The Best Boxing Gloves of 2026All Tested By Fitness Experts

Boxing workouts can be a great addition to any training regimenproviding plenty of benefits to your cardiovascular health. Light sparring or non-contact boxing can also just break up the monotony of pedaling on your home exercise bike each day.

Stillif you want to add boxing to your workout programit’s important to have proper equipment for the type of sparring you’re training—boxingMuay Thaior mixed martial arts. That means having a good punching baghand wrapsand the right boxing gloves.

If you’re looking for the best boxing gloveswe’ve fortunately had the expert team of certified personal trainerscoachesand athletes at Garage Gym Reviews test top gloves on the market today. After some light sparring and cardio workoutswe’ve decided on our top picks for boxing gloves for a broad range of users. Each of our testers looked at factors according to our fitness equipment testing methodologysuch as:

• Durability: How well will these boxing gloves last? What sorts of materials are used?
• Adjustability: How easily do the gloves adjust and fit?
• Aesthetics: Just like all home gym essentialsyou want these boxing gloves to match your . How many colorways and designs are offered?
• Weights: Are the gloves offered in different weights and sizes to cover different training needs?

As with all products we reviewwe rated each aspect 1 to 5 and gave our honest feedback—nothing below the belt from us. So let’s lace up and look at which pair of boxing gloves may suit you best in our top picks.

The Best Boxing Gloves  

• Best Boxing Gloves Overall: Hayabusa T3 Boxing Gloves
• Best Boxing Gloves for Heavy Bags: Everlast Elite 2 Hook & Loop Pro Boxing Gloves
• Best Budget Boxing Gloves: Hawk Sports Boxing Gloves
• Best Boxing Gloves for Beginners: Sanabul Essential Gel Boxing Gloves
• Best Training Gloves: Venum Elite Boxing Gloves

Best Boxing Gloves Overall: Hayabusa T3 Boxing Gloves

Good for: Fitness enthusiasts wanting a durable boxing glove for any method of training

Best Overall

Hayabusa T3 Boxing Gloves

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Product Highlights

• High-end boxing gloves available in 5 weights 

• Features Dual-X interlocking wrist strapsplinted wrist supportmultilayered foam knuckle protectiontemperature-regulating liningand microfiber thumb for wiping sweat 

• 24 colorways available

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Available in 5 weights from 10 to 18 oz
• 90-day satisfaction guarantee
• Available in 24 colorways
• Also available with traditional lace up wrist closure

Cons

• More expensive than competitors
• Mixed reviews on the microfiber thumb
• Reviews state difficult to get on and off

Bottom Line

The Hayabusa T3 Boxing Gloves are designed to be very protective gloves featuring wrist supportergonomic designand multi-layer knuckle protection. Customer reviews for the gloves are extremely positive with customers finding them very comfortable and protective. Howevereven positive reviews noted the gloves were difficult to get on and off but they still loved the gloves.

Hayabusa T3 Boxing Gloves take our top spot on this list simply for their quality build and construction. GGR Performance Editor Anthony O’ReillyCPTNASM-CNCsays about his experience with the boxing gloves“These were probably the best gloves I tested out of the bunch. They were easy to put onfelt comfortableand protected my knuckles even when I punched really hard.”

Anthony rates the durability of these gloves a 4.5 out of 5and the materials earn a 4 out of 5. “I’m docking a bit simply because the gloves aren’t made from authentic leather,” Anthony adds. Stillthe Vylar used is an engineered leather designed by Hayabusawhich is vegan-friendly and proved to be solid in our testing. 

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The multilayered foam also provided ample comfort and support during Anthony’s heavy bag workouts. The two interlocking wrist wraps give ample wrist support while keeping the adjustments easy and simple.

As far as aesthetics gothe T3 Boxing Gloves earn a solid 5 out of 5with a total of 24 different colorways (six of which are neon)all in a sleek two- or three-color pattern. The gloves are available in five different weights or sizesranging from 10 to 18 ounceswhich are heavier gloves than most competitors offer.

If there’s any real drawback to these fighting glovesit’s the price. At $159these boxing gloves are some of the pricier gloves on the market. Stillyou pay for what you getand that hefty price gets you a durable and comfortable pair of high-quality boxing gloves. If you spend a lot of time in a boxing gymthese are a solid option.

