It should come as no surprise that head protection is important in most martial arts. We've even dedicated an entire blog post to this topic: Why head protection is so important in martial arts.
Now that you're convinced of the usefulness of a head protector, the next step is, of course, choosing the right one for you. This immediately raises a few questions:
- What kind of martial art will you be using the headgear for?
- Which type of head protector do you prefer?
- Do you have a preference for the type of closure or the materials used?
- What is the budget you want to spend on a head protector?
Most people (logically) are looking for headgear for the most popular martial arts: boxing and kickboxing. This guide will therefore focus on those. We have a separate category of headgear for semi-contact styles and martial arts, such as Taekwondo.
At the time of writing, Fight2Win offers a selection of 50 different head protectors for boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai. From this selection, we will choose the top 3 based on customer experiences and feedback, popularity, and our own expertise.
Subdivision by price range
Since the available budget is often a determining factor in the choice, we have divided the helmets into 3 price ranges: up to 100 euros, up to 200 euros and the absolute top class above 200 euros .
We'll start with the first category (up to 100 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: the head protectors with face-bar.
Criteria for scoring head protectors
When evaluating head protection, we look at what we consider to be the most important features of a head protector: fit, protection, and visibility. We will score the head protectors based on these criteria.
- Fit: By fit, we mean comfort during use, but especially how well the head protector fits the contours of the head. This brings us to an important point: everyone's head is different, so there's also a element of personal preference or head shape involved.
- Protection: The protection level indicates the extent to which the head protector fulfills its intended purpose, 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 a head protector, and a trade-off is always made with the degree of protection. Visibility is a more active form of protection, as the goal remains to avoid being hit in the first place.
- Ease of use: The extent to which the head protector is easy to adjust to your personal size and fit. Also, the ease of putting it on and taking it off during regular use.
- Build quality: The materials used, finish, and sturdiness of the head protection. We also look at details such as the laces and Velcro straps.
Best Buy: Headgear for boxing and kickboxing up to €100
- King HG
- King Revo 1
- Rival RHG60F 2.0
1. King Pro Boxing HG
The King HG sits at the edge of the budget under €100, but that's noticeable. In fact, it's simply a very high-quality head protector of excellent class. The King HG head protector has everything you look for in a good head protector: thick cheekbone protectors, sufficient visibility, and pleasantly soft ear protection.
The closures also meet all your needs: adjustable with laces for the best possible fit. After that, the King HG is always easy to put on and take off using Velcro closures.
The King HG also features a chin guard, making it an excellent choice in the budget up to 100 euros.
King HG Fit (Score: 7/10)
The fit of the King HG is simply good. The model clearly distinguishes itself from budget headgear due to its snug fit. This is partly due to the adjustable lacing system. The cheekbone protectors are well-formed and in the right place, as is the opening for the ears.
Protection King HG (Score: 8/10)
The King HG's protection is very good. The padding throughout the entire head protector is of excellent thickness, and the filling used feels firm yet soft enough. The aforementioned cheekbone (zygomatic) protectors are more than sufficiently thick, and the padding on the ears (to protect the eardrums) is also of good thickness.
Zicht King HG (Score: 6/10)
The visibility you get when using the King HG is sufficient. You will notice the difference compared to higher-end helmets that truly combine optimal visibility with maximum protection. However, the visibility with the King HG is still perfectly acceptable.
Ease of use King HG (Score: 7/10)
The King HG is easy to use. Only the first time do you adjust the head protector with the laces; afterwards, you simply tighten it with the Velcro strap at the back of the head.
King HG build quality (Score: 7/10)
The build quality of the King HG is perfectly fine. The materials used feel sturdy for this price range, and the finish is also more than adequate. Unfortunately, the King HG head protector suffers from the same problems as many head protectors that use laces. The laces sometimes get caught in the Velcro, and the standard laces provided are not of the highest quality. However, this is easily solved in the future by purchasing high-quality replacement laces.
King Pro Boxing HG Features:
| Material | Synthetic leather |
| Closing | Hook and loop fasteners & laces |
| Sizes | M, L |
| Weight | approx. 480 g |
Pros:
+ Excellent fit thanks to adjustable features
+ Excellent protection thanks to thick padding on cheekbones and ears
Disadvantages:
- Slightly higher price
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2. King Pro Boxing Revo 1
The King Pro Boxing Revo line is the budget-friendly line from the Thai brand, intended for martial artists who are starting out or have recently started with martial arts. It offers sufficient quality for beginners and is also very competitively priced.
In addition, even though it's the budget line, the products still benefit from the brand's experience, and the fit of all products meets all requirements. This is also the case for the head protection from this brand.
The King Revo has excellent cheekbone protectors, ear protectors, and a chin protector. Putting them on and taking them off is easy thanks to simple Velcro closures, no fuss with laces.
