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Get Ready to Glove Up
The 16 oz boxing glove is considered the best weight for heavy bag training and sparring. Because they are packed with wads of padding, they absorb far more impact than lighter gloves. The additional padding in 16 oz boxing gloves reduces hand injuries when working the heavy bag. But also, 16s reduce facial cuts, abrasions and swelling that can occur during sparring sessions.
Unlike with lighter weights, when training in 16oz gloves you can really let your punches go. By being able to hit hard, without the worry of injuring your hands, you will be able to develop punching power while also developing strength and stamina in the shoulders.
In this article, we’ll be reviewing five of the best 16 oz boxing gloves available in 2021. All the gloves that feature in this review have been specially selected by Hungry4Fitness’ very own boxing aficionado Adam Priest, a former Royal Marines Commando and ABAs boxer who now teaches the sweet art to aspiring pugilists.
The top five 16oz boxing gloves below have been chosen because they satisfy our stringent list of requirements. We at Hungry4Fitness only review quality training equipment. That’s because we are all avid fitness enthusiasts and we believe that great kit makes for great training.
Thus, only boxing gloves that satisfied our strict criteria have been selected. The criteria include:
Crafted from premium-quality leather or synthetic materials
Received extensive customer feedback
Ranked 4 stars or above
Made for the arduous sport of boxing
16 oz Boxing Mitts | A Buyer's Guide
Prior to selecting your boxing gloves, it is wise to consider how you plan to use them and what type of training you will be using them for. At first the answer may seem obvious – ‘I’m going to box in my boxing gloves!’ However, you should know that not all gloves are suited for all types of boxing training.
To help support you in selecting the right pair of gloves for your preferred style of training, we have created a boxing glove Buyer’s Guide. The guide aims to match the various weighted gloves with the appropriate boxing training.
By using the guide your will be able to make a more informed purchasing decision.
Which weight boxing glove is best?
If you plan to use your gloves primarily on the heavy boxing bag you’ve got hanging in the garage, then you’ll need a different style and weight glove for the person who trains at a boxing club.
Really, the type of training you’re going to be doing should determine the weight of glove you select.
Bag mitts, for example, have the least padding of all boxing gloves – between 4- to 8 oz. Consequently, they are not suitable for sparring. Bag mitts are very light and compact and are designed to enable you to train at high intensities, working on your speed, accuracy and punching volume.
A heavier glove, between 14 and 16 oz, are more suited for sparring as they reduce injury and facial swelling. But there’s a trade-off. Heavier gloves can feel cumbersome when working the bag or training on the pads.
However, heavier gloves are useful for training and developing power on a heavy sand-filled boxing bag. You wouldn’t want to work sand-filled bag while wearing bag mitts because it can increase the risk of hand injuries.
But what’s the best weight boxing glove for all-purpose training?
The glove weight a boxer uses is largely a personal preference thing – and boxers who compete tend to have more than one pair of gloves. But if you plan to use your gloves primarily for punch bag training (and occasionally pad work when you can coax your friend into holding the pads), then a 14 or 16 oz boxing glove would be best.
These weight gloves provide plenty of protection for your knuckles but they’re not so heavy that it’ll feel like you’re hands are encased in concrete. Also, if you do at a later stage decide to join a boxing club, with a pair of 16 oz gloves you will be able to participate in controlled sparring sessions.
Velcro vs. Lace-ups
The lace-up style boxing glove is a favourite amongst purists and boxers who have the luxury of a personal coach – because lace-ups don’t lace up themselves. It’s for this reason why lace-up boxing gloves are not suitable for those who are buying gloves to use in their home gym. Once you’ve tightened one up it’s a bugger to tighten up the other.
So why would anyone buy lace-up boxing gloves then?
Compared to Velcro gloves lace-ups can be fastened much tighter, and not just at the wrist but almost the full length of the glove. When you’re suited and booted and your coach laces your gloves up, you feel like you can take on the world. Your fists are compacted into stone and you feel as though you could punch holes through walls.
Velcro gloves are the obvious choice for those who plan on boxing on their home punch bag. But Velcro gloves are also ideal for those who train at a boxing gym, as they can be taken on and off in seconds, which is handy when you're participating in a boxing circuit.