Best Boxing Gloves for Heavy Bags: Everlast Elite 2 Hook & Loop Pro Boxing Gloves

Good for: Boxers wanting good support and protection while hitting a heavy bag

Best for Heavy Bags

Everlast Elite 2 Boxing Gloves

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Product Highlights

• Boxing gloves available in 3 weights 

• Features: interior and exterior wrist strapventilation holes for breathabilitypalm foam section for protection and supportand attached thumb 

• 3 colorways available

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Interior and exterior wrist straps for secure fit
• Also available with traditional lace closure
• Ventilation holes for breathability

Cons

• Only available in 3 colorways
• More expensive than competitors
• Limited customer reviews
• Only available in 3 weights: 1214and 16 oz

Bottom Line

The Everlast Elite 2 Hook and Loop Pro Boxing gloves are on the more expensive side at over $150 dollars. Customer reviews are limited but they liked the wrist closure and support. Some customers did note that the inner lining is comfortable but takes a long time to dry.

There are tons of ways to train boxingsuch as sparringspeed bag workshadow boxingor spending some time on a heavy bag. For a solid pair of bag gloveswe recommend Everlast Elite 2 Pro Boxing Gloves. For bag trainingyou’ll want a solid pair of gloves to protect your wrists and knucklesand these Everlast gloves do just that.

RELATED: How To Perfect Your Boxing Stance

The hook-and-loop closure provides a simple way to adjust and secure your gloves while also adding to the wrist supportearning a 4 out of 5 for adjustability. For materials and durabilitythe Everlast gloves also get a 4 out of 5as our tester Anthony O’ReillyCPTNASM-CNCand GGR Performance Editor notes that the gloves held up well in testing.

“These gloves could also be the best boxing gloves for sparring,” Anthony adds. Whether it’s training on a heavy bag or using sparring glovesyou’re looking for similar features—notably support and protection. The Everlast Elite 2 Hook & Loop Pro Boxing Gloves are available in five different weightsfrom 8 ounces to 16 ounces. Heavier gloves are typically better for harder hittinglike on a heavy bag.

These gloves are available in seven colorwaysearning them a 4.5 out of 5 in aesthetics. They don’t earn a perfect scoresince some colorways are stronger than others. Stillat about $55these are a durable pair of boxing gloves that will support your hands and knuckles during your next boxing training session.

Best Budget Boxing Gloves: Hawk Sports Boxing Gloves

Good for: Those looking for a budget-friendly pair of gloves

Best Budget Gloves

Hawk Sports Boxing Gloves

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Product Highlights

• Affordable boxing gloves available in 5 weights from 8 to 16 oz 

• Features Velcro wrist closuresupremo shock foam paddingwaterproof liningand anti-perspiration holes

• Available in Black and White colorways

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Very affordable at under $20
• Comfortable according to customer reviews
• Easy to get on and off according to customer reviews

Cons

• Only two colors available: black and white
• Price varies by weight
• Customer reviews state gloves are stiff

Bottom Line

Hawk Sports Boxing Gloves are a very affordable option for beginner boxersthey are priced under $20. Customer reviews generally found the gloves to be a good value for the price. Customers found the gloves easy to get on and off and comfortable to use. Some customers found the gloves to be too stiff.

Not all boxing equipment has to break the bank. For anyone concerned about their budget and looking for a dealthe Hawk Sports Boxing Gloves are a decent pair of boxing gloves that are priced under $20. You won’t find many pairs of gloves priced that low for any combat sports; for that reasonthese gloves earn a 5 out of 5 for their price and value.

Of courseyou do sacrifice some things with a lower cost. Certified personal trainer and GGR Performance Editor Anthony O’Reilly took these boxing gloves through a couple of rounds (of trainingnot actual boxing matches)and noted some crucial differences in the quality of the gloves. “They protect your hands and could be OK for speed work,” Anthony says. “I wouldn’t use these during intense training or sparring though.” 

He also notes that the gloves lacked an internal barwhich other gloves have for you to wrap the fingers around and space the hand properly. “Because of thatit didn’t feel as stable as other gloves,” Anthony adds. “I could definitely feel the impact of my punches on some heavier hooks and strikes.” He rates the durability a 3.5 out of 5. 

There are only two color options available: black or white. While the look is decentcolorways are limitedso we rate the aesthetics a 3 out of 5. If you’re OK with the colorshoweverthis is a solid budget option for someone looking to try out boxing training.

