Getting started
What Equipment Do You Need to Start Boxing?
To start boxing you need three things: boxing gloves (16 oz if you will spar), hand wraps and a mouthguard. Most gyms lend gloves for a first class, so you can buy your own after two or three sessions, once you know you will keep training.
6 min read · Last updated · By KCG Boxing
Key takeaways
- Hand wraps, gloves and a mouthguard cover your first months of training.
- Choose 16 oz gloves if you will spar; 12 oz only if you will hit bags and pads alone.
- Size gloves with your hand wraps on, never bare-handed.
- Shoes, headgear and a skipping rope can wait until you train regularly.
- Dry your gloves and wash your wraps after every session, from day one.
Read the boxing glove weight guide
The three essentials
Every kit list you will read is longer than it needs to be. For your first months in a gym, three items do the work: hand wraps, boxing gloves and a mouthguard.
| Item | Why it matters | What to get |
|---|---|---|
| Hand wraps | Support the wrist and the small bones of the hand, which are what most often get injured, and absorb sweat that would otherwise soak into your gloves. | Semi-elastic cotton wraps around 4 to 4.5 m long for adults. Two pairs, so one is always clean. |
| Boxing gloves | Protect your hands and your training partner. | 16 oz if you will spar, 12 oz if you will only hit bags and pads. A hook-and-loop strap is the easiest closure to use on your own. |
| Mouthguard | Protects your teeth, lips and jaw during any contact. | A boil-and-bite mouthguard is the usual first choice. Ask your gym or a dentist about a custom-fitted one once you spar regularly. |
Most gyms lend gloves for a first class, so the practical approach is to arrive with wraps, train two or three times, and buy your own gloves once you know you are staying.
Your gym's rules come first. Many gyms require a mouthguard for any partner work and headgear for sparring. Ask what yours requires before your first sparring session.
What to buy second
Once you are training consistently and know you will keep going, these are the next purchases, roughly in order of usefulness:
- A second pair of gloves. A lighter 12 oz pair for bag and pad work lets your 16 oz sparring pair dry fully between sessions. Gloves that never dry break down from the inside.
- A skipping rope. The cheapest conditioning tool in the sport, and one you can use at home.
- Headgear, when your gym puts you into regular sparring, to whatever specification it requires.
- Boxing shoes. Thin soles and ankle support change how you pivot, which you notice once your footwork improves.
- Boxing shorts. Training shorts are fine for months. Boxing shorts are cut long and loose for footwork, which matters more as you progress.
Read how to choose fight shorts Boxing, Muay Thai and MMA shorts are cut for different movements.
What to skip at the start
- Weighted gloves. Coaches generally advise against them: they do not build punching power, and the extra load at the end of the arm strains the shoulder.
- A heavy bag at home before you have any coaching. Hitting a bag with poor wrist alignment builds the wrong habit and puts the wrist at risk.
- The cheapest gloves you can find. Thin padding flattens within months, after which it protects very little, so a pair replaced twice a year can cost more than one durable pair.
- Gloves chosen for looks before weight. The most common beginner mistake is buying gloves that are too light because they looked better, then not being allowed to spar in them.
How to choose your first gloves
Three decisions, in this order:
- Weight. Choose 16 oz if there is any chance you will spar: most gyms that set a sparring minimum set it there, and the same glove works on a bag. Choose 12 oz only if you are certain you will do bag and pad work alone.
- Closure. Choose a hook-and-loop strap rather than laces. You will put your gloves on and take them off several times per session, often with nobody available to tie laces.
- Fit. Try gloves on over the hand wraps you will actually train in. Wraps add real bulk, and a glove that fits perfectly on a bare hand is often too tight over a full-length wrap.
Read the boxing glove weight guide Weight by activity and by body weight, with competition notes.
Compare lace-up and Velcro boxing gloves
Material is the last choice, not the first. Where a product offers several materials, the options and any price difference are shown in the customizer under Size & Material before you add anything to your cart.