King Revo 1 Fit Score: 6/10)
The fit of the King Revo 1 is adequate. For the price, it's a decent entry-level head protector. Naturally, it will shift and move somewhat when receiving blows. In that sense, it's truly a budget head protector. However, the head protector does have the correct fit, so it certainly meets all the basic requirements for a head protector.
King Revo 1 Protection (Score: 6/10)
The Revo 1 head protector offers sufficient protection. The padding throughout the head protector is adequate. The filling used is comfortably soft, but naturally doesn't offer the same impact absorption as higher-end head protectors. However, for beginners, it's sufficient to start with. There is ear protection, even with a strap over it (this was originally designed by Winning Japan). There's also a chin guard, although it doesn't quite fit perfectly.
Zicht King Revo 1 (Score: 5/10)
The visibility you get when using the headgear is just about sufficient. Here you can clearly notice the difference with higher-class headgear that truly combines optimal visibility with maximum protection.
Ease of use King Revo 1 (Score: 7/10)
The King HG is very easy to use. You don't need to adjust anything with laces. Just put it on, fasten the Velcro straps, and you're done.
King Revo 1 Build Quality (Score: 5/10)
The build quality of the King HG is actually below average, but that's to be expected from a head protector in this price range. The materials used feel and look rather cheap. However, it does what it's supposed to do. So, especially if you're not going to use the head protector very intensively, this is fine.
Features of King Pro Boxing Revo 1:
| Material | Synthetic leather |
| Closing | Velcro |
| Sizes | S, M, L |
| Weight | approx. 375 g |
Pros:
+ Very easy to put on and take off
+ Competitive pricing
Disadvantages:
- Few adjustment options
- Use inexpensive materials
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3. Rival Boxing RHG60F 2.0
Finally, we have the entry-level model from top brand Rival Boxing Gear: the RHG60F 2.0. This is also an excellent choice if you don't want to spend too much on a head protector, but still expect good protection.
The RHG60F also has a lacing adjustment for an optimal fit, but for regular use, you can simply use the extra-wide Velcro closure at 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, which is very easy to fasten. We found the visibility to be somewhat lacking in this head protector compared to the other models. This is partly due to the fact that it's a fairly large head protector.
Fit of Rival RHG 60F 2.0 (Score: 5/10)
The fit of the King Revo 1 is barely adequate. For the price, it's a decent entry-level head protector. When receiving blows, the head protector will likely shift and slide somewhat. This is due to the rather large size of this head protector. It truly is a budget head protector. The head protector has a large fit, so it certainly meets all the basic requirements for a head protector.
Protect Rival RHG 60F 2.0 (Score: 7/10)
The protection offered by the RHG60F head protector is more than sufficient. The padding throughout the head protector is adequate. The filling used is soft and doesn't offer the same impact absorption as head protectors in higher price ranges. However, for beginners, this is more than enough to get started with.
The head protector is mostly made of one piece, except for the Velcro straps. The ears are therefore deeply recessed into the design. There is also a chin protector, although it doesn't quite fit seamlessly. What we really like is the extra thick layer of padding at the back of the head.
Zicht Rival RHG 60F 2.0 (Score: 5/10)
Due to the considerable volume of the Rival head protector, the visibility you have when using this protection is just barely sufficient. There isn't much ergonomics to be found that contributes to maximum visibility. A clear difference can be seen here compared to higher-class head protectors.
Ease of use Rival RHG 60F 2.0 (Score: 6/10)
The Rival RHG60F 2.0 is easy to use. You can further adjust it with laces, then simply put it on, fasten the Velcro straps, and you're done. What's particularly nice is that the Velcro on this head protector is very wide, making it easy to grip and fasten.
Rival RHG 60F 2.0 Build Quality (Score: 6/10)
The build quality of the Rival head protector is adequate for its price range. It's clear that the materials used don't give a premium feel. However, it does what it's supposed to do. So, especially if you're not going to use the head protector intensively, this is more than acceptable.
Features of Rival Boxing RHG60F 2.0:
| Material | Synthetic leather |
| Closing | Hook and loop fasteners & laces |
| Sizes | S, M, L, XL |
| Weight | approx. 300 g |
Pros:
+ Sufficient protection
+ Thick padding on the back of the head
Disadvantages:
- Large format
View in webshop:
SCOREBOARD: Head protectors up to €100
| Model | Fit | Protection | Visibility |
| HG1 | 7 out of 10 | 8 out of 10 | 6 out of 10 |
| Revo 1 | 6 out of 10 | 6 out of 10 | 5 out of 10 |
| RHG60F | 5 out of 10 | 7 out of 10 | 5 out of 10 |
| Model | Ease | Construction | OVERALL |
| HG1 | 7 out of 10 | 7 out of 10 | 35 out of 50 |
| Revo 1 | 7 out of 10 | 5 out of 10 | 29 out of 50 |
| RHG60F | 6 out of 10 | 6 out of 10 | 29 out of 50 |
View all headgear for boxing, kickboxing and Muay Thai in our webshop: headgear >> headgear up to 100 euros