We Found the Best Boxing Gloves of 2024 After Hours of Jabs, Hooks, & Uppercuts

Boxing Gloves We Also Tested

To find the best boxing gloves, we tested seven high-quality options from top brands in our Lab. While the following boxing gloves didn’t quite meet the high standards of our top selections, they come from reputable brands and have some good features worth noting. 

• Everlast’s Elite 2 Boxing Gloves feature good knuckle and wrist padding and a secure fit once on. However, they can feel uncomfortable over time due to being overly snug, especially with wrapped hands. 
• Sanabul’s Essential Gel Boxing Gloves are affordable and have a squishy feel for comfort during bag work. While they are an affordable option for people starting out, we found them to be a poor fit for smaller hands, and they lacked padding. 

What We’ve Updated

• To ensure our top boxing glove picks are truly the best on the market, we decided to test them for ourselves in our Lab, following our rigorous testing methodology. 
• After testing seven top-rated and expert-approved boxing gloves, we swapped out our best overall for a pair that’s equally (if not more) effective but at a budget-friendlier price. 
• We spoke to a third expert, Hill, who also oversaw our boxing gloves test. Hill made sure that we used the boxing gloves properly and knew what key features to look for when evaluating them. 

What to Look for When Shopping For Boxing Gloves

• Weight: Boxing gloves vary in weight depending on how much cushioning they provide in the fist area. You’ll typically see gloves weighing in at 12, 14, or 16 ounces. Lighter boxing gloves are most commonly used during practice, while heavier gloves are used for fights. Other things that affect glove weight are body size and the type of fighting you’ll be doing. Generally, people over 175 pounds should opt for 16-ounce boxing gloves, while people between 125 and 150 pounds should go for 12-ounce gloves.
• Size: Boxing gloves come in standard sizes, such as small, medium, large, and extra large. You’ll want to choose a size that best fits the size of your hand. Expect a boxing glove to feel snug but not too tight. To find the best fit, you should measure the circumference of your hand around the knuckles. Six to 7.5 inches would indicate a smaller glove size, while 8.5 to 9.5 inches would call for a larger size. 
• Shape: Boxing gloves can have a few different shapes. A rounded boxing glove will offer more protection because it has more cushion than other shapes. You can expect gloves for Muay Thai to be more rounded in nature, while traditional boxing gloves will be more boxy. There are also pillow-style boxing gloves, which are soft and designed to cradle the knuckles in foam layers. If you have weaker hands or wrists, pillow-style boxing gloves may be best for you. 
• Material: Boxing gloves are usually made with either genuine leather or synthetic leather. Genuine leather gloves will typically be more expensive but more durable. If you’re just getting started with boxing, you may want to opt for the cheaper synthetic leather. If you decide you want to take the sport more seriously, genuine leather gloves are a good investment. 

How We Tested the Boxing Gloves

To find the best boxing gloves on the market, we first spoke with Hill and other boxing experts to understand what key features to look for in quality gloves. We then narrowed our focus to seven top boxing gloves from high-quality brands with good customer reviews and tested these pairs in our Lab under Hill's guidance. When testing boxing gloves, we score each pair according to the following key criteria.

• Fit: When assessing boxing gloves for fit, we note whether they fit snugly on our hands without being too tight or loose. We also note whether the gloves are compatible with hand wraps (which you’ll generally want to wear under boxing gloves for extra protection) and whether the fit feels comfortable around our fingers and wrists without squeezing or sagging.
• Comfort: If a boxing glove isn’t comfortable, you’re not going to wear it. When testing, we note whether gloves feel comfortable during extended use and if we feel any pressure points or areas of discomfort when punching. A comfortable boxing glove should be snug but not too tight. 
• Ease of Use: We prioritized boxing gloves with Velcro straps, which are better suited for beginners and easier to take on and off without the help of another person. We also want boxing gloves that are easy to adjust, ensuring you can get a proper fit with minimal hassle. 
• Breathability: Most of us will get sweaty during a boxing workout, so we need gloves that wick away moisture and don’t leave our hands feeling overheated. When testing boxing gloves, we prioritize pairs with ventilation features, like mesh panels and perforations. 
• Adjustability: As mentioned previously, finding your proper fit is crucial when choosing boxing gloves. When testing, we prioritize pairs that come in many sizes with adjustability features like Velcro straps, which ensure you can get the right fit regardless of your hand and wrist size. 
• Protection: When testing boxing gloves, we make sure that each pair has enough padding to adequately protect wrists and knuckles when punching. We also make sure that the gloves are stiff enough to keep your wrists and fingers from twisting in the wrong direction without compromising range of motion. We lean on our on-site expert to weigh in on whether each glove is constructed properly to provide adequate protection. 
• Performance: When assessing performance, we pay attention to how well the gloves absorb impact when hitting a punching bag and sparring mitts. We also want to make sure that the gloves offer adequate flexibility and aren’t so stiff that they impact form. 
• Quality: When testing boxing gloves, we pay attention to the quality of the material they are made of and their construction. We ensure there are no loose seams and that the gloves seem durable. We make sure the gloves don’t show any signs of wear and tear after a few rounds of heavy boxing circuits. 
• Value: To give each pair a value score, we don’t look at the price until after we’ve scored each boxing glove for the other key criteria listed here. Once we have a sense of the quality and performance of the gloves, we check the price to determine whether we think the gloves are worth their cost. Gloves with a high value score are ones we’d happily pay for at their current price or may even be willing to pay a bit more for. 

Our Experts

Before selecting which boxing gloves to test, we first spoke to three experts to understand what to look for in boxing gloves and what makes a quality glove. We also had an on-site boxing expert, Hill, supervise our testing process to ensure we used the gloves correctly. 

• Miles Hill, boxing trainer at Rumble Boxing
• Eduardo Perez, former senior director of mixed combat arts and Pilates programs at Life Time
• Cedric Jones, owner of Beastie, a boxing gym in Manhattan Beach, California

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know what weight boxing gloves to buy?

First, you need to consider what type of boxing you will be doing. Heavier boxing gloves (16 ounces or more) are better suited for hitting heavy bags, while thinner and lighter gloves (12 ounces or less) are better for hitting lighter bags when you’re focusing on speed.

How much do high-quality boxing gloves cost?

While competitive gloves may set professional boxers back $300 or more, the casual boxer can find a pair for less than $100. Cheaper pairs (under $40) are typically made with synthetic materials and will likely not last as long as pricier options made with real leather, but they may be enough for beginners.

How long do boxing gloves last?

According to Hill, gloves can last one to two years and beyond. It all depends on how much you box, the durability of the gloves you selected, and the material. Gloves made with real leather will typically last you for longer, while gloves made with synthetic leather will need to be replaced more often. 

Why Trust Verywell Fit

Shannon Ullman has been writing and reviewing products in the health and wellness space for over five years. As an avid exerciser, she knows that quality gear is essential for optimizing performance and keeping you safe. For this guide, she considered expert insight when developing guidelines for what to look for in a quality pair of boxing gloves.