Velcro-Lace-up combo
My first ever pair of Cleto Reye boxing gloves (which are by far the best gloves on the market) were Velcro and lace-up. By incorporating dual fastening options, you kind of get the best of both worlds, and you don’t need someone to tighten the laces up for you. I partially tightened the laces, just enough so that I could squeeze my hand in the gloves, and then used the Velcro to get a super-tight seal.
Leather vs. Synthetic materials
Traditionally all boxing gloves were crafted from leather as this was the only material that was durable enough to endure the rigours of boxing training. Today, there are lots of different materials that boxing gloves are constructed from. You can still get leather gloves, of course, but they tend to cost more.
In saying that though, just because they cost more doesn’t mean that they will last any longer. I’ve got an old pair of 14 oz Title gloves that are crafted from synthetic materials. For five years I’ve used my Title gloves three times a week and they’re still as good as new.
Another benefit of synthetic materials over leather is that they are much easier to keep clean. After a high-intensity boxing session, you can easily wipe the sweat, tears (and blood) from synthetic material boxing gloves.
Leather, by contrast, is more absorbent than synthetic materials. This accounts for why old leather boxing gloves stink (an aroma which only true boxers love). Also, if after a sweaty training session you forget to air your leather boxing gloves out, they can crack and split or attract mould.
The 5 Best 16oz Boxing Gloves
#1: GoMax 16 oz Boxing Gloves (£16.99)
Product overview (click image for availability)
Infused Foam Gel for great shock dissipation that provides more padding for your hands.
Constructed from hard-wearing synthetic leather.
Velcro fastening for easy removal.
Reduced glove width to reduce the overall weight of the glove.
Yes, these are budget boxing gloves and you can’t expect much for £16.99. However, don’t be put off by their uber-competitive price. GoMax’s 16oz boxing gloves have received hundreds of very positive reviews.
Of the 540 comments they have received, 95% are very favourable. This is why they boast a rating of 4.5 stars.
These 16 oz gloves probably aren’t suitable for training at a boxing gym. It’s doubtful they’d withstand the intense punishment of competitive boxing training. But, if you plan to use them on your home freestanding punch bag, or your new reflex bag, they are perfect.
Also, GoMax’s 16oz gloves are ideal for the person who’s just getting into boxing but aren’t sure yet if they will enjoy it enough to keep it up. Spending £16.99 on a pair of gloves isn’t much of a financial loss if, after a couple of weeks of training, you deice boxing isn’t for you.
#2: Mytra Fusion ‘Tribal’ 16oz Boxing Gloves (£21.00)
Product overview (click image for availability)
Made from Synthetic leather to resist extreme punishment.
Tri-layered shock absorption reduces impact trauma to hands.
Nano-Spore technology for improved ventilation.
X-Mould Technology and inspired by the Z-Smart design series, these gloves mould your hand into a compact fist.
Mytra Fusion ‘Tribal’ 16oz boxing gloves are crafted from synthetic leather. Though puritanical pugilists turn their nose up at synthetic materials, they are both highly durable and sweat resistant. Meaning the gloves will last a long time and won’t start to stink after 6-months of use.
These gloves feature tri-layered shock absorption padding over the knuckles and prominent impact points. This additional padding should reduce hand injuries while offering sufficient resistance so that it feels like you’re hitting something.
Made using X-Mould technology and inspired by the Z-Smart design series, these gloves promise to enhance the training and sparring experience. In addition, the special PU-X gel lining with Nano-pores allows easy ventilation and gives a smooth feel.
Sincerely, a lot of glove for your money here.
Very popular pair of gloves: 4.5 stars with 650 reviews
#3: Valour Strike 16oz Boxing Gloves (£29.99)
Product overview (click image for availability)
Made from Synthetic leather to resist extreme punishment.
Tri-layered shock absorption reduces impact trauma to hands.
Incorporates the Nano-Spores technology for ventilation which keeps the hands during punishing training sessions.
Valour has made a name for itself as a producer of combat equipment that is high quality and affordable. A rare combination.
The ‘Strike’ 16oz boxing gloves were the company’s very first product. And it is these gloves that helped make their name. They feature Valour’s in-house design tri-layered shock-absorbing padding, which, in the words of Valour, were
‘Built to protect the most aggressive heavyweight punchers from injury, these gloves can take what you want to give out!’
