Best Boxing Gloves for Women in 2024 – Top brand picks by an Expert
In this post, you’ll discover the
What are the differences between men’s and women’s boxing gloves?
The most popular brands of boxing gloves make only one type of gloves – unisex gloves that are supposed to fit both men and women. Even though hand size between men and women can vary a lot, hand size can also differ greatly between people of the same gender.
But some sources show that, on average, women’s palms are typically shorter and narrower than men’s [1]. Another study shows that the male thumb is slightly shorter than the female thumb [2].
So, it’s not a surprise that many female fighters find boxing gloves too loose inside, because of the wide pocket that creates too much space and/or lack of sufficiently tight wrist support.
To find out exactly what boxing gloves typically fit the best for women, we reached out to 28 of some of the best female boxers in the world to ask a simple question:
“If you could only pick 3 pairs of boxing gloves for your training, what brands and models would they be?”
So, without further ado, here is the list of brands the female boxers from this poll liked the most:
Favorite Boxing Glove brands (as voted by 28 female boxers!)
#1 Cleto Reyes – 17 votes
#2 Winning 11 – votes
#3 Grant – 9 votes
#4 Everlast – 7 votes
#5 Rival & Ringside tied up with 5 votes
#6 Title – 4 votes
#7 Lonsdale – 3 votes
#8 Adidas, Fighting Sports & Pro Mex tied with 2 votes
Cleto Reyes is one of the most respected names in boxing and has developed some of the highest quality gloves available. When you're training for a competition, you want to make sure you're using gloves that are designed with your striking needs in mind.
These gloves have many excellent features, including an intelligently designed thumb and wrist support system that is made of 100% leather and waterproof nylon padding to keep your hands dry and ensure you have a superior training experience. These gloves are very comfortable and also feature a wrap-around hook enclosure that doesn't ever seem to slip. When it comes to comfort and performance, these are great gloves, second only to the winning boxing pair.
Winning is widely regarded as the BEST BOXING GLOVES in the world of combat sports. Over the years, the Japanese brand has retained not just its brand respect but more importantly its quality control. There isn't any hype unlike other brands and they are not dependent on sponsorships. Winning gloves have become the defacto standard for professionals around the world. No gimmicky marketing or annual redesigns just simply amazing gloves. The gold standard and a favorite among professionals and serious amateurs alike.
With a form that effortlessly adapts to your fist, these professional-style gloves are meant to deliver the best punching experience possible. The dual-layer foam padding is dense enough to provide excellent shock absorption while also avoiding hand fatigue.
Everlast Pro gloves provide excellent value for money when compared to their pricing but are ideal only for non-contact cardio-type workouts, fitness or for light bag work sessions.
If you’re a serious boxer, Everlast Pro Style are not the gloves you’re looking for. While the low price may look tempting, you will most likely find yourself wishing you’d spent the extra money on a nicer pair. Your wrists will thank you if you spend those extra dollars!
The Rival High-Performance Gloves are ideally suited for sparring, though they may also be used for training.
Ergo hook and loop double-straps are a distinguishing characteristic that sets them apart from the competition. Boxers are believed to either "love it" or "hate it," depending on the size of their forearms. Rival makes a fantastic pair of sparring gloves that provide tremendous coverage while remaining secure on your hands no matter how many rounds you fight in.
1.6 inches of great soft cushioning is one of the reasons why the Rival RS made it into our top 10 list; this makes them one of the best gloves for sparring.
The IMF Tech Pro is a great offering from Ringside, one of the premium brands in boxing gloves. The striking surface is very compact and lightweight, so you can whip your punches.
They are great as training gloves, but are more designed to be used as sparring gloves. The Quick Tie Technology is not only a functional innovation by Ringside, but it is also a great addition to the overall aesthetics.
Every ounce of these Ringside IMF Tech Boxing Gloves is constructed in leather, which gives them an “authentic” feel that reminds us of working the canvas in vintage boxing gyms.
