This is the third part of our best-buy guide series for headgear. We have divided the headgear into 3 price ranges. In this part, we cover the absolute top-class headgear, which even professional fighters train with.
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 third category (above 200 euros) and will cover the other categories in other blogs from the best-buy guides.
Criteria for scoring headgear*
When evaluating 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. This also brings 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 has a selection of no less than 50 different headgear for boxing, kickboxing, and thai boxing in its range. *From this, we make a selection of the top 3 based on customer experiences and feedback, external product reviews, popularity, and our own expertise.
Best buy: Headgear for boxing and kickboxing over €200
- Winning FG-2900
- Cleto Reyes Cheek protector
- Rival HG100 Professional
1. Winning FG-2900
The FG-2900 is absolutely the cream of the crop in the field of headgear. This is the holy grail and every professional fighter will confirm this. If you ever want to spend money on headgear, buy the Winning. It will survive countless sessions without compromising fit and cushioning.
We don’t need to talk about the price. It is simply just high. But well... you’re not talking about just another mass-produced product here, but a piece of artisanal craftsmanship perfected down to the smallest details.
No gimmicks, no tricks... the Winning FG-2900 is simply the best headgear for boxing there is. Period. The Winning FG-2900 headgear has everything you look for if you take your sport seriously: cheekbone protectors, exceptionally good visibility, and enormous comfort.
One of the points where the FG-2900 really surprises everyone is the extremely high build quality with a very light weight. It almost seems impossible: everything feels protective and sturdy, yet the headgear weighs almost nothing when you hold it in your hands.
Fit Winning FG-2900 (Score: 10/10)
The fit of the Rival FG-2900 is simply nearly perfect. The model clearly stands out from both budget and premium headgear due to the snug fit regardless of the shape of your head. The Japanese are also masters at endlessly improving seemingly the smallest things. Just until perfection is (almost) reached.
It all looks very basic and simple, but everything is measured and fitted. The laces offer extremely easy adjustment options for your head. The cheekbone protectors are perfectly shaped in the right place, as is the opening for the ears. The horizontal bar over the ear cups was originally introduced by Winning and later copied by numerous manufacturers.
Protection Winning FG-2900 (Score: 9/10)
The protection of the Winning FG-2900 is once again nearly perfect. The padding of the entire headgear is of excellent thickness. The used filling feels solid yet soft at the same time. The aforementioned cheekbone protectors are well shaped and the ears (which house your balance organ) are excellently protected.
View Winning FG-2900 (Score: 10/10)
The visibility you have when using the Winning FG-2900 is also absolute top class. This clearly shows that this headgear is the absolute top of the top in the highest class. After adjusting the headgear with the laces, you put it on and have maximum visibility in every corner of your field of vision.
Ease of use Winning FG-2900 (Score: 8/10)
The ease of use of the Winning FG-2900 is also top. Only the first time 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 plastic click buckle under the chin for maximum stability of the headgear. The closure itself is neatly hidden behind the material.
Build quality Winning FG-2900 (Score: 10/10)
The build quality of the Winning FG-2900 is also top-notch. This small company has become world-famous in the boxing world because of it. The materials used feel sturdy and incredibly supple. The finishing is meticulous, with no imperfections.
The Winning FG-2900 headgear also avoids problems common with many headgears that use laces and Velcro. The Winning headgear does not use Velcro, so your laces won’t stick to it. Moreover, even the laces are top quality, made from a lightly elastic material.
Features Winning FG-2900:
| Material | Synthetic leather |
| Closure | Laces & click buckle |
| Sizes | M, L and XL |
| Weight | approx. 270 g |
Advantages:
+ Excellent fit due to adjustment options
+ Extremely light and comfortable
Disadvantages:
- The price is very steep
- Very hard to obtain (limited production)
View in webshop:
External sources:
- Reddit.com - 1 year review FG-2900
- Youtube - Marco Flores - FG2900 Review
- Youtube - Fit2Box - FG2900 Review
- Youtube - Amir Khan (former world champion)
- Youtube - Fight2Win.nl - Winning FG2900 headgear Review
2. Cleto Reyes Cheek Protector
The Cleto Reyes headgear is the epitome of classic artisanal quality. This is an old-school headgear. Extremely strong leather that needs time to become supple, double stitching all around, and a sturdy buckle.
