Best Kickboxing Gloves of 2023: Get the Ultimate Protection and Performance for Your Kickboxing Sessions!

I tested 10 kickboxing gloves and I found Top King to be the best among all of them.

Best Kickboxing gloves: Editor’s top picks

Product	Glory Kickboxing gloves	Top King gloves	RDX F4 gloves
Brand	Fairtex	TOP KING Boxing	RDX
Material	Faux Leather	Leather	Faux Leather
Size/Weight	N/A/0.83 kg	8 oz/0.64 kg	10 oz/0.7 kg
Closure Type	Hook and Loop	–	Hook and Loop
Age Range / Suggested Users	Kid	Unisex-adult	–

Throughout my 15 years as a striker, I have used several kickboxing gloves on my hands. From cheap gloves for beginners to the legendary items worn in the bloody battles at Lumpinee Stadium in Thailand, I had a taste of all in rings and dojos around the world. Although my main area of expertise is actually Muay Thai, I competed countless times under K-1 rules, adapting my style accordingly to guarantee the best shows for kickboxing fans.

For this reason, it was easy to analyze the market and decide which I should test for making a comprehensive list of the best gloves. Experience gives you the skills necessary to spot flaws from afar, but even the great masters are not able to present a verdict before actually wearing them. The adage “you get what you pay for” can be applied here, but it’s not always true. RDX is a huge exception for this case. This is proof that you don’t have to spend all your hard-earned money on luxury items. The best-quality kickboxing gloves might not be the ones you’ve been thinking and they might be found for a fair price.

Top King is not the most traditional among the best leather kickboxing gloves, but it managed to reach the top level within less than 15 years of existence. It ended up being the number one for its high quality and durability. And it’s not the most expensive even among the Thai gloves.

I got a pair of Top King among my current gear and, after a whole year of hard training, it looks as if I had just bought them. Its protective features are still 100% and, for a heavy guy like myself, this is a crucial point.

It’s important to split them into categories though. The best kickboxing gloves for fighting are not necessarily the best for training, for example. Beginners are a whole new category too and we can never forget the fastest-growing group of kickboxers in the world: women!

After reading this list, you will be able to define a strategy to find the beast in yourself using the best kickboxing gloves for each category.

Best Kickboxing gloves Complete list

• TOP KING Training Gloves
• Hayabusa T3 Leather Gloves
• Fairtex Glory Kickboxing gloves
• YOKKAO Matrix
• Twins Special Boxing Gloves
• Fairtex Microfibre kickboxing gloves
• RDX K1 MARK PRO FIGHT
• RDX F4
• Everlast Powerlock2 Training Gloves
• Venum Impact Kickboxing gloves

1. Best Kickboxing Gloves Overall

Back in Thailand, I went to each of the dozen of Thai boxing gear stores on Soi Ta-iad, the Muay Thai road in Phuket, looking for the best kickboxing gloves available. I tried every single brand and model before making my decision. Traveling on a budget, each Baht should count and I could not afford to fall into a trap. My choice was a Top King pair and, one year later, I have no regrets.

Only a year older than Yokkao, Top King is omnipresent in any Thai gym. They are a little bit better and cheaper than the former. They got the right weight, size, and material. The best thing is they are versatile. It doesn’t matter if you need kickboxing gloves for fighting or training, they will be there for you.

The wrist support of these gloves is surreal. I caught myself many times looking at them and trying to figure out why they are so good. The answer is simple: perfect shape combined with inner wrist padding.

They are handmade in Thailand with cowhide leather and present a multilayer foam system that it’s very protective. This is coming from a 100 kg fighter who punches with no mercy, so believe me: they are worth it!

I’ve owned mine for more than one year and a half already and they look pretty much like the very first day when I bought them. No wonder they got 100% 5 stars reviews on Amazon. The only problem might be the fact that there aren’t many options out there. If you’re looking for stylish gear, they might not be your pair of gloves. But if the quality is all that matters to you, go for it.

2. Best Kickboxing Gloves for Performance

An item that appears in all lists of best boxing gloves is the Hayabusa T3. They are a piece of art when it comes to design. I made a mistake the first time I bought them and, now, I could finally fix it: I ordered leather!

The cleavage on the palm is as long as on some lace-up gloves, which increases breathability.

Some people complain about their size and they are right. The 16 oz, which are normally my choice, are smaller than most gloves of the same weight in the market. This doesn’t make them worse. It’s just something to keep in mind when buying a pair. This time, I ordered an 18 oz and they are perfect.

