Setting up a home boxing gym is one of the best fitness investments you can make — but the internet will tell you to buy about eight things you don't need before you've thrown your first combination.
This guide is the opposite of that. It's based on what we actually teach beginners at Killa Boxing Marrickville and what our members actually train with. Most people can get fully set up for under $300.
What You Actually Need (In Order)
1. Boxing Gloves
This is your first and most important purchase. Everything else is secondary. For home training on a bag or pads (or mitt work with a friend), you want:
- 12oz if you're under 75kg
- 14oz if you're over 75kg
- 16oz if you plan to do any light sparring
The Killa Elite Training Gloves are full-grain cowhide leather with dual-layer foam and extended wrist support. Available in 10oz, 12oz, 14oz and 16oz in two colourways — Black/White and White/Red.
2. Hand Wraps
Non-negotiable. These go on before your gloves, every single session. Wraps protect your wrist alignment, knuckle tissue, and small hand bones from the cumulative impact of thousands of punches.
The Killa Elite Pro Hand Wraps are 4.5-metre cotton wraps. Machine washable. Stock two pairs so one is always clean while the other dries.
3. A Heavy Bag (Or Pads)
You need something to hit. You have two options:
- Heavy bag: Hang it from the ceiling or use a free-standing bag. Better for solo training and conditioning work. Look for a 30–40kg bag for home use.
- Pad work: A training partner holds focus pads while you throw combinations. More technical, develops better technique. See the Killa Air Mitts — a unique focus pad design that improves your targeting and slipping simultaneously.
4. A Gym Bag (Optional But Practical)
The Killa Boxing Backpack 35L fits gloves, two pairs of wraps, a head guard, a change of clothes, and a 1.5L water bottle. Built for daily use.
5. Head Guard (Only If You're Sparring)
Head guards are specifically for sparring — contact training with a partner at speed and power. When you're ready to spar, you need either an open face guard (most popular, better visibility) or a full closed guard (maximum protection for harder contact).
What You Don't Need (Yet)
- Groin protector: Not needed until you're sparring
- Mouthguard: Not needed until you're sparring. A basic one from a chemist is fine to start
- Boxing shoes: Your regular trainers are fine. Shoes matter for competition, not home training
- Speed bag: Fun but not essential, requires a platform mount, and takes weeks to learn
Total Cost to Get Started
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Training Gloves (Killa Elite) | $199 |
| Hand Wraps (2x pairs) | $59.90 |
| Backpack (optional but recommended) | $119 |
| Total (gloves + wraps) | $258.90 |
| Total with backpack | $377.90 |
Free shipping on Australian orders over $150.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I train boxing at home without a bag?
Yes. Shadow boxing — throwing punches in the air in front of a mirror — is one of the best boxing drills for technique development. Many elite fighters do significant shadow boxing volume. You can also use focus pads with a partner.
Do I need to join a gym to learn boxing?
For technique, yes — YouTube and home training can only take you so far. A coach watching your form in person will accelerate your progress dramatically and prevent bad habits from setting in. At Killa Boxing Marrickville we run beginner sessions specifically for people with no experience.
What's the best boxing glove weight for beginners?
Check our complete boxing gloves size guide for the full breakdown, but the short answer: 12oz if you're under 75kg, 14oz if you're over 75kg.
Is boxing good for fitness?
Exceptionally so. See our article on boxing for weight loss for the specifics.
Start Training
Browse Killa Boxing gear — free shipping Australia-wide on orders over $150, 30-day money back guarantee, and everything we sell is what we train in ourselves at Killa Boxing Marrickville.