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Kids’ boxing equipment: a parent’s guide

Find out what children need for their first boxing class, when to buy junior gloves and which questions to ask the club before ordering.

Before buying boxing equipment for a child, speak to the club running the sessions. A beginner’s fitness class may use different equipment from a junior boxing programme, and some clubs lend gloves for the first few visits.

The most useful information to get is a short equipment list for your child’s group: the glove weight, wrap style, footwear rules and whether any other protection is needed. That saves guessing from a retailer’s age range.

What to take to a first session

Comfortable sports clothes, clean trainers and a water bottle are a sensible starting point. Avoid clothing with exposed metal fastenings and check the club’s rules about jewellery and long hair. Arrive early enough to ask where to leave bags and whether parents can watch.

Tell the coach that it is your child’s first visit. Ask how the session is organised, how the group is divided and whether the class involves contact. The answer affects what equipment is appropriate now and what may be needed later.

Buying junior boxing gloves

Children’s gloves are usually sold in ounce weights, sometimes alongside a broad age guide. Children of the same age can have very different hands, so the age label is only a rough reference.

Once the coach has confirmed the required weight, try both gloves with the wraps the child will wear. Check that the fingers can form a fist, the thumb sits comfortably and the cuff fastens securely. Ask the child to describe where the glove presses rather than relying on a quick “Does it fit?”

Buying a loose glove to grow into can make it difficult to control. If the required weight is too roomy in one brand, look for a different model with a more suitable hand compartment.

Wraps and other purchases

The coach can recommend a wrap length and demonstrate how to use it. A long adult wrap can leave too much material on a small hand, while a slip-on inner glove may not be the style the club wants.

There is rarely a need to buy a home punch bag or pads before a child has settled into classes. If they do want to practise at home, ask the coach for suitable exercises and equipment. Focus mitts need an adult who has been shown how to hold them; owning pads does not teach the holder that skill.

Keeping the kit in good condition

Open gloves after each session and let them dry away from direct heat. Wash wraps according to their label and keep damp kit out of a closed school or gym bag. Recheck the fit as your child grows and replace damaged equipment rather than keeping it solely because it still fastens.