The shock absorption system is a high-density 5-layer foam, which makes them more compact and efficient. However, they might be uncomfortable in intense training sessions even for the 18 oz.

Another innovation is the double-strap system on the cuffs: the wrist support is absolutely uncanny! This is the main reason why these boxing gloves have been elected for two years in a row by Men’s Health magazine as “best boxing gloves”.

A huge downside for the Hayabusa T3 is that they are very expensive. If you can, order leather. The PU version is only a little bit less expensive and the leather version will outlast it by far.

3. Best Kickboxing Gloves For Fighting

Fairtex is currently the official glove provider of Glory, unarguably the most important kickboxing event in the world and these are the gloves specially made for these arenas. For this reason, I was sure, even before buying them, they would make it to the top 3. I tried to manage my expectations anyway, otherwise, they could be just a huge disappointment. Well, they are not. Fairtex promised it and successfully delivered it!

The design of these Fairtex kickboxing gloves is almost perfect for fighting. They have a narrow shape that allows the athlete to develop a fantastic speed. It felt great to work on some drills with them.

They are handmade in Thailand with high-quality leather, 3-layer foam padding, and a strap system not as wide as the classic ones, but quite efficient. They feel lighter compared to other gloves, mainly due to the narrow design.

My only complaint is that they could be better just by focusing a little bit more on their goals. These are fighting gloves and they would be even more supportive if they were lace-up gloves. By targeting practicality, they dodged perfection. The padding will not be enough for most heavy fighters to use this gear as kickboxing training gloves, but it’s not bad.

No, they are not perfect, but they are not far from this either.

4. Best Premium Kickboxing Gloves

Yokkao was chosen because its name has risen greatly among the best leather kickboxing gloves in the last few years. Since its beginning in 2010, this is probably the Thai brand that has grown the most among all gloves. Many great fighters, such as Petchpanomrung Kiatmookao, Singdam, Superlek, the kickboxing world champion Liam “the hitman” Harrison, and the Muay Thai G.O.A.T., Saenchai, wear them.

The first time I had the opportunity of having a Yokkao covering my hands was in a Muay Thai camp in Thailand. They have some outstandingly stylish gloves, but the fact remains true: all are aesthetical variations from the “Matrix” gloves. You may pay considerably more for a shiny pair, but you’ll get the same quality with their basic stuff.

I tested the Yokkao Matrix kickboxing gloves, and I can say: it’s not only a name! A regular fighter in Thailand trains twice a day, two to three hours each time, six days a week. No wonder Thai gloves are so durable and so protective.

These are, by far, the most common gloves among the professional kickboxers sharpening their weapons at Tiger Muay Thai, the striking camp where most UFC, Glory, and One Championship fighters go when they need to improve their striking skills.

These gloves are made of 100% genuine leather and long-lasting shock-absorbing foam. They are handcrafted in Thailand and you can tell that by each detail. The carefully sewn double-stitched seams increase its durability greatly.

The wrists are reinforced enough to protect you without restraining much of your movements. It feels comfortable and protective at the same time. There’s nothing new about the cuffs. This is simply the result of a century of experimentation in glove design in Thailand. Thai gloves normally feel amazing on your hands. They might look humble, but these are weapons of true warriors.

5. Best Professional kickboxing Gloves

No best kickboxing gloves list should be considered trustworthy without at least one Thai representative and here you’ll see many of them. Muay Thai and kickboxing split the #1 position as the striking Martial Art per excellence. Thailand has forged some of the scariest strikers in the world. The gloves they used had to keep pace.

Founded in 1992 in Thailand, Twins is the second most traditional brand among the gloves I tested, being behind only the sexagenarian Fairtex. They are known for their best-quality kickboxing gloves and good price.

The Twins Special is made of genuine leather and has a multilayer foam shaped for best supporting the boxer’s hands. The cuffs are also padded, and the design is similar to its younger brother, Top King. However, the Twins’ wrist support is not as great for the average hand. The reason is that the cuffs are positioned slightly farther from the joint than in Top King.

There are a couple of complaints on Amazon about them being too tight. However, these are exceptions. They normally don’t feel much different from other Thai gloves on the hands. Mostly they are rated 5 stars and deserve something close to it.

6. Best Kickboxing Gloves For Sparring

I can easily say that these are the best kickboxing gloves for women among all tested on this list. The Fairtex Microfibre are not exclusively made for female kickboxers, but they are simply perfect for this public.