Best Boxing Gloves for Beginners: Sanabul Essential Gel Boxing Gloves

Good for: Newer boxers wanting a decent starting pair of boxing mitts

Best for Beginners

Sanabul Essential Gel Boxing Gloves

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Product Highlights

• Affordable boxing glove available in 5 weights 

• No. 1 best-selling boxing glove in its category

• Features gel impact protectionmesh palmhook-and-loop closureand engineered leather 

• Endorsed by UFC champions

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Five different weights from 8 to 16 oz
• Affordable at under $30 dollars
• Breathable mesh palm

Cons

• Only available in black with different accent colors
• Not available in lace up closure like competitors
• Customer reviews don’t like the wrist support or durability
• Multiple customers ordering from Amazon had issues with their order

Bottom Line

Sanabul Essential Gel Boxing Gloves are a budget option at under $50. Overall customers liked the gloves and found them to be a quality option at the price point. Customers loved the price pointease of putting on and taking offand comfort. Other customers did not like the level of wrist support and found the gloves were not durable.

If you’re new to boxingyou’ll want a decent pair of inexpensive gloves that will hold up through some training sessions as you dial in your technique. Our pick for the best boxing gloves for beginners is the Sanabul Essential Gel Boxing Gloves. With a gel-infused foam paddingthese gloves felt pretty goodespecially for boxing gloves that cost less than $30.

RELATED: Benefits of Boxing

“These boxing gloves feel like they’ll last a while. They’re a little stiff but they’ll break in with time,” GGR Staff Writer Matt DustinCESPN1-NCsays. He adds“Stillthey’re not as thick and durable as other gloves we tested.” He rates the durability a 3 out of 5.

When it comes to pricethe gloves hold upthoughearning a 4 out of 5. “While they don’t feel like luxury boxing glovesthey’re certainly worth the $29.99,” Matt says.

The boxing gloves come in eight different colorways. Matt notes“They each look real nice with solid branding. I think they all look great.” The gloves are available in weights from 8 ounces to 16 ounces as well—although Matt does note that each colorway had a couple sizes unavailable.

If you’re new to boxing and looking for a lighter glove for technique and speed workthe Sanabul gloves are an excellent choice. Stillthis may not be the ideal boxing glove if you’re looking to do some heavy bag training or a lot of sparring.

Best Training Gloves: Venum Elite Boxing Gloves

Good for: Boxers wanting a solid pair of training gloves

Best Training Gloves

Venum Elite Boxing Gloves

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Product Highlights

• Boxing gloves available in 5 weights 

• Features reinforced seams and mesh panels

• Triple-density foam and large Velcro closure

• 100% fully attached thumb to protect from injury

• Handmade in Thailand

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Available in 31 different colorways
• Five different weights from 8 to 16 oz
• More affordable than competitors

Cons

• Not very durable according to customer reviews
• Not available in lace up closure like competitors
• Some customers found the thumb uncomfortable and wrist unsupportive

Bottom Line

Venum Elite Boxing Gloves are more affordable than other premium boxing gloves competitors at just over $100. They feature velcro wrist closure and attached thumb. The customer reviews for these gloves were generally positive. Customers liked the more affordable option for premium gloves. Some customers found the thumb portion of the gloves uncomfortable and the wrist not as protective as other gloves.

Boxing training from a fitness perspective can constitute quite a few different types of workouts: bag trainingshadow boxingspeed workand even some light sparring. For a solid pair of training gloveswe suggest the Venum Elite Boxing Gloves. 

These gloves are versatile enough for most training you send their wayexcept maybe heavy sparring. GGR Performance Editor Anthony O’ReillyCPTNASM-CNCnotes“The Venum Elite Gloves got the job donebut they weren’t high quality in my opinion. I didn’t feel the support that I’d get from higher-end gloves. I think these would be fine for speed work but I wouldn’t punch too hard with them on.”

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Anthony rates the durability of the gloves a 3 out of 5adding“The triple foam on these feels like the gloves will crease easily and as I said abovethey don’t offer much knuckle protection. They’ll lastbut I’m not sure how long they will.” 

Where Venum shineshoweveris with the aesthetics. Venum has over 30 different colorwaysranging from bright vibrant colors to more muted designs. Whatever color or you wantthere’s a good chance you’ll find it from Venum. These boxing gloves earn a 5 out of 5 for aesthetics. The gloves also come in weights from 8 to 16 ounces—along with a few colorways in kids’ sizing too—earning them a 5 out of 5 for weights and sizing.

The Venum Elite Boxing Gloves can be priceycosting about $110 for a pair—although you may find them for cheaper on Amazon. Although the price gets only a 2 out of 5these gloves are a nice tool for your training sessionsand the design is sharp.

