Best Hand Wraps for Boxing 2025: Cotton vs Mexican Style Compared

Hand wraps are the most overlooked piece of boxing equipment. New boxers obsess over gloves, ignore their wraps, and then wonder why their wrists ache and their knuckles are bruised.

Your gloves protect your opponent. Your wraps protect you.

Done right, hand wraps support your wrist, cushion your knuckles, and bind the small bones in your hand together so they absorb impact as a unit. Done wrong - or not at all - you're asking for injuries that take weeks to heal.

Here's everything you need to know about choosing and using hand wraps.

Cotton vs Mexican Style: What's the Difference?

There are two main types of hand wraps. Both work. They feel different.

Cotton Wraps (Traditional)

Cotton wraps are thick, sturdy, and don't stretch much. They've been used in boxing for over a century.

• Durable and long-lasting
• Provide rigid support
• Easier for beginners to wrap consistently
• Cheaper on average
• Wash and dry quickly

• Less conforming to hand shape
• Can feel bulky
• Take practice to get comfortable
• Don't mould as well to knuckles

• Best for. Beginners, people with larger hands, those who prefer firm support

Mexican Style Wraps (Semi-Elastic)

Mexican style wraps contain some elastane or spandex, giving them stretch. They conform to your hand shape as you wrap.

• Mould to your hands for a custom fit
• Easier to get a snug wrap
• More comfortable for most people
• Better knuckle coverage
• Feel less bulky inside gloves

• Wear out faster than cotton
• Elasticity reduces over time
• Can be wrapped too tight if you're not careful
• Take longer to dry
• Slightly more expensive

• Best for. Most boxers, people with smaller hands, anyone who's mastered basic wrapping technique
• My pick. Mexican style wraps are what I use and recommend. The slight stretch makes it easier to get a secure, comfortable wrap every time. They feel better in the glove.

What Length Do You Need?

Hand wraps come in different lengths. Here's what each is good for:

• Bare minimum for basic protection
• Only suitable for children or very small hands
• Won't allow for proper knuckle padding

• Standard length for most adults
• Enough for a complete wrap with basic knuckle coverage

• Good starting point for beginners

• Extra material for additional knuckle protection
• Better for heavy bag work
• Recommended for people with larger hands

• Maximum protection for serious hitters
• Can build substantial knuckle padding
• Takes longer to wrap and unwrap
• Can feel bulky in tight gloves

My recommendation: Start with 4m wraps. They give you enough material to properly protect your hands without being excessive. You can always wrap slightly looser if you have smaller hands.

The Best Hand Wraps Available in the UK

RDX Hand Wraps - £8-12 (pair)

RDX dominates the budget boxing market, and their wraps are solid.

• Great value - often sold in multi-packs
• Available in cotton and Mexican style
• Wide thumb loop and velcro closure
• Decent durability for the price
• Easy to find in UK shops

• Cotton version can feel stiff
• Elasticity fades faster than premium wraps
• Stitching occasionally loose
• Some colour bleeding when new

• Where to buy. Amazon UK, Sports Direct, Decathlon
• Verdict. Best budget option. Buy a couple of pairs so you always have clean wraps ready.

Everlast Hand Wraps - £8-15 (pair)

The classic choice. Everlast wraps are what most people picture when they think hand wraps.

• Available everywhere
• Consistent quality
• Both cotton and semi-elastic options
• Wide colour range
• Reliable velcro closure

• Slightly shorter than advertised sometimes
• Cotton version quite stiff initially
• Nothing special - just solid basics
• Logo can peel with washing

• Where to buy. Sports Direct, Argos, Amazon UK, Decathlon
• Verdict. Reliable and widely available. You know what you're getting.

Venum Kontact - £12-18 (pair)

Venum's hand wraps match the quality of their gloves. The Kontact range is their standard offering.

