Which is better for boxing- hand wraps or gloves? This is a question that many boxers have, and the answer is not always clear. Different boxers prefer different methods, but both have their pros and cons.
In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of hand wraps and gloves, and you can decide which is better for you.
Gloves are more versatile than hand wraps, but they’re also bulkier:
There is no doubt that gloves provide a lot more protection for your hands than hand wraps. But, because they are larger and thicker, this means they also restrict your movement more.
Gloves tend to be bulkier, which can make punching slower and weaker, especially when throwing jabs and other fast punches. For these reasons, many boxers prefer to wear wraps instead of gloves for fighting.
Gloves are also much easier to use, requiring little or no preparation before you can put them on and fight. Hand wraps, on the other hand, require a lot more preparation- they need to be wrapped tightly around your hands and knuckles, which takes practice and time. Gloves provide a high level of protection for your hands, but hand wraps are a more versatile option.
Related: Best Boxing Gloves for Women
Hand wraps protect your hands better than gloves:
One of the main benefits of using hand wraps is that they protect your hands much better than gloves. Gloves do not offer as much protection as wraps, because they do not cover all of the knuckles. Gloves, especially boxing gloves, are designed to be thick and bulky- more for punching power than hand protection.
Hand wraps offer better protection because they cover all of your knuckles, which makes them ideal for sparring and fighting in the ring.
Gloves can be worn in the winter for added warmth and protection:
Gloves are great for cold weather because they can be worn as gloves. You’ve probably noticed that leather gloves are much warmer than your bare hands, making them useful for winter sports like skiing and snowboarding.
Gloves also provide a certain level of protection from the cold- if you put your bare hands inside gloves, you will notice that they are warmer. This is one of the reasons why people wear gloves in winter- they protect your hands from the cold, and keep them warm at the same time.
Hand wraps are not as useful for this purpose. While they do provide some warmth, because they are thin, hand wraps are not ideal for use during extreme weather conditions like snow and ice. Gloves are better for this because they are thicker and provide more insulation.
Gloves don’t offer as much support to your wrist and knuckles when punching:
This is another reason why many boxers prefer using hand wraps instead of gloves for boxing. Gloves are designed to have less padding on the knuckles because they are used primarily for punching power.
On the other hand, hand wraps are designed with support in mind- this means that you get more wrist and knuckle protection when wrapping your hands.
This is an important consideration for boxers because the support that hand wraps offer can prevent injuries to your hands and knuckles. In addition, hand wraps can help to stabilize your wrists, which is helpful when throwing powerful punches. Gloves do not offer this same level of support, making them less suitable for boxing.
Hand wraps are easier to put on than gloves because there’s no need to worry about fingers or thumbs:
One of the main drawbacks of gloves is that they can be difficult to put on, especially if you have large hands. Gloves often have a tight fit, and you need to make sure that the fingers and thumbs are in the correct position before you can fasten the Velcro straps. This can be difficult, especially if you are in a rush to get ready for work or school.
Hand wraps are much easier to put on because they don’t have straps or openings for the fingers and thumbs. You simply need to wrap them around your hands, which is very easy to do if you’ve done it before.
Even beginners can learn how to put hand wraps on in less than 5 minutes. This makes them a much more convenient option than gloves, especially if you are in a hurry.
You can easily adjust hand wraps with one hand while you wear them:
This is another advantage of using hand wraps for boxing. When you use gloves, it can be difficult to adjust them because you need to take them off and put them back on again every time that you make an adjustment.
Hand wraps are much more convenient in this way- if your hand wrap starts to slip out of place while you’re wearing them, you can make a minor adjustment without taking them off. This makes hand wraps great for when you are in a hurry to get ready for school or work in the morning.
How to wrap your hands with the correct technique for maximum protection:
Now that you know the benefits of using hand wraps over gloves, let’s learn how to wrap your hands correctly. This will ensure that you receive the maximum protection and support from your hand wraps.
- First, make sure that you have a good quality pair of hand wraps. You don’t want to use old or damaged hand wraps, as they will not provide the same level of protection.
- Next, wrap your hands according to the following steps:
- Start by wrapping your dominant hand first. Make sure that the wrap is snug but not too tight, and that it covers your knuckles and extends down to your wrist.
- Wrap the thumb of your dominant hand, and then wrap your fingers. You do not need to go above the first knuckle on your thumb or fingers, as you only want to cover them for support.
- Wrap the hand of your non-dominant hand similarly, but skip wrapping around the knuckles where possible. This is because it can be difficult to move your hand if you have too much material wrapped around it.
- When finished wrapping each hand, secure the wraps at the wrist with a piece of tape that’s about 5″ long. Be careful to avoid taping over any seams in the fabric.
- Before using your new pair of hand wraps, make sure that they fit correctly by wearing them for 30 minutes or before boxing practice.
- If you experience any discomfort or tightness, loosen the wraps until they feel comfortable.
Now that you know how to correctly wrap your hands with hand wraps, you can enjoy the benefits of increased protection and support when boxing. Remember to use them for all of your boxing practices and competitions for the best results.
The pros and cons of using gloves to protect your hands:
One of the main benefits of wearing gloves is that you don’t have to worry about wrapping your hands- they’re already covered. This means that you never have to learn how to wrap your hands, which can be annoying for beginners.
Another benefit is that gloves provide better overall hand protection than wrist wraps do. You can still hurt your hands if you get hit with a powerful punch while wearing gloves, but the risk is much lower than when you’re not wearing any protection at all.
The main disadvantage of using gloves is that they can be very hot and sweaty to wear, especially during summer workouts. They can also be difficult to take on and off, which can be annoying if you want to adjust your hand wraps while you train.
Another common complaint about gloves is that it’s more difficult to use certain pieces of boxing equipment when wearing them, including punching bags and partner training pads. However, the extra weight that gloves add to your hands may help improve your boxing technique by adding resistance.
Gloves do not offer as much support as hand wraps, because they are open at the front and back. Gloves also do not protect you against injuries like hand wraps do, making them a much less ideal choice than boxing hand wraps.
The pros and cons of using hand wraps to protect your hands:
The main benefit of using hand wraps is that they offer significantly more protection than gloves do. This is because they cover your entire hand, including your wrists and knuckles.
Another benefit of using hand wraps is that they are much cooler to wear than gloves. They also don’t add any extra weight to your hands, which can be helpful for improving your boxing technique.
The main disadvantage of using hand wraps is that it can be difficult to learn how to wrap correctly. It’s also important to make sure that you buy a good quality pair of hand wraps, as they will provide the best protection for your hands.
Hand wraps are also more expensive than gloves, so they may not be the best choice if you’re on a tight budget.
Conclusion:
Gloves are better suited for people who do not have any hand injuries, are just entering the world of boxing, or don’t want to spend too much money on their first pair of boxing equipment.
Hand wraps offer better protection than gloves because they cover your entire hand, and can be a good choice for people who have experience in boxing. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide what type of hand protection they feel most comfortable using.
Thanks for reading! Remember to leave your thoughts in the comments section below.