Exclusive Gel Enforced Lining® and multi-layered foam padding form an unbeatable combination of power, performance, and protection. GEL® lining delivers a winning layer of custom form fit and impact resistance for champion results. GEL® infused tri-stacked cuff with a 360-degree wraparound wrist strap with hook-and-loop closure provides extra support and security. Moisture-wicking hand compartment liner helps deliver cool, dry, and comfortable workouts. crafted from select hides of full-grain leather, this is one of the finest gloves for sparring and bag work.
Some boxers also mentioned their favorite models. Here are a few that were mentioned more than once, with a link to our boxing reviews or to the manufacturer’s site (if the model hasn’t been reviewed yet).
- Ringside Pro Style IMF Tech gloves review
- Everlast Powerlock gloves review
- Rival RB-1 ultra bag gloves Amazon link
- Winning boxing gloves review
- Cleto Reyes Hybrid gloves review or Cleto Reyes Training gloves review
Read on to discover each boxer’s favorite 3 pairs of gloves! You can either skip to your favorite fighter using these quick links or grab a coffee, get comfortable and commence scrolling!
What are 3 Favorite Boxing Gloves for Women?
Answers are listed in random order:
- Mia St. John is a Mexican-American professional boxer and former WBC Super Welterweight Champion of the World. Favorite brand: Cleto Reyes
- Patricia “Patty Boom Boom” Alcivar is a professional boxer and two-time champion of New York City. She was the first female boxer to be voted the athlete of the year by the United States Olympic Committee. Patricia’s top 3 boxing gloves are Ringside 16oz IMF Pro-Style Tech for sparring, Title 14oz Platinum Sparring Gloves and Everlast Protex2 Training Gloves”
- Cathy “The Bitch” Brown is an ex-professional British boxer. she fought for nine titles and retired with the WIBF European Flyweight and the BBBofC English Bantamweight titles. Cathy’s favorite brands are “Ringside: I use Ringside gloves as they fit my hands perfectly and they don’t hurt my thumb and wrist where I broke it when I was fighting and Lonsdale: I have used Lonsdale in the past but their quality has gone downhill over the last few years so I don’t use them anymore”
- Laila Ali is a retired undefeated American professional boxer holding WIBA, IWBF & IBA titles. She is also the daughter of retired heavyweight boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Laila’s favorite brands are Grant and Reyes 14-16oz for training
- Sindy Amador is a professional boxer and current IFBA Champion of the world. Weight class: Light flyweight / Junior flyweight. Favorite brands: Winning, Cleto Reyes, Twins: but I think they discontinued the Twins, I don’t know why, they were very good and affordable
- Maricela Cornejo is a professional fighter currently holding the WBC International Super Middleweight Champion title. Favorite brand; Everlast Power locks
- Heather “The Heat” Hardy is an undefeated professional boxer and UBF and WBC Super Bantamweight International Champion. Favorite bag gloves: Lutasportswear, Title Triumph for sparring, and Grant for fighting
- Sonya Lamonakis is a professional boxer, IBO World Champion, and four-time NYC Golden Gloves Champion. Favorite boxing gloves: Winning, Rival, and Reyes
- Keiser “Fire” McLeod-Wells is currently the WIBA World Champion and a four-time Golden Gloves champion and a two-time World Champion amateur boxer. Keiser says “So I like Everlast, Lonsdale, & Winning. 8oz for hitting the bag & 14oz for sparring. I recommend the Lonsdale for women because female boxers become stronger than the average girl of the same weight so we tend to hit the bag harder than what our wrist and fingers can support. The Lonsdale offers more padding around the fingers in my opinion protecting my hands. Now the Winnings are nice to have to “floss” and be “stylish”. They are pricey. It’s like showing up to a fashion party with the hottest & latest Prada bag. Those are my favorite.”
- Maureen “The Real Million Dollar Baby” Shea is a professional boxer and the current IFBA Jr Featherweight World Champion, NABA Featherweight Champion, and former WBC Featherweight Champion. Maureen says “As for gloves I would choose: Winning, Reyes, Rival RB-1 ultra bag gloves.
- Kaliesha West is a professional boxer and the former three-time WBO Female Bantamweight and IFBA Super Bantamweight Boxing World Champion. Kaliesha says “Good question. I get asked this sometimes. My brand of choice (and I’ve tried many) is Lonsdale. Best glove brand I’ve ever had. I’ve been using it for over 4 years now. 2nd would be Winning, then Reyes.”
