Hey you, if you’ve been here before, welcome back; if this is your first time, it’s nice to have you. Today, I want to share a topic close to my heart with you.
If you’re like me, then you care a lot about your body. You want to keep it strong and agile for as long as possible.
That’s where Muay Thai comes in. Fast, fluid, and flexible, Muay Thai is a cut above other martial art. It builds the body and the mind. But it can also hurt you if you do it wrong.
That’s why getting good Muay Thai gloves is so important when sparring. In this article, I will show you the best Muay Thai gloves for sparring and the things to look out for when buying one.
In a hurry?
If you don’t have much time check the table below to quickly find the best Muay Thai gloves for sparring on Amazon. You can be assured I only choose the best products…
Last update on 2024-04-24
Table of Contents
Why Do I Need a Muay Thai Gloves for Sparring?
First things first, do you need Muay Thai gloves? Why? I’m sure you have some reasons already but let me add some more.
- Protect yourself: The thing I love the most about Muay Thai is the variation within the style. Muay Thai tries to use every possible part of your body. The thing is, that also means it’s easy to get injured. That’s why you need gloves for your fingers, wrists, etc.
- Protect your partner: Muay Thai is no joke. Thai soldiers used it in actual wars. Using Muay Thai on your sparring partner could get them injured. So, you need Muay Thai gloves to dull your hits.
- Better Sport: How hard would you hit if I told you to punch a brick wall? Now, how hard would you hit if I gave you padded gloves first? You’d do it better right? Just like that, Muay Thai gloves let you go all out and enjoy the sport.
Things to Consider When Buying Muay Thai Gloves for Sparring
So now you have more reasons to get Muay Thai gloves. But now you’re probably wondering how to know which pair is right for you. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.
Size
Muay Thai gloves are measured in oz (ounces). Sparring gloves need more ounces (more padding). Usually, 16oz will do the trick, but you could do 12-14oz if you’re lighter than average. Also, the bigger you are, the more oz you need.
| Body Weight (LBS) | Body Weight (KG) | Gloves Size (OZ) |
|---|---|---|
| 100lbs & below | 45kg & below | 8oz – 10oz |
| 101lbs – 120lbs | 46 – 54kg | 10oz – 12oz |
| 121lbs – 150lbs | 55 – 68kg | 12oz – 14oz |
| 151lbs – 180lbs | 69 – 82kg | 14oz – 16oz |
| 181lbs & above | 83kg & above | 16oz |
Fit
This comes with experience. Gloves should feel comfortable. They should support your hands without feeling too tight. Try different brands to see what works for you. Also, fit improves a bit after your break in your gloves.
Leather
Boy, oh boy. This is something I swear by. If you want to get into Muay Thai, get gloves with real leather. Case closed. Real leather lasts longer, feels better, and lets you breathe. It’s worth the extra cost.
Closure
Some gloves are Velcro, some are lace-up. Most times, you should use Velcro for sparring and lace-ups for professional competitions. You can strap Velcro gloves yourself but need help with lace-up gloves.
Style and Cost
For style, just get what you like. For the cost, better gloves usually cost more. But if you get two quality pairs right off the bat, you’ll keep them for years.
My Top 5 Muay Thai Gloves for Sparring
So that was a lot to take in. You probably just want to get some Muay Thai gloves and get started already. I’d feel the same way. So I’ve tested out a bunch of gloves for you. Here’s my list of the 5 best Muay Thai gloves for sparring.
1. Steel Sweat Senshi
Can I just point out how cool this glove’s name is? It also has the Japanese words for “warrior” and “fight” printed on it, which is pretty nice.
This glove’s selling point is its fit. No other pair of gloves has ever fit me so well. Most times, you have to break in a pair of gloves. But I didn’t have to. I used these bad boys for sparring and shadow boxing, and they felt great.
These are glove-mitts and you can only get them in black. The smallest size out there is 8 oz and there are many sizes (8-16oz), but the 10-14 oz range gets sold out a lot. That just means they’re that good.
The Senshi takes the shape of your hand in a palm grip. This lets you move freely and offers proper thumb protection. It’s well-padded on the outside so you can punch as hard as you want.
They use Velcro closure. This makes them easy to strap and a nice choice for sparring. Also, the inner-lining stops any bad smells, and the thumb and wrist areas are super absorbent. You won’t have any problems breathing with these gloves.
