Boxing 101: How Long Do Boxing Gloves Last?

Boxing 101: How Long Do Boxing Gloves Last?

When you buy a new pair of boxing gloves, you are probably wondering - how long do boxing gloves last? There is not a simple answer to this, as each pair of boxing gloves is different. Some are made for sparring sessions, while some are made for heavy bag training. You need to consider what type of boxing gloves you will use to determine your boxing gloves' longevity. In this post, we will address just that, to help you out with the decision of buying the most durable boxing gloves at the set moment.


In a hurry? Here is a table that summarizes how long will a specific type of boxing glove last, and what impacts that number.



Boxing Glove Type

Average Lifecycle

Characteristics

Sparring Boxing Gloves

6 months to 1 year

High-quality leather exterior, weaker padding

Heavy Bag Boxing Gloves

2 to 3 years

Weaker leather exterior, stronger, foam padding



How Long Do Sparring Boxing Gloves Last?

How Long Do Sparring Boxing Gloves Last?

 

For sparring boxing gloves, leather is an essential aspect. You won't punch that fast like on heavy bag training, but the sparring gloves will test your technique and precision. A pair of sparring gloves with high-quality leather will have less rough edges, which will significantly help you focus on the training session at hand.


As they have weaker padding than heavy bag boxing gloves, we recommend that you replace sparring boxing gloves every six months. That is if we assume that you use them 2 or 3 times per week.


Some high-quality brands like Cleto Reyes or Winning gloves may last you for a year. But, if you want to check the lifecycle of your sparring boxing gloves, see if the exterior of the gloves have cracks or are worn down. If they are - it's time for a replacement!


How Long Do Heavy Bag Boxing Gloves Last?

How Long Do Heavy Bag Boxing Gloves Last?

 

If you are doing heavy bag training, investing in specialized boxing gloves is a must. Be attentive to the padding quality of heavy bag gloves, which is the most important factor for their longevity. Well-padded heavy bag gloves will deliver the punch impact marvelously, which turns into the bag swinging more, as you get some footwork practice in the process.


In most cases, heavy bag boxing gloves won't last more than three years. In this case, the culprit is not the exterior (which is most often leather) but the quality of the padding inside. Each time you hit the bag with this type of boxing gloves, they will face impact in a split-second. The padding will return to its original state during each impact, but the padding quality will significantly decrease after continuous hits. With that said, most modern heavy bag boxing gloves will lose padding quality in 2 years.


Because of padding quality deteriorating over time, most heavy bag boxing gloves manufacturers don't invest in featuring high-quality leather, as it will outlast the padding - which is the more important part of the gloves for this type of training. 


To answer the question quickly: heavy bag boxing gloves will last you for at least two years. When you feel that your punches are clunky and don't connect well, it's time for a new pair.

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We hope that you got your answer to the question of how long do boxing gloves last. With that taken care of, we would like you to know that we can design your new boxing gloves, free of charge.


If you have any more questions on the longevity of boxing gloves, feel free to contact us via email or live chat.

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