- Layla McCarter is a professional female boxer and current WBA Junior middleweight, former WBA Lightweight; GBU Junior Welterweight/Lightweight, and IFBA Featherweight champion of the world. Her favorite brands are Rival, Everlast, and Cleto Reyes.
- Melissa “Huracán” Hernández is a professional boxer and current UBF Junior Welterweight, former WBC Featherweight, WIBA Featherweight; former WIBA Junior Lightweight / Junior Featherweight, and GBU Lightweight Champion of the World. Huracan’s favorite gloves are Grant, Winning, and Lonsdale
- Shelito “Shelito’s Way” Vincent is an undefeated professional boxer and UBF and IBA Super Bantam Champion of the World. Weight class: She prefers Reyes, Grant, and Rival.
- Isra Girgrah is a retired professional boxer and former IFBA/IWBF/WIBF Junior Lightweight and IBF/UBA Lightweight Champion of the World. Isra’s top brands are Reyes, Grant, and Ringside
- Diana Prazak is a professional boxer and WBAN Junior Lightweight, WBC Junior Lightweight, and WIBA Junior Lightweight Champion of the World. She is also the first Australian fighter to ever become the pound for pound number one. Her top glove brands are Winning, Everlast and Reyes.
- Eliza Olson is a retired professional boxer and former IBA Lightweight and former WBC Lightweight champion of the world. Eliza’s favorite gloves are Title classics with lace-up, Cleto Reyes, and Ringside
- Aleksandra Magdziak Lopes is a professional boxer currently ranking in the top 7 in the welterweight and light-middleweight divisions by various boxing organizations. “I am currently using Title Platinum Primetime gloves for bag and pads. I typically order Title Boxing gloves for bag/pad work. I’m using 16oz Pro Mex Professional Elastic Training Gloves for sparring. Before purchasing Pro Mex I used Fighting Sports Tri-tech gloves for sparring and liked them as well.”
- Maria Lindberg is a Swedish professional boxer and a WIBF/WIBA/GBU Junior Middleweight champion of the world. “My 3 gloves would be: Winning Professional Boxing gloves, Adidas Adistar, and Everlast Powerlock Pro Fight Boxing Gloves”
- Ina Menzer is an ex-professional German boxer and former champion of WBC / WBO / WIBF / WIBA / WBF in the featherweight division. Ina says “I always boxed with Paffen Sport. For me, these are the
best boxing gloves . My favorites were Pro Classic 8/10 oz.” - Susie “Q” Ramadan is a professional boxer and Australia’s first female to capture both the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Bantamweight World title & WBC World Bantamweight title. “My favorite brand is Sting Sports. I am a proud sponsor of the company and have been for many years. I train and fight in Sting gloves and they have been my winning gloves not because I am sponsored by them but because I have had the experience of using their wide range of gloves and equipment. My favorite is the Viper Pro Gloves.”
- Nicole Wesner is a professional Austrian boxer and WIBF, WBF & GBU World Champion. My favorite brands are Adidas, Cleto Reyes, and Grant.
- Maribel “Little Thunder” Zurita is the professional boxer and current WIBA Light Flyweight World Champion and former IFBA Flyweight World Champion. Maribel’s favorite gloves are Reyes and Grant
- Crystal Morales is a professional boxer and current IFBA Champion of the World. Crystal’s top brands are Reyes, Everlast, and Grant
- Kali “K.O.” Reis is a professional boxer and is the first professional Native American boxer to become IBA Middleweight World Champion. Her top glove brands are Grant, Reyes, and Winnings.
- Marianne Marston is a British professional boxer. Her favorite brands are Reyes lace-ups, 3x Professional Choice, and PUG Mexican style
- Sulem Urbina is a Mexican amateur boxer and the current 2014 Independence Cup Gold Medalist, 2014 Central American Games Silver Medalist, and 2014 Continental Championships Bronze Medalist. Her top three brands would be Winning, Fighting, and Pro Mex.
