Your first purchase when you start with Muay Thai will be a pair of training gloves. While many gyms allow their members to lend their gloves in place to use them for free, they usually stink after so much use over time. In addition to that the padding is usually worn and may not offer enough protection for your hands.
Why buy Gloves from Muay Thai?
Pure boxing gloves and Muay Thai are interchangeable most of the time, but there are some not-so-subtle differences between the two. In a single sentence, the difference is that Muay Thai gloves have a more flexible grip (for clinch), a thicker wrist area (to protect against kicks) and a slightly different weight distribution.
You must know exactly how to pick the best Muay Thai Gloves? Or how you can choose the size? You can buy the best you can find, but if it doesn't fit, or is too heavy for general training, or the weight is too light for combat, then you still don't have the "best" for what you need. So be sure to read our complete guide on how to choose the best pair of Thai boxing gloves. And if you know how to choose a good pair, you will also find articles with specific recommendations.
Size Muay Thai Gloves
The size (weight) of the gloves is significant. Purchase a couple of them that are excessively "light" and you will hurt your hands when you hit the substantial pack or you will hurt your battle accomplices (or you will find that you are not approved to utilize them in battle). Purchase a couple that is excessively substantial and you will see that you would prefer not to utilize them.
16 Ounces: Combat Sizes
If you want a pair of sparring gloves, get a pair of 16 ounces. These are the gold standard for combat, both in boxing and in Muay Thai.
12-14OZ: Work of the Bag
The 12 or 14 ounces are ideal for work with pads or heavy bags. You can do it using 16 ounces for the job of the bag, but you'll find that using a lighter pair means you can throw faster punches.
8-10OZ: Fight Size
Most Muay Thai contests in Thailand use 8 ounces during fights. Heavy fighters can use 10 ounces. You can use 8 ounces for LIGHT sack work and punch pads - especially near a fight to simulate a ring experience as close as possible.
The best Muay Thai Glove
Fairtex BGV1 Glove
The best Muay Thai glove we recommend is the beloved Fairtex BGV1. We look at the quality of the material, comfort, padding, design, durability and, of course, the price to determine our best choice. And the only one that meets all these requirements (especially in the aspects of quality, durability and comfort) are the Fairtex. If you only buy a pair of gloves, these are the ones you should buy.
Muay Thai Training Gloves
If you have bigger hands, then you might want to look at this alternative option:
Special Twins Gloves
They don't feel as “premium” as Faritex with crafts, but they are certainly high quality, handmade in Thailand at a local factory in Bangkok.
Twins Practice Glove
Twins are the most popular, and have a very different feel and feel than Faritex. In fact, choosing between these two is reduced to your preference of how you like them to feel in your hands.
Top king Quality Glove
Along with Twins, Top King is probably the second most popular gloves brand in Thailand, although Faritex is more popular outside. However, you will see that Top King gloves are used in major tournaments such as K1, Show Time and others. Therefore, it is not a small and unknown Thai brand, but a global brand at this time.
The build quality is almost the same as those of the sister company, but the fit and appearance are quite different. There are several different models that you can buy, although the difference between each of them is mainly aesthetic rather than functional.
Venum Challenger Quality Glove
If the absolute budget is your concern, the cheapest available outside of Thailand are the Venum. These are made in Thailand, but you can have them for about 35 euros on Amazon - an outrageously cheap price.
Although the Venum Challenger is not made of genuine leather (but synthetic leather), they remain durable and are a good entry glove for Muay Thai.