There are different ways that you can put on boxing gloves, depending on what kind of gloves they are.
Before you try to get them on your hands, you should know the different types of boxing gloves and what features they have.
- BAG GLOVES
- TRAINING GLOVES
- SPARRING GLOVES
- COMPETITION GLOVES
- GLOVES WITH VELCRO STRAPS
- GLOVES WITH LACES
- OTHER
I wrote about the different kinds of boxing gloves in my post regarding their sizing. You’ll find it here: What Size Boxing Gloves do you Need?
To check out my product review on the boxing gloves I own, click here: Product Review: Everlast Elite Prostyle Training Gloves
Anywho, onwards and forwards!
Basic Steps: How to Put the Gloves On
PUT THE HAND WRAPS ON FIRST: Before you put on your gloves, you need to put on the hand wraps. The hand wraps will help keep your wrists secure, and provide cushioning and extra protection for your hands (especially your knuckles). Injuries to the hands are very common in boxing, from all the hard punching. So you will need protection.
I wrote a tutorial post on how to wrap your hands. Click here to view it: How to Wrap Your Hands for Boxing
PUT THE GLOVES ON SECOND: Once you have successfully wrapped your hands, you’re ready to put them in your gloves and start punching away! This step depends on whether your gloves have straps or laces. If your gloves have straps, you can put them on yourself. Slip your hand inside the glove, with your fingers curling around the grip cord inside the glove, and your thumb goes in the thumb sleeve (duh!). Once your hand is secure inside the glove, wrap the strap around your wrist so that it will be nice and snug. Then repeat for the other hand. Remember, you don’t want the gloves to be too tight, nor do you want them to be too loose. You want them to be snug so your hands will not slide around inside. The strap helps to keep the wrists secure so they don’t bend the wrong way.
If your gloves have laces, you will need a partner to help you. First, insert your hand into the glove as far as it will go, curling your fingers around the grip cord, just like the strap gloves. Once your hand is in place, have your partner tie the laces. Tying the laces on boxing gloves shouldn’t be too different than tying a shoe.
I was told by my trainer that boxing gloves with straps provide better grip and better security of your hands than gloves with laces. They (straps) feel more secure and snug than lace gloves and will not come undone while in use.
Ask Yourself: What is My Goal for Boxing?
You should ask yourself what it is you want to do with boxing. Are you looking to start a boxing career and hit it hard in the ring? Or are you on a fitness journey like me, where you want to use boxing to help you get into the best shape of your life?
One of the answers to those questions relates to the different types of boxing gloves there are, which I’ll explain next.
Know the Different Types of Boxing Gloves
I talked about this in my post about boxing glove sizing, and I will reiterate my words here. Here are the different types of gloves based on their purpose:
- BAG GLOVES: Bag gloves are designed to get punching on the bags. They don’t have as much padding inside so you can feel the impact of your punches more.
- TRAINING GLOVES: The pair of gloves that I have are training gloves. They can be used on the bag, and they can be used for sparring too. They have more padding inside so your hands will be more protected against the impact of punches. If you’re a beginner like me, training gloves are good to start with.
- SPARRING GLOVES: Of all the different types of boxing gloves there are, sparring gloves have the most padding inside for protection for your hands. Not only will it protect you from major injuries, but your opponent too. Therefore, they are designed only for sparring.
- COMPETITION GLOVES: Competition gloves have not as much padding inside so your opponent can feel the impact of your punches. They are designed only for in-ring fights. Amateur level gloves have white knuckles so judges can keep track of scores. Professional level gloves do not.
What Size Gloves do you Need?
I wrote a whole post explaining the sizing of boxing gloves. For this post, I’ll put it simple.
For the most part, boxing gloves are sized based on boxers’ weight class and the size of their hand. Gloves are measured in ounces. The higher the weight of the gloves, the bigger the size.
Different companies have different size charts for the different kinds of boxing gloves. For example, Title Boxing has different sizing for the different types of boxing gloves. While bag gloves are measured one way, training and sparring gloves are measured another. Competition gloves are in a class of their own, so to speak. Click here to view the Title Boxing glove size chart: Boxing Glove Size Chart
Everlast measures their gloves by boxers’ height and weight. You can find their size chart here: Size Chart – Everlast
Dick’s Sporting Goods also has a sizing chart of their own. You can find it here: How to Choose the Right Size Boxing Gloves – Dick’s Pro Tips
My Experience
The boxing gloves that I use are the Everlast Elite Prostyle Training Gloves, black, 16 oz. They have a velcro strap on them, so they are easier to put on by yourself without needing help from a partner. As I mentioned earlier, velcro straps help keep the wrists more secure for a more snug fit than gloves with laces. You can check out my product review on them here: Product Review: Everlast Elite Prostyle Training Gloves
Closing Words
I hope you learned something productive on how to put on your boxing gloves, depending on what kind of gloves you have and what you want to do with your boxing experience. Just don’t forget to wrap your hands before you put your gloves on!
If you’re ready, get gloved and LET’S GO INTO BATTLE!