Cleto Reyes is perhaps the world's most famous boxing brand and produces only top-quality products that stand the test of time. This headgear is no exception. When you hold it, you immediately know you have a piece of quality in your hands.
The Cleto Reyes headgear is a vintage headgear with sturdy, thick cheek protectors, soft ear protectors, and very solid leather hook & loop fasteners at the back of the head.
Fit Cleto Reyes Cheek Protector (Score: 8/10)
The fit of the Cleto Reyes is excellent but needs time to shape. Mexican leather is stiffer and usually thicker than, for example, Italian leather. It becomes more flexible as the product is used. This is a perfect example of the specific word patina: it gets better and develops its own character as its lifespan increases.
The Cleto Reyes model is not entirely old-school. It follows a traditional design but with modern improvements, such as the opposite closures on the back of the head. These sturdy leather straps ensure you can tighten the headgear securely on your head. The laces on top of the head further allow optimal adjustment of the headgear to your head shape.
Protection Cleto Reyes Cheek Protector (Score: 8/10)
The protection of the Cleto Reyes headgear is top-class. You can tell that this model, due to its solid weight, also provides absolute top-level protection. For advanced and professional fighters, this is a headgear you can rely on.
The padding of the cheek protectors and ear protectors is made of very sturdy material with excellent cushioning.
Visibility Cleto Reyes Cheek Protector (Score: 8/10)
The visibility you have when using the headgear is more than sufficient. By using the right adjustments, you get a view that is good for most experienced fighters. This is backed by decades of practical experience in the boxing world.
Ease of use Cleto Reyes Cheek Protector (Score: 8/10)
The ease of use of the Cleto Reyes headgear is excellent. The laces on top basically only need to be adjusted once to your head shape. After that, it’s just putting it on, fastening the Velcro, and you’re done. Fastening the Velcro will be easier (as with almost every headgear) with some help from outside.
Build quality Cleto Reyes Cheek Protector (Score: 9/10)
The build quality of the Cleto Reyes Cheek Protector is extremely solid. It really exudes premium and breathes top-class craftsmanship. The leather feels more robust than any other headgear we have held (and that has been many). You can also tell by the weight, as the Cleto Reyes weighs a hefty 520 grams.
Features Cleto Reyes Cheek Protector:
| Material | Leather |
| Closure | Velcro closure, laces and buckle |
| Sizes | S, M and L |
| Weight | approx. 520 g |
Advantages:
+ Classic and premium look
+ Good fit and protection
Disadvantages:
- The material needs time to shape and become more flexible
View in webshop:
External sources:
- Reddit.com - [Review] Cleto Reyes Headgear
- Youtube - Csquaredboxing - Cleto Reyes Review
- Youtube - Fight2Win.nl - Cleto Reyes Headgear Review
3. Rival HG100 Professional
Finally, we have the top-class head protection from the relatively young and innovative brand Rival Boxing: the HG100 Professional. This is the flagship model of this great Canadian boxing brand, founded by boxing trainer and cornerman Russ Anber.
The HG100 Professional has a classic shape but is packed with modern innovations. It is made from the lightest possible materials according to Rival's "Feather Lite" principle. The padding feels very light yet protective, and the microfiber used for the outer layer is also lighter than any type of leather.
For adjustment, laces are of course used, as this always provides the best possible fit. (Have you ever seen a marathon runner in slip-ons?) Once the headgear is adjusted, it is very easy to put on and fasten with a traditional buckle.
Fit Rival HG100 Professional (Score: 8/10)
The fit of the Rival HG100 Professional is exceptionally good once the laces are properly adjusted. And certainly for the relatively modest price compared to the competition in the top class.