How We Picked and Tested the Best Boxing Gloves

To create this list of the best boxing glovesour fitness experts did their research first. We looked at top brands available on the market and narrowed down our pool by looking at those with more positive customer reviews. We also omitted budget options that seemed too cheap and not durable enough to make it worth it. After narrowing the pool downit was time to try out the gloves.

Once we had our hands on these boxing gloveswe put them on and punched a few bags. We looked at the following factorsscoring each between 1 and 5 in the following aspects:

• Durability: Based on the construction of the gloveswe took a look at their longevity. Did they feel cheap and flimsyor did they provide protection to your hands? Did the foam feel like it may start to lose its shape after repeated use?
• Materials: Similar to the durabilitythis was a look at the quality of the materials used. While modern boxing gloves tend to use faux leather and foam paddingyou can find old-school gloves that use real leather and horsehair as padding.
• Adjustability: Againmodern gloves opt for hook-and-loop Velcro closuresbut older ones lace up around the wrist. While the Velcro is simplerthe lace-up boxing gloves can provide extra support. This was a rating of the ease of adjusting the glove around your wristplus the support it provided.
• Aesthetics: You want your gloves to look good during your session. We took a look at the number of unique colorways availableas well as the overall design and of the boxing gloves.
• Glove weight: Most boxing gloves show size by weight. Eight-ounce gloves are some of the smallest and lightest gloves availableand the heaviest gloves top out around 16 or 18 ounces. More weights available allowed for a more inclusive pool of buyers.
• Price: Prices can range from under $20 to over $200. This was simply a score of how much value you get from the price alone. A lower price meant a higher score.

We also factored customer service policies as well as customer reviews into our scores. Averaging out these scores gave us a final scorewhich helped us decide the top gloves and ultimately create the list you see before you.

Benefits of Boxing and Boxing Gloves

BoxingMMAkickboxing—there’s plenty of use in picking up these combat sportseven if you’re trying to stay ringside instead of in the ring. Even if you’re not trying to be the next Mike Tysonthere are quite a few benefits to boxingalong with benefits of using the proper equipment for it: boxing gloves.

Gloves Provide Support and Protection

Anyone who’s stubbed their toe or knocked on a door a bit too hard knows that hitting things sometimes hurts. That’s why boxing gloves are great; the foam padding helps give your hands a bit more protection than you’d otherwise receive while punching a heavy bag or during some light sparring.

The biggest support from boxing gloves is just that—support. Putting on a good pair of boxing hand wraps under the boxing gloves will keep the gloves in placeplus provide plenty of support to your wristsfingersand knuckles. The best boxing gloves provide plenty of support for speed work and heavy punches alike.

Boxing Provides a Full-Body Workout

Unlike some other HIIT workoutsboxing provides a full-body workoutwhere you’re bounding off your legsthrowing jabs and hooks with your armsand engaging your core the entire time. During light sparringyou’ll be duckingtwistingand turning to dodge a punch yourself. Very few cardio workouts keep your entire body engaged like boxing.

Boxing Improves Cardiovascular Health

Boxing on its own is definitely a cardio workoutno matter how you look at it. Because of thatyou can see similar results and benefits that you’d see from other cardio exercises—in some casesyou might see more results.

For examplea 2015 study¹ compared high-intensity boxing training to walking workouts in adults with obesity over the course of 12 weeks. The group of boxers ended up improving their blood pressure and VO2 maxas well as reducing their body fat percentagewhile the walking group didn’t see any significant results.

I’m by no means saying that walking is a bad exercise; I like to supplement my Olympic weightlifting workouts with walking afterward. Howeverthis study does show the impact boxing training can have on heart health.

Boxing Improves Balance and Coordination

Boxing is more than just throwing punches; it also involves being light on your feet and shuffling around either your sparring partner or the punching bag. This can be a great way to improve your balance and coordination.

A 2024 review² looked at individuals with Parkinson’s disease and how boxing exercises impacted their health—particularly motor control. The review found that boxing training significantly improved the participants’ balance and quality of life.

Another studythis one from the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness³tested reaction timehand-eye coordinationand tactile sensitivity in a variety of athletes across several individual and team sports. The 2020 study found that combat sports athletes had the greatest tactile sensitivity—grip and hand strength. They also were among the lowest reaction times and performed the fewest errors in a coordination test.

Boxing Can Help with Mental Health

Exercise and training in general is a great way to unwind and relieve some stress from a long day. It’s no different with boxing training. One study from 2023⁴ looked at the particular benefits of non-impact boxing classes and their impact on mental health.