Looking after new gear
New gear wears out fastest, because the habits that keep it usable have not formed yet. Two habits cover most of it:
- Take your gloves out of your bag as soon as you get home, open the closures fully and let them air-dry, away from direct heat.
- Wash your hand wraps after every session. Unwashed wraps put sweat straight back into clean gloves.
Starting Muay Thai, kickboxing or MMA instead
The three essentials are the same in every striking sport, because all of them use boxing gloves for striking work. What changes is what you add.
| Sport | Add to the three essentials | When |
|---|---|---|
| Muay Thai and kickboxing | Shin guards with an instep pad | Before any kick sparring or partner drills |
| MMA | Open-fingered MMA gloves | When your gym starts clinch and ground rounds |
| Grappling only | A rashguard and close-fitting shorts | From your first session - no gloves needed |
Many gyms also require a groin protector for sparring in kicking sports. Ask what yours expects.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need for my first boxing class?
Hand wraps, comfortable training clothes, water and a towel. Most gyms lend gloves for a first session, so you do not need to buy a pair before you know you will keep going.
Buy your own gloves after two or three classes, once you know which weight your gym expects for sparring.
How much should I spend on my first pair of boxing gloves?
Enough to get a pair that lasts. Very cheap gloves often use thin padding that flattens within months and stops protecting your hands, so they can cost more per year than one durable pair.
The right weight matters more than the price - 16 oz if you will spar - and so does drying the gloves after every session.
Do I need hand wraps as a beginner?
Yes, from your first session. Wraps support the wrist and the small bones of the hand, which are the parts most often injured in boxing, and they absorb sweat that would otherwise soak into your gloves.
They are also the cheapest item in your kit, so there is no reason to train without them.
Do beginners need headgear?
Not until you start sparring, which in most gyms comes after a few months of training. When you do, your gym will tell you what it requires, so there is no need to buy headgear before you are allowed to use it.
Can I start boxing at home without a gym?
You can build fitness, footwork and basic technique at home with wraps, gloves and shadowboxing or a bag. Timing, distance and defence need a partner and a coach watching, so home training works best as a supplement to coached sessions.
How often should a beginner train?
Two to three sessions a week is a common starting point: enough to improve steadily while your hands, wrists and shoulders adapt to impact.
Doing too much too soon is a common cause of hand and wrist problems in the first months, so build volume gradually.
Explore more
Related guides
- Boxing Glove Weight Guide: 10 oz, 12 oz, 14 oz or 16 oz? - 12 oz for general training, 14-16 oz for sparring. How glove weight works, and how to pick it by activity and body weight.
- How to Wrap Your Hands for Boxing, Step by Step - Wrist, knuckles, between the fingers, thumb: a step-by-step wrapping method, which wraps to buy, and how to tell a wrap is too tight.
- Boxing Glove Size Guide: How Should Boxing Gloves Fit? - Snug with wraps on, never painful. How glove fit differs from glove weight, how to measure your hand, and how to spot a bad fit.
- How to Clean Boxing Gloves and Prevent Bad Odours - Wipe after every session, dry fully, never seal them in a bag. The routine that keeps gloves usable and stops odours forming.
Related products
- Custom Boxing Gloves - Design custom boxing gloves in 8-16 oz with a hook-and-loop closure. Colour eight panels separately and add your name or logo in the 3D customizer.
- Custom Boxing Shorts - Design custom boxing shorts in XS to XXL, cut long and loose for footwork. Three separately coloured zones: body, side accent and waistband.
- Custom Shinguards - Design custom shinguards in XS to XXL covering the shin and instep, with three coloured zones and your name or logo on the front shin plate.
Design your first pair of boxing gloves Choose 16 oz for sparring or 12 oz for bag work, then colour every panel in the 3D customizer.
Browse the KCG Boxing Help Center for questions about ordering, artwork, shipping and returns, or see all equipment guides.