Equipment Guide
What you actually need at every stage of your boxing journey. No sponsorship deals - just what our coaches use and trust.
Some links are Amazon affiliate links. Buying through them costs you nothing extra and helps support the club.
Your First Week
You don't need anything
Seriously - just turn up.
The club has bags, pads, and everything you need for your first few sessions. All you need to bring is:
- ✓ Comfortable gym clothes
- ✓ Indoor trainers (any will do)
- ✓ Water
That's it. Don't spend money on gear before you've tried a session. Once you're hooked (and you will be), come back here.
Beginner
You've done a few sessions and you're coming back for more
Time to get your own basics. You don't need to spend a fortune - this is about having your own kit that's clean, fits you, and protects your hands.
Wraps & Hand Protection
EssentialWraps protect your wrists and knuckles from impact. This isn't optional - it's the difference between training consistently and sitting out with a wrist injury. Seriously, look after your hands and wrists.
RDX Fast Wraps
Quick to put on, decent protection. Great starting point if you haven't learned to wrap yet.
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Venum Kontact Gel
Gel padding with knuckle protection. Slip-on design, very popular with beginners.
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Fairtex 4.5m Wraps
Classic hand wraps. A bit of a faff to learn but good technique to have. Elasticated cotton, wash well.
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Care tip: Soak in the sink and air dry after every session (an airing cupboard is ideal). Don't use hot water - it damages the elastane.
Your First Gloves
EssentialGet 16oz velcro gloves. You can use them for everything - bag work, pads, and sparring. They'll be a bit heavier on the bag, which is actually good for building endurance.
Velcro over lace - much easier to get on and off by yourself. Lace-up gloves feel great but you'll need someone to tie them every time.
Venum Challenger 2.0
Probably the best budget glove. Decent padding, comfortable fit, widely available. 16oz.
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Sanabul Gold Strike
Professional-grade protection at a beginner price. Consistently well-reviewed for comfort and durability.
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Everlast 1910 Classic
The name everyone knows. Solid entry-level glove with decent wrist support.
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Avoid cheap RDX gloves - poor hand protection, thin padding, not durable. Their wraps are fine, but the gloves are not worth it.
Skipping Rope
RecommendedThe single best conditioning tool in boxing. Start with a basic PVC rope and keep shortening it with scissors as you improve - a shorter rope forces better technique.
6mm PVC Skipping Rope
Adjustable length, unbreakable handle. All you need for coordination and rhythm.
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Glove Dryers
RecommendedNever leave gloves in a closed bag after training. Sweat kills gloves and creates horrible smells. Sprays and inserts help, but keeping them dry is far more effective.
Snowpea Ultra Glove Dryer
Pop in straight after your session. Draws out moisture and keeps gloves fresh.
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Intermediate
You're sparring regularly and training multiple times a week
This is where quality starts to matter. You're putting in serious work and your gear needs to keep up. Invest in proper gloves, protect your head, and look after your feet.
Proper Gloves
UpgradeTime to invest. Animal leather lasts significantly longer than synthetic - bigger upfront cost but you won't be replacing them in six months.
Ideally get two pairs: 16oz for sparring, 10-14oz for bag work. The weight difference makes a real difference to your training.
Innovation & Modern Tech
Advanced wrist support, modern foams, performance-driven design.
Rival RS11V Evolution
Our head coach uses Rival. The Wrist-Lock system is genuinely excellent. 16oz velcro sparring.
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Hayabusa T3 Kanpeki
Premium Japanese leather, exceptional wrist support. A favourite with experienced fighters. 16oz.
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Adidas Tilt 350
Innovative tilt technology shifts padding towards the knuckle line. Modern design, clever engineering.
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Rival RS1 Ultra (10oz)
Lighter weight for speed work and technique on the heavy bag. Your second pair.
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Rival RB50 Intelli-Shock
Compact bag glove with shock-absorbing padding. Great hand protection for heavy bag work.
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Built to Last
Thicker padding, sturdier construction. Take a beating and keep going.
Twins Special BGVL3
Thai-made tanks. Wider fit, very forgiving on the hands. 16oz retro leather.
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Everlast 1910
Premium line from Everlast. Much better than their budget range - proper leather, good construction.
Amazon →Classic Mexican Style
Latex or horsehair padding, crisp punch feedback. These let you feel your shots.