Fairtex is a widely respected brand from Thailand founded in 1958. There is a reason why they’ve thrived in this field in such a competitive region: they produce amazing items. No wonder Fairtex has been the official brand of one of the greatest martial arts events in the world, the ONE Championship, for the last thirteen years.

This particular unit is actually an outlier among all Fairtex gloves. The brand usually produces genuine leather gloves in the most traditional Thai style. The material chosen for this item was microfibre. Although it does not last as much as leather, it’s eco-friendly, very light, and cheaper than the traditional ones.

The design and quality of manufacture remained the same, which is quite good news. There are a few complaints on the internet about defective items, but they are exceptions. Even though, it’s worth mentioning that quality control has dropped a little bit over the years with the expansion of selling.

The highlights are wrist support and knuckles protection. The multilayer foam padding cushions most of the impacts. There’s no mystery about the wrist strap: it’s the basic large and efficient cuff seen in almost all Thai gloves.

It feels a little expensive for a non-leather glove, but it’s hard to find a better model for this kind of money. I would rather pay a few more for a leather version, I gotta say. But I’m not one for caring too much for weight, this is why I prefer leather. Truth be told, the microfibre is lighter and it’s one of the reasons why these gloves are so good for women, from the cardio classes athlete to the professional kickboxing fighter.

7. Best Kickboxing Gloves for Protection

All hail to the king of RDX gloves, one of the best kickboxing gloves available for sure, with just one detail: price!

Let’s go straight to the point: this is a luxury item. These gloves are amazing, but the reason why they ranked only 7 on this list is that they are the most expensive among all the gloves I tested so far. They cost about US$250, but, if you have the money, go for it.

The RDX K1 Mark Pro Fight are manufactured using what they call “premium Super Skin combat leather” outside for extra resilience against wear and tear. I got a problem with RDX, I must confess: they are so obscure about what material they use that this unsettles me. They have different names for all their material and I’m always lost when I’m reading about their stuff.

Having one covering my hands though, I gotta say that the K1 Mark Pro Fight feels great! I’m not sure if this is genuine leather, but they look like it. If not, it’s certainly a very durable synthetic material.

These gloves have the “Tri-Korta 1 MOULD with Sponge X PADDING” system. No idea what this means too, but the fact is that they really protect the knuckles. Compressed “EVA-LUTION SHEET” is supposed to offer great flexibility and softness without adding extra weight. Well, it works too. Anti-tear and waterproof properties also add extra durability. Polygonal Fusion FOAM for impact resistance and “Max Shock Equilibrium Foam” with “Sponge X PADDING” on cuffs work together to absorb the impact and distributes force equally across the gloves. Besides, they’re lace-up kickboxing gloves, which makes them less practical but highly supportive on the wrists.

I have no clue about any of these technology names. I tried to find some information about this stuff, but there is not enough. But here I am to say: they are very good! These are indeed professional gloves made for fighting and I loved trying them.

I would not buy them for myself because, well, I don’t have much money. But, if you do, they are worth it.

8. Best Kickboxing Gloves For Beginners

Now, this is what I was talking about when I said there are better options for beginners among the best kickboxing gloves available.

Yes, RDX F4 kickboxing gloves are number 8 and this looks like a bad thing. Again: there are no losers on this list. If we were talking exclusively about quality, they are a little bit worse than the Powerlock2 and Venum Impact, it’s true. However, there’s a parameter that cannot be ignored when it comes to gloves for beginners: cost. I dare to say that it’s simply impossible to make better gloves than these RDX F4 for this price. How can they do it? I have no idea!

RDX F4 costs only US$29.99 on their website. This is ridiculously cheap! I bumped into a few cheap options in the market to know that they are never decent. This is THE exception.

The internal Satin Fabric is both breathable and soft to the touch. Even though they don’t have a full mesh palm, they have good breathability for this category. Their multi-layered padding is the same: enough for this category. Well, maybe not if you’re over 90 kg, but you’ll find it decent if you’re lighter than this. The wrist support, a hook and loop system, is surprisingly good for this category too.

To sum up, they are definitely amateur gloves made for beginners, and, having this in mind, they just nailed it!

9. Best Budget Kickboxing Gloves

Everlast is a renowned brand and I had to test at least one of them for this list of best kickboxing gloves. My choice was the Powerlock 2, which I had tested before for a boxing gloves article. The reason why I decided to “retest” them is that their design is indeed more of a kickboxing than a boxing glove. They are narrow, especially if you compare them to other models by Everlast.