In this studyboxing seemed to be a promising way to help improve mental health. The authors specifically noted that non-contact boxing improved symptoms of anxietypost-traumatic stress disorderand even schizophrenia. Moodsconfidenceand self-esteem all improved as well.

Boxing Gloves vs Boxing Hand Wraps

Those new to boxing may not understand the difference between boxing gloves and boxing hand wraps. 

Hand wraps alone won’t be enough to provide protection on heavy bagsso they’re usually used with boxing gloves—you wrap your hands firstthen put on the gloves. Using hand wraps this way helps fill in space in the boxing gloveproviding even more support for your knuckles and wrists.

The materials for hand wraps can vary. The most common materials are cotton strapsbut elastic and gel wraps are availabletoo. Most professional boxers even resort to basic athletic tape and gauze to wrap their hands before donning their boxing gloves.

In generalhand wraps can aid with wearing boxing gloves but won’t provide enough support on their ownespecially in sparring matches. If you want to try hand wraps by themselveskeep your training to lighter bags and speed work; otherwiseyou’ll need to put some gloves on as well.

What to Look for in Boxing Gloves

Not sure which boxing glove is right for your next sparring session? HereI’ll break down some of the things to consider when purchasing your next pair of boxing gloves.

Material

Materials can vary in boxing glovesalthough most have an exterior material made of real or synthetic leather. The interior has foam padding in most modern gloves—although some boxing gloves still use old-school traditional padding (like horsehairyikes).

What materials are used in a boxing glove will also determine its durability and longevity. Real leather gloves will typically last longestalthough modern boxing gloves tend to use faux leather. Depending on the quality of the faux leatherthese gloves can still last a while.

Foam padding can lose its support and shape over timeproviding less protection as the gloves wear down. The best foam padding to find is a multilayered foam paddingwhich should extend the longevity of the foam and gloves.

Wrist Closure

The way in which the wrist is enclosed on a boxing glove will impact the ease of putting the glove onas well as the amount of support you get. Hook-and-loop closure or Velcro straps are common in modern boxing gloveswhich makes getting the gloves on easier…although I should note you’ll generally need some help getting a second boxing glove onno matter how they’re secured.

Traditional boxing gloves might have a lace-up systemwhich will be a bit more difficult to get onto your hands. Howeverthese lace-up gloves will typically also have the most wrist support.

Glove Weight

What size boxing glove do you need? It will depend on your size and the type of training you’re performing. Boxing glove sizes are usually given in weights instead of typical sizes (smallmediumlargeetc) to explain the amount of material—and padding—in the gloves.

Large people will need a larger gloveand smaller people will need a smaller glove to fit properly. Most common boxing gloves are 1214or 16 ouncesbut there are smaller 8- and 10-ounce gloves for smaller individuals. Some gloves go larger than 16 ounces as well.

Since a heavier glove has more paddingmost boxing experts suggest sizing up a glove size if you want a boxing glove for sparring or heavy bag training. Keep to a smaller glove for speed work and lighter training.

Cost

Boxing gloves can vary in pricefrom under $20 to triple-digit prices. Higher prices typically also mean higher qualityso if you want a very durable gloveyou may need to shell out some extra cash. Howeverthose who are new to boxing or need to be conscious of a budget can find decent quality gloves for under $60and in some cases under $20.

Best Boxing Gloves: FAQs

References

1. CheemaB. S.DaviesT. B.StewartM.PapaliaS.& AtlantisE. (2015). The feasibility and effectiveness of high-intensity boxing training versus moderate-intensity brisk walking in adults with abdominal obesity: a pilot study. BMC sports sciencemedicine & rehabilitation73. https://doi.org/10.1186/2052-1847-7-3
2. ChrysagisN.TrompoukiG.PetropaulisD.KoumantakisG. A.KrekoukiasG.TheotokatosG.SkordilisE.& SakellariV. (2024). Effect of Boxing Exercises on the Functional Ability and Quality of Life of Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review. European journal of investigation in healthpsychology and education14(5)1295–1310. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe14050085
3. KalugaE.Straburzynska-LupaA.& RostkowskaE. (2020). Hand-eye coordinationmovement reaction time and hand tactile sensitivity depending on the practiced sports discipline. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness60(1)17–25. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.19.09726-3
4. BozdarovJ.JonesB. D. M.DaskalakisZ. J.& HusainM. I. (2022). Boxing as an Intervention in Mental Health: A Scoping Review. American journal of life medicine17(4)589–600. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276221124095