This is a new part in our series of best-buy guides: punching mitts. We have divided the punching mitts into price ranges. In this part of our best-buy guide, we will review the very best punching mitts, which even professional fighters train with.
Division by price range
Since the available budget is often a decisive factor in the choice, we have divided the punching mitts into 3 price ranges: punching mitts up to 100 euros, up to 200 euros, and the absolute top class above 200 euros.
We are now covering the third category (above 200 euros) and will address the other categories in other blogs from the best-buy guides.
Criteria for scoring punching mitts*
When evaluating the punching mitts, we look at what we consider the most important properties of punching mitts: ergonomics (comfort, weight distribution, and grip), level of impact absorption, and build quality. We will score the punching mitts based on these criteria.
- Ergonomics: By fit we mean: comfort during use, but especially how well the punching mitts conform to the contours of your hands and arms. This also brings an important note: everyone’s hands are different, so personal preference or the shape and size of your hands also play a role. We also pay attention to weight distribution and ease of use.
- Impact absorption: Protection is the extent to which the punching mitts do what they are intended for: absorbing strikes with limited feedback transmission. Therefore, the level of impact is also linked to fit and weight, as these properties influence each other.
- Build quality: The materials used, finish, and sturdiness of the punching mitts. We also look at details such as the hand compartments and closures.
At the time of writing, Fight2Win offers a selection of more than 30 different punching mitts for krav maga, martial arts, boxing, kickboxing, and thai boxing. *From these, we have selected the top 3 based on customer experiences and feedback, external product reviews, popularity, and our own expertise.
Best buy: Punching mitts over €200
- Winning CM-65
- Rival RPM100 Professional
- Twins PML10
1. Winning CM-65
The CM-65 is by far the absolute top in punching mitts. These are the best possible punching mitts, and every professional coach will confirm this. If you ever want to invest money in a piece of training equipment, buy these Winning pads. They will survive countless sessions without compromising fit and cushioning.
We don’t need to talk about the price. It is simply exorbitant. After all, you are talking about a piece of artisanal craftsmanship perfected down to the smallest details. Add the high demand and limited supply, and you arrive at a fully justified price.
No special descriptions, no patents, no empty marketing slogans. Winning simply makes the very best boxing gear. Period. The Winning CM-65 punching mitts have everything you look for as a coach who takes their training seriously: pleasantly light weight, maximum shock absorption, good grip, and enormous comfort.
One of the points where all Winning products really surprise everyone is the extremely high build quality with very light weight. It almost seems impossible: everything feels protective, balanced, and sturdy, yet the punching mitts weigh almost nothing when you hold them in your hands.
Ergonomics Winning CM-65 (Score: 9/10)
The fit of the Winning CM-65 is simply almost perfect. The model clearly distinguishes itself from both budget and the most premium punching mitts by the nearly perfect ergonomic shape regardless of the shape of your forearms and hands. The Japanese are masters at endlessly improving seemingly the smallest things. Just until perfection is (almost) reached.
Winning products always look very basic and simple, but everything is measured, well thought out, and fitting. The lead hand slides in effortlessly and fits perfectly in a magical way. What stands out most is that you have a good grip without the use of extra straps to close. Something that normally contributes to the grip of punching mitts.
From our experience, we find the size of the CM-65 ideal, especially if you just want to purchase one pair of good punching mitts. There are, of course, specialized smaller micro-pads on the market (also from Winning), but as a coach, you are then limited to speed training only with advanced competitive fighters. The CM-65 has a nice striking surface and is therefore suitable for all possible hand techniques.
Impact Absorption Winning CM-65 (Score: 9/10)
The impact distribution and the degree of neutralizing the punches you catch are again almost perfect with the Winning gloves. The padding of the gloves is of excellent thickness over the entire surface, but especially made of excellent material with good cushioning qualities.
The padding used feels solid yet soft at the same time. We have sold these, among others, to a top Thai boxing trainer who suffered from wrist and arm pain, and he said these pads are a huge relief.
Build quality Winning CM-65 (Score: 10/10)
You never have to doubt the execution and finish of Winning products. The Winning brand has proven itself here for many decades. The build quality of the Winning CM-65 punching mitts is also of the highest order.
With the level of finish and affinity for their products, the small company has become world-famous in the boxing world. The materials used feel sturdy and incredibly smooth. The finish is checked down to the last thread, with no imperfections.
