We often get the question from people buying boxing gloves: leather or synthetic leather. There are big differences between leather gloves and synthetic leather boxing gloves.
And before you make a choice, you first need to determine for yourself how often you will use them. Also important is the age and dedication of the person who will wear them.
And of course, a budget is also needed. Because we sell real leather boxing gloves from €50,- but we also have them from €300 plus: the Cleto Reyes boxing gloves and even much more expensive from Winning!
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Why choose leather boxing gloves?
Leather boxing gloves have long been considered the standard choice for professional boxers. The main advantage of leather boxing gloves is the durability and strength of the material.
Leather is naturally resistant to wear and tear, making leather boxing gloves last a long time, even with intensive use.
They are designed to withstand powerful punches and provide excellent protection for the hands and knuckles.
In addition, leather boxing gloves offer superior fit and comfort. Leather adapts over time to the shape of the boxer's hands, creating a personalized and comfortable fit.
This is important because a good fit can absorb the impact of punches and reduce the risk of injury. Moreover, the breathable nature of leather ensures that hands sweat less quickly during boxing.
Another advantage of leather boxing gloves is their appearance and style. They have a classic and professional look and are often associated with high-quality boxing gloves.
This can be an important consideration for boxers who value the aesthetic aspects of their equipment.
Why choose synthetic leather boxing gloves?
On the other hand, non-leather boxing gloves also have their advantages. An important reason why people choose non-leather boxing gloves is ethics.
Non-leather boxing gloves are usually made from synthetic materials such as PU leather or vinyl, making them suitable for boxers who do not want to use animal products.
Non-leather boxing gloves can also be lighter in weight than leather boxing gloves, which can increase the boxer's freedom of movement. This can be especially important during matches or intensive training where speed and agility are essential.
Moreover, non-leather boxing gloves are often cheaper than leather boxing gloves, making them an affordable choice for beginner boxers or people with a limited budget.
The main disadvantage of non-leather boxing gloves is possibly durability. Although synthetic materials are improving and more resistant to wear, non-leather boxing gloves generally cannot offer the same lifespan as leather boxing gloves.
There are clearly exceptions here, as almost all Rival boxing gloves made of microfiber are even more durable and wear-resistant than genuine leather boxing gloves.
When choosing between leather and non-leather boxing gloves, it is important to consider your needs, preferences, and budget. If you are looking for durability, protection, and a professional appearance, leather boxing gloves are probably the best choice.
If, on the other hand, you have ethical considerations, need a lightweight design, or have a limited budget, non-leather boxing gloves can be a good option.
Regardless of your choice, it is crucial to select quality boxing gloves that meet safety standards and are suitable for your specific boxing techniques and needs.
Boxing gloves are an investment in your safety and performance in the ring, so choose wisely and enjoy your boxing training.
Boxing gloves for kids
Children who box or kickbox once a week can train perfectly well with synthetic boxing gloves. They don't yet have the strength to hit hard, and synthetic boxing gloves are attractively priced.
For example, we sell red, blue, black, and pink synthetic leather boxing gloves starting from only EUR 30,-.
It is advisable for children to wear inner gloves. These absorb sweat from the hands, reducing the amount of sweat inside the gloves.
This way, you ensure the boxing gloves don’t start to smell! Then put the inner gloves in the wash so they are fresh for the next training.
It is crucial not to leave the boxing gloves in the bag and to air them well after training, both for synthetic leather and leather boxing gloves.
Children who train 2x or more per week are advised to buy leather boxing gloves.
The boxing gloves are used more intensively, and since leather is stronger than synthetic leather, a 100% leather glove is preferred.
Of course, a leather glove is more expensive, but it also has a longer lifespan. For children, we sell genuine leather boxing gloves in 6 oz and 8 oz for EUR 50,-, which is only slightly more expensive than synthetic leather gloves!
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Boxing gloves for women and men
The same applies to adults as to children, and it mainly depends on how often the gloves are used per week.
If you train once a week and you are a beginner, a synthetic leather boxing glove is a great choice. Because who knows, you might not like it that much, and then you won’t be stuck with a more expensive leather version.
However, if you train 2x per week or more, a leather boxing glove is really necessary. Leather is usually simply stronger than synthetic leather and therefore better able to withstand more intensive training.
Because the more often you train, the better your technique and punching power become. We also recommend adults to wear handwraps, gel wraps, or inner gloves. These absorb sweat, and especially handwraps ensure a compact fist so you can punch harder.
It is also a matter of safety because you stabilize all the small bones in the hands. We recommend the XPRT Pro V3 Boxing Gloves. These are made of genuine leather, have a great fit, and sturdy padding. Without a doubt the boxing glove in our assortment with the best price-quality ratio!
Maintenance of leather and synthetic boxing gloves
For all gloves, make sure to take them out of your sports bag after training and let them air out well. A good place is the doormat or near a window where there is some draft. This allows sweat to evaporate faster from your gloves and they will smell less quickly.
Leather gloves should be regularly greased with a little petroleum jelly or leather grease. The best periods are before and after winter. This keeps the leather nice and supple. More often is of course also fine.
Keep in mind that even the best boxing gloves need to be replaced in time. Many experts recommend between 9 and 12 months.
They might last longer, but then the padding will also protect much less and be less safe.
It is also recommended to regularly wash your handwraps or inner gloves. Not everyone sweats the same, but after using them twice, I would still wash them briefly at 30 degrees.
Read our extensive blog for more information on maintenance: How to maintain your boxing gloves
Still unsure about buying boxing gloves: leather or synthetic? Of course, you can come try on the synthetic and leather boxing gloves in our showroom and feel the difference yourself.
We are open 6 days a week and you can park for free right outside!
