Boxing Kit for Kids: What to Buy

Parents often ask what equipment their child needs before starting boxing. The honest answer for the first few months: nothing. Most clubs, including ours, provide everything for trial sessions and early training. You do not need to buy anything before your child has decided they enjoy it.

That said, once a child is training regularly, there are a few things worth owning.

What the Club Provides

At H&G, and at most reputable boxing clubs, the following is available for use during sessions:

• Boxing gloves (various sizes)
• Hand wraps
• Bags and pads
• Skipping ropes

Your child can train for weeks or months using club equipment before you need to spend a penny on gear.

When to Buy Their Own Kit

The trigger is usually around the 4-6 week mark, when the child has decided they want to continue. At that point, hygiene and comfort make personal equipment worthwhile - shared gloves are functional but not ideal for regular use.

What to Buy (And in What Order)

First Purchase: Hand Wraps (£5-8)

Buy these before gloves. Children's hand wraps are shorter (2.5m vs 4.5m for adults) and protect the small bones in the hand during bag and pad work. Two pairs means you always have a clean set.

Second Purchase: Boxing Gloves (£20-40)

Size by weight:

• Ages 5-8: 4oz or 6oz gloves
• Ages 8-12: 8oz gloves
• Ages 12-16: 10oz or 12oz gloves

Lonsdale, Adidas and RDX all make decent children's gloves in the UK. Avoid novelty gloves from toy shops - they have no wrist support and inadequate padding.

A proper boxing glove should have velcro closure (not lace-up, which children cannot do themselves), firm padding across the knuckles, and support around the wrist.

Third Purchase: Gum Shield (£5-15)

Required for sparring, optional for pad and bag work. A boil-and-bite gum shield from any sports retailer is adequate for training. Custom-fitted shields from a dentist (£40-80) are better for children who spar regularly.

Children under 10 at H&G do not spar, so a gum shield is not immediately necessary.

Optional: Skipping Rope (£8-12)

If your child enjoys skipping (most do), a speed rope at home is excellent for developing coordination and fitness between sessions. Standard adult speed ropes are too long for children - buy one specifically sized for their height.

What You Do Not Need

Full head guards: only needed for sparring, and clubs provide these for training. Only buy if your child is competing regularly.

Boxing boots: regular trainers are fine for training. Boxing boots are unnecessary until a child is competing.

Punch bags for home: fun but not necessary. Children develop better with coached pad work at the gym.

Matching sets: brands sell coordinated gloves-wraps-shorts sets at premium prices. The coordination does not make the equipment better.

Budget Summary

A complete starter kit for a child who is training regularly:

| Item | Cost | When |

|---|---|---|

| Hand wraps (2 pairs) | £10-16 | After 2-4 sessions |

| Boxing gloves | £20-40 | After 4-6 sessions |

| Gum shield | £5-15 | When sparring starts |

| Skipping rope | £8-12 | Optional, any time |

| Total | £43-83 | |

Everything else can wait until your child has been training consistently for several months.

A Note on Quality

Children grow. Gloves bought for a 7-year-old will not fit a 9-year-old. Buy decent quality but do not over-invest - you will replace everything within 12-18 months as your child grows.

The exception is the gum shield, which should be replaced every 6 months or whenever the fit changes.

If your child is interested in boxing, book a free trial session. They do not need any equipment to start. We provide everything for the first session and will advise on what to buy and when based on your child's age and level.

Getting the Right Fit

The most common mistake parents make is buying gloves that are too big "so they can grow into them." This does not work with boxing gloves. Oversized gloves shift on impact, reducing protection and making it harder for children to learn proper technique. The fist should fill the glove snugly without the fingers feeling cramped.

Most sports retailers in the UK stock children's boxing equipment, but the selection in store is often limited. Online retailers like RDX Sports and Decathlon have wider ranges with proper sizing guides.

What Other Parents Say

We hear the same feedback from parents at H&G repeatedly: they expected boxing equipment to be expensive and complicated, and they were relieved to find it was neither.

"We spent about £30 on wraps and gloves after the first month. That was it for the first year." That is a typical experience. The simplicity of boxing equipment is one of the things that makes the sport so accessible - there is no expensive kit barrier to entry.

The children who arrive with brand new matching sets from day one are no more equipped than the ones using club gloves. What matters is showing up and putting the work in.

When to Upgrade

Children who compete will eventually need:

• Competition-approved gloves (10oz, specific brands approved by the ABA)
• A fitted headguard
• Boxing boots
• A groin guard and chest protector

Your club and your child's coach will advise on exactly what is needed before a competition. These items are standardised and the requirements are clear. Do not buy competition equipment without checking the current rules first - specifications change periodically.

For recreational training, the basic kit described above is all that is needed for as long as your child wants to box.

If your child is interested in trying boxing, book a free trial session. We take children from age 5 and provide all equipment for the first session.