This is the second part of our best-buy guide series for headgear. We have divided the headgear into 3 price ranges, and this part covers the segment with the most choice, where you can also expect a bit more from headgear.
Division by price range
Since the available budget is often a determining factor in the choice, we have divided the headgear into 3 price ranges: up to top 3 headgear up to 100 euros, up to 200 euros, and the absolute top class above 200 euros.
We continue with the second category (up to 200 euros) and will cover the other categories in future blogs.
In addition, we have a separate category specifically for people looking for full face protection: headgear with a face-bar.
Criteria for scoring headgear*
When assessing headgear, we look at what we consider the most important properties of headgear: fit, protection, and visibility. We will score the headgear based on these criteria.
- Fit: By fit we mean: comfort during use, but especially how well the headgear conforms to the contours of the head. Here comes an important note: everyone’s head is different, so personal preference or the shape of your head also plays a role.
- Protection: The protection is the extent to which the headgear does what it is intended for, namely protecting the head, cheekbones, ears, back of the head, and face. Therefore, the level of protection is also linked to the fit, as these properties influence each other.
- Visibility: Visibility during use is also a very important factor when choosing headgear, and a balance is always made against the level of protection. Visibility is a more active form of protection, as the goal remains to avoid being hit.
- Ease of use: The extent to which the headgear can be easily adjusted to your personal measurements and fit. Also, the ease of putting on and taking off with regular use.
- Build quality: The materials used, finish, and sturdiness of the headgear. We also look at details such as laces and Velcro straps.
At the time of writing, Fight2Win offers a selection of no less than 50 different headgear for boxing, kickboxing, and thai boxing. *From this, we have selected the top 3 based on customer experiences and feedback, external product reviews, popularity, and our own expertise.
Best buy: Headgear for boxing and kickboxing up to €200
- Rival HG30
- Hayabusa T3
- Twins HGL3
1. Rival Boxing HG30
The HG30 is definitely one of our favorite headgear and excels in many aspects you can and want to expect from good headgear.
The Rival headgear falls well within the set budget up to 200 euros, but is one of the top models in this class. This is simply a very good quality headgear of excellent class with a very comfortable fit. The Rival HG30 headgear has everything you look for in good headgear: thick cheekbone protectors, ample visibility, and pleasant soft ear protection.
One of the points where the HG30 really scores extra points is the closures. These can of course be adjusted with laces for the best possible fit, but the secret lies in the Velcro straps in the neck. They are not horizontal but somewhat diagonal. When you fasten these, the headgear follows the contours of the back of the head perfectly for an optimal fit.
Fit Rival HG30 (Score: 8/10)
The fit of the Rival HG30 can simply be called very good. The model clearly distinguishes itself from both budget and premium headgear by the snug fit. This is partly due to the adjustment options with the laces, but the secret mainly lies in the clever extra Velcro straps at the top of the neck (towards the back of the head). The cheekbone protectors are well shaped in the right place as well as the opening for the ears.
Protection Rival HG30 (Score: 8/10)
The protection of the Rival HG30 is very good. The padding of the entire headgear is of excellent thickness. The padding used feels firm but soft enough. The aforementioned cheekbone protectors are extra thick and thus provide an additional advantage. Because they are so thick, the nose is also somewhat extra protected as an added benefit. The ears are also very well protected by thick padding and the extra horizontal band over the ear openings.
Visibility Rival HG30 (Score: 7/10)
The visibility you have when using the Rival HG30 is very good despite the extra thick cheekbone protectors. This clearly shows that this headgear belongs to the top of the higher class. After all, it is often a trade-off between optimal visibility combined with maximum protection.
Great protection and good visibility! Gives a lot of confidence during sparring
Ease of Use Rival HG30 (Score: 7/10)
The ease of use of the Rival HG30 is also excellent. Only the first time do you adjust the headgear with the laces. After that, you simply put it on using the Velcro at the back of the head. The final step is fastening the metal buckle under the chin for maximum stability of the headgear. By the way, the buckle is neatly hidden behind the leather.
Build quality Rival HG 30 (Score: 8/10)
The build quality of the Rival HG30 is more than adequate. The materials used feel sturdy and flexible. The finish is also more than satisfactory, although there is, of course, a difference compared to top-class headgear. That, of course, involves a very different (much higher) price range.
Unfortunately, the Rival HG30 headgear has the same issues as many headgear models that use laces. The laces can get caught in the Velcro, and the standard laces provided are not of the highest quality. However, this is easily solved by purchasing separate high-quality laces and/or in the color you prefer.
Features Rival HG30:
| Material | Leather |
| Closure | Velcro & laces |
| Sizes | S, M, L and XL |
| Weight | approx. 385 g |
Pros:
+ Excellent fit thanks to adjustment options and smart Velcro straps
+ Excellent protection due to extra thick padding on cheekbones and ears
Cons:
- Laces can fray
View in webshop:
External sources:
2. Hayabusa T3
The Hayabusa T3 headgear is the result of extensive research by this innovative and forward-thinking brand, designed for martial artists who want good and modern materials. It is excellent quality for beginners and advanced users at a fair price.
Hayabusa is known for its innovations and smart solutions for materials in the martial arts world. This headgear benefits from a unique and revolutionary closure system: the T3-cross closure system.
The Hayabusa T3 has excellent cheekbone protectors, ear protectors, and optionally a chin protector. Hayabusa offers two similar headgear models in different versions. Putting on and taking off is done via revolutionary Velcro closures without the hassle of laces. This is truly a brilliant system and very user-friendly.
