Horsehair Boxing Gloves: 10 Pros & Cons (Is It Legal?)

Horsehair boxing gloves are a type of boxing glove made from horsehair. Horsehair is one of the lightest materials used in boxing gloves, which helps reduce the weight on fighters’ hands and makes their punches faster and more damaging.

Horsehair gloves are excellent if you know how to use them. They are often used by boxers who want a glove that deals more impact than other gloves and gives them the feel of hitting with natural fiber. 

It is recommended not to use horsehair gloves if you are a beginner because they can be very dangerous and cause harm if you are not a pro boxer.

Horse hair gloves help reduce the weight on fighters’ hands and makes their punches faster and more damaging.

Horsehair gloves are legal in boxing, but some fighters refuse to fight opponents wearing horsehair gloves. Boxing with these gloves can be very dangerous as they provide less protection. Hence, many boxers avoid using them. 

There is debate over whether horsehair boxing gloves are legal in boxing. Some people believe horsehair is an unfair advantage for boxers and should not be allowed in the sport. Others believe that because horsehair is a natural fiber, it does not give boxers an unfair advantage and is legal to use in boxing gloves. 

Some boxers also believe that using these gloves for fighting can be harmful, as a hard punch can significantly impact your opponent and your own hands. This is why they are considered a bad choice by many boxers.

Regardless, it’s legal as long as both fighters have no problem with them. 

Horsehair boxing gloves are seen to give unfair advantages to the fighter because they make the fighter punch harder and have higher chances of damaging or knocking out their opponent.

Horsehair can cause damage to a boxer’s hand if it gets caught in their punches. When this happens, there are higher chances of getting injured. Horsehair gloves provide less protection than traditional foam padded boxing gloves.

Another issue with using horsehair in boxing gloves is that it can become tangled up in the boxer’s hair when punching. This can cause severe injuries to the fighter’s head and neck. Additionally, because horsehair absorbs much of the impact, it can cause gloves to break more easily.

1. Horsehair gloves make punch harder

Horsehair is essentially just a wrap, and your knuckles can go through the horsehair. Therefore, it improves punching power because there is less material between your knuckles and the opponent.

While not doubling the shock, it significantly impacts the opponent more than other gloves. It affects your opponent’s ability to be cut and marked up.

2. Horsehair gloves fit snugly

Horsehair gloves fit snugly and comfortably, allowing your fingertips to just touch the tops of the gloves.

They fit snugly but not too tightly around the straps. Additionally, it is simpler to form a fist, giving you better control over your strikes and making them less uncomfortable to wear.

Horsehair gloves have snug fit.

3. Horsehair gloves are easier to put on

They are easier to take off and put on than traditional foam padded gloves. You should be able to take your boxing gloves off quickly and easily. 

Gloves with horsehair allow you to do such. This is because horsehair gloves are lighter than foam padded gloves. Hence, they are easier to take off. 

4. Horsehair gloves are easier on the skin

Horsehair gloves are easier on the hands because they don’t rub against your skin. Horsehair gloves are considered to be more comfortable than other foam padded gloves.

They are more flexible, and their thinner padding allows for greater movement, which helps you fight your opponent more effectively. 

1. Horsehair gloves are uncomfortable for longer periods

Horsehair boxing gloves can be uncomfortable to wear, especially when you work up a sweat. If you have been boxing for a long time, your hands might be sweaty.

As a result, the inside of your gloves might be wet, making your hands feel uneasy, uncomfortable, and irritating, and you will not be able to fight your opponent very well.

2. Horsehair gloves are less durable

They are less durable and can be easy to tear. They are less durable and can be easily torn. Horsehair gloves only have a layer of horsehair, which is not enough protection for you, your opponent, and your gloves.

If you have been fighting for a long time, the gloves might tear due to the wetness of your hands because of the sweat and the hard punches you deliver to your opponent.

3. Horsehair gloves provide lesser defense

You have reduced defenses with horsehair boxing gloves. As the horsehair gloves have just enough horsehair to protect your hand while you deliver hard punches to your opponent, it will affect your opponent and your hands.