If you’ve been having problems getting comfortable with gloves, you need these. Maybe you sweat a lot or you’re a big dude with big hands. If this is you, these gloves will change your life. The best use of these gloves is sparring in comfort.
2. Venum Elite
These gloves have the head of a giant cobra printed on them. They have the name “Venum” on there too. Not bad, not bad at all.
This glove’s selling points are its padding and shock absorption. This is a list of gloves that are good for sparring but you can also do heavy bag work with them. That’s because of its triple-layer foam, long cuffs, and padded palms.
Using the Elites felt like I was punching pillows all day. They are made of synthetic leather, but it makes up for it with its other cool features. For example, these gloves come in black and dark camo.
Like the Senshi’s, these gloves come in 8-16oz sizes. Unlike them, these are easier to get. They also come with a 30-day warranty if you don’t like them.
Something else I noticed is how strong the seams felt, these gloves will last a long time.
If I had to compare it to the Senshi, the Elites do the Velcro and sweat thing well. But not as well as the Senshi. But that’s not what they are meant for.
The best use of these gloves is for bag work. If you’ve been having to hurt your fingers when you hit, the Elites are just what you need.
3. Fairtex Microfibre Gloves
No list of the best Muay Thai gloves would be complete without Fairtex. If you know anything about Muay Thai gloves, you’ve probably heard of them.
It’s no surprise, they sell quality and charge quality prices. These aren’t real leather. But for synthetic leather, they are pretty good.
These gloves’ selling point is their durability and weight. Just by using them, you can tell they’ll last a long time. That probably has something to do with the microfiber leather used to make it. If it must be synthetic, it should be microfiber.
Some gloves feel heavy on the hands but not these. They feel good to hold up and hit with for long periods. The gloves come in 8-16oz and a lot of colors.
They are also decent for pretty much any kind of use eg sparring, shadow boxing, bag work, etc. That’s because they come with good wrist support and padding.
If you’re tired of having your gloves crap out on you after a few months, get these. The Fairtex microfiber gloves are strong and they last, that’s their best use.
If you want a pair of gloves that do everything pretty well, get these too. You won’t hate anything about them.
4. Xn8 Beat’em Gloves
Right off the bat, what made me try out these gloves was the price point, they are about the lowest you can go while still buying gloves you can use.
Honestly, I was a bit worried but the gloves didn’t disappoint. The Beat’em gloves selling point is the quality you get at that price. I promise you, you will not get a better pair in this price range.
These gloves have strong seams that prevent tears. They also repel water pretty well. As for special features, its palm vent-holes and thumb-lock are pretty sweet.
Because of the vent holes, my hands never got hot while using the gloves. The thumb-lock also protected my thumb when I got in some crappy positions. The gloves come in 8-16oz.
They come in four colors too: black, blue, gray, and ruby wine. I prefer blue. What surprised me the most about them is how good they feel during sparring. They feel nice to hold and to hit your partner with.
The best use for these gloves is sparring if you aren’t into Muay Thai full time or want to take things easy. These gloves help keep you comfortable and protected while you’re going at it with your sparring partner.
5. Hayabusa T3 LX Gloves
If you’ve been doing Muay Thai for a while, then you’ve heard of Hayabusa. If you have, then you won’t be surprised to hear the good things I have to say about these gloves.
The selling point of these gloves is the premium material this glove is made from. The build makes it perfect for advanced users and heavy glove usage. For a start, these gloves are 100% natural leather.
The wrist support on these things is excellent, the best among the five gloves I’ve reviewed. It also fits quite nicely, thanks to its adjustable dual straps. It also makes use of Deltra-EG knuckle protection.
True to its name, I felt no pain at all while using it. It’s also quite soft and comfortable, which isn’t a surprise. The inner lining makes sure things are never too hot or wet. The gloves are available in brown, crimson, obsidian, and gold.
I’m not the biggest fan of the color selection but they feel makes up for it. The real doozy though is the price.
If you’re a long-time Muay Thai fighter looking for something you can use for a very long time, get these. Their best-suited purpose is professional use.
Conclusion
As a dabbler in Muay Thai, I know exactly how important the right pair of sparring gloves are. You now know what you should be looking for in your gloves and which ones you can go ahead to buy today.
The rest is up to you, stay safe out there.
Last Updated on May 27, 2022 by Deni
