7 criteria you should look at when choosing heavy bag gloves:

1. Enough Padding
2. Durable Material
3. Glove Weight
4. Price
5. Consider the Features
6. Get Input From Coaches / Trainers
7. Read the Reviews

It’s important to know what to look for when buying bag gloves. Which is why I am going to first show you what to look for before even suggesting the best bag gloves.

Make sure you at least skim through the criteria before jumping to my suggestions. Bag gloves are quite different than sparring or training gloves, so it’s important to choose the right one!

Note: Bag gloves should generally be more durable so it lasts long and it should be thinner than sparring gloves – so you can feel the impact and be more comfortable when practicing.

You can use MMA Gloves or Boxing gloves for bag work. If you are looking to just buy 1 glove for all uses, then go for training gloves instead. Read my related article here: 8 Differences Between Sparring Vs Training Vs Bag Gloves

1. Enough Padding

The best gloves for heavy bag punching should have a good amount of padding in the palm and finger areas. The padding shouldn’t be too thick because it will make the gloves heavy and slow you down.

You don’t want padding that’s too thick because then you won’t feel anything while punching, which is not good for you or your opponent, and that also reduces the experience.

Many gloves don’t advertise how thick or thin the padding is. You should try it out in the store and get a feel of whether the padding is too thick or thin while punching. The padding should be thick enough for bag gloves to protect you but not so thick that you can’t feel anything punching you.

Get a pair of foam-padded boxing gloves, the most popular ones, and make sure not to get Horsehair or Mexican boxing gloves because they have less padding. Their gloves are designed to easily knock out your opponents.

These kinds of gloves are not durable and offer less protection. It is recommended not to use heavily padded gloves for bag gloves if you have other choices.

 

2. Durable Material

Ensure the bag gloves have a durable construction that can handle repeated punches. Bag gloves take the most beating when compared to sparring or training gloves. This is why bag gloves must be durable and last a long time. Genuine leather is a good material for heavy bag gloves. 

Genuine leather gloves are the most expensive of the bunch because they are made from real leather. However, when it comes to genuine leather gloves, you get what you pay for. The most important features of these gloves are that they eventually conform to the shape of the hands and are quite tough. 

Another good material for heavy bag gloves is vinyl. Given that vinyl is the least expensive of all materials, it is the ideal choice for people looking to save some money.

Vinyl gloves are suitable for you if you are a beginner and wear gloves rarely, but you wouldn’t want them if you box in a much more professional way. Vinyl gloves are not recommended for everyday usage since they are not sturdy and cause excessive hand sweating.

MMA heavy bag gloves should be made of high-quality materials. Choose gloves with a durable construction that will withstand repeated use. Look for gloves made from lightweight materials such as cotton or synthetic leather.

 

3. Glove Weight

Heavy bag gloves shouldn’t be too heavy. It should generally be a glove of 8–12 oz. Ideally, it should be light enough, so you are not slowed down, but, at the same time, it should be heavy enough to provide enough protection. 

Boxing gloves’ weight is measured in oz. 12, 14, and 16 ounces are the standard sizes. Going for 8 or 10 oz gloves is recommended, depending on your weight class. If you are above welterweight, consider 10-12 oz gloves because you are bigger and punch harder. This is because you need extra protection.

If you are welterweight or below (< 155lbs), then consider 8-10 oz gloves. You need a light glove that you can wear easily, but that is still heavy enough to land punches accordingly.

Your gloves should be the appropriate size for your hands. Small, medium and large sizes are available depending on hand size. After choosing the proper size, you can move on to the weight. 

The weight of a glove varies depending on the type, such as training gloves and gloves for sparring. Depending on your needs and purpose, choose a weight between 12 oz and 16 oz.

Related article: The Ultimate Guide To Boxing Gloves Size For All Factors

 

4. Price

Making sure your bag gloves are not too expensive is a wise choice. Otherwise, you will use them sparingly and wouldn’t want to use them. Hence, you will not be able to box freely. 

Bag gloves shouldn’t be that expensive when compared to sparring gloves. Bag gloves should be lighter and have less protection than sparring gloves. Thus, they should be much cheaper.

It’s also common for fighters to buy a new pair of bag gloves from time to time because they take a beating.

It is recommended to get bag gloves that are less than $100. These gloves generally last a year or two, depending on how frequently you use them, and then you get new ones once your old ones are not in good shape anymore.

 

5. Consider the Features 

Some features you may want to consider when choosing MMA heavy bag gloves include protection from punches, moisture-wicking properties, durability, and breathability.

If you are a beginner at boxing, first and foremost, you need to find the appropriate pair of gloves. The first piece of boxing gear you should buy is a set of boxing gloves, especially if you’re just starting out.

Since choosing boxing gloves is one of the most important components of boxing, you should take your time and thoroughly consider everything. 

Durability is something that you must consider while buying boxing gloves. Durability is crucial because gloves are an accessory you must wear while you work out, so you wouldn’t want to choose anything that breaks down quickly.

