We often get asked by people buying boxing gloves: leather or synthetic leather. There are significant 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. The age and motivation of the person who will be wearing them are also important factors.
And of course, you'll need a budget. We sell genuine leather boxing gloves starting at €50, but we also have them for €300 and up: Cleto Reyes boxing gloves and even more expensive ones 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 long lasting, even with heavy use.
They are designed to withstand powerful impacts and provide excellent protection for the hands and knuckles.
In addition, leather boxing gloves offer superior fit and comfort. Leather conforms to the shape of the boxer's hands over time, 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. Furthermore, the breathable nature of leather reduces hand sweating during boxing.
Another advantage of leather boxing gloves is their look 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 faux leather boxing gloves?
On the other hand, non-leather boxing gloves also have their advantages. A major reason people choose non-leather boxing gloves is ethical considerations.
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 than leather gloves, which can increase the boxer's range of motion. This can be especially important during competitions or intense training sessions where speed and agility are essential.
Additionally, non-leather boxing gloves are often less expensive than leather boxing gloves, making them an affordable choice for beginning boxers or those on a budget.
The main disadvantage of non-leather boxing gloves may be their durability. While synthetic materials are constantly improving and becoming more resistant to wear and tear, non-leather boxing gloves generally don't offer the same longevity as leather gloves.
There are clearly exceptions to this, as virtually all Rival microfiber boxing gloves are even more durable and wear-resistant than real leather boxing gloves.
When choosing between leather and non-leather boxing gloves, it's important to consider your needs, preferences, and budget. If you're looking for durability, protection, and a professional look, leather boxing gloves are probably the best choice.
However, if you have ethical considerations, need a lightweight design, or are on a budget, non-leather boxing gloves can be a good option.
Regardless of your choice, it's 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 children
Children who box or kickbox once a week can train perfectly well with synthetic leather boxing gloves. They don't yet have the strength to punch hard, and synthetic leather boxing gloves are attractively priced.
For example, we sell red, blue, black and pink artificial leather boxing gloves from just EUR 30,- .
It is recommended that children wear under gloves. These absorb sweat from the hands, which reduces the amount of sweat that gets into the outer gloves.
This way you can prevent your boxing gloves from smelling bad! Then, wash the under gloves so they're nice and fresh for the next training session.
Leaving the boxing gloves in the bag and not letting them air out properly after training is crucial for both synthetic leather and leather boxing gloves.
For children who train 2 times a week or more, we recommend buying leather boxing gloves.
Boxing gloves are used more intensively, and since leather is stronger than artificial leather, a 100% leather glove is preferable.
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 men and women
The same applies to adults as to children, and the frequency of use of the gloves per week is particularly important.
If you're training once a week and you're a beginner, then a synthetic leather boxing glove is a great choice. Because who knows, you might not like it that much and then you're stuck with a more expensive leather version.
However, if you train twice a week or more, a leather boxing glove is really necessary. Leather is usually simply stronger than artificial leather and therefore also better able to withstand more intensive training sessions.
Because the more often you train, the better your technique and punching power will become. We also recommend that adults wear handwraps, gel wraps, or under gloves. These absorb sweat and, especially handwraps, ensure a compact fist so you can punch harder.
It also provides a level of safety because it secures all the bones in your hands. We recommend the XPRT Pro V3 boxing gloves. These are made of genuine leather, have a great fit and a firm padding. Without a doubt, the boxing glove in our range with the best price-quality ratio!
Maintenance of leather and synthetic leather boxing gloves
For all gloves, it's important to take them out of your sports bag after training and let them air out properly. A good place is the doormat or near a window where there's a bit of a draft. This allows the sweat to evaporate from your gloves faster and prevents them from smelling bad.
You should grease leather gloves twice a year with a little Vaseline or leather grease. The best time to do this is before and after winter. This keeps the leather supple. More often is also fine, of course.
Keep in mind that even the best boxing gloves need replacing eventually. Many experts recommend replacing them every 9 to 12 months.
They may last longer, but the filling will also have become much less protective and less safe by then.
Regularly washing your handwraps or under gloves is also recommended. Not everyone sweats the same amount, but after using them twice, I would still wash them briefly at 30 degrees.
Still unsure whether to buy leather or synthetic leather boxing gloves? Of course, you can come to our store in Capelle aan den IJssel to try on both synthetic and leather boxing gloves and feel the difference for yourself.
We are open 6 days a week and you can park for free right in front of the door!
