Boxing gloves absolutely do not have an 'eternal life.' Especially people with less experience in martial arts expect boxing gloves to last for years. However, this is not the case at all.
To explain briefly, you can somewhat compare boxing gloves to sneakers. The better you take care of your sneakers, the longer they stay nice, but even then they don’t last for years.
The better you care for your boxing gloves, the longer they last and the longer they stay fresh-smelling.
The basics of maintaining and keeping your boxing gloves fresh:
- Always use clean handwraps , gelwraps or inner gloves
- Take them out of your bag immediately after training.
- Wipe the outside with a clean, dry cloth.
- Use a deodorizer to help your boxing gloves dry faster and better on the inside.
- Store in a cool, dry place with good natural ventilation.
- Optionally use an antibacterial spray.
- For leather boxing gloves: use leather grease/leather conditioner once a month to prevent cracks and drying out.
Use clean handwraps, gelwraps, or inner gloves
This goes without saying: start every training session with fresh, washed handwraps. That’s why it’s always advisable to have multiple sets of handwraps. If your handwraps are clean, they won’t transfer bacteria or odor to your boxing gloves.
Take your boxing gloves out of your gymbag immediately after coming home
Nowadays there are fantastic gymbags with separate, ventilated compartments for your boxing gloves. This is especially handy if you’re out for a longer time and your boxing gloves have to stay in your bag longer after use.
Once you’re home, take your boxing gloves out of your gymbag and let them dry well. The outside is best wiped with a simple dry cloth, such as a towel or microfiber cloths.
You can optionally use a very small amount of non-abrasive cleaning agent. During training, the striking surface of your boxing gloves often touches your training partner or their clothing. Human sweat contains salt and organic substances like amino acids, which can damage your boxing gloves if not wiped off.
Use a deodorizer to help the inside of your boxing gloves dry properly
They didn’t exist in the past, but deodorizers are truly a fantastic invention for your boxing gloves. Simply put, they are "moisture absorbers." Most deodorizers are made from a combination of carbon and mosoo bamboo. Bamboo is bacteria-resistant (think of cutting boards in the kitchen) and carbon atoms can absorb a lot of moisture.
Deodorizers help remove moisture and sweat from your boxing gloves faster. Products in our range suitable for this are the Rival Deodorizer and NO STINK. We have a full collection of deodorizers for boxing gloves in our webshop.
By putting a deodorizer in your boxing gloves, the inside will dry much faster. You can find a detailed article about deodorizers in our blog: Deodorizers: a miracle for maintaining your boxing gloves
Store your boxing gloves in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place
This can simply be your room, assuming you air it out occasionally and it’s not extremely hot. NEVER place your boxing gloves (leather or synthetic leather) on a heater or radiator to dry.
Also NEVER leave your boxing gloves in direct sunlight, because besides discoloration, this is bad for the outer layer of boxing gloves. It’s disastrous for leather boxing gloves, but also the hot sun is not good for synthetic leather boxing gloves.
Use a nice fresh, antibacterial spray to keep your boxing gloves hygienically clean
This is also a very nice invention that we can gratefully use. Several manufacturers have developed sprays to keep boxing gloves and kickboxing gloves hygienically fresh.
Odor and unpleasant smells are caused by bacteria. Antibacterial agents, such as sprays, ensure these are removed from your (boxing) gloves or other sports equipment (such as headgear and shin guards).
These special sprays are not the same as a normal deodorant, which only temporarily masks the smell inside a boxing glove and does not tackle it thoroughly!
Antibacterial sprays, such as FreshKO, Sukkiri Spray, and Booster Spray, have been true bestsellers in our range for years and work guaranteed if you use them from the start.
Care for the outside of your leather boxing gloves with leather grease or Vaseline
If you want to train hard in (kick)boxing, you usually buy boxing gloves made of real leather, but despite most types of leather being high-quality and durable material, leather boxing gloves don’t last forever either. Don’t forget that boxing gloves repeatedly take hard punches and kicks.
It’s important not to let the leather of your boxing gloves dry out. When leather dries out, it becomes stiff and cracks appear. This causes the leather to tear sooner.
You can significantly slow down this process by using leather grease. Apply the leather grease well with a cloth or sponge and let it absorb for a while. Then you can buff the boxing gloves nicely.
With regular use, the leather stays supple and water-repellent. Suitable products for this can be found under leather grease in our webshop. Vaseline is also usable for treating your boxing gloves to prevent hairline cracks and keep the leather supple.
How to best use leather grease and how it helps maintain your boxing gloves can be found in our blog: How and why to use leather grease for boxing gloves?
Care for boxing gloves and care products
Keeping your boxing gloves fresh and in good condition is largely up to you. The cheapest solution is always wearing clean handwraps and letting them air out properly. If you do this consistently, you can train longer with nice fresh boxing gloves.
Want to check out even more care products for your boxing gear or for yourself? Then check our full collection of care products in our webshop.
