The best boxing gloves brands are Rival, Fairtex, Mk1, Cleto Reyes, and Winning. These glove brands cover every level of boxing, from youth beginners to elite professionals. Each provides distinct advantages in comfort, protection, and performance during your boxing class training sessions or competitions.
- Rival gloves focus on balance and protection, making it ideal for beginners and sparring.
- Fairtex designs tighter-fitting gloves suited for women and those with smaller hands, offering durability and precision.
- Mk1 gloves provide an all-around training option with solid padding and ergonomic construction.
- Cleto Reyes gloves are perfect for power and professional bouts.
- Winning gloves stands as the gold standard for professional competition gloves due to the brand’s unmatched comfort and safety.
Best Boxing Gloves For Training: 5 Top Brands to Know About
Selecting the right boxing gloves depends on your training focus, goals, and experience level.
Below are five leading brands trusted in gyms worldwide, from Rival Gloves to Winning Gloves, each with unique strengths for beginners and advanced fighters alike.
1. Rival: Best Boxing Gloves For Beginners, Kids, and Sparring
Rival is a Canadian boxing gloves brand which produces well-balanced training gloves designed for boxing training, sparring, and youth use. The Rival RB-FTR1 Future Bag Gloves are specifically designed for youth and teens training in boxing, and comes with Rival’s unique Ergo Strap System with hook & loop closures which will make it easier for kids to put on and take off. However, the Rival RB-FTR1 Future Bag Gloves are not to be used in sparring.
Rival also makes gloves specifically for sparring which are highly-regarded in the boxing community such as the RS11V Evolution Sparring Gloves and the RS1 Ultra Sparring Gloves 2.0 with Rival’s signature angled Ergo Lace Track System which provides providing a snug protective fit without the hassle of lace-up closures.
Rival also emphasizes hand circumference and glove sizing, providing options for every fighter. Their designs use synthetic materials that combine durability with a cushiony feeling. If you want a brand that can serve you from the beginner stage to competition level, Rival is a top-tier choice used in boxing clubs and praised by coaches worldwide.
- Headquartered In: Canada
- Manufactured In: China and Pakistan
- Price Range: CA$45–$280
- Used By: Amatuer boxers, professional boxers, Amanda Serrano (Seven-Division World Champion in Boxing, Guinness World Record holder), Oleksandr Usyk (Undisputed Cruiserweight Champion and Heavyweight Champion), Katie Taylor (Undisputed Lightweight Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist), Artur Beterbiev (Unified Light Heavyweight Champion with an undefeated record)
- Website: https://rivalboxing.ca/
2. Fairtex: Best Boxing Gloves for Women and Small Hands
Fairtex is a Thai brand known for crafting some of the best Muay Thai and kickboxing gloves, as well as boxing gloves. Their Fairtex BGV1 and “tight fit” models are often recommended for women or fighters with smaller hands. These gloves provide tight hand compartments, ensuring control and reaction time during high-speed pad work or punching bag drills.
Made with premium synthetic materials and reinforced stitching, Fairtex gloves are engineered for durability while maintaining flexibility for clinch work. They often include gel padding to improve hand protection and minimize fatigue during long boxing workouts and training. Fairtex combines technical performance with style, making it a popular choice for female fighters and mixed martial arts practitioners alike.
- Headquartered In: Thailand
- Manufactured In: Thailand
- Price Range: CA$129–$179
- Used By: Muay Thai fighters, MMA gyms worldwide, Stamp Fairtex (ONE Championship fighter & former Muay Thai World Champion), Valentina Shevchenko (Former UFC Flyweight Champion)
- Website: https://www.fairtex.com/
3. Mk1: Best Boxing Gloves for Versatile Training – The All-Rounder
Mk1 is a USA-based boxing gloves brand with gloves built for versatility across bag work, pad work, and sparring gloves sessions. These boxing gloves are known for reliable foam padding, ergonomic design, and consistent wrist support. They balance power and endurance training needs, suitable for both beginners and experienced boxers.
