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Introduction
Perhaps like many people you’re looking to diversify your training regime and are considering putting together a home boxing set-up. Or maybe you’re planning to join a local boxing club and need some kit.
Well, whatever reason has brought you here, if you’re looking for a great pair of 8 oz boxing gloves to train in, you’ve come to the right place.
This review brings you the best 8 oz boxing gloves of 2021. Each pair has 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 5 best 8 oz boxing gloves that follow have been picked because they satisfy our stringent list of requirements. Here at Hungry4Fitness we only review the best equipment. That’s because we are all avid fitness enthusiasts and we know that great kit makes for great training.
In keeping with our passion for great kit, all the gloves that feature in this review have been crafted for the serious boxer. This means they’ve been constructed from high-quality leather or synthetic materials. Thus, when you purchase a pair of gloves from this article, you’ll have confidence that they’re going to last.
In addition to superior durability, each pair of 8 oz boxing gloves has received extensive customer feedback and has been ranked at 4 stars or above. In short, we’ve sifted through the mounds of rubbish boxing gloves so that you don’t have to.
8 oz Boxing Gloves | A Fighter’s Guide
Before you select a pair of boxing gloves you should consider what you’re going to use 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 every type of boxing training. Below we have provided you with a guide that outlines the different styles of gloves and what training they favour. This guide should hopefully support you in making a more informed decision.
Which weight boxing glove is best?
The person who is just going to use their gloves to train on their freestanding punch bag in their home gym is going to want a different style and weight glove than a person who is training at a boxing club.
Really, the type of training you’re going to be doing will determine the weight of the glove you select.
For example, bag mitts have very little padding and as a consequence, they are not suitable for sparring. Bag mitts are very light and compact and so enable you to train at high intensities, working on your speed, accuracy and punching volume.
In contrast, 16- or 18 oz boxing gloves are ideal for sparring, as they reduce injury and facial swelling. But they can feel heavy and cumbersome when working the bag or training on the pads. However, a heavier weighted glove, such as 14 or 16 oz, are more suited to working on power development on a heavy sand-filled bag.
But what’s the best weight boxing glove for all-purpose training?
Th glove weight a boxer uses is largely a personal preference thing. I prefer to use either 8 or 10 oz gloves for pad and bag work. But if I’m going to spar then I select a heavier weight, such as 14 or 16 oz.
However, for home training purposes 8, 10 or 12 oz gloves would be spot on. Boxing gloves of this weight offer the right amount of protection for your hands, which reduces post-training aches and pains, but they also won’t feel like you’re trying to box with a pair of pillows strapped to your fists.
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 really 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 Reyes 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 8 oz Boxing Gloves
#1: Everlast ‘Pro’ 8 ox Boxing Gloves (£24.99)
Product overview (click image for availability)
Premium synthetic leather for increased durability.
Full mesh palm ensures breathability and comfort.
Improved curved anatomical grip and fit.
Anti-microbial treatment fights offensive odours and bacterial growth.
Ideal for pad and bag workouts.
Everlast started in the Bronx in 1910 and they are one of the original boxing gear manufacturers. Boxers from Rocky Marciano to Muhammad Ali have used Everlast boxing gloves.
The name ‘Everlast’ was coined by the founder of the company who was obsessive about crafting equipment that lasted forever.
This ethos is still passionately pursued to this day and Everlast prides itself on constructing boxing equipment that lasts a lifetime.
Fashioned from premium quality synthetic leather these 8 oz budget boxing gloves will endure years of brutal training. And while you use them you can imagine you’re a boxing great!
Immense reviews: nearly 5-stars with over 18,500 reviews!
#2: Valour Strike 8 oz Boxing Gloves (£29.99)
Product overview (click image for availability)
Multi-layered high-density padding offers superior safety while reducing impact trauma injuries.
PU boxing mitt is tear-resistant, durable and built to protect your hands during all types of boxing training.
Easy to apply Velcro wrist strap makes using these gloves easy to put on and take off.
Valour Strike’s 8 oz boxing gloves have been designed for the serious boxer. The Valour company prides itself on developing combat equipment that has been specially tailored for fighters.
From the outer material to the inner padding these gloves are clearly engineered for high-intensity training. Unlike cheaper gloves, the Valour Strike features multi-layered high-density foam padding.
The purpose of this padding is to reduce impact trauma which instils the boxer with the confidence to unleash their hardest punches. The gloss PU outer material is both tear resistant and easy to clean. As well as featuring functional qualities these gloves also look the biz.
Solid customer feedback: nearly 5 stars with over 491 reviews!
#3: Adidas ‘Hybrid’ 8 oz Boxing Gloves (£30.00)
Product overview (click image for availability)
100% PU material.