- Duda Yankovich is a Serbian Brazilian fighter in boxing and mixed martial arts, she is also a former WIBA Junior Welterweight Boxing Champion of the World. Her top gloves brands are Cleto Reyes, Ringside IMF Tech Pro and Rival high-performance lace-ups for sparring, and Rival Ultra bag gloves for bag work
Buying Guide: Boxing Gloves
Boxing is undeniably a difficult sport, but it is also extremely rewarding. As a boxer, you get to experience unrivaled thrills and adrenaline.
Although there are numerous skills to acquire to become a successful boxer, learning to throw a hard punch is possibly the most vital. After all, the faster you knock out your opponent, the more powerful your punches are. A nice pair of boxing gloves is required to ensure that your punches are of the highest quality.
Boxing gloves are made to give your hands enough cushioning to allow you to throw high-impact punches without damaging them. The gloves you select can have a significant impact on the quality of your practice sessions.
If you practice wearing ill-fitting and uncomfortable gloves, you’re likely to have a low-quality practice session as a result of discomfort and muscle aches.
You must obtain the greatest boxing gloves available, but selecting one from a plethora of brands can be difficult. However, if you know exactly what you want, making a decision might be a lot easier.
What Makes for a Great Pair of Gloves
- Durable outer layer
Let’s start with the gloves’ outer layer. This layer is typically constructed of imitation leather, as real leather is exceedingly expensive to obtain and has a substantial impact on the price of the gloves. Faux leather is durable and can keep its shape even if you practice high-impact punches every day for months. Also, make sure the gloves have sturdy stitching so they don’t come apart while you’re wearing them. In addition to being durable, a faux leather outer is also simple to care for. All they need to be cleaned is a moist cloth, which you can easily rub off any excess dirt and dust with. - Adequate padding
Padding is likely the most crucial aspect of boxing gloves, as it is this part of the gloves that protects your hands from injury. You’ll be throwing some quite powerful punches, so you’ll need at least triple-layered foam cushioning to soften the impacts every time. Some gloves also have gel-infused padding for further cushioning, however, beginner-level players may not require such advanced padding and may be better off with non-gel padding. - Comfortable inner lining
Because it will be in frequent contact with your skin, the inner lining must be pleasant and skin-friendly. An unpleasant lining might generate friction, causing the boxer obvious discomfort. You must make certain that the gloves you select have a soft inner lining. - Breathability
It is critical to air out your boxing gloves after each use to prevent moisture and odor buildup within. Fortunately, several brands have begun to sell gloves with a mesh covering to quickly disperse sweat and prevent the stench from accumulating inside the gloves. If the gloves are breathable, they will feel more comfortable to wear because they will keep your hands cool and dry throughout the practice session or boxing fight. - Pre-curved design
Although not all gloves have this feature, there are plenty on the market that has a pre-curved shape so the gloves fit properly over your hands and stay in place so you can deliver accurate and powerful blows. The ergonomic shape of the gloves makes them feel like an extension of your arm, which could lead to improved boxing performance.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Boxing Gloves
- Wrist support
Gloves are designed to protect not only your hands but also your wrists from being injured by falling objects. When you strike someone, shockwaves go up to your arm and shoulder, passing through your hand and wrist and into your arm and shoulder. While these shockwaves are manageable for the arm and shoulder, your wrist is at the forefront of the action and must maintain its stability to reduce the chance of harm. A decent pair of boxing gloves will give enough wrist support because they will include a hook-and-loop closure that can be adjusted to provide a secure fit that will keep your wrist stable when punches are being delivered. Ensure that the gloves have some padding in this strap as well, since this will provide an additional layer of protection for your wrists. - Closing mechanism
Most boxing gloves are equipped with a hook-and-loop strap fastening that may be adjusted to accommodate the needs of virtually every user. This form of closure method is also the most user-friendly, needing only one hand to open and close the glove and allowing you to use the gloves without the need for help. Some gloves are also equipped with a velcro strap, which makes them quite convenient to wear. - Colors
However, while the color of your boxing gloves is a matter of personal preference, keep in mind that the color you choose will have an impact on your overall appearance as a boxer. You should select a hue that is most complementary to your fighting style. In the case of an aggressive fighter, colors such as red or yellow/golden are appropriate because they appear to be frightening, while more strategic and agile fighters are better off using cooler/lighter colors such as blue or orange to represent themselves. You should keep in mind that this is not the most crucial element to consider, but it must be made.