Crafted from premium quality synthetic leather they are both durable and moisture resistant. Thus, even after years of heavy use, they will still look as good as the day you purchased them.
These gloves feature an array of attributes that together make them one of the best products on the market for the price.
A very well rated glove: almost 5-stars with 500 reviews!
Ringside Pro Fitness 16oz Boxing Gloves (£54.99)
Product overview (click image for availability)
Superb durable construction.
Cross-strap wrist closure for improved fit and feel.
Specially hand moulded to improve comfort.
Hard-wearing synthetic leather materials.
Ringside is widely recognised as one of the elite producers of boxing gloves (and punch bags, focus pads and rings). These 16oz boxing gloves promise to live up to their extremely high standards.
Crafted from the finest materials Ringside’s Pro Fitness gloves promise to last a lifetime. All seams are double stitched to enhance longevity and reduce the chance of splits or tears.
The breathable mesh palm helps keep your hands dry during gruelling sessions while also preventing the glove from absorbing moisture. Gloves that don’t feature breathable vents soak up sweat and, well, stink.
In addition to many other fine attributes, such as the hand moulded design for superior comfort and feel, these gloves look proper dapper. They have been finished with a super snazzy sheen which will make you the envy of the boxing club.
#3: Everlast ‘Elite’ 16 oz Boxing Gloves (£121.99)
Product overview (click image for availability)
Modern, anatomical foam construction moulds your hand into a natural fist position.
Compact design is the perfect balance of comfort, speed, and protection.
Premium synthetic leather ideal for heavy bag and mitt work.
Additional padding around the wrists to reduce impact injuries during sparring.
The preeminent brand in boxing since 1910, Everlast is one of the world’s leading manufacturer, marketer and licensor of boxing, MMA and fitness equipment. From legendary champions Jack Dempsey and Sugar Ray Robinson to current superstars Benson Henderson and Canelo Alvarez, Everlast is the brand of choice for generations of world champion professional athletes.
Built on a brand heritage of strength, dedication, individuality and authenticity, Everlast’s ‘Elite’ 16oz boxing gloves have been handcrafted from premium quality cowhide leather.
The Elite, which is undeniably a pricy glove, features Everlast’s unique ‘evershield’ design. The evershield is a protective layer of padding that encases your hand like a shield. So, when you’re rumbling in the jungle with your sparring partner your hands will be fully protected from counter punches or those looping hooks that typically land on the elbow as opposed to the body.
Furthermore, the fist closure design coupled with the superior shock absorption foam will enable you to hammer away at the heavy bag (and your opponent) until the cows come home. And because they’re packing a full 16 ozs your hands won’t feel a thing.
Also, the classic ‘Raging Bull’ aesthetics will ensure you look proper dapper while you dance around the ring.
Strong customer ratings: 5-stars with 21 reviews
To Conclude
16 oz boxing gloves are the best glove for heavy bag work and sparring. In fact, you shouldn’t really spar in anything other than 16oz gloves, both for your protection and your sparring partner’s.
If this article has done its job, you should have a well-rounded understanding of some of the best 16oz gloves on the market. All that’s left for you to do is determine which gloves best suits your boxing ability and training consistency.
If you are new to boxing or are flirting with the idea of dabbling in the sweet art, I recommend GoMax and Mytra. These are both great starter gloves. But they’re also perfect for the person who occasionally uses their home heavy bag for a bit of additional fitness training.
The Valour Strikes and Ringside’s Pro Fitness boxing mitts are a bit more specialist. These are more suited to the individual who boxes regularly and trains out of a gym.
That leaves us with Everlast’s Elite 16oz boxing gloves. While they were obviously crafted for the seasoned pugilist, anyone who has a hankering for quality equipment will certainly enjoy these gloves. And as the saying goes, buy quality buy once.
(As we are very interested in user experience here at Hungry4Fitness, we would be very grateful if you could take a few seconds out of your day to leave a comment. Thanks in advance!)
Blog Author
Adam Priest, former Royal Marines Commando, is a personal trainer, lecturer, boxing and Thai boxing enthusiast.