Fit Hayabusa T3 (Score: 7/10)
The fit of the Hayabusa T3 is good. Thanks to the revolutionary closure, the headgear can be adjusted well for almost any head shape. The ears fit into cutouts and are thus well positioned. We find the headgear with the chin variant quite bulky. The simple closure method allows for a good fit, and the Hayabusa headgear will hardly shift unless struck with significant force.
Protection Hayabusa T3 (Score: 7/10)
The protection of the Hayabusa T3 headgear is sufficient. You will notice that due to the light weight, it does not provide the same protection as heavier headgear or headgear from the truly professional class. However, for beginners and intermediate users, this is more than enough to get started. The ears are integrated into the overall design and covered with mesh panels. As mentioned, this model is available both with and without a chin protector.
Well helped, happy with the product.
Visibility Hayabusa T3 (Score: 6/10)
The visibility you have when using the headgear is sufficient but not completely optimal. Especially with the headgear with chin protection, this is borderline. Here you clearly notice that ease of use somewhat comes at the expense of other aspects.
Ease of use Hayabusa T3 (Score: 10/10)
The ease of use of the Hayabusa T3 is excellent. You don’t have to adjust anything with laces. You just put it on, fasten the Velcro, and you’re done.
Build quality Hayabusa T3 (Score: 7/10)
The build quality of the Hayabusa T3 is sufficient but does not feel very premium. To be fair, this is probably due to the truly lightweight materials, which of course benefits comfort. The Hayabusa headgear is made from the famous Vylar-2, which is extremely durable and stronger than most types of leather.
Features Hayabusa T3:
| Material | VYLAR®-2 |
| Closure | T-cross Velcro closure |
| Sizes | S-M, L-XL |
| Weight | approx. 430 g |
Pros:
+ Very easy to put on and take off
+ Good fit and comfort
Cons:
- No premium look
View in webshop:
External sources:
3. Twins HGL3
Finally, we have the headgear from the Thai premium brand Twins Special: the HGL3. This is a trusted choice for people familiar with the Thai brand. Just stable quality for a very reasonable price.
The HGL3 also has a lace adjustment for optimal fit, but with regular use, you simply use the wide Velcro closure on the back of the head. So just put it on and fasten it.
The padding on the back of the head is a nice plus, as is the extra-wide Velcro closure that is very easy to fasten. The visibility of the Twins is more than sufficient despite the sturdy cheekbone protectors. However, the headgear is only available in sizes S, M, and L, so it will not fit everyone. Thai brands generally do not produce materials that are loose-fitting, to put it mildly.
Fit Twins HGL3 (Score: 6/10)
The fit of the Twins HGL3 can be described as sufficient to good. However, not everyone will fit the largest size. If the Twins fits, it is a great headgear. The caveat we note is that often either the cheekbones fit perfectly and then the chin area does not, or vice versa.
The helmet fits well in itself, but during sparring when I take punches, my helmet slides all over the place. I have to keep adjusting my helmet during sparring.
Protection Twins HGL3 (Score: 7/10)
The protection of the HGL3 headgear is more than sufficient. The padding of the headgear is also adequate. The filling used is firm enough and provides enough cushioning. This is more than enough for beginners and advanced users. If you want top quality for very hard sparring work, you’ll need to step up a class.
Visibility Twins HGL3 (Score: 7/10)
The Twins headgear offers good visibility when the laces and fit are properly adjusted. Here too, the Twins headgear doesn’t stand out but performs steadily. Despite strong cheekbone protection, there is sufficient visibility with a wide field of view.
Ease of use Twins HGL3 (Score: 8/10)
The ease of use of the Twins HGL3 is fine. You can adjust it to your head size with laces. Once done, it’s just a matter of putting it on, fastening the velcro, and you’re ready. What’s nice is that the velcro on this headgear is very wide and easy to grip.
Build quality Twins HGL3 (Score: 7/10)
The build quality of the HGL3 headgear is appropriate for the price range. The material looks very much like real leather but is synthetic leather. The finish is the quality you can expect from Thai products: simply solid.
Features Twins HGL3:
| Material | Synthetic leather |
| Closure | Velcro & laces |
| Sizes | S, M, L |
| Weight | approx. 390 g |
Pros:
+ Sufficient protection
+ Thick padding on the back of the head
Cons:
- Goes up to size L, which will not fit everyone
View in webshop:
External sources:
SCOREBOARD*
| Model | Fit | Protection | Visibility |
| HG30 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| T3 | 7/10 | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| HGL3 | 6/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Model | Ease of use | Build | OVERALL |
| HG30 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 38/50 |
| T3 | 10/10 | 7/10 | 37/50 |
| HGL3 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 35/50 |
* The scores are based on customer experiences and feedback, popularity, external product reviews, ratings, and our own expertise.
CONCLUSIONS
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Rival HG30 |
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Score: 38/50 |
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| Price indication: | €130 - €170 | |
| Pros: | Excellent fit, well adjustable, lots of protection | |
| Cons: | Laces may fray | |
| Best choice for: | Serious athletes who want good face protection | |
| Shop now | ||
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Hayabusa T3 |
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Score: 38/50 |
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| Price indication: | €130 - €180 | |
| Pros: | Modern design, easy to use | |
| Cons: | No luxury appearance | |
| Best choice for: | Athletes who appreciate innovation and lightweight materials | |
| Shop now | ||
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Twins HGL3 |
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Score: 34/50 |
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| Price indication: | €110 - €130 | |
| Pros: | Trusted quality, made in Thailand | |
| Cons: | Runs small, not suitable for everyone | |
| Best choice for: | Fighters who value tradition and reliability | |
| Shop now | ||
View all headgear for boxing, kickboxing, and thai boxing in our webshop: headgear >> headgear up to 200 euros