Cleto Reyes Velcro
The iconic Mexican glove. Compact padding, beautiful leather, brilliant feedback. 16oz sparring.
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Cleto Reyes Lace-Up
Traditional lace closure. Tighter fit, better feel. Need someone to lace you up.
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Check out Fit2Box and CSquared Boxing for detailed glove reviews before you buy.
Mouthguard & Case
Essential for SparringNon-negotiable once you're sparring. Mould it at home (boil, bite, done) and it'll fit perfectly.
Headguard
Essential for SparringIf you're deciding whether you need one, the answer is yes.
Even in "technical" sparring, you'll experience enormous weight spreads. At 70kg, our coach regularly spars 100kg+ boxers. You're entirely at the mercy of how controlled your partner is, and even light shots can land hard if you step onto a punch. If you really don't like wearing one, at least put it on against heavier opponents.
Pro Box Bar-Face
Face bar prevents cuts and broken noses. Builds confidence - experiment without worrying about your face. Great value.
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Hit N Move Air Armor
Lightweight precision headgear with face bar. Excellent visibility and ventilation. A step up from Pro Box.
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Rival RHG10 Intelli-Shock
D3O technology for excellent impact dampening. No face bar - better visibility for experienced sparrers.
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Boxing Boots
RecommendedLook for high-tops with a wrap-around heel - without the heel wrap, soles peel off with lateral movement.
It might take a couple of attempts to get the right size. Most brands offer free returns. If you have wide feet, you may need to shop around.
Adidas Speedex Ultra
High-top, wrap-around heel, solid ankle support. Ticks all the boxes.
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Nike Machomai 3
Lightweight, excellent grip, good ankle support. Popular at all levels.
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Lonsdale Widmark
Affordable starter boots. Not the most durable but a decent entry point.
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Speed Rope
UpgradeOnce you've mastered the basics and want to work on double-unders and speed work, upgrade to a thinner cable rope.
Speed Rope
Thinner cable, faster rotation. For when the PVC rope feels too slow.
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Heart Rate Monitor
OptionalUseful if you like tracking training load and recovery.
You'll need a longer strap or to wear it higher on the forearm - wraps cover the standard watch position.
Duffel Bag (50-60L)
You need space for gloves, headguard, boots, wraps, and a change of clothes. 50-60L handles it all.
Competitive
You're fighting or preparing to fight
At this level, you know what you like. These are the extras that competitive boxers need - premium protection, recovery tools for the inevitable injuries, and the gloves that serious fighters gravitate towards.
Premium Gloves
Hand-made, multi-layer padding, exceptional protection. These are the gloves serious fighters swear by.
Winning MS-600
Japanese craftsmanship. Unmatched hand protection. The glove professionals trust. 16oz.
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Hayabusa T3 Lace-Up
Premium lace closure for the tightest fit. Incredible wrist support and hand protection. 16oz.
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Also worth looking at: Grant, Fly, Phenom, Eizo, DiNardo, Tigaro, Bayoneta - all excellent boutique makers with devoted followings among competitive boxers.
Groin Guard
Required for BoutsEssential for competitive sparring and mandatory for amateur bouts. Get one that fits well - you don't want adjusting it mid-round.
Injury Recovery
EssentialInjuries are almost inevitable, especially muscle and ligament injuries. Our head coach has dealt with thumb, shoulder, wrist, elbow, rib and knee injuries at various points - it comes with the territory.
Cold reduces inflammation in the acute phase (first 48-72 hours). Heat stimulates blood flow during recovery. For areas with poor circulation like the shoulder, increasing circulation with heat is key to a speedy recovery.
Hot & Cold Massage Gun
Cold for fresh injuries, heat for recovery. One tool covering both phases. Makes a real difference to how quickly you get back.
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Ice Pack
Keep one in the freezer. Regular icing in the first couple of days makes a significant difference to swelling and pain.
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Shadow Boxing Bands
Training AidResistance bands for shadow boxing add load to your punches. Good for building speed-strength and punch endurance at home.
Gyro Fitness Shadow Boxer Pro
Full resistance band set designed for boxing movements. Ankle straps included for footwork drills.
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CLUB MERCH
Rep the club. Official Honour & Glory kit available online or in person at the gym.
These recommendations come from what our coaches and members actually use. We're not sponsored by any brand. Amazon links use our affiliate tag - buying through them supports the club at no extra cost to you.