One of the most frequently asked questions from kickboxers and boxers is about how to put on boxing handwraps. Many people who start boxing or kickboxing have no idea how to put on handwraps (also called bandages or wraps).
They often don’t dare to ask. As a result, they either train without handwraps or wrap the handwraps around the hand and wrist as many times as possible in a careless way.
Why do you wear handwraps?
The main reason to wear handwraps (or an alternative to handwraps, such as inner gloves) is for strengthening your metacarpal bones, supporting your wrists, and protecting your knuckles.
In addition, handwraps (or inner gloves) have the added benefit of absorbing most of your sweat. So if you don’t wear handwraps or inner gloves, the sweat from your hands will soak into your gloves. And over time, your gloves will start to smell terribly.
Moreover, the padding doesn’t improve either, so the quality of the boxing glove quickly deteriorates. You might still remember the boxing gloves you wore during your trial lesson!
Five reasons to wear handwraps (or inner gloves):
- absorbs sweat
- provides extra support
- provides extra protection for the knuckles
- your boxing gloves last longer
- your boxing gloves stay fresh smelling
Why do we recommend adults choose handwraps?
If you put on handwraps correctly, you get a compact fist. As soon as you have a handwrap on, you immediately feel like you can hit harder because of that compact feeling. You stabilize all the bones in your hand and wrist, which increases your punching power.
The benefits of handwraps:
- Better protection for the hand and fingers
- Compact fist giving you greater punching power
- They are usually cheaper
- Absorb sweat from the hands
- Lightly elastic so your hands don’t get constricted
Choosing the right length handwraps
Handwraps are available in all sorts of different lengths, colors, and materials. We sell them in almost every color of the rainbow: green, orange, pink, red, blue, and black from various brands.
We have the most common lengths of 250 cm (100") and 450 cm (180"), but also intermediate sizes and extra long handwraps of 530 cm (210"). The short variant is most suitable for smaller women's hands and children.
If you choose the wrong length, the end of the handwrap will be in sight or not at all! And especially do not wrap too tightly. If you do, your hand will hardly be able to move and blood flow will be restricted to a minimum.
Standard lengths of handwraps (recommended):
- 250 cm (100") for children and small women's hands
- 450 cm / 460 cm (180") standard length for adults
Different lengths of handwraps (specific requests):
- 300 cm
- 380 cm (120")
- 400 cm
- 500 cm (200")
- 530 cm (210") extra long
Choosing handwrap material: cotton, polyester, or polycotton
Almost all handwraps sold from all brands are a polyester and cotton mix. This mix is necessary to give the material a little stretch so it wraps well.
It is also sturdier and more washable because of this. True old-school boxers swear by 100% non-stretch cotton handwraps. However, these have no stretch and must be applied by an experienced professional. Of course, we also have such handwraps in our assortment.
We have a huge collection of handwraps, bandages, and wraps for boxing and kickboxing from various brands specializing in martial arts such as boxing, kickboxing, and MMA in our webshop.
Material choices for handwraps for boxing:
- Polyester-cotton mix: most common
- Nylon-cotton mix: slightly more luxurious variant, very strong
- 100% cotton: softer and more luxurious handwraps, usually less stretch
- Rayon (viscose): most exclusive material from Winning handwraps
- Polyviscose-cotton mix: luxury handwraps from Rival Guerrero handwraps
How do you put on handwraps?
As with many things, the question is easier than the answer. Not because putting on handwraps is so difficult, but because there are countless ways to wrap them. Below we have created a step-by-step plan, with a nice balance between knuckle protection and wrist reinforcement.
Handwraps wrapping - Step by step
1. Wrapping the wrist
Hook the loop of the handwrap around your thumb and let the wrap run over the back of your hand, not over your palm. Then wrap the handwrap 2 or 3 times around your wrist; for extra wrist stability, you can add 1 or 2 more wraps. Pull the handwrap tight without cutting off circulation to your wrist.
2. About the hand and knuckles
Let the handwrap run diagonally upward to the side of your hand, making sure it runs over the back of the hand. Wrap the handwrap twice around your knuckles. For extra knuckle protection, you can add an additional wrap around your knuckles.
3. Between the fingers
After the knuckle wraps, go back to the wrist and then between the pinky and ring finger: push the handwrap from the back of the hand through the opening between those two fingers to the palm, along the inside of your pinky, and then back up over the back of the hand to the wrist.
Then make the same movement between the ring and middle finger, then middle and index finger. After this, you can do one or two wraps around the knuckles.
