Athletes come in all shapes and sizes and so does the gear necessary for a sportsman to excel! Boxing is a sport that requires strength, agility, and perseverance. A boxing glove is a tool, and it is essential that the boxer have a glove that fits their hand, fist and their wrists perfectly in order to achieve maximum strength and prevent injury. The sceptics out there may scoff at the idea of a boxer with small hands, however, there are tonnes of successful boxers out there with small hands, for example, the one and only Floyd Mayweather!
If you have small hands, you have very little to worry about as you can still pack a hell of a punch. This guide sets out our top 5 recommendations for the best boxing gloves for small hands.
Tips For Choosing Boxing Gloves For Those With Small Hands
First and foremost, pay attention to your own body. Get to know the shape of your wrist, hands, and knuckles. You will want your gloves to feel snug, and your fingertips to just be comfortably touching the top of the gloves.
Weight
Typically, a 10 oz glove is an appropriate weight glove for someone with small hands, however, women sometimes consider the 8 oz glove as an option too. Finding the right weight and fit is key! Remember, it must feel snug around your hand as this is what will prevent potential injuries.
In competition, male fighters in a lower weight class will use 10 oz gloves, whereas in the heavier weight groups they will wear 12 oz. Heavier weight groups start at 69 kg and above. Gloves for women will typically use 10 oz regardless of weight. Additionally, if you are a beginner you may want to consider the 10 oz too.
Check Manufacturer Sizing Guides
Typically, when you are buying gloves, brands will provide you with a size guide. It is really important to pay attention to this when purchasing your gloves! If you have questions about a fit, it’s best to seek out customer service. Most brands will be more than happy to help.
Our Top 5 Best Boxing Gloves
There are several great options available that cater for those with small hands. To help you figure out what is the best option for your hands, we have set out the top 5 picks. The training gloves that we have singled out do not compromise on comfort and style and are designed to be a well fitted fierce glove.
1. Fairtex Boxing Muay Thai Style Sparring Gloves
The Fairtex Muay Thai style boxing gloves are a great all-round classic. Whether you are sparring, doing pad work or heavy bag work, these well-fitted gloves are sure to help you pack a punch.
The wraparound hook and loop wristband are designed to create a snug fit that allows you comfort and control. Say goodbye to bulky and clunky gloves, as another perk of the Fairtex Glove is that the weight is evenly distributed, giving it a strong and sturdy feel, without weighing you down. It is available in several different weights and sizes.
Fairtex gloves are made of leather and can vary in price depending on the weight/size of them. However, they are typically a reliable mid to high tier option. They are similar to the brand Top King.
These Muay Thai style sparring gloves come in a fun variety of colors! Including, pink, yellow, red, blue, black, and white. You’ll be spoilt for choice! The colors of the glove are as vivid and bright as they are in the pictures, so you will definitely stand out in the ring!
The Hayabusa T3 Boxing Gloves are elegant, sturdy, and snug, making it a great option for those with smaller hands. With its dual wrist straps and splinting system, it fits well and provides maximum wrist support, allowing you to throw those powerful punches without risking injury. So you can go blow to blow during heavy bag sessions without suffering for it the next day.
The gloves have a 5-layer foam structure to help absorb every impact and eliminate sweat. This is always useful when it comes to avoiding those lingering odors.
There is little to flaw and the sleek look of these Hayabusa gloves is achieved by using a Vylar engineered leather. This is essentially an engineered leather material that is durable and has top of the range crack resistance.
This top of the range glove comes at a top of the range price. Therefore, if you are a beginner or someone who just wants to try the sport, then this may not be the one for you just yet.
They are available in a variety of colors, allowing you to express yourself through your martial arts gear! If you are looking for high performance, durable and attractive gloves that are also well suited to small hands then look no further, as the Hayabusa T3 is one of the best options around.
The Sanabul Gel Boxing Gloves are great value for money. They are created by professionals for professionals at a price that isn’t going to break the bank.
