Boxing Equipment Has Changed, but Boxing Gear Traditions Continue

Needs for boxing equipment obviously start with boxing gloves and boxing trunks. Here's a rundown of boxing equipment needs:

Boxing Equipment: Boxing Gloves

Boxing gloves for competition normally are 12 ounces for adults, or lighter for junior age levels. The most popular and affordable material for the outer surface is synthetic leather. Provision of equal amounts of padding throughout the hand is vital, in order to absorb shock and to prevent hand injuries. Hook and loop closures provide extra support for the wrists.

However, serious boxers in pursuit of serious boxing equipment often keep various types of boxing training gloves in their lockers and their gym bags.

Boxing gloves for sparring will feature extra padding, since the intent of sparring is not to do damage to the opponent, but simply to work on techniques.

Also, boxing gear includes both heavy bags and speed bags. Boxing gloves for the heavy bags are made to allow extra weighting, in order to build power. Meanwhile, boxing gloves for the speed bag typically are 6 ounces rather than the standard 12 ounces.

For female boxers, yes, pink boxing gloves are popular, but that won't make a good punch feel any softer.

Boxers at all levels also use hand-wrap rolls, usually made from cotton, for extra protection and support.

Boxing Equipment: Boxing Trunks

Once upon a time, boxing trunks were as simple as, "In this corner, in the white trunks ....." And, "In this corner, in the black trunks ...." Even showmen such as Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson stuck to the basics. Today's boxing trunks are more colorful, but the basic need remains a good and wide elastic waistband for stability.

Boxing Equipment: Protective Gear

Traditionalists from a prior era will remember basic protective cups contained within jock straps. This type of basic protective boxing gear remains available, but nowadays, boxing protective equipment often is housed in wraparound material that protects the entire lower abdomen.

Old-time boxing helmets now are known as head gear. Advances have been made for added protection of cheek bones, by extending the surfaces toward the lower nose while still allowing a full field of vision above.

Boxing mouth guards are made of gel material that form fits to teeth and jaws, as opposed to the old white rubber mouth guards that so often were seen to come flying out of the boxer's mouth.

Boxing Equipment: Shoes

Possibly no form of boxing gear has changed more than boxing shoes. The old high-ankle laced-up models of boxing shoes are still available, but more and more, boxing shoes are looking similar to basketball shoes or running shoes. Purchasers of boxing shoes are looking for soles with good traction, lightweight material that absorbs sweat, and of course, good looks.

Boxing Equipment: Workout Bags

In the "Rocky" movies, Sylvester Stallone would punch sides of beef, but the normal boxing equipment for this purpose is a punching bag.

So-called heavy punching bags normally weight 70 pounds to 130 pounds, depending on the boxer's size, with material of long-lasting weather that encases inner padding. Traditional heavy punching bags hang from a ceiling hook in an open area, although standing bags are available that are based on the floor and supported with a heavy coil.

Speed punching bags weigh only a few pounds, and are roughly the size of a soccer ball or a basketball. Similar to heavy bags, boxing speed bags usually are attached from above.

Boxing Equipment: Fitness

In closing, boxing is a sport that seemingly always will remain somewhat old-fashioned, in terms of boxing fitness equipment. Boxers' training still involves good ol' jump ropes, medicine balls and sauna suits.

SOURCES

http://www.boxingdepot.com/bx-gl-214.html

http://www.boxingdepot.com/heavy-bags.html

http://www.boxingdepot.com/protective-cups.html

http://store.titleboxing.com/adidas-satin-180-pro-boxing-trunks.html