Erin Porteous
Boxers, the success of your training or matches solely relies on your hands. But there’s one thing you need to understand — the structure of the hand is quite delicate. It’s made up of dozens of bones and some tiny joints, which can break easily when exposed to a lot of pressure. When you are throwing the punches, whether at an opponent or a punching bag, your bare hands won’t cut it. Even if you wear boxing gloves alone, you can sustain a devastating injury on your hands.
Now, this is where hand wraps come in handy. They might look colorful and simple, but we can assure you these fabrics aren’t made for decoration – they are specifically designed to protect your hands from injuries. They support your wrist, knuckles, and fingers by simply holding your bones together.
If you are looking to train by hitting the punching bag or planning to win a match soon, you need to invest in the best boxing hand wraps. We have researched for you, browsing through dozens of options to ensure you get the right fit. We also have a helpful buying guide to assist you in your shopping.
Top 10 Boxing Hand Wraps of 2020 Reviewed
1. Sanabul Elastic Professional 180-inch Hand Wraps for Boxing Kickboxing Muay Thai MMA
[wt_products id=”3585″ template=”5″]2. Pro Impact Mexican Style Boxing Handwraps 180″ with Closure
[wt_products id=”3587″ template=”5″]3. Ringside Mexican Style Boxing Hand Wraps (Pair)
[wt_products id=”3589″ template=”5″]4. RDX Boxing Hand Wraps Inner Gloves for Punching
[wt_products id=”3591″ template=”5″]5. Meister Adult 180″ Semi-Elastic Hand Wraps for MMA & Boxing (Pair)
[wt_products id=”3593″ template=”5″]6. Everlast Professional Hand Wraps
[wt_products id=”3595″ template=”5″]7. EMRAH PRO Training Boxing Inner Gloves Hand Wraps MMA Wraps Mitts – X
[wt_products id=”3598″ template=”5″]8. Venum Boxing Hand Wraps
[wt_products id=”3600″ template=”5″]9. Hunter Padded Inner Gloves Training Gel Elastic Hand Wraps
[wt_products id=”3602″ template=”5″]10. Hawk Hand Wraps for Boxing Gloves MMA Kickboxing Muay Thai Training
[wt_products id=”3605″ template=”5″]How to Choose the Best Boxing Hand Wrap – The Ultimate Buying Guide
Although choosing boxing hand wraps looks like a simple affair, buying the ideal pair for might be baffling than you might think. Boxing hand wraps come in different types and sizes and are made from different materials. Different brands have different qualities. And the cost will differ from one brand to the other.
We will, therefore, give you a breakdown of factors to consider when choosing the best boxing hand wraps.
Is Elastic Bandage ‘’Mexican Style” Your Style?
If you are looking for la crème de la crème of the hand wraps, then you need to check out Elastic bandages, which are commonly known as the Mexican style. These boxing hand wraps are a hybrid of the traditional cotton wraps and gauze style wraps that are mostly used by professionals.
These hand wraps stretch more and can be reused over and over. This has made the Mexican style hand wraps very popular nowadays. When you use this type, you will understand why professionals love them. They provide ultimate comfort without cutting off the blood supply. You can use them to train for long sessions with ease.
A good example of a Mexican style hand wrap is the Pro Impact Mexican Style Boxing Handwraps 180″ with Closure and The Ringside Mexican Style Boxing Hand Wrap.
It is important to keep in mind that this hand wraps prices on the higher side compared to the traditional ones. So, if you are on a budget, then there is no need to break your bank. You can save a few dollars by buying Sanabul Elastic Professional 180-inch Hand Wraps.
Or You Prefer The Cotton Wraps a.k.a Traditional Wraps?
Cotton hand wraps are the most common since they have been used for many decades. Hence the name traditional wraps. They are available almost everywhere, and you will not miss them in any sporting gear shop.
They are made from cheaper cotton material, but mostly they are durable and can be used for regular work-out sessions. If you are an amateur, it is prudent to invest in this type as it is inexpensive and will serve you in the long run. This is not to say that the pros do not use this type, no…in fact, most of them use them as a substitute for the expensive brands. Most of these cotton wraps come in a surprisingly good length, at least 180-inches long, and therefore provide good support for people with larger hands.
Cotton wraps are durable and very resistant. You can wash them frequently without worrying about wear and tear. A good example of a cotton wrap is the Venum Boxing Hand Wrap, which is cheaper as compared to the more sophisticated hand wraps. Since traditional wraps are not elastic, they may be a little had to wrap on, especially when you are alone.
