Sparring offers so many benefits, which the other boxing training types simply can’t offer, including defending real punches, counter-attacking and more.
Whether you are aspired to become a successful boxer or not if you immerse yourself in boxing, then you will have many different sparring partners in your journey and you need to have protective gears including gloves, mouth guard, and headgear.
So I picked the seven best boxing gloves for sparring and these have qualities that are ideal for sparring sessions including good cushioning, the position of the attached thumb, and more.
After reading about the recommended boxing gloves for sparring, you can find answers for frequently asked questions including which oz. gloves are ideal for sparring, whether you are allowed to spar with 14 oz. gloves or not and more.
Best Boxing Gloves for Sparring
Winning MS600
This glove is made of very high-quality premium leather and it is built to withstand constant abuse. Basically, if your goal is to get used to a boxing glove and use it for a long time, Winning becomes an excellent choice. The lace-up model fits quite well, wraps your wrists tightly as it is made for the anatomical structure. So your wrists and hand are aligned in a natural way.
Ring to Cage Japanese Style
This glove is another excellent option for sparring. It is made of really good quality cowhide leather which is more durable and allows more air than most synthetic leather gloves. The older model was tapered however this one’s shape looks even more tapered which adds extra support. If you concern about your wrist’s safety then this glove is made for you.
There is not a lot of padding and it is medium-density which is perfect for sparring as it protects your partner and can give you feedback about how you punch. As a side note, unlike Ring to Cage many brands don’t produce 18-ounce gloves which are suitable for big hands and it is also available for purchase.
Read more about This Pair of Gloves
Cleto Reyes Extra Padding
As you can understand from the name this pair has additional padding on the knuckle compartment and it is around 2”. It is actually more than many standard sparring gloves including the most gloves on this list.
It is narrow however it is also designed for the anatomical structure which doesn’t seem to get bad feedback from people about fitting. In fact, it actually feels quite natural to wear and make a fist.
This glove’s lining is quite comfortable and smooth which doesn’t bother your fingers, wicks the sweat quite fast so you will not feel like you are punching with another glove at the end of sparring sessions.
Pro Impact
Multiple layers of foam work well for sparring gloves. The impact of punches is absorbed quickly in these layers and padding will not soften for a long time. Also, when you start throwing the first punches, it will not be too stiff for sparring as well.
This one offers both PU leather and genuine leather selections. Obviously, genuine leather is harder to get defects, spots and it is built to last.
Even though PU leather does not hold up as well as genuine leather and does not look smooth, it can be chosen especially if you have a tight budget and own other boxing gloves for bag work, pads so it will not take too much abuse on a regular basis. Consequently, it can be used for a longer period of time.
Also, the velcro part is quite small so your sparring partners don’t suffer any cuts.
Combat Sports IMF Tech
This soft foam is injected into the knuckle area and it looks bulky. Sparring gloves need to have it more than a certain amount and it has it. However, it is also soft and the density is low. This is perfect for sparring as the padding stiffness will not change anytime soon and it does not cause any shock dispersion problems or safety problems for you or your partner.
The leather is quite solid and smooth. The sturdiness helps the glove’s padding stay in place. The structure and extreme sturdiness prevent tears. Also, the mesh is soft and people are not complaining about the lining’s ability to repel water. So this is a good sign for both inner design and materials.
Sting Orion Premium
This brand is not known as other classic boxing brands like Everlast however, did you know that it is the official gear provider of USA boxing?
I have been a boxing instructor for quite some time and also have selected brands to be suppliers for martial arts gyms. Generally, there always have been certain specifications and quality control for any boxing gear. So I am guessing the association even has more strict rules for boxing equipment. After all, the boxers are getting ready for world boxing championships.
The wrist closure is longer than the standard gloves and this improves the protection, stabilizes the wrist more, and just feels more secure.
The technology and weight distribution are ideal for reducing the impact delivery period and in this way, you can preserve more energy. Actually, this is the first time I experience a pair of gloves that can effectively accomplish it. This factor alone can convince boxers to give this pair a shot.
Ringside Pro Style IMF Boxing Gloves
IMF padding can be the reason why you may prefer this pair. It is injected and is molded which provides a natural fit for fists. This also distributes the shock evenly and minimizes the shock in a very short amount of time. The attached thumb’s position is at the right place and does not bother you while punching, or closing your hands, and considering the price; the leather quality is not bad at all.
Also, this one’s price is not as high as the other gloves on the list.
Is 14 oz gloves good for sparring?
Most 16. oz gloves have enough padding quantity to absorb and minimize the shock so it minimizes the risk of injuring your partner. It is also perfect for most people’s weight. So most boxing gyms around the world recommend boxers to wear it when they step in the ring.
Can you spar with 14 oz gloves?
It obviously offers less protection for your opponents than 16 oz. standard gloves. However, if you weigh less than 160 lbs. and have a small hand circumference it can be okay to use 14 oz. gloves for sparring sessions. But some boxing gyms require you to use at least 16 oz. so definitely ask your coaches whether you can get in the ring with 14 oz. gloves or not. So you can avoid wasting your money or returning your gloves which can be bothersome.
As a side note, 12-ounce boxing gloves don’t have enough padding quantity to minimize the delivered shock for people who are above 130 lbs. So we don’t see people throwing punches with 12 oz. gloves during sparring sessions.
Are 18 oz gloves good for sparring?
The purpose of boxing gloves for sparring is to protect your partner from various injuries. If you have a huge hand or weigh more than 185 pounds, you can consider purchasing 18-ounce gloves.
Because, when you have huge hands and use anything smaller than that, the padding will be squeezed more and have less ability to minimize the impact so you might put your sparring partner in dangerous situations.
