may be
the cheapest and most and most efficient way to do it. There are many options to choose from
when buying wraps, most of them costing less than $10.
Head Protector

A head protector is padded that serves to protect the head of whoever wears it during sparring.
The head is the main punching area in boxing, and so it is important to have something
minimizing the impact in that area when sparring. A head protector costs around $20 to $30.

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