Protective with improved shock absorbency, these kickboxing gloves are the industry standard for training and sparring.
Features ThumbLock feature for better safety. Full padding up front, wrist and back. Easy to put on and secure. Quick release for removal. Available in several colors.
Some users complain of a strong chemical odor.
MMA and Muay Thai rated kick boxing gloves that mix foam and breathable mesh provide comfort as well as protection.
Ideal for classes and practice. Easy to get on and off. Good absorption for bag work and punching. Comfortable and durable kick boxing gloves. Offer a secure and tight fit. Good for grappling as well.
Mesh material can sometimes be uncomfortable during heavy punching.
Versatile all-purpose boxing gloves with a tight fit design. Offer solid comfort in sparring and practice conditions.
Made of premium leather. Great for training and various contact sport styles from shadowboxing to sparring or pad work. Offer excellent wrist stability. Build quality stands up to heavy use.
Might be too tight around the knuckles for some users.
With padding across the fingers and a secure design, these affordably priced multipurpose gloves work for kickboxing, sparring, and grappling.
Easy-to-use hook-and-loop closure. Made of synthetic leather and Lycra for a comfortable fit. EVA padding across the backs of the hands offers excellent shock absorption. Elastic mesh fabric between fingers encourages breathability.
Some buyers find the gloves run somewhat small, so you may need to size up.
Durable and extremely comfortable, these kickboxing gloves are excellent for beginners and also work well for sparring thanks to their shock-absorbing design.
Made of faux leather that’s soft and wear-resistant. Premium cotton liner absorbs sweat and enhances breathability. Extended wrist wrap provides stability. Padding at the back of the hand effectively absorbs shock across the fingers.
Not as much padding across the knuckles as some higher-priced gloves.
We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.
Kickboxing isn’t just a high-intensity workout that burns calories and gets your heart pumping, it’s also fun. Unfortunately, you can be at risk for injury if you don’t wear the right gear when you train. To keep your hands safe during your workout, you need a pair of high-quality kickboxing gloves.
Kickboxing gloves are similar to boxing gloves, but they’re available in a few different types that affect how much protection they offer. Some have minimal padding and aren’t suitable for sparring, while others are designed for at least partial contact. However, the best gloves don’t just provide protection: they also offer traction and support to protect you and your opponent when you throw punches.
If you’re looking for a great pair of kickboxing gloves, we’ve got plenty of tips in our buying guide to help you decide on the best type, weight, size, material, and other features, so you can find the best gloves for your next workout. We’ve also included several specific product recommendations to help make your shopping even easier.
When shopping for kickboxing gloves, it’s important to understand the different types available to ensure you have proper protection.
Bag gloves offer the least amount of protection of any kickboxing glove type because they’re not intended for impact with another person. Instead, they’re used for practicing or training with a punching bag.
Semi-contact or training gloves provide more protection than bag gloves, so they can be used with both training pads and punching bags.
Sparring gloves offer the most protection because they’re designed to withstand impact with a training partner.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) gloves are often used for kickboxing. They offer some padding, but they’re fingerless and may have an open palm for a less restrictive design.
Getting the glove weight right is essential if you want to be successful in your training. For beginners, lightweight gloves are usually your best bet.
Training: Look for 10- or 12-ounce gloves for training with a punching bag and pads. If you’re more experienced, weigh more, or have a harder punch, opt for 14-ounce or heavier gloves for training.
Sparring: You’ll usually want 16-, 18-, or 20-ounce gloves for sparring, depending on your weight. However, if you’re a lightweight, 14-ounce gloves might be a better option. Keep in mind that lightweight gloves aren’t suitable for sparring because they don’t offer enough padding for your hands.
Finding the right size in kickboxing gloves is extremely important, but it can be tricky when shopping online. Your weight is a good indicator for the size of gloves you should use. Some basic weight and size guidelines for kickboxing gloves used for training are as follows:
Depending on how often you kickbox, you might have to replace your gloves every couple years. The padding can break down over time, and the gloves may develop odors.