Inside lining for superior comfort.
Two-piece injection mould foam padding.
The two-tone large rigid elasticated strap that can be secured solidly to provide extra support.
Ergonomic shape for powerful and fast punch.
These gloves by Adidas have received lots of positive feedback. Customers have commented favourably on their durability and comfort. You can’t really ask much more from budget boxing gloves.
Crafted from durable PU synthetic materials they will wear well while also maintaining that ‘just-out-the-box’ look. Also, because they are crafted from synthetic fabrics, they are a breeze to keep clean.
The two-piece injection mould foam padding will offer your hands plenty of protection. And the extra-large elastic writs strap will ensure these gloves stayed glued to your fists.
Together, these attributes make these 8 oz boxing gloves by Adidas the perfect pair for home gym use or general boxing training sessions.
Knock-out! customer feedback: 4.5 stars with over 800 reviews!
#4: Venum ‘Elite’ 8 oz Boxing Gloves (£55.00)
Product overview (click image for availability)
Integrated mesh panel under the fist delivers thermal regulation for maximum comfort.
Strengthened seams provide long-lasting quality, so you can fight harder, longer.
Premium Skintex leather, suede aspect, with yokes affect carbon of an incomparable quality.
Reinforced palms and triple-density foam provide unrivalled shock absorption and protection.
‘Join the elite with these gloves, fully handmade in Thailand with a 100 per cent premium Skintex leather.’
With interior mesh panels, Venum 'Elite' offers enhanced thermal regulation for improved comfort even as you push your limits. In addition, the reinforced palms, long cuffs, and triple density foam provide unrivalled shock absorption, protecting your hands and wrists, and extending your training time.
They are fashioned from premium synthetic ‘Skintex’ leather which, in the words of Venum themselves, offers superior quality.
But this isn’t just manufacturer hype. Many of the satisfied customers attest to the durability of the material that these 8 ox gloves are made out of. One reviewer said ‘I use these gloves for boxing heavy bag work and light sparring around 2-3 times a week - I have to say these are excellent gloves. The quality of the material is superb, cleans easily and has just the right level of grip when connecting with the bag.’
So, when if you decide to buy a pair of Venum Elites you know you’ll only be buying once.
Immense customer feedback: 4.5 stars with over 4,500 reviews!
#5: Cleto Reyes Traditional 8 oz Bag Glove (£55.00)
Product overview (click image for availability)
Traditional gloves fabricated from premium leather.
The repellent linings prevent moisture from entering padding, which results in the glove’s weight remains constant.
The gloves are easy to put on and take off.
It combines the avant-garde and style that a champion must use, with the quality standards recognize by Cleto Reyes Brands
Handmade and manufactured in Mexico under strict quality control with premium leather.
The Bag Gloves hook and loop closure is made of head leather.
Cleto Reyes is universally recognised as the best producer of boxing equipment in the world. And the Mexican company has held that title undisputed for years.
It’s Cleto Reyes gloves that feature in the majority of world title fights and they are a favourite of professional boxers.
Typically, a pair of Cleto Reyes will cost around £200. However, their super-lightweight 8 oz bag gloves are more affordable at just £55.
These hook and loop bag gloves are designed for bag and pad work. To reduce the weight of the glove, so as to increase the speed of your punches, they’ve been trimmed right down. Essentially, they are a compact covering for your knuckles.
But when you deliver a punch in these it’s going to feel like you’re bringing down the house.
And let’s not forget that all Cleto Reyes boxing gloves are handcrafted to exacting specifications and are only made from the very best quality materials.
Solid customer feedback: nearly 5-stars with 18 reviews
To Conclude
Truly, you can’t beat a good pair of 8 oz boxing gloves. Boxing in quality, light-weight gloves enhances the pleasure of training and makes the rounds feel a breeze.
But they serve an important purpose beyond looks and feel. A well-made pair of gloves will reduce impact trauma that the hands inevitably suffer during boxing training.
This is one of the most important things a boxer can safeguard against: injuring their hands. With injured hands, boxers can’t do what they love.
It’s for this reason why I always recommend splashing the cash on good gloves (and always boxing in hand wraps). This is the one item of boxing kit that you shouldn’t skimp on – gloves.
Anyone of the gloves in this review will offer the protection and durability that your hands deserve. But remember, select the gloves that are most suited to your training. If you plan on working the heavy bag in your home gym then the Adidas Hybrid, Everlast Elite or Valour Strikes will more than suffice.
If, however, you plan to box at a club and your training consistency exceeds two sessions a week, the more durable Venums or Cleto Reyes will be better for this type of high-intensity training.
(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.