Price Range
The price of boxing gloves indeed varies depending on the brand, size, and quality, with larger sizes being more expensive than smaller sizes. A good pair of boxing gloves should cost between $75 and $200, although there are more expensive and less expensive versions available on the market. When it comes to boxing gloves, price is typically a strong indicator of quality but you must evaluate gloves based on variables other than their price.
FAQs
Which brand of boxing gloves is the best?
The best brand, recognized by both, pros and amateurs, is Winning. Their only downside is that their products are also the most expensive. More budget-friendly brands making quality boxing gloves are Cleto Reyes, Ring to Cage, Rival, Hayabusa, Twins, Boon, Fairtex, and TOP King.
Which boxing gloves are best for bag work?
The Hayabusa T3, Ring to Cage C-17 (Japanese Style), and Title Gel World Bag gloves. Or if budget allows Winning is always the top choice.
What is the best beginner boxing glove?
The best beginner glove that won’t break your budget and makes them enjoyable in all types of training, while improving your technique, are boxing gloves such as Venum Challenger 2.0, Venum Elite boxing gloves, TITLE Boxing Pro Style, or Everlast Pro style. However, once you start medium-hard sparring, we recommend investing in a better pair, such as those listed in this article.
What boxing gloves do professionals use?
Professionals are usually using the gloves of brands they are sponsored by since it’s what the contract requires. In a boxing match, you most often would often see fighters wearing Winning, Grant, Cleto Reyes, Ringside, Rival, and Everlast gloves.
What size boxing gloves should I buy?
Glove sizes are measured in ounces (Oz). What size of a glove to wear is determined by two factors: your weight and the type of training you intend them to use. It’s always better to consult with your coach, but this is what fighters generally wear: weighting less than 120lbs (55 kg) – 10-12 oz gloves for training, 14oz for sparring; weighting 121-150lbs (55-68kg) – 12-14oz for training, 16 for sparring; weighing more than 151lbs (68kg) – 14-16oz for training, 16-18oz gloves for sparring.
What boxing gloves are the best for women?
The best boxing gloves for women are gloves made by Cleto Reyes and Winning, because those gloves come with a glove compartment that is not too wide, as well as having tight wrist support, providing the best security for smaller hands. We have an in-depth article on this topic, called: 28 Female Boxers Reveal Their Favorite Boxing Gloves for Women.
What other equipment should I buy along with boxing gloves?
Boxing headgear and boxing shoes are must-haves for every boxer. Mouthguards, punch trackers, mitts, punching bags, and many more – have a look at the full list of best boxing equipment here
Should I buy western boxing gloves, muay Thai gloves, or MMA gloves?
Boxing gloves, muay Thai and MMA are different sports and need very different gloves. Most popular brands (e.g.,
How do I clean my boxing gloves?
There are preventive methods such as using hand wraps and drying gloves to reduce the stink in your gloves. There are also other methods such as the saltwater soak, the freezer method, or using glove dogs and disinfectants. For details, read our expert article on how to clean your boxing gloves.
What boxing gloves can I gift someone?
Although you can choose any of the above gloves to gift your loved one or friend, we recommend checking what kind of boxing gloves they prefer. We have a list of non-boxing gloves ideas that can be used for gifting
HUGE thanks to everyone who contributed to this post! Please share if you think it was useful!
If you could only pick 3 pairs of boxing gloves for your training, what brands and models would they be? Feel free to comment below!
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For brand related articles, check Best Hayabusa | Best Winning | Best Everlast | Best Cleto Reyes | Best RDX | Best Rival | Best Venum | Best Ring to Cage
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FYI, Machina Boxing is a brand of boxing gear made exclusively for women. Our boxing gloves are perfectly balanced, genuine leather and slightly lower profile (slender) than most unisex styles. Our brand is not well known yet, but our gloves are very popular with pros, amateurs and other serious women who don’t necessarily need pink gear just because they’re female. We’d love to be considered for this list!
There are not a lot of differences between the boxing men’s and women’s boxing rules. The biggest areas that are different are in the equipment and pre-fight regulations that women have then men do not.