Features Winning FG-2900:
| Material | Synthetic leather |
| Closure | Open slip-in hand |
| Dimensions | 24.5 x 19 x 4.5 cm |
| Weight | approx. 300 g (per pad) |
Advantages:
+ Excellent ergonomic fit
+ Extremely light and comfortable
Disadvantages:
- The price is very steep
- Very difficult to obtain (limited production)
View in webshop:
External sources:
2. Rival RPM100 Professional
Rival is again the most modern-looking of all gear here. Rival Boxing Gear is known for the many innovations it has brought to the market, including these pads from the 100-Professional line.
Let's be clear: Rival's innovations are not hollow marketing slogans, but actual structural improvements in boxing equipment. All based on the knowledge of the CEO and founder: boxing trainer and "cut-man" Russ Anber.
The RPM100 Professionals are truly excellent pads that also look flashy in 5 different color schemes, matching the rest of the top line from the 100-Professional series.
Ergonomics Rival RPM100 Professional (Score: 9/10)
The fit of the Rival RPM100 Professional is truly brilliant. Partly because the pads have a separate design for the left and right hand and an adjustable hook & loop Velcro closure, the punching shields fit your arms perfectly.
The Velcro closures are deliberately designed diagonally, making them easier and better adjustable depending on the preference and arms of the trainer holding the pads.
The products from the 100-Professional series by Rival Boxing Gear are all made according to the "feather-lite" principle: the strongest possible materials with the lightest possible weight. And they have truly succeeded brilliantly here. You can feel that world-class heavyweights like Oleksandr Usyk can punch with these, while they are even lighter than the Winning punching mitts at less than 300 grams per mitt.
It is clearly evident that a study was made for the development of these gloves. They have a curve that allows for the most natural grip possible. This makes it absolutely effortless for you as a trainer to use them in a controlled way. The lining is also very luxurious, although we would definitely advise airing them well and taking care of them given the materials used for the inner lining.
Impact absorption Rival RPM100 Professional (Score: 8/10)
As already mentioned, the Winning gloves were co-designed by a famous boxing trainer who has been active in the boxing world for over 40 years. The result is this top model gloves suitable even for the most "hard-hitting" pros.
The gloves do feel quite hard. Now, that is not a problem in itself. The person holding them is well protected by the quality of this padding, and the person punching wears (bag) gloves. They do transmit a bit more of the punch than the Winning's, but certainly not to the extent that you will have any trouble. And we are only talking about really hard punches.
The impact distribution and the degree of neutralizing the punches you catch are again almost perfect with the Winning gloves. The padding of the gloves is of excellent thickness over the entire surface, but especially made of excellent material with good cushioning qualities.
The padding used feels solid but soft enough at the same time. We have sold these, among others, to a top Thai boxing trainer who suffered from wrist and arm pain, and he said these pads are a huge relief. On Google Product Reviews, the Rival RPM100 scores an impressive 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Build quality Rival RPM100 Professional (Score: 8/10)
The build quality of the Rival gloves is unquestionable. Everything feels solid on these pads, and our experience with Rival as a brand only confirms that. There are also countless video reviews on YouTube and product reviews on community sites like Reddit emphasizing the long lifespan of the RPM100s.
The only thing we can nitpick about is that some products from the 100-Professional series do not always have full color coverage over the base. If you look closely, you can see the underlying material color. However, this does not affect the durability at all, but is purely an aesthetic issue.
Also, Rival's quality control is not the same as, for example, Winning (which is almost OCD-level), but then we're talking about a completely different price level. So a solid 8+ for Rival in this aspect.
Features Rival RPM100 Professional:
| Material | Microfiber |
| Closure | Slip-in hand with hook & loop fastener |
| Dimensions | 20.3 x 18.5 x 5 cm |
| Weight | approx. 275 g (per mitt) |
Advantages:
+ Ultra-modern appearance
+ Extremely good fit and protection
Disadvantages:
- Color coating sometimes doesn’t fully cover
- Need good ventilation to avoid smelling
View in webshop:
External sources:
- Youtube - The Pad Technician Review
- Youtube - PJs Fitness Biz
- Youtube - BruceMF Vane
- Youtube: Rival RPM100 Professional Review Fight2Win
3. Twins Special PML10
The top 3 is completed by the authentic Thai brand Twins Special with the smaller punching mitts in their range: the PML10. This is a relatively simple-looking compact punching mitt without frills, but with a very solid appearance.