Are You Comfortable With Gel Wraps, Or Not?
Gel wraps are fairly new in the market. Although they are new, they are not as trendy compared to the traditional or Mexican style wraps. They are basically slip-on gloves. They are super easy to put on; in fact, you just slip them on like a glove. They usually have a Velcro strap on the wrist to close.
Gel wraps are not only common with amateur boxers but also used by other fitness fans as well. They do not require any special skill to wear on, therefore making them convenient to use. Because the inner glove is made up of polyester and a gel padding, these wraps will offer an additional layer of padding that is excellent for impact absorption when striking. If you are looking for a Gel Wrap, then it’s worth checking out the EMRAH PRO Training Boxing Inner Gloves Hand Wraps. You can also go for this SPHINX option, which is also very good.
Gel wraps are perfect for mixed martial arts and kickboxing. People with delicate knuckles really love them because they offer extra support. But it’s good to know that they do not cover the fingers. While they might be great in some areas, they do not offer wrist protection, therefore, not ideal for long training sessions. They are also more expensive compared to traditional cotton wraps.
Elasticated Under Gloves
Just like the Gel Wraps, Elasticated Under Gloves are glove-like wraps. Some come with a Velcro strapping, while others simply do not have a closing system. They do not have extra padding and, therefore, not ideal for competitive boxing. They are however ideal for light training and other sporting activities. Just like the Gel Wraps, they offer very little wrist support.
If you are looking for a sophisticated Elasticated Under Glove, then check out the RDX Boxing Hand Wraps. This brand is really good and a perfect example as it offers premium and compact contact as well as shock absorption.
Is Length Actually Important?
Yes, it is. Although the length of the hand wrap is a matter of personal choice, it plays a major role. It is important to know just how much you need. As the rule of thumb goes, technically, the bigger your hands, the more material you will need to wrap your hands perfectly.
Mostly, 180-inches is the ideal size, but if you have small hands, then 120-inches will absolutely work for you. But if you have extra-large hands, then you can get up to 210-inches long. In fact, the more protection you want, the longer the material you will need to wrap around your hands. Of course, this goes back to personal preference.
The length will, in most cases, go hand in hand with width. A standard wrap is 2 inches, but of course, you will find brands that have thinner or thicker hand wraps. Most of the brands reviewed in this article are 180-inches long. But we have brands like Venum Boxing Hand Wraps that come a little too thin and narrow.
Hook And Loop
The majority of the traditional, as well as Mexican wrap styles, come with a hook and loop feature. This is also known as the Velcro strap. It is important as you can fasten and close around the wrist for a secure fit.
If your hand wrap does not come with a Velcro fastener and you want to buy one, it is prudent to check on the material of your hand wrap, as the Velcro tape can ruin your hand wrap.
Luckily for you, most if not all brands reviewed here come with a hook and loop system.
Do You Care About Brands?
Well, well, well…while some of us really do not care about brands rather than functionality, other people are really loyal to their brands. Nothing wrong about this. In fact, there is a reason some brands are shining for decades. And serious athletes value their gears.
It is, therefore, fair to mention some hand wrap brands that are famous because they have been endorsed by pro professionals like the Sanabul Elastic Professional 180-inch Hand Wraps. The famous Mike Lee and Michael Bisping are known to have used these hand wraps. While it is important to give these big brands like Everlast priority when it comes to choosing, you can also get good and reliable quality from manufacturers like Fairtex.
Thumb Loop
In most cases, the best hand wraps come with a designated thumb loop. This is an important feature for both amateurs as well as professionals. If you are a beginner and are still trying to learn how to wrap your hand either on boxing or even MMA then it is important to consider models like Hawk Boxing Hand Wraps.
Are Gauze Bandages Necessary?
Gauze bandages are quite popular among professional boxers. They prefer to wrap their hands with the gauze then secure it comfortably with gaffa tape. Professionals love this type of hand wrap because it’s lightweight and feels good under the glove. Also, it gives complete finger movement around the fingers.
However, this type of wrap is very difficult to master, and if you are a beginner, you will need someone to assist you. But all in all, if you want to try, it’s completely worth it. When it comes to professional competition, associations have different width and length requirements for the Gauze Bandages.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when it comes to choosing the best boxing hand wrap, you need to keep in mind factors such as type of hand wrap, features that will come in handy, length, cost, and protection of your hand and wrist. Also, check which style is recommended for your sports category and how popular the brand is. A Hand Wrap is definitely a great gift for your hand!