Do boxing gloves protect your hands and wrists?
We don’t go full force during sparring sessions. So even lesser padding quantities can be good enough for preventing your hand to get bruises and also standard wrist support can keep your wrist aligned, keep it in place. So even average quality boxing gloves can keep your hands safe.
Conclusive Thoughts
If you don’t spar with the right gears, this can be detrimental to both your and your sparring partner’s health. Choosing a good pair of gloves for sparring does not only decrease the likelihood of getting bruises and minor injuries, but it also keeps your hand fresh and lasts way longer than gloves which are made of low-quality materials.
Want to learn more about how you can extend the durability of your boxing gloves? If so, check out this article.
However, you should note that even though choosing the best boxing gloves for sparring can help you and your partner stay safe during a session it does not mean that you can go full force or can prefer not to wear a mouthguard. So always be well prepared, read how you should spar, and listen to what your boxing coach has to say before you step in the ring.
Great article but can you tell me the difference between those boxing gloves and the gloves from Venom? Which one has higher quality?
Thank you. These pairs have more padding whereas Venum’s has less padding.
I wish my brother had these gloves when he was younger. He would always sweat easily when he would exercise including boxing training. He would do punching routines to help his endurance and sweating was an issue including wrist pain.
He did not stick with it for long though. He found tackling the punching bag more enjoyable than actually hitting it with his fists. He was a football player. If he was still doing it, he would go with Title for sure.
If he would spar one day, definitely remind him about Title.
Thanks for te review on sparring gloves. I think the Velcro ones would be best for me as sometimes I may want to train alone. So this was a good tip.
If you train alone, a velcro pair will do the job Owain.
Thanks for the article! As a kickboxing Instructor, having quality gloves can make a big difference.
It is one of the most important aspects
I have a pair of Everlast boxing gloves. I’m pretty sure they’re the cheapest on the market. I train with a bag so it’s ok for now. I can see the Title gloves have a better wrist protection from the image you added. Mines are really narrow at the wrist level. I would definitely go for these if training with a partner.
Do you have a helmet suggestion for sparring?
Well Everlast is the cheapest one but if you train with the heavy bag it may not protect your knuckles you can take a look at this post for recommendations.
I will do it in the next few months for sure right now I am writing many boxing gloves related posts. After I finish them, I will definitely begin reviewing boxing headgear.
Update: I have a best list for headgears now 😉
Thanks for the info. My cousin boxes and its good to read an honest review and learn a bit more about what to look for in a glove. Thank you for your help.
If your cousin does sparring, I am sure this post will answer his questions.
Hi furkan I just read your article it was very informative thanks for the wonderful info.
you are welcome Alham
O man
so I had no idea the thought that actually goes into boxing gloves. Obviously some thought what goes into it, but I figured these were all the same. I was way wrong. I tried boxing once with my cousin, and got my $#$% handed to me lol. Good article.
Hi, when I first started sparring I had a similar experience. Basically some gloves provide better protection and these are just more ideal for sparring.
I’ve always wanted to feel like the real deal in the ring with some “lace up” gloves, but I’ve only ever experienced the velcro. Like you said, I think it helped quite a bit when I trained alone.
Thanks for the review, now I know where to go when I’m ready to get back into training again.
Do you have a recommendation for gloves meant just for the bag, or speed bag?
Thanks again.
Feel of lace up gloves is incredible 😉 It feels like exactly as you described. For punching bag, you can have a look at these gloves for heavy bag.
Excellent gloves. I’m not a boxer but always do the heavy bag warm up instead of the usual boring treadmill or StairMaster. I have used some cheap Everlast “toy” gloves in the past and can immediately tell that Cleto is way superior in quality and sturdiness. The stitching is outstanding and the gloves smell like cow hide. The best part is the attached thumb – an asset for beginners like myself. I have medium sized hands and these gloves just fit right because I also wear 180″ hand wraps underneath them. At the finger tips, there is some type of reinforcement which I can grab onto while working the heavy bag. These gloves are not very soft but do an excellent good job cushioning my hands – needless to say, I always wear hand-wraps beneath them. Cleto built to last, and the way I use them, they’ll easily last 5+ years.
The heavy bag can be used for everything and this is why I love training with it. I generally do resistance training and I know so many people do cardio with “light” punches.
I also get that leather smell from it and I am glad that you really know what you are talking about. I and lots of my friends had the same experience with bad pairs.
And Cleto Reyes can last around 3+ years if you take care of gloves well.
I am also sure that you will love Cleto’s pair for sparring too.
I’ve been playing with the idea of taking up boxing for training purposes as I’ve heard it can be a very good workout. This article has cleared up some of the grey areas for me so thanks for that.
I have to admit I’m not entirely sure if I should go for it yet as I am a fairly small guy and don’t want to just embarrass myself.
Boxing training is a great way to get in shape and sparring will definitely help you with that. However, if you just begin boxing training, then I suggest you learn some basic moves first then train with the punching bag, double end bag and focus mitts as well. When you think that you are ready for the next step, start sparring. I am sure it will be fun and improve your skills greatly.
By the way, being small will be no issue. Because in the gym, trainers will match you according to your size.
Thanks for the reply and the great advice.
You are welcome
Hi, I am a beginner in boxing and excited to learn a new sport. I have seen many fights before but never tried until recently.
I want to buy a new pair of gloves but it seems that there are many things to consider before buying.
My plan is to learn the basics and go to the gym 2-3 times per week.
Is Cleto the best option for me or I should try other alternatives?
There are definitely some things to consider and I think your plan seems sufficient for learning to spar and according to me and many boxing authoritative figures, Cleto Reyes Extra Padding is the best option out there and I am sure you will love punching your partner with it 😉