The PML10 fits in any gym, whether boxing, kickboxing, or MMA is practiced. The Twins Special brand is mainly associated with Muay Thai products, but every boxer and boxing coach will be very happy with these sturdy punching mitts.
The Twins PML10 are made in Thailand from extremely strong 100% cowhide leather. They have a relatively simple slip-on glove for the grip, but they feel very solid. They are pleasantly compact in size and weigh significantly more than the other pads in this top 3.
Ergonomics Twins Special PML10 (Score: 8/10)
The moment we put on Twins punching mitts, we already know: this is a serious product. Your hand fits nicely in the open hand compartment and you immediately find a good grip thanks to the natural curve.
The punching mitts weigh significantly more than those from Winning or the Rival RPM100, but they are not heavy as lead. You can easily complete long and multiple sessions as a trainer with them. The weight also has a big advantage: they cause less twisting due to the weight, which significantly relieves the elbows and wrists of the trainer.
The Twins are top-class pads but don’t have the refinement in adjustment options like the RPM100. For this reason, they score slightly lower in this area in our opinion. However, for trainers and practitioners who don’t like straps around the wrists, this is definitely the set of punching mitts to choose.
The material (100% leather) is also nice because it is easier to keep fresh and clean than synthetic materials. We can imagine that with a lot of sweating it might become a bit slipperier than padded or synthetic pads.
Impact absorption Twins Special PML10 (Score: 7/10)
Twins simply uses sturdy padding to absorb heavy blows. No special tricks or systems, just the padding itself. This gives you more feedback, both as a fighter and as a coach. However, this means you take more of the hits as a trainer.
However, let’s emphasize that these are pro-level punching mitts, so the impact absorption is simply good. The PML10 are equipped with very good and compact padding that absorbs a lot of the forces released.
Build quality Twins Special PML10 (Score: 9/10)
These PML10 punching mitts from Twins are expertly built. Everything shows that this is a top-class product. The leather looks like it will last for years, and the seams of the mitts are expertly applied.
Because the mitts are made from multiple pieces of leather (front and back), a natural way of air ventilation is created. This is necessary to let the force released go directly outside. Otherwise, the mitts would tear much faster. These pieces are stitched together at essential points with thick threads/laces.
These mitts really radiate solidity and you can confidently place them in a serious combat sports gym. We know they are also used in Thai training camps where many hours are spent working with them! You can’t go wrong with the Twins Special punching mitts.
Features Twins Special PML10:
| Material | Leather |
| Closure | Insert hand |
| Dimensions | 25 x 19 x 7 cm |
| Weight | approx. 480 g (per mitt) |
Advantages:
+ Feels very solid
+ Artisan Thai product
Disadvantages:
- Slightly heavier than the competition
- Twins always gives the impression of being exclusively a brand for Thai boxing
View in webshop:
External sources:
SCOREBOARD*
| Model | Ergonomics | Absorption | Build quality |
| CM-65 | 10/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 |
| RPM100 | 9/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| PML10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 9/10 |
| Model | OVERALL | ||
| CM-65 | 28/30 | ||
| RPM100 | 25/30 | ||
| PML10 | 24/30 | ||
* The scores are based on customer experiences and feedback, popularity, external product reviews, testimonials, and our own expertise.
CONCLUSIONS
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Winning CM-65 |
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Score: 28/30 |
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| Price indication: | €650 - €900 |
| Advantages: | Perfect ergonomics, extremely light, top quality |
| Disadvantages: | Expensive, hard to find |
| Best choice for: | Professionals who want the best of the best |
| Shop now | |
 |
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Rival RPM100 Professional |
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Score: 25/30 |
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| Price indication: | €200 - €250 |
| Advantages: | Lightweight, modern innovations, good ergonomics |
| Disadvantages: | Can start to smell |
| Best choice for: | Lover of innovation and lightweight materials |
| Shop now | |
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Twins PML10 |
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Score: 24/30 |
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| Price indication: | €230- €260 |
| Advantages: | Classic design, premium leather, sturdy appearance |
| Disadvantages: | Strongly associated exclusively with Thai boxing |
| Best choice for: | Trainers who love traditional and durable |
| Shop now | |
View all punching mitts for personal training, martial arts, and combat sports in our webshop: punching mitts >> punching mitts over 200 euros
