Boxing gloves

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. Avoid the temptation to scrimp on quality. You will end up spending more on replacements. If a price seems too good to be true, it usually is. Invest in a serious, proven brand. Decent gloves usually come in resilient cowhide leather. There are also excellent synthetic leather options if you don’t want to use animal products.

Gloves come in different varieties and sizes for different purposes.

Contest gloves (8-10 oz)

If you are starting out, there is no need to buy contest gloves. They are not suitable for a beginner and tend to be expensive. If you do progress to competition, the organisers will provide an authorised pair. 

Sparring gloves (10-18 oz)

Sparring gloves are an excellent option, offering added protection for your hands. They come in size 10-18oz, but a competent gym will insist that you spar in at least 16oz gloves.

Bag gloves (small, medium, large, extra-large) 

Bag gloves are fine for bag and pad work but offer less protection. You should never use bag gloves for sparring. There is a big difference between bag gloves and bag mitts. Mitts are much lighter with an open, flexible thumb. Don't buy these. You might find them as part of a beginners package that includes a bag. If you do receive a free pair, cut out the middle man and throw them in the bin. 

My suggestion …

Depending on how much you are willing to pay, I'd recommend good quality sparring gloves. If you think there's a chance you may spar further down the line, ensure you go for a 16oz pair. 

There are lots of quality brands to choose from. Companies such as Adidas, Everlast, Lonsdale, Title and Probox have good offerings. One word of warning, some of these brands (I won't mention which) do offer cheaper options. Give these a wide berth. 

Gloves from Fighting, Winning, and Cleto Reyes are more expensive. A lot of these come with a lace fastening opposed to Velcro, which makes them a little awkward to put on and take off. 

I can recommend Rival, the brainchild of Canadian coach Russ Anber. Russ is a fantastic coach, and it's evident that he has put a lot of careful thought into his products. Rival offer gloves for most budgets and I have yet to come across a bad pair. 

Fairtex, Twins and Sandee make Muay Thai gloves. They are more flexible but still great for training. I owned a pair of Twins for many years and enjoyed using them on the bags, pads and in sparring.