So, you’ve jumped on the train and just gotten into boxing, but you don’t know what gear to start out with. I’ve seen this countless times with my new clients and have had the opportunity to test out new equipment along the way. My list is based on price, availability (nothing you can’t get on Amazon), fit, and quality.

Helmets

I’ve pretty much settled on Venum for beginners. Why? Because it’s cheap, readily available, one size fits all and meets all our needs as a beginner. Heck, I feel their helmets are the best in the game (if we attach a face plate), and use them personally to this day, despite having spent about five hundred dollars on a Winning FG5000 helmet. Remember, like most things in life, finding the perfect gear is individualized, but when you don’t know anything, I find Venum gear fits most people well, especially the gloves. The Title Classic Helmet is very similar in shape, fit, and size to the Venum challenger 2.0.

I’m not a big fan of helmets with the nose bar. They’re bulky, heavy, and impede vision. Either keep the mask face completely open (like with the Winning 2900 or Phenom SHG-250), or attach a plastic face plate or metal softball catcher’s mask for full protection. The same thing goes for the chin strap. As a beginner, or anybody who isn’t looking to fight professionally, there’s no reason not to have full coverage, so I always recommend a full-face mask with chin protection. Head shape will vary, so some people with wider heads might want to try one of the Sanabul or RDX boxing headgear. They are also cheaper, which is always a bonus.

Gloves

When it comes to gloves, you really can’t go wrong starting out with 16oz. Typically, this is the size you’d spar with. In terms of a professional boxing match, fighters 147 pounds and under will use 8oz, and 154 and over will use 10 oz. As you get better, you can use a lower-weight glove which will make your strikes much faster, with the tradeoff being less hand protection making it a bit risky when starting out. However, there are big differences, in fit, quality, and hand/wrist support that some may find game-changing. The Venum challenger/contender gloves fit well but have a generous amount of flimsiness, which some might feel impacts their punching power. If so, you can upgrade to the Venum Elite boxing gloves. While more expensive, the Elite Series is much higher quality and sturdier. If that’s out of your budget, the Everlast Pro Style offer great bang for your buck, and while not the best material, they offer generous support and pop on your punches. Lastly, we have the Sanabul Essential Boxing Gloves. They’re cheap and offer a ton of support.

Shoes

This is probably the hardest piece of equipment to nail down, as not only do people have different feet width, but your style of boxing can also affect which shoe works best. Boxing shoes should always offer ankle support. From there, some people like myself who use a lot of footwork, like to have a heel, but for most beginners, I recommend a flat sole shoe with support that doesn’t go too high above the ankle.

Shoes are one piece of equipment where it can be worth spending a bit more, but also is the piece of equipment that might take the most tries to find your Cinderella perfect fit. The Hayabusa Pro Boxing Shoe offers a perfect balance of support and quality. It also has great grip. Of course, it does come with around a hundred-dollar price tag. If that’s out of budget, the Ringside Diablo wrestling shoe is around $60 and will fit all our criteria with a low-top ankle support that won’t hinder your movement. The Rival Boxing shoes are almost identical if you’re having trouble ordering the Diablo.

Lastly, the Venum Elite Boxing Shoe seems to fit well for those with wider feet. They have superb ankle support; however, I find if you like to bounce around the ring a lot, they can be a bit stiff. As a beginner, this likely won’t be too much of an issue. Again, they are fairly like the Reebok Boxing shoes.

Wraps

The brands aren’t that big a deal as there’s usually a standard design and fit. I opt for 180 inches, or 4m, as that will ensure we have enough length to fully support our wrists, finger, and knuckles. Get what’s easiest to acquire and has a look you prefer. Can’t go wrong with Venum, Sanabul, or Hayabusa wraps.

Now you are geared up and ready to start your boxing journey. Remember, this isn’t a complete list, and there are better options that are hundreds of dollars, but as a beginner, just getting any gear to keep you motivated, protected, and looking fit through this journey is key, and over time you can always upgrade.