Your first boxing gloves are one of the more important purchases in early boxing training — use them for months, they affect every session, and bad gloves can contribute to hand and wrist issues. This guide is specifically for people who have never bought boxing gloves before and want to get it right the first time.
The Single Most Important Thing to Know
Hand wraps are not optional. Before you buy gloves, buy hand wraps. You'll spend $15–20. They protect your wrists, knuckles, and the small bones of your hand. Boxing without wraps under gloves is the number one cause of avoidable hand injuries in beginners. Buy wraps here →
Step 1: Choose the Right Size (Ounces)
The number on boxing gloves (12oz, 14oz, 16oz) indicates weight and padding amount, not the size of the glove shell. More ounces = more padding.
- Women 50–65kg: 10oz or 12oz for bag work and pad work
- Women 65kg+: 12oz or 14oz
- Men 60–80kg: 12oz or 14oz for general training
- Men 80kg+: 14oz for training; 16oz if you'll spar
- If you're unsure: Choose 14oz — the most versatile size for adult training
For sparring, 16oz is required at virtually all Australian gyms regardless of bodyweight.
Step 2: Choose Your Budget Range
Under $60 — Avoid for regular training
Synthetic gloves in this range last 3–6 months before padding compresses. If you're uncertain you'll continue boxing, this is acceptable for trial. If you're committing to training, this range is a false economy.
$80–$130 — The sweet spot
Genuine leather options begin at this range. Quality foam that maintains protection for 2–3 years. Stitching and seam quality that survives regular training. The Killa Pro Training Gloves sit in this range — leather, well-padded, built for Australian training conditions.
$130–$200+ — Premium tier
Better leather grades, additional foam layers, premium inner lining materials. Genuinely better but the improvement over the $80–130 range is less significant for recreational and fitness training purposes. Worth it for serious competitive boxers; probably not necessary for beginners.
Step 3: Velcro vs Lace-Up
Choose velcro for all beginners. Velcro closure allows you to put gloves on and take them off solo. Lace-up gloves require a training partner to lace and unlace — they're used by competitive fighters who always have a cornerman/training partner available. For home training and gym training where you arrive alone, velcro is essential.
Step 4: Where to Buy
Buy from a boxing specialist, not a department store or general sporting goods chain. Specialists stock genuine boxing equipment; chain stores often stock look-alike products with incorrect padding densities that mimic boxing glove appearance without providing boxing glove protection.
Killa Boxing ships Australia-wide from our Sydney base. Same-day dispatch on orders before 2pm AEDT.
Shop all boxing gloves → | Detailed size guide → | Beginner checklist →