For making these kickboxing gloves, Everlast has changed the cushion system they usually apply. They present quad-layered foam padding. They used premium synthetic leather for making this gear and no complaints about them have been found so far. It’s still not leather, and it wouldn’t outlast a pair of leather gloves, but at least they will not start to crumble on your hands a few weeks after the first use, as reported about the Pro Style.

They have a breathable mesh palm, which helps control the temperature and moisture. The highlight here is the cuffs. They replaced the flawed system present in the Pro Style gloves with a turnback wrist strap system. This is one of the most efficient hook-and-loop closures ever made for boxing gloves. There are no complaints at all about the wrist support, which was an issue with other models Everlast makes.

The padding is better than in older versions too, but some still believe it’s insufficient. But, for low-cost gloves, it felt good enough on the heavy bag training. They have a 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon, which is well deserved for the category.

I wouldn’t recommend them for professional boxers, but these are great affordable gloves for the amateur level. I have chosen them as the best boxing gloves for beginners before, but I won’t do the same for kickboxing gloves because there are better options now. But, I gotta say these are pretty good.

10. Best kickboxing Gloves for All-round training 

Many believe Venum is among the best-quality kickboxing gloves in the world. Some consider them as a cheap and good professional option. Simply put: they are wrong. These are amateur boxing gloves and they may actually be more expensive in the long run than you think.

I always insist on testing Venum gloves though, first because I’m always amazed by how good their marketing is. Venum Impact has a 4.7 stars review on Amazon because they know how to get it: massive production plus targeting for reaching mainly amateur boxers, who won’t be able to spot their many flaws before rating the gear. I have tested almost all their gloves and they are all overrated. But, I must say, this one is not bad (it’s still overrated though).

Yes, you’re right: they are our number 10, but they are facing beasts. Sometimes, being the worst among a good set of things doesn’t mean it’s terrible. The biggest issue with Venum Impact is actually the price. These are expensive PU gloves that use a triple-density foam and present a mesh panel on the palm that increases breathability, keeping your hands cool and improving comfort during intense training sessions.

Venum usually has some issues with wrist protection, but I gotta say these are the best Venum for this parameter I’ve worn so far. The shock absorption is not bad, but you might have trouble if you are over 75 kg. They are kind of safe though and this is an improvement compared to the most sold among all Venum, the “Elite” model.

Now, about the price: they are not very expensive: they cost around US$79 everywhere. However, this is definitely not a good price for a PU glove. It could have ranked number 8 or 9 on this list, but it was outranked by cheaper options that are almost as good as they are.

Overall, these could be considered good but very expensive boxing gloves for beginners. The conclusion is: they are not worth it.

Kickboxing Gloves Buying Guide

The reasons why kickboxing gloves are so important

Choosing the best boxing gloves is essential for safe and quality training. In fact, their main role is to prevent injuries. Even a light sprain can impair your evolution. For this reason, you should face them as an investment.

Protection

The best kickboxing gloves for you are the ones that fit better and have features that increase cushioning to both your knuckles and wrists. If you wanna reach the top level, you better keep yourself healthy.

Better grip

The internal design is a feature that no Kickboxing glove brand can afford to ignore. All the gloves on this list provide decent to outstand grip because the inner elements necessary for that are all present. This can help to improve the accuracy and power of punches, as well as prevent injuries.

Hygiene

Kickboxing gloves help prevent the spread of bacteria and diseases by preventing direct skin contact with training bags or opponents, but they are all potential microorganism incubators. All the gloves on this list have some kind of treatment to reduce the proliferation of microorganisms and this must be a requirement when you’re buying kickboxing gloves. Besides that, it’s also important to keep them clean or even the treatment of the best pair of gloves won’t be enough.

Performance

Using the right kickboxing gloves helps to improve performance, as it reduces the risk of injury and improves fighting technique. Each glove has its particularities and some are more appropriate for fighting, others for training. Choosing the glove that was built for your goals will help you to improve overall performance.

Regulation

During official training or fighting sessions, kickboxing gloves are mandatory by regulation, as they guarantee the safety of athletes and other people in the ring. This ensures a fair and safe environment for all involved.

