We have shared a lot about why different parts of your training require different gloves when you take boxing seriously. From compact gloves, horse-hair gloves, bag gloves, fight gloves - but which are the best when it’s time to spar? And how do you know if a pair of gloves is suitable for sparring?
When Ozzy (founder and CEO) and Hit N Move’s design team decided to print a disclaimer ‘strictly for bag & mitt, not for sparring’ on their new Compact14 & Compact16 models, it wasn’t just a cheeky design move. In fact, earliest frequently asked questions after release have already proven that the warning is warranted. The firmly compressed padding - 14oz and 16oz in the size of a fight glove have never been seen before - allows for incredible work on the bag and mitts. However, it also makes them totally unsuitable for sparring.
And because some black sheep may not shy away from taking an unsuitable glove to their gym’s sparring session just because the weight might match the requirements, Hit N Move will do their part to prevent such cases.
So how do you know which gloves are the right ones for sparring?
Well, it’s not always as obvious a disclaimer. In fact, there’s a middle ground between a mutual understanding within a gym or the boxing community in general, and personal preferences when it comes to protection and performance of a glove.
Most boxers will agree that unless you are in a weightclass downwards from lightweight, 16oz is the only acceptable size glove for serious sparring. Heavyweights should even look into 18oz gloves. And even though there are some variables, you don’t want to move too far away from these basic agreements within the sport.
The Right Padding For Boxing Sparring Gloves
While the most famous Mexican brands for example might be considered too firm for sparring by some, by many others, including most boxers in the country they will be the preferred choice. This is because many of them use dense Latex foam padding, which tends to be and stay very firm. What gives a great bang on the bags and mitts, turns into something a lot less enjoyable for sparring partners quickly.
Multi-layer foam is much more forgiving, as it usually softens up a lot more once used for a certain amount of time. The best test is still to feel the gloves in person and ask yourself how you’d feel about getting punched with them in
Exceptions Prove The Rule
Horse-hair padding boxing gloves were always said to be unsuitable for sparring. Because of its properties and the way they used to be distributed in boxing glove padding, it would break down quickly and become very firm.
Hit N Move are extremely proud to have launched a Horse-Hair + Foam Mix glove with the Süvari series that is very suitable for sparring (particularly at 16oz), and approved for such by many boxers around the world. While generously filled with real horse hair, the padding and foam are distributed in a way that offers the best of both worlds: the puncher receives the snappy feedback while keeping his hands protected, and the receiving training partner is fully protected by the foam layer.
A novelty in this category and one of the reasons they are such a success story.
The teased Vector series is aiming to appeal to the more classic style of sparring gloves, with a strong multi-layer padding structured in a brand new concept glove by Hit N Move. First reviews reflect that this target is going to be hit with precision - no pun intended.
What might seem confusing or complicated - well, sometimes is. That’s why Hit N Move introduced their padding firmness scale which can be found throughout all the gloves in the shop, giving clear indications about the suitability of the gloves for different parts of training.
Brands that care about the safety and performance of the athlete will always go one step further to inform. Because boxing deserves better.