• Good stretch and recovery
• Comfortable material against skin
• Secure velcro closure
• Maintains elasticity well

• Looks good (if that matters to you)

• More expensive than RDX or Everlast
• Limited availability in physical UK shops
• Some find them slightly thin
• Takes a while to dry

• Where to buy. Amazon UK, Venum official store, Combat Sports UK
• Verdict. Premium feel at a reasonable price. Worth the extra few quid.

Title Boxing Attack Hand Wraps - £10-15 (pair)

Title is a respected American brand that's increasingly available in the UK.

• Excellent Mexican style stretch
• Very comfortable material
• Durable construction
• Good length options
• Used by many competitive boxers

• Harder to find in UK stores
• Often need to order online
• Premium pricing
• Limited colour selection in UK

• Where to buy. Made4Fighters, Amazon UK
• Verdict. High quality wraps preferred by serious boxers. Worth seeking out.

Adidas Boxing Hand Wraps - £10-14 (pair)

Adidas makes boxing equipment that matches their footwear quality.

• Good quality construction
• Both cotton and elastic options
• Available in standard UK sports shops
• Durable velcro
• Reasonable pricing

• Nothing exceptional about them
• Less variety than specialist brands
• Some find them slightly narrow
• Limited lengths available

• Where to buy. JD Sports, Sports Direct, Amazon UK
• Verdict. Solid mainstream option. Fine if you're already buying other Adidas gear.

Quick Wrapping Guide

There are dozens of ways to wrap hands. Here's a basic method that works for beginners:

1. Loop over thumb and wrap around wrist 3-4 times
2. Go across the back of hand to the knuckles
3. Wrap across knuckles 3 times
4. Down between each finger and back around wrist (X pattern)
5. Build a pad over knuckles with remaining material
6. Finish around wrist and secure velcro

• Keep wraps flat with no bunching
• Snug but not cutting off circulation

• Make a fist periodically to check tightness
• Wrist should feel supported, not restricted

We teach proper wrapping technique in our beginner sessions. It takes a few goes to get right, but becomes automatic with practice.

Care and Washing

Hand wraps get sweaty. Really sweaty. You need to wash them regularly or they'll become biohazards.

Washing tips:

• After every session: Hang them to dry fully before storing
• Every 2-3 uses: Machine wash on cold or hand wash
• Use a mesh laundry bag to prevent tangling
• Air dry only - tumble dryers destroy elasticity
• Don't use fabric softener - it reduces grip

Rolling your wraps: Learn to roll them properly after washing. Starting from the velcro end with the loop on the outside means they're ready to go next session.

How Many Pairs Do You Need?

Minimum: two pairs. This way you always have clean, dry wraps available.

Ideal: three or four pairs. Gives you enough rotation for frequent training without constant washing.

At around £10 per pair, there's no excuse for training with damp, smelly wraps. Your training partners will thank you.

Inner Gloves vs Traditional Wraps

Some beginners ask about gel inner gloves or quick wraps as an alternative. These slip-on options are convenient but come with trade-offs.

• Quick to put on
• Decent knuckle protection
• Less wrist support
• Get sweaty and hard to clean
• Don't last as long

• Faster than traditional wraps
• Reasonable protection
• Less customisable fit
• More expensive to replace

My view: Learn to use proper wraps from the start. It takes two minutes once you've practiced, and the support is noticeably better. Quick wraps are fine for light bag work but don't cut corners for sparring or heavy training.

Summary Recommendations

Best budget: RDX Hand Wraps (£8-12)

Best overall: Venum Kontact (£12-18)

Most available: Everlast Hand Wraps (£8-15)

For serious training: Title Attack (£10-15)

Buy Mexican style in 4m length. Get at least two pairs. Wash them regularly.

The Most Important Thing

Wraps only work if you actually use them. Every single session. Even if you're just doing light pad work.

The bones in your hand are small and fragile. They're held together by ligaments and tendons that don't heal fast. One bad punch with unwrapped hands can put you out for weeks.

It takes ninety seconds to wrap up. Make it habit.