4. Crossing
First wrap the handwrap once around your wrist. Then make 2 diagonal crosses from the wrist to the top of the hand and back between the index finger and thumb, creating an X-shape that stabilizes the wrist. Wrap once more around the wrist to anchor the X-shape.
5. Thumb and wrist
If you still have enough length left, you can make a short wrap around the thumb, be careful not to pull it too tight. Finish with 2–3 firm wraps around the wrist so the Velcro can stick firmly there.
Attach the Velcro so that it lies flat and does not come loose.
Tying handwraps with the help of a video
On the Internet there are various videos showing how to put on handwraps. In our opinion, the links below are real recommendations.
More information about handwraps:
- Top 9 handwraps for boxing and kickboxing (2025) - Best-buy guide Fight2Win.nl
- Youtube: Rival: Russ Anber teaches you how to do your handwrap
- https://www.wikihow.com/Wrap-Your-Hands-for-Boxing
Alternative to handwraps 1: inner gloves
Who are inner gloves suitable for?
Children up to 9-10 years old are best off using inner gloves. This is much easier. Older children and adults punch harder and therefore benefit more from a handwrap.
Everyone can of course wear inner gloves. However, the largest target group is younger children. A child can easily put on and take off an inner glove by themselves. Learning to put on a handwrap is possible for a child aged 6 or older but is not very practical.
Inner gloves are ideal for:
- children up to and including 10 years old
- men and women who do cardio boxing, kickfun, boxfit, and group classes
- men and women who train recreationally at a relaxed pace
- men and women who do not want or need extra support
- men and women who find handwraps complicated
When should you choose an inner glove?
There are various types of inner gloves. The simple inner gloves that you put on quickly and the type of inner gloves (often called gel wraps) that still have a piece of handwrap attached. This length is shorter than a normal handwrap and is mainly intended to provide extra wrist support.
Among others, the inner gloves from XPRT, Hayabusa, Fumetsu, and Booster come with these extra handwraps. These inner gloves also feature gel padding, providing even better knuckle protection.
We have several simple inner gloves in stock. These are ideal for children and people who have no patience for handwraps.
The following inner gloves with gel padding are ideal for adult men and women seeking extra knuckle protection. Some models are available in various sizes, others are one-size-fits-all.
View all simple inner gloves for boxing gloves in our webshop.
Alternative to handwraps 2: Gel wraps
Gel wraps are a more modern form of hand protection for martial artists. They consist of a combination of gel cushions and elastic fabric and are wrapped directly around your hands under your boxing gloves. Here are some advantages of gel wraps:
- Shock absorption: Gel wraps offer excellent shock absorption, reducing the impact of punches on your hands. This helps prevent injuries.
- Comfort: The gel cushions provide extra comfort and cushioning during strikes, reducing fatigue.
- Convenience: Gel wraps are easy to apply and conform well to the shape of your hands, making them handy for quick training sessions.
The difference between inner gloves and gel wraps
The main difference between inner gloves and gel wraps lies in the level of protection and comfort they provide.
Inner gloves focus more on basic protection and moisture wicking, while gel wraps offer better shock absorption and cushioning.
Gelwraps have an extra layer of protection over the knuckles and the top of the hand. This way, when punching, the fist and knuckles are extra well protected. The impact of a hard punch is better absorbed, and the chance of annoying knuckle injuries is much lower. Due to the extra layer of gel padding, gelwraps are much thicker.
The choice between these two depends on your personal preference and the intensity of your training.
It’s important to note that, regardless of which option you choose, hand protection is essential to prevent injuries. Both inner gloves and gel wraps are valuable accessories for martial artists, and you can adjust them to your specific needs and comfort level.
Advantages of gel wraps
In our store, we often hear that people don’t feel like putting on handwraps. That’s fine! Sport should be fun and stay fun. There’s nothing wrong with training with gel wraps. They have the following advantages:
- Protection: extra protection on the knuckles
-
Comfort: easy and quick to put on
- Convenience: usually just washable
We have an extensive collection of gelwraps and inner gloves with protection from various brands specializing in martial arts such as boxing, kickboxing, and MMA in our webshop.
Personal choice: inner gloves, gel-wraps, or handwraps after all?
Now it's up to you to make the right choice: inner gloves, gel-wraps, or regular handwraps for boxing, kickboxing, or cardio boxing.
Would you like more buying advice for boxing wraps? Then be sure to read our extensive best-buy guide special: Top 9 best wraps for boxing, kickboxing, and cardio boxing