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Sport and Fitness

Your Guide to Essential and Non-Essential Boxing Equipment

Not sure what is a must and what’s not for your set of boxing gear? Every beginner and sometimes even a seasoned expert feels this way. Boxing gloves are the most important and prominent part of every boxing gear set.

However, Infinitude Fight believes in the effectiveness of a complete set of essential boxing equipment. So, what makes your gear complete? And what tools should you have in your gym bag every time you go to train or box? Let’s find out.

Boxing Gloves

Gloves are the most crucial part of your boxing journey, whether for fitness, competition, or sparring. Boxing gloves in the USA come in different varieties, varieties which are specific to different combat sports.

If you are into a mixed workout, getting a pair of all-rounder ones are a good option; however, the features of sport-specific variants do benefit in the longer run. It is recommended that you buy boxing gloves specific to your different routines and choice of sports.

Boxing gloves’ prices vary and depend on the type you are going for. So, if you find a pair of professional ones at a low price at your local sports shop, you’ll know that it’s just a marketing gimmick as professional gloves do not come cheap. Many professional fighters spend hundreds on a quality pair.

Training Gloves

Having your pair of mitts for training is also important, as they will smell good, have new padding, and will always be available to you when you need them in contrast to community gym gloves.

If you want to buy a single pair, get a 16oz variant. However, if you can afford a second pair, buy boxing gloves of 12oz and 14oz sizes; these are when you want to do speed work on the heavy bag or the double end bag.

Use 16oz gloves always for sparring. Additionally, men who are smaller in stature/weight, women, and children under 120 pounds can use 14oz variants or less.

But are gloves enough? – Depends on your situation; however, having a complete range of essential boxing equipment is always a plus.

Essential Boxing Equipment

Below are the tools which are absolute essentials for every boxer. You can borrow or use the communal gear at your gym. However, it is usually unhygienic and not safe for your health.

Hand Wraps

The wraps are important, and it won’t be wrong to call them crucial tools for protecting your hands. One should never try a heavy bag without hand protection, as doing so will most likely mess up your wrists and result in an injury. The rule of thumb here is to wear a quality pair of hand wraps properly when you put on your boxing gloves.

Having your pair of hand wraps in your essential boxing equipment is like having your socks. Hand wraps are likely to fill up with your sweat and then result in a foul smell. You can work around with a single pair; however, cycling between 2 or 3 pairs of hand wraps is recommended, depending on training frequency.

Mouth Guard

Mouthguards are vital if you are planning to spar. It is extremely important to use a mouthguard, and one should never spar without it.

What happens if you don’t use a mouthguard?

  1. Losing teeth: in case the impact of a punch doesn’t get dispersed over the jaw but instead targets one tooth perfectly.
  2. Injuring the jaw: your jaw might swing freely after an injury and is no longer secured against the upper jaw, resulting in a weak chin for an extended period and a higher risk of concussion.
  3. Tongue biting: one might bite their tongue by the force of an impact; this is a harrowing experience and takes time to heal correctly.

Unless it is precisely molded to your teeth, it won’t work correctly and won’t give you the required protection; also, please don’t ever share a mouthpiece. Additionally, people might bleed on their mouth guards, and this happens all the time. So, by sharing the mouthpiece, you will be at risk of getting an infection or even diseases such as aids, herpes, or hepatitis.

The mouth guards don’t cost too much, so getting them for your boxing gear is always a good idea.

What is secondary or non-essential boxing equipment? Read ahead to find out:

Non-Essential Boxing Equipment

All boxing gear is essential if you plan to take up boxing seriously and even compete in the long run. Though the equipment below might not be required for a beginner who is just starting to learn how to box or train and test the waters. Make the most out of what you have available.

Head Guards 

For regular sparring sessions, you will feel the need for proper headgear eventually. Having a personal head guard will make sure it is always available to you when you need it and is not drenched in someone else’s sweat.

The condition of foam padding will also be suitable as your headgear won’t be used by 30 people or more. Remember, headgear is a must for sparring, don’t ever go to a sparring session without a proper head guard.

Boxing Shoes

Boxing shoes are specifically designed to maximize your power and increase your mobility in the ring. That is made possible through their firm grip and the thin material that maximizes your agility. With proper boxing shoes, you will feel a lot more comfortable.

No other equipment can increase your boxing ability more than a pair of right boxing shoes.

Boxing Training Equipment

Training equipment is just as crucial as boxing equipment. During training, you work to better and master your techniques and strive for excellence, so naturally, having the right equipment will only work to your benefit.

Gym & Trainer

Treadmills, gym and trainers are more important than one might imagine. The easiest and fastest way to learn anything is to learn from someone who knows a thing or two. Your environment and the people around you have a significant impact on your personal growth.

Training with better fighters and professional trainers will help you improve your skill quickly. If you are training on your own or with amateur fighters, it will only slow down your progress and performance. However, as intimidating as it might seem, training in a proper gym with a professional trainer is the best way to go.

Training Partner

Having a training partner can also work towards your benefit; they can spar with you, hold the mitts or pads for you, train with you, boost your morale and push you beyond your perceived limits. Boxing training turns significantly more fun when done with others.

On the contrary, learning boxing without a partner is like learning chess all alone. Your mind will remain in unnecessary overdrive imagining all sorts of scenarios only to be overwhelmed when facing the real opponent.

Heavy Bag

As a beginner, you need to use heavy bags to practice and develop your punching form, stance, punching power, speed, and endurance.

In the beginning, the heavy bag is a treasure trove of fun, as you probably never had a chance to exert energy like that before. In due course, you will move on to better and bigger things, but as a beginner, you will have the time of your life on a heavy bag.

Double-End Bag

Double bags are a handy tool to work on your accuracy, hand speed, and timing. You can use a double-end bag as an alternative or a complement for the heavy bag, which is especially more beneficial for pro boxers.

Jump Rope

When it comes to jumping rope, you can’t find a better piece of boxing equipment for a few bucks that will develop your boxing balance, conditioning, punching abilities, and footwork. The jump ropes are most commonly used as a warm-up workout or warm-down routine for boxers.

Speed Bag

Speed bags are ideal for timing, accuracy, rhythm, arm endurance, and hand speed. Using a speed bag is crucial for serious athletes and boxers; however, recreational boxers can do without it.

Boxing Ring

It seems a bit far fetched, but hear us out. A boxing ring works best to learn boxing according to the standard rules and scenarios. Training in a ring helps limit your area, so you and your opponent get a feel for what it’s like in an actual ring and know the boundaries of one.

The ring also enables you to work on long-range and close-range fighting skills. Psychologically, being in a ring with an opponent forces you to confront without any window to quit or escape.

Conclusion

So there you have it; we have thoroughly discussed both essential and non-essential boxing equipment. Now knowing the pros and cons of each tool, it is now up to you to decide what gear you need to further work on your skill.

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