Headgear is a crucial element for any combat sport. So, it would be best if you had nothing but the best.
When you are engaging in combat sports like boxing, your safety is as important as your performance. If you get injured on the head during a match, then the chances are that you won’t be able to play in future. A protective headgear effectively absorbs all the shocks and punches you might encounter during training or on the day of the game itself.
It should be optimally padded but not to the point where it obstructs your field of vision. Apart from that, there are a few other essential considerations that you should make when choosing one. And to help you out, we have listed a few points to help you select the best combat sports headgear.
So, without any further delay, let’s check them out!
How To Choose The Right Headgear?
The lack of knowledge about boxing headgear will invariably lead you to buy boxing headgear that won’t provide you with enough protection. And if that happens, your coach might not let you play because of the risks of incurring injuries.
We have a few suggestions to enable you to purchase the correct headgear. So, don’t forget to consider these factors before buying one.
1. How Is The Ventilation?
Almost all sports involve a great deal of heat and perspiration, and combat sports are no different. This holds more true for sports of these kinds.
When choosing a headgear, make sure that you select one that has excellent breathability to keep your body cool while training. If the airflow is not good, there is a chance that you will feel stuffy, and that will adversely affect your performance.
The other advantage of getting a piece of equipment with good ventilation is essential for your hearing. You must be careful about the inputs or instructions, especially during training sessions. After all, removing your headgear every time your coach has to say something is incredibly inconvenient.
2. Fit
Unless you feel comfortable wearing headgear, you won’t perform well. That’s why we’d suggest trying on your preferred choices before purchasing one (or more).
And while you’re at it, ensure that the fit is tight enough to stay in the right place but not too much to suffocate you.
Finding the right fit shouldn’t be too challenging unless you have an unnaturally big or small head. However, remember that you may need a few days to adjust to the fit, irrespective of the material or the headgear design. You will need a few days to fall for it like any good thing!
The best way to understand whether a fit is good is to check if it has a snug fit. If you constantly worry about it when sparring, the headgear is not made for you. You must know how bad distractions are during sports, and floppy headgear can be dangerous and cause significant harm. So, it would be best if you remain alert about the fit.
Apart from that, keep an eye on the fitting of the chin strap too. If the fit is incorrect, the slipper lining might become loose and slip down your face. This will irritate you and, in the worst-case scenario, completely disrupt your vision.
We suggest that when choosing a particular headgear, you pick the one that does not slip or fall even when you sweat.
3. Quality Construction
With a thousand variants of headgear available on the market, determining whether the one you like meets the required quality standards or not can be challenging. If you worry about the price and pay no attention to the quality, you will likely end up with an unreliable product.
Remember that this accessory is supposed to protect your head and prevent you from injuries. So, we suggest you make no compromise with quality, even if that means stretching your budget a bit. Otherwise, your safety will be at stake.
The prices of headgears are determined by the material used to make them and the manufacturers that produce them. When choosing which brand to go for, we’d advise going for brands like Venum, which offer great value.
And as we have mentioned before, cheaper brands might seem to be a more cost-effective option at first but can pose a significant danger to your safety.
4. Optimum Visibility
There’s no doubt that visibility is highly crucial for combat sports. But when you adorn a durable headgear, more often than not, your visibility gets a bit compromised. However, this is a compromise that you will have to make to ensure option safety.
That said, you’d naturally want a headgear that would not hamper your visibility but, at the same time, will do a great job protecting your head. We understand how not seeing punches coming your way can be a huge problem, as we have also faced this problem during our sparring sessions.
So, when your visibility is getting disrupted more than it should, it is time to look for new headgear.
And the most important thing to consider is the padding present in the areas that will eventually protect your forehead and the cheeks. Remember that the more the padding, the lesser the peripheral vision.
Long story short, you will need to balance these two factors when selecting a headgear. Hence, you can view equally well from all angles without exposing any head part.
Importance Of Finding The Right Headgear
Whether you are a beginner boxer or starting with Muay Thai, headgear is essential. With the correct headgear, you will be able to take on the toughest of challenges without having to fear facing any injuries. So, take your time to find the right fit and design.
It is not a myth that headgear prevents the chances of developing “cauliflower ears”. If you get such an injury, it can cause significant pain. So, that’s one more reason you should invest in suitable headgear.
Choosing The Best Headgear For Combat Sports
That’s all we have for you today!
After reading this guide, you must have understood how important it is to get the perfect headgear to prevent yourself from incurring cuts and bruises. If you sustain a head injury during a combat sport, it may have a long-term impact on your health.
Choosing a headgear that creates the lowest impact on the head when you engage in combat sports would be best. And after reading this guide, we hope you will be able to make that choice wisely.
If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our experienced team.
Until next time!