Using an engineered leather, the Sanabul gloves are built to last round for round. The Sanabul mantra is that you should ‘Feel the impact, not the pain’, and this reigns true in these boxing gloves as they are gel-infused, allowing you to throw blow after blow without hurting yourself.
These are a preferable choice for those with little hands as they are constructed to fit the natural architecture of the hand, which helps create a tighter and more appropriate fit. You'll be grateful for the fit of these little beauties as they provide that all-important wrist support. The integrated mesh palm area will keep you cool and help eliminate odors, leaving you with clean hands.
There is little to flaw with Sanabul and there is certainly more than meets the eye to the Sanabul Gel gloves, with elite functionality, reliable durability and availability in a whole range of vivid colours and sizes. You can see why these gloves are a popular choice for anyone, small-handed or not!
The Venum Elite Boxing Gloves are a well-renowned choice, developed in Thailand. They used a 100% Skintex leather to bring you a quality fighting experience at an affordable price.
Shock absorption is essential to any boxer, and Venum has taken it to the next level as they designed their gloves with long cuffs, reinforced palms, and a unique triple density foam. The extra padding will protect your knuckles and the Velcro wraps will provide you with wrist support. This will allow you to train for longer and harder, without the expense of injury. This is especially useful for those fighters who use heavy bag training a lot. It's a great pair of gloves for the heavy bag if you've got little hands.
If you are a seasoned veteran of the sport, then you’ll be familiar with the problems of cracked gloves and weak seams! Venum laughed in the face of these problems as their Skintex leather is anti-abrasive and their seams are really reinforced to last you through those rigorous fights. Venum Elite gloves are available in a variety of color combinations, and their outlandish design makes for a very trendy, yet practical option of gloves for small-handed fighters.
The Everlast Elite Pro Style Training Gloves are a comfortable and reliable fit. If you are new to the sport, or just giving it a go, then these are a preferable choice for you as they are more suited to training and not for intensive competition. Nonetheless, don’t rule out these gloves just yet as they have an anatomical construction that is perfect for stabilizing the hands and increasing that wrist support, especially for little and slender wrists.
As soon as you put these on you will feel that security in your wrist. You’ll be able to train confidently without fear of your wrist buckling in on you, even when working hard with those heavy bag training sessions.
Made from premium synthetic leather and foam technology, these gloves work perfectly for sparring and mitt work. Your hands will feel fresh as the mesh palm guarantees breathability. The Everlast Elite Pro pair of gloves are a fuss-free option, they are reliable and are low maintenance. If you are a beginner, or just like to casually box, then this is the best option for you!
A Quick Summary
There are tonnes of boxers out there who are not born with big hands, but this certainly does not mean they cannot pack a punch when wearing the right gloves for them. The boxing glove itself is just as important as the hand that wears it.
It is essential that your gloves provide you with knuckle support and a secure wrist, otherwise your hands will never be able to last in the long run. The boxing gloves we explored here are not only practical but are also stylish, comfortable, reliable and have an achieved anatomical design that fits the natural shape of the hand and wrist.
And the Winner is...
If we had to pick the best boxing gloves for small hands, then the Hayabusa T3 Boxing Gloves are an all-round winner for us, particularly in the smooth and sleek black and gold color combination. It is an exceptionally designed glove with its 5-layer foam structure and interlocking splints at the back of the hand.
With these gloves on you will feel strong and be able to put the power behind those punches confidently. Having confidence in your gloves is important, as you are only as good as the tools you have. Unfortunately, when it comes to paying for sports gear, typically you get what you pay for. The Hayabusa T3 is a work of art, and the price tag certainly reminds you of that. If you are in it for the long run, then consider these gloves as a long term investment.
However, this is not to say that there aren’t options out there that are more budget-friendly but equally great value. If you are looking for something special without burning a hole in your pocket, then the Sanabul Gel Gloves are also a reputable choice.