If you are new to muay thai or have been training for some time, it is clear that having a solid pair of muay thai gloves is crucial.
After training for some time it is likley that you will end up buying at least a second or third pair of gloves due to wear and tear over time.
Here are the most important tips to keep in mind when buying a new pair of muay thai gloves:
- Size
- Material
- Cost
- Features
Looking specifically for women’s muay thai gloves?
What Size Muay Thai Gloves Do I Need?
The size of muay thai gloves are base don their weight and the amount of padding or protection that makes up the gloves.
Muay thai gloves are available in weight from 8oz up to 18oz.
So which size is best for me?
There are size charts available for muay thai gloves that are based on your bodyweight.
Generally speaking the heavier you are the heavier the gloves you should use according to the size charts available.
Below is a fairly standard size chart summarized from the many available online you can search through.
| Bodyweight (lbs/kgs) | Muay Thai gloves weight (oz) |
| Below 100 lbs/46 kg | 8-10 oz |
| 101-120 lbs/46-54 kg | 10 oz |
| 120-150 lbs/55-68 kg | 12 oz |
| 151-180 lbs/69-82 kg | 14 oz |
| More than 180 lbs/83 kg | 16 oz |
Other considerations when selecting a size
When it comes to sparring or even partner drills it is usually better to go with the larger heavier gloves, 14-16 oz gloves.
The larger size and weight and extra padding provide better protection for you and your partner in sparring and drilling.
When it comes to pad work and heavy bag work then a little bit lighter glove is recommended so that your movements are more fluid and you wrists and hands get the conditioning benefit as well.
For bag work and pad work 10-12 oz gloves are recommended.
Best Material to Look for in Muay Thai Gloves
Genuine Leather
Real cowhide leather is the preferred choice for muay thai gloves that are durable and robust.
Top muay thai brands from Thailand such as Yokkao, MUAYTHAI and Twins are known for Grade A quality cowhide leather from the best tanneries in Thailand which is used in the production of their muay thai gloves.
Synthetic Leather
While genuine leather is preferred over synthetic leather, over the years and research and development in gloves production, synthetic leather has improved considerably in terms of quality and protection.
Many of the leading muay thai gloves brands out there have great options available in synthetic leather. These brands include Fairtex, Yokkao and Venum.
Real leather vs Synthetic leather gloves
Synthetic leather is a great option for those who are ethically-inclined and prefer to steer away from animal products. There are many 100% animal free options for gloves that make use of quality synthetic leather.
Synthetic leather is known to be less breathable than real leather and so if you are a heavy sweater then genuine leather may be a better option for you.
Synthetic leather is known to be more water resistant than real leather and this easier to wipe clean and avoid discolouration from sweat and water absorption in comparison to real leather gloves.
In terms of price real leather and synthetic leather gloves are comparable in price range so it really depends on what you are after in terms of protection, breath-ability, water absorption and if you are looking for animal-free products.
Cost
There are a wide range of options for solid muay thai gloves to fit most people’s budgets.
At the high end, top brand muay thai gloves can cost between $60-$120.
You can often get them cheaper from online stores due to the cost involved in running a physical store or gym.
For those who are looking for a good pair of budget gloves that will get the job done and last there are also price options from $25-$50.
These ‘cheaper’ options are also good to have as a ‘spare gloves’ option to use regularly to keep your more expensive gloves in good shape for longer.
You could alternate between different gloves if you are training several times a week to keep your gloves in good condition for longer.
Muay Thai Gloves Features
Velcro vs Lace-up Gloves
An important option when buying muay thai gloves are whether to get velcro or lace-up gloves.
Lace-up gloves offer more stability and will not shift easily when training. The downside is that they require assistance to fit on and also to take off.
In a training session where you may be required to take off your gloves for conditioning, clinching and other training exercises.
The velcro option is far easier to take off and put on and would be the better option for most people training muay thai.
Wrist Protection
Support for you wrist is an important aspect when selecting gloves as punching places strain on your wrists and knuckles.
While your hands will get conditionined over time its important to get gloves with good protection for you hands and wrists.
One option I have not seen with many muay thai gloves I use and own is a secure velcro wrist closure system with a leather wrist strap enhances wrist protection and comfort.
This velcro strapping allows you to get even more wrist support through more securely fitting to your wrist through an extendable strap.
This velcro strap for wrist support is available with the Elite Sports brand of muay thai gloves.
Check out the link below and get a 12% Discount when you use the Coupon Code.
My Top Picks for the Best Brands
Twins
In my experience and training in different muay thai gyms for short periods of time the Twins brand was used pretty consistently.
I especially like the wrist support of Twins gloves and the cushioning of the gloves for heavy bag work.
Have a read of a review of Twins gloves after 3 years of use by Andy at andytraveller.com
His overall verdict is that he wont be needing to purchase a new pair anytime soon. After three years of regular use Id say this was a pretty good review for Twins as a great brand to start out with.
Top King
These are another pair of gloves I have had experience in using and also as a top brand out of Thailand, Top King gloves really are a great option, if you can afford them and access them.
Price range for Top King gloves would be in the 100 USD plus range. Top King fits your hand a little tighter around the knuckle area than Twins and I feel more supported in the wrist with Twins.
However they are similar to Twins in that they are made from cow leather.
Based on the fact that Twins is used at the highest level at Lumpinee stadium I would go with Twins
Fairtex
Fairtex is a huge brand in muay thai gear and their popularity is justly so. They produce high quality equipment and their gloves are no exception.
In terms of budget they range in the 100 USD plus price range also.
I have had experience in using Fairtex gloves but I dont own a pair mainly because they are quite costly but they really do look great and offer good wrist and knuckle support and padding.
What gloves do I now use?
However after visiting Soot Raang Geert muay thai gym in Sydney, Australia where I purchased a pair of 12 oz MTS (muaythaistore) glove, these are the ones I use mostly now.
I selected this pair mainly because of price. SRG gym sold MTS gear, which is an Australian brand along with Yokkao.
The Yokkao gloves were double the price of the MTS gloves which were $50 AUD and which I still use today, years later.
Final Thoughts
For a beginner I would definitely say dont let selecting gloves get in the way of starting out in muay thai and get the best ones you can find for your location, budget but make sure they offer decent wrist and knuckle support.
The weight of the gloves is also a factor. I like 14 oz gloves as they can be used in partner drills and sparring as well as on the bag.
Whereas with 10oz gloves these may not be the best for a beginner and especially when sparring and drilling, extra weight is better.
The three brands I discussed are the top three out of Thailand and if you can afford the 100 USD plus price tag then go for one of these. But I would say Twins would be a great choice.