The harder you punch, the harder you will hurt yourself. This is why these gloves are not good for defense because you end up hurting yourself, unlike the foam padded gloves that protect your hands when you deliver a hard punch.

4. Horsehair gloves can be difficult to grip

You might not be able to have a good grip as the horsehair gets wet and cannot absorb the wetness. Hence, keeping your grip on them is hard once they are wet from the inside. This results in you not being able to punch as hard as you would like because of your lack of a good grip.

5. Horsehair gloves are not suitable for beginners

Horsehair boxing gloves have a layer of protection. If you are a beginner, it is better not to use horsehair gloves as you might hurt your hands or break your bones due to the lack of protection.

When you punch hard, your opponent, as well as your hands, feel the impact. This is why it is not advised to use horsehair boxing gloves, as they can be dangerous for rookies.

Horsehair gloves are not suitable for beginners who don’t have the correct punching form yet.

6. Horsehair gloves can smell bad

They can smell bad when wet and mixed with sweat. The stench that comes from your gloves is the odor of bacteria. Your gloves are a perfect place for bacteria to form since you will sweat a lot during a match, and moisture leads to bacterial growth.

The horsehair boxing gloves can smell bad due to the sweat that forms on your hands and gets absorbed into the horsehair. This makes your gloves smell bad and can lead to a bacterial infection.

Horse hair is still used in boxing gloves because it provides a good grip and increases damage dealt. However, they are not as popular as foam padded gloves because they are more durable, provide more protection, and are generally accepted by all boxers, whether they are beginners or experts. 

Horsehair gloves were much more popular back in the day, but now boxing gloves are mostly foam padded instead of horsehair.

Horsehair is still used in some forms of boxing gloves, but it is less common than it was several years ago. There are many reasons for this change. One reason is that other materials offer greater protection for the fighters’ hands and make punching more accurate.

Other reasons include that horsehair may be more difficult to manufacture and handle properly, and its cost may be prohibitive for some boxers. 

You should not use horsehair boxing gloves for sparring because they damage your opponent more and provide less protection for your hands. 

Generally, horsehair boxing gloves are created for matches, so they only have 8 / 10 oz. You should get 14-16 oz for sparring, depending on your weight class. It is recommended not to use horsehair boxing gloves for sparring, as it damages you and your opponent.

They provide less protection, and you are more likely to hurt yourself than your opponent.

Related article: 8 Differences Between Sparring Vs Training Vs Bag Gloves

Horsehair boxing gloves can be used for heavy bags. You should get the 10 oz one for better protection. However, it is much better to use foam padded gloves as they will provide better protection overall.

Horsehair boxing gloves allow your fists to feel the glove and have faster and more accurate punching. Because these gloves are light due to less padding, they help you be faster and help you deliver harder punches. Hence, making it good for heavy bag practice.

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

Inexpensive horse hair gloves can be found for as low as $30, while the highest quality gloves game goes above $150.

According to my research, horsehair gloves are a bit pricey compared to the leather foam padded gloves, and they are harder to find and aren’t as widely used.

After using a few pairs, I recommend Hayabusa Pro Horse Hair Lace Up Boxing Gloves. They are crafted from genuine leather and come in 8oz and 10oz weight classes.

There is a thin layer of foam that covers the horsehair padding. This is done to protect your hands and prevent separation and exposure of the knuckles. The interior is lined up with nylon as well, and it’s done to prevent absorption, so your gloves stay in proper shape.

They use a lace enclosure that assures a secure fit that won’t come loose during your matches. They have 87% 5-star reviews, which gave me the confidence to invest in the $150 price tag.

Here are some of the pros and cons of these gloves:

Hayabusa horsehair boxing gloves

Horsehair boxing gloves offer many benefits that other types of boxing gloves do not. Give a snug fit and are often very easy on the hands, especially when worn for shorter amounts of time. They are also easier to put on and off.

However, like everything in life, they aren’t the perfect boxing gloves. They have cons, so ultimately, it is up to you to decide which boxing gloves can be better for you. I hope this article provided enough information to help you make your final decision.