The 100 Professional line from Rival is the flagship of this fine brand in every product category and is indeed tested and used by many Professional boxers (Usyk, Beterbiev to name a few).
The cheek protectors fall in the right place, as do the ear protectors and the rest of the head protection around.
Protection Rival HG100 Professional (Score: 7/10)
The protection of the Rival HG100 Professional headgear is good. The padding of the headgear is more than adequate despite the light weight and has a pleasant firmness.
The lightweight padding used is firm enough and offers good cushioning. Even for advanced and Professional boxers, this is sufficient. This headgear provides enough protection even at the highest level. The only caveat we can mention is that the cheek protectors are smaller compared to other models in this test.
Visibility Rival HG100 Professional (Score: 9/10)
The Rival headgear offers excellent visibility when the laces are properly adjusted. The head protection provides good sight during intensive training because the cheek protectors are relatively small and positioned correctly. The top sits well above the eyebrows and therefore does not obstruct vision.
Ease of Use Rival HG100 Professional (Score: 8/10)
The ease of use of this headgear is astonishing. You can easily adjust it to your head size on top with laces. Once that's done, it's simply a matter of putting it on, fastening the buckle under the chin, and you're ready.
What is particularly nice is that the back of the head is connected with an elastic band (behind the lace closure). This makes it easier to put on the headgear and then tighten it with the laces.
Build quality Rival HG100 Professional (Score: 7/10)
The build quality of the HG100 headgear is more than adequate. Something you can of course expect in this price range. The modern microfiber material used has proven itself in all Rival products, including the famous boxing gloves.
The finish is somewhat behind compared to the (more expensive) Cleto Reyes and Winning headgear. The color schemes are particularly beautiful, but the paint layer is not always completely opaque. We are purely talking about optical properties that do not detract from the functionality of the headgear.
Features Rival HG100 Professional:
| Material | Microfiber |
| Closure | Laces & buckle |
| Sizes | S, M, L, XL |
| Weight | approx. 300 g |
Advantages:
+ Extremely light
+ Nice elastic band on the back of the head
Disadvantages:
- Not the true top-class look like Winning or Cleto Reyes
- Finish is not always 100%
View in webshop:
External sources:
- Youtube - Fit2Box - RHG100 Review
- Youtube - ThatBoxingGuy - RHG100 Review
- Youtube - Fight2Win.nl - Rival HG100 headgear Review
SCOREBOARD*
| Model | Fit | Protection | Visibility |
| FG-2900 | 10/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 |
| Cheek Protector | 8/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| RHG100 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 9/10 |
| Model | Comfort | Build | OVERALL |
| FG-2900 | 8/10 | 10/10 | 47/50 |
| Cheek Protector | 8/10 | 9/10 | 41/50 |
| RHG100 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 39/50 |
* The scores are based on customer experiences and feedback, popularity, external product reviews, ratings, and our own expertise.
CONCLUSIONS
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Winning FG-2900 |
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Score: 47/50 |
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| Price indication: | €650 - €950 |
| Advantages: | Perfect fit, extremely light, top quality |
| Disadvantages: | Expensive, hard to find |
| Best choice for: | Professionals who want the best of the best |
| Shop now | |
 |
|
Cleto Reyes Cheek Protector |
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Score: 41/50 |
|
| Price indication: | €250 - €350 |
| Advantages: | Classic design, premium leather, strong protection |
| Disadvantages: | Needs time to become flexible |
| Best choice for: | Fighters who love traditional and durable |
| Shop now | |
 |
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Rival HG100 Professional |
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Score: 39/50 |
|
| Price indication: | €230 - €300 |
| Advantages: | Lightweight, modern innovations, good visibility |
| Disadvantages: | Lesser-known brand, less tested in Europe |
| Best choice for: | Athletes who value innovation and lightweight materials |
| Shop now | |
View all headgear for boxing, kickboxing, and thai boxing in our webshop: headgear >> headgear over 200 euros