It’s also important that bag gloves can be worn and easily removed because you will be doing bag gloves very frequently. It’s good training and very easy to start, so you will likely do lots of it. It is recommended to buy Velcro strap gloves rather than laces as they are much more convenient.

 

6. Get Input From Coaches / Trainers

It is preferable to speak with a coach before purchasing new boxing gloves. Your coach will ensure you get a glove that is the right fit and size for your requirements. A coach or a trainer has much more experience than you.

Buying a glove that is too big for you is a common error made by beginners. However, there are a lot of additional errors that can occur. Therefore, getting input from your coaches or trainers is very important. They will be able to guide you towards which gloves would be best for you.

 

7. Read the Reviews

Reading people’s reviews when buying gloves is very important. See what people say, because the advice of people who have already bought the glove is always best. Look for keywords like durability, comfort, padding, and price.

Today’s market is flooded with boxing gloves, which can be confusing for those unfamiliar with the sport and unsure where to start. Without some prior knowledge, everything from glove type and size to the design aesthetic can be confusing.

If the gloves have a good rating and many positive reviews, you will most likely not go wrong with your purchase. Thankfully, Amazon has all this information.

In the end, reviews only have value if they can be relied upon. Verified reviews give customers a reliable impression of how businesses handle their clients. Reputable evaluations make it much simpler for customers to identify which companies to avoid, saving them valuable time and cash.

Here are my picks for the top 5 best MMA heavy bag gloves:

1. Everlast Mixed Martial Arts Heavy Bag Gloves ($27)
2. Liberlupus Boxing Gloves ($22)
3. Everlast Heavy Bag Boxing Gloves ($20)
4. FILA Boxing Gloves ($31)
5. Muscle Splitter Pro Style Boxing Gloves ($29)

These Everlast MMA Bag gloves have a durable construction with thick padding that protects your hands. The insides of the gloves feature a mesh for ventilation that absorbs sweat.

The gloves can also be adjusted to your hand size with the hook and looping strap that allows you to securely fit the gloves and easily take them on and off. These gloves can be found on Amazon for around $32.

Pros:

• Great ventilation to prevent sweat build-up
• Hook and loop strap for easy wearing
• Thick padding that absorbs damage

 

Cons:

• The plastic construction can feel relatively cheap.

 

These Liberlupus boxing gloves offer three layers of padding that protect your hands and knuckles by providing adequate shock absorption and cushioning. They also allow you to punch with a lot more power, increasing your enjoyment and performance in boxing.

They are made from the most premium synthetic leather, which will give them good resistance, and they are also much more durable because of this. These gloves can be found on Amazon for $27.99 – $30.99.

Pros:

• Breathable mesh for comfortable wear.
• Can be cleaned easily with a wet towel
• Full wrap-around wrist strap

Cons:

• Can hurt the wrist due to thick straps

 

These Everlast heavy bag boxing gloves are a one-size-fits-most option as they are light and comfortable to wear yet tough and durable. They are made from tough neoprene material and manufactured in the United States.

They come with a moisture repellant coating that protects you from sweat build-up. A pre-curved foam inside and a padded palm grip offer excellent hand protection.

Pros:

• Flexible and durable because of neoprene material construction
• Great hand comfort due to pre-curved foam
• Inexpensive at only $20

Cons:

• Fairly thin with lesser padding

 

The FILA Accessories Boxing Gloves come in various weight sizes ranging from 10 to 18oz. The gloves have heavy-duty construction and have reinforced stitching which gives them a lot of durability. They use a multi-density foam which provides them with excellent shock absorption.

The gloves also feature a breathable mesh to prevent sweat build-up, and they have a pre-curved design that keeps your hands in their proper shape without causing strain on the joints.

Pros:

• Various weight categories from 10-18oz
• Durable construction because of reinforced stitching
• Great shock absorption due to foam padding

Cons:

• Usually out of stock

 

The Muscle Splitter Pro gloves are created using high-quality leather. They feature an ergonomic design with multi-layer padding and a curved construction that allows your hands to sit comfortably inside the glove.

Cleaning these gloves is extremely easy as you just have to wipe them down using a wet towel. The mesh inside will automatically drain the sweat inside as long as you leave them alone for a few hours.

Pros:

• Can be cleaned easily with a wet towel
• Full wrap wristband for easy wear
• Multi-layer padding for amazing shock protection

Cons:

• Fixed-size at 12 oz

Picking the right gloves for your heavy bag boxing sessions is crucial as you’re going to be using your gloves for at least a year or two. I outlined some of the things you should look for when choosing the perfect heavy bag gloves.

They are the padding, material, weight, price, features and reviews, as well as getting input from your coach.

If you don’t want to go through the process of research to find the perfect glove, I picked out some that might suit you. I hope this article helped you pick the perfect heavy bag gloves for your boxing journey.