Mk1’s Mark 1 and Youth Mark 1 training gloves feature moisture-wicking lining materials and a 5-layer foam system to manage sweat and top-tier protection during long sessions. Their balanced design makes them ideal for transitioning between heavy bag drills and sparring, preventing the need for multiple glove pairs. For boxers on a moderate budget seeking all-purpose performance, Mk1 stands out as a a good beginner boxing gloves brand alternative to Rival, and as a solid middle ground between high-end and entry-level brands.
- Headquartered In: United States
- Manufactured In: Pakistan
- Price Range: CA$74–$245
- Used By: Boxers, kickboxers, mixed martial artists
- Website: https://www.mk1boxing.com/
4. Cleto Reyes: Best Boxing Gloves for Heavy Bag Work
Cleto Reyes is a legendary Mexican boxing gloves brand whose gloves are known as puncher’s gloves. They are the go-to choice for professionals like Manny Pacquaio, Canelo Alvarez, Miguel Cotto, and Vitali Klitschko. Built from genuine leather with reinforced stitching, they provide superior durability during heavy bag and power training sessions. Many consider them the best boxing equipment for athletes who prioritize speed and precision and explosive punching speeds.
However, because of their firmness and less forgiving foam padding, they may not be ideal sparring gloves. Their density may cause excessive damage to partners during drills, making them better suited for mitts and bag work, heavy bag training, power training sessions, or competition prep training. Models like the Cleto Reyes Professional Boxing Gloves and Cleto Reyes Traditional Training Gloves are considered elite-level competition gloves.
- Headquartered In: Mexico
- Manufactured In: Mexico
- Price Range: CA$310–$380
- Used by: Pro boxers, competitive strikers, Manny Pacquiao (Only Eight-division World Champion in history with 12 Major World Championship Titles), Muhammad Ali (Three-time World Champion and 1960 Olympic Gold Medalist), Mike Tyson (Undisputed Heavyweight Champion), Sugar Ray Leonard (Five-division World Champion and 1976 Olympic Gold Medalist)
- Website: https://cletoreyesboxing.com/
5. Winning: Best Boxing Gloves For Tournaments & Competitions
Winning Gloves, made in Japan, are regarded as the gold standard boxing gloves brand for professional boxers. Used by world champions and praised on forums like Combat Arena, they feature unparalleled foam padding and hand protection. The Winning Pro Boxing Gloves are the industry benchmark for sparring gloves, known for exceptional balance, comfort, and safety. They’re also the preferred competition gloves among serious fighters due to their ultra-soft interior.
Winning’s focus on quality control ensures every pair provides precise glove sizing and longevity. Their craftsmanship, though costly due to labor cost and small-batch production, is unmatched. Whether for fight night or elite boxing training, these gloves consistently deliver superior performance.
- Headquartered In: Japan
- Manufactured In: Japan
- Price Range: CA$400–$500+
- Used by: Professional boxers, MMA fighters, Tenshin Nasukawa (former RISE Bantamweight and RISE World Featherweight (57.5 kg) champion), Takeru Segawa (former K-1 Super Featherweight champion)
- Website: https://store.winning-usa.com/
Which Boxing Gloves Should You Choose?
It’s often recommended that beginners should start with training gloves in lighter sizes like 8 oz, 12 oz, or 14 oz, focusing on hand protection and comfort. Fighters doing regular heavy bag or bag work might prefer 16 oz models for added wrist protection. If you plan to compete, Winning Gloves or Cleto Reyes Gloves for professional-level quality might be worth the investment.
Budget also plays a role. Brands like Rival, Fairtex, and MK1 are budget-friendly for those interested in starting out.
Fairtex gloves are great for those who are interested in expanding their martial arts training into Muay Thai, kickboxing, and MMA.
Ultimately, the best boxing gloves are those that fit your hand circumference, support your boxing training goals, and feel natural during every punch. Combine them with proper hand wraps, consistent boxing workouts, and safety habits, and your gloves will serve you well from your private boxing lessons in Vancouver to your next Fight Night victory.
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