  Protecting the opponent

Without gloves, fights wouldn’t last as long as they do nowadays. They also protect the opponent just enough for avoiding a blood bath and subsequent interruption. Making fights more violent might sound like a good idea for many people, but this is bad for sports. Not long ago, Justin Thornton died a few days after being knocked out in a bare-knuckle fight event, proving once more how important a good pair of gloves is.

Gloves are the reason why fighters must push themselves toward great technique. The best gloves for kickboxing are directly responsible for a long-lasting career for all fighters.

These are the Best Kickboxing Gloves

The best kickboxing gloves are the Top King training gloves. They provide ample protection without compromising efficiency. They also have great durability and cost less than most professional gloves. They will serve you well in fighting and training, from bag work to winning champion belts around the world.

Types of Kickboxing Gloves

Most gloves for kickboxing are versatile. That usually brings an up and a downside. Having a specific kind of glove for each activity is not cheap, but it will also guarantee that reaching the top of your performance depends only on yourself.

Heavy bag gloves

These gloves are designed for bag work. They are usually more protective of the knuckles. Nowadays, we know that the necessity of “bone density increasing” through impact is basically a myth. Repeated heavy-bag punching might get you injured if you don’t protect your hands enough.

Bag gloves are also usually made with durable and breathable materials to ensure maximum durability and comfort during training.

Sparring gloves

These gloves are designed for sparring training, which simulates fighting against an opponent. They must protect the partner better than fighting gloves though, this is why very compact gear that increases the damage is not recommended.

Sparring gloves must have good wrist support and great padding. Sparring is the moment when you gotta prioritize protection over efficiency. At the same time, it’s important that your sparring gloves can emulate your fighting gloves. This is why, sometimes, it’s so hard to find a good pair of gloves for kickboxing sparring.

Fighting gloves

That’s when you look for gear made for destruction. Fighting gloves must protect you enough to prevent serious injuries, but they have to favor damage. For doing it, they must be light, narrow, compact, and supportive on the wrist. Fairtex Glory is this glove.

Another feature that is usually considered bad for practicality, but it’s perfect for fighting is lace. Lace-up gloves provide the perfect wrist support and, as you’re not supposed to take your gloves off during a fight, you don’t need practicality. Fairtex Glory would definitely make it to the top if they were lace-up gloves. 

Versatile gloves

There are items that were not made specifically for a purpose. The advantage of this kind of gear is that you can actually save money buying only one pair instead of a whole collection. However, the fact is that no versatile glove will be perfect in all areas. Although Top King ranked #1 on our list, there are better gloves than these if you consider each category separately.

Features to Look for In Kickboxing Gloves

Size and weight

Boxing gloves come in different sizes and weights, and it’s important to choose the right ones for your needs. The weight or size of the gloves is measured in ounces (oz). The heavier the glove, the more padding it has. The ideal weight of the gloves will vary based on two things: their purpose and your own weight.

If you’re working hard on the punching bag or if you’re sparring, you gotta use heavier boxing gloves – at least 2 oz over your fighting gloves. For training, the best gear is the one that protects your hands the most without compromising much of your movements or bringing any hazards.

Kickboxers in Thailand usually wear 16 oz for training no matter their weight. Many boxers do the same. If you’re too heavy, you might even consider a pair of 18 oz.

Nevertheless, fighting is different. You will still need minimal protection, but you would rather not pad your hands too much or you can waste your potential.

What oz gloves do I need for kickboxing?

For fighting, you can define the weight of your gloves based on this table:

Material

Decades have passed, and one thing remains true: leather boxing gloves are the best choice! That might change in the future, and I hope it does. Leather is not the most eco-friendly material available. But the fact is that no material is superior so far. It’s protective and incredibly durable.

Closure system

The closure system can impact the fit and stability of the gloves. Most gear has either a velcro or lace-up closure system. Velcro closure systems are more convenient and easy to use, while lace-up systems offer a more secure and customized fit. Hayabusa T3 managed to develop the ultimate velcro system though. Their wrist support is almost as efficient as the ones in lace-up gloves.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Kickboxing Gloves

Enjoy Your New Kickboxing Gloves

Indubitably, there’s an important personal factor in any choice. The gloves that will fit like a glove to you (pun intended) may be different from those that feel perfect to me. However, a few features allow us to find the best use for each of them.

If you gotta choose only one pair of boxing gloves, you gotta go with Top King. These gloves are protective and versatile killing machines that will turn you into a war hero in any arena without knocking your budget out.

They are not the most spread, but they are easy enough to find. You can buy them on Amazon.