The material that kickboxing gloves are made of goes a long way in determining the amount of protection they offer, how comfortable they are, and even how durable they’ll be. The most common options are vinyl, leather, and a combination of the two.
Vinyl gloves are the most affordable, so they’re usually the best choice if you’re new to kickboxing or practicing it as a fitness activity, but these gloves aren't necessarily the most durable or comfortable. Because they don’t breathe well, they can cause your hands to sweat, so they shouldn’t be worn for extended periods.
Leather gloves are highly durable, typically more comfortable, and breathe well because they’re made of a natural material, but you’ll pay more for them. If you’re an experienced or competitive kickboxer, leather gloves are an ideal option.
Combination gloves that include vinyl and leather are less expensive and lighter than leather gloves, but they breathe better than vinyl gloves. These are a good option if you occasionally spar and want more durable, protective gloves that won’t break the bank or leave you with sweaty hands.
Kickboxing gloves have two types of closures: loop and lace.
Loop closures use hook-and-loop fasteners, so they’re extremely easy to put on, take off, tighten, and loosen. They work well for beginners or those who are kickboxing as a fitness activity.
Lace closures allow for a tighter fit and provide greater wrist support, but you’ll need someone to help you put them on and take them off. These are a better option for sparring and competitive kickboxing.
To ensure that you have adequate protection for your hands, it’s essential to consider the type and placement of the padding in kickboxing gloves. Some pairs use traditional foam padding, while newer designs have gel padding. Both types can effectively protect your hands, but gel padding is usually more durable. Kickboxing gloves with gel padding typically cost more as a result.
It’s also important to consider where the padding is located in the gloves. If you’re going to be training with a punching bag, you’ll want a pair with a great deal of padding at the front of the gloves.
Kickboxing gloves vary in place based on the type, weight, material, and other features. Most gloves cost between $15 and $225.
The most affordable kickboxing gloves are MMA-style gloves or youth-size bag gloves. They’re usually made of vinyl and have loop closures. These gloves generally cost between $15 and $45.
These kickboxing gloves are usually adult-size bag gloves, higher-quality MMA gloves, or training gloves. They’re typically made of vinyl and have loop closures. They offer fairly substantial padding to protect the hands, but they’re not suitable for sparring. These gloves generally cost between $40 and $100.
The most expensive kickboxing gloves are adult-size bag gloves, training gloves, or sparring gloves. They’re typically made of leather or a combination of leather and vinyl and can feature either loop or lace closures. They offer the most significant padding to protect your hands, and many pairs can be worn for sparring. These gloves generally cost between $100 and $225.
Weighted gloves are a good option for cardio kickboxing. They can help boost your workout and increase the number of calories you burn.
A. If you’re assuming that kickboxing is all about kicking, think again. You need gloves because it also involves throwing punches. If you’re sparring or training with a partner, you obviously need to protect your hands, as well as your partner, from injury. However, even in cardio kickboxing classes, you’re throwing punches at a bag or pads. Gloves protect your hands from injuries that might derail your training.
A. Boxing gloves are designed to protect the hands while you throw heavy punches over an extended period. Kickboxing gloves offer protection not just when you throw punches but for catching and blocking kicks too. The two types of gloves can be similar in shape, but kickboxing gloves usually have a square shape, while boxing gloves are rounded. The padding in kickboxing gloves is more evenly distributed around the entire glove, while boxing gloves generally have more padding across the knuckles. Kickboxing gloves are less rigid than boxing gloves too, so you’re able to grasp your partner when defending yourself.
A. After letting the gloves air out and dry for at least an hour, use a cloth to wipe out any remaining moisture. Clean the gloves with some salt water on a cloth to remove any residue without damaging their texture. Finally, treat the gloves with an antibacterial spray to ensure your gloves won’t smell the next day.