The recipe for a successful boxer is good training, practice, and headgear!
We don’t mean to underestimate the importance of other safety gear (like red or blue gloves and guards). With so much debate around the efficiency of headgear, we want to protect our readers from the clutter.
According to the International Boxing Association (AIBA), studies have shown that eliminating headgear would result in fewer concussions, making the sport safer.
If you’re wondering whether you should get boxing headgear in the first place, then here’s our counter-question: why wouldn’t you want to protect as much of the body as possible? On that note, we’ve curated this extensive guide on everything you need to know about choosing the right boxing headgear.
Let’s begin, then!
Boxing Headgear 101: Things To Consider
1. Type
One of the first things to consider before purchasing boxing headgear is its type. Sure, all of them will protect your head (or at least 3/4th of it), but they are mainly differentiated based on the amount of head and back coverage and the amount of padding used.
In this regard, boxing headgear can be categorised as:
A. Competition Headgear
We have the competition headgear, for starters, which employs a streamlined padding design. This category is suitable for amateurs during sparring sessions, although the lesser amount of padding can make some male boxers think otherwise. The low padding makes this headgear extremely lightweight, mobile, and less hindrance to the field of view.
As a result, you can see the full motion of the punch, thereby reacting and moving faster to reduce its impact. Most sanctioning bodies require these headgears to have an open face design, but some may allow for check protection. Hence, they will cover the chin, temple, cheeks and entire head.
The absence of protection around the eyes and nose increases the chance of black eye and nose injuries. However, the chin and temple protection can remove some impact from more intense punches.
The Master’s headgear is a special sub-category specially designed for amateur boxers eligible to fight in the Masters class of tournaments. It incorporates thicker padding with larger check guards than the standard variant.
Overall, a competition headgear strikes a fair bit of balance between comfort, speed and protection- just make sure it’s certified for use.
B. Training Headgear
Unlike competition headgear, training headgears offer more protection to the face and back of the head with more padding. The thick padding contributes to its weight, making it somewhat constraining, especially for beginners.
Like its predecessor, training headgear may have two pieces of protection bars for the cheeks.
C. Sparring Headgear
Also known as “face-saver” headgears, sparring headgears are ideal for boxers looking for optimum protection for their face. These feature a combination of thick padding and padded cross bars around the chin or nose (depending on the design). Other than that, some models have a lower bar to protect the chin and enhance visibility.
D. Muay Thai And MMA Headgear
Muay Thai headgear (sometimes referred to as kickboxing or Thai boxing) functions pretty much along the same lines as boxing headgear and is often used interchangeably. Due to the various knee and elbow strikes and high kicks in Thai boxing, this headgear usually has a chin guard for protection purposes.
MMA headgear (Mixed Martial Arts involving grappling) differs from the Muay Thai ones in its shape and size. Borrowing certain elements from wrestling, these high-quality variants have slightly firm padding for reinforced protection.
2. Fit
Once you have decided on the type, the next important factor is the fit. That’s why it’s crucial to try on the headgear, no matter the buying mode (offline or online). If you don’t have the option of trying before buying an online purchase, you can search for one among your friends or in the local professional gym and try it on, if possible.
An important rule is to ensure that the headgear cradles your head and does not suffocate it. Irrespective of the head size and shape, it should never exert undue pressure on the back or sides of the head to make the user feel uncomfortable. It should feel secure without any part pinching or squeezing tightly.
At the same time, you wouldn’t want your headgear to flop around when you start moving or sweating. If multiple elements like fasteners, cheek protectors, etc., ensure they fit perfectly on the corresponding areas.
3. Fastening
For some reason, most buying guides tend to neglect the importance of fasteners in headgear. Fasteners are the parts that remain undone before you wear the headgear and adjust the fit once you have it on. Simply put, fasteners are located to “open” the headgear when you wear or remove it.
They usually involve either Velcro or lace-up strappings and a clip in the adjustment strap under the chin. Likewise, the clip-on chin strap takes care of adjusting the fit on the lower half of the face.
Velcro straps are easier to put on and fasten, but they don’t have the advantage of “customised” adjustment in the sense that one part can’t be tighter than the other. You have to tighten the fastener as a whole to get the desired fit.
On the other hand, lace-on fasteners can be time-consuming, but they can be tightened or loosened individually. And unlike the ones on boxing gloves, you can put them on yourself. That’s why lace-up straps have a slight edge over their Velcro counterparts.
The straps and adjustments should be attached to the headgear to don’t come off even with prolonged use. For instance, if the straps are stitched poorly, they will come off in no time, and you’ll have to purchase new headgear.
4. Visibility
Although putting on a headgear will cause some obstruction to your field of view, you’d want this restriction to be as low as possible. Generally, it’s considered that the less padding, the more your field of view. Remember that the best form of defence is not getting hit, and more padding doesn’t help you with that.
You’d need to evade the punches, and you can only do that if you see them coming. This is a primary reason why competition headgear has smaller cheek pads and virtually no chin or nose pad. Especially for hooks and uppercuts, you’d want your peripheral vision to be free from any obstruction caused by bulky padding.
Almost all fighting arts require you to keep the chin down, meaning the upper half of your face should be free from restrictions. According to the head shape and size, finding a headgear that strikes the right balance between protection and visibility may take some time.
5. Lining Material
Another factor that influences the fit is the lining material. Something like smooth vinyl can get very slippery and slimy when drenched in sweat, causing the headgear to loosen up. But suede or microfiber has a reputation for absorbing moisture at the expense of feeling slightly damp.
6. Weight
The critical difference between a good and excellent headgear is the amount of protection it offers and the corresponding weight. Again, the padding and weight are proportional (more padding equals more weight). You’ll find that the high-quality, expensive headgears on the market are the ones that provide maximum protection with a lightweight design.
Training headgear usually has a lot of padding to protect the head and face from taking too many blows while you master the sport. Alternatively, lightweight competition headgear is open and slick, allowing swift head movement to get out of the line of the incoming blow.
Other Things To Consider
As you may have already guessed by now, the basic structure of a headgear facilitates protection only around the top of your head, termed an open-face design. After that, most manufacturers add different features for additional protection. Some of them include:
1. Cheek Guards
Cheek guards are pad-like structures that extend from either side of the headgear. These are the simplest type of extra protection, which can reduce the impact of the blow to a certain extent. But depending on the thickness and size of the guards, your vision may well be restricted.
2. Face Bar
A face bar is often considered an extension of the cheek guards, crossing the face and covering the nose.
3. Mouth/Chin Bar
The mouth/chin bar is a single extension responsible for protecting the lower half of the face. It essentially functions as a face bar, protecting the mouth and chin. A full-face headgear will consist of mouth and cheek guards or face bar.
4. Face Cage
Some headgears have a face cage, a plastic shield covering the entire face, from the temple to the chin. This attachment is among the least preferred options, especially among pro boxers.
How To Measure The Head Size?
Boxing headgears are mainly available in four sizes- small, regular, large and extra-large. To find your size, you have to measure the circumference of your head, from above the eyebrows to the topmost portion of the skull. Compare the number to the size chart of the brand.
We’d strongly recommend trying on the headgear to eliminate any size-related confusion.
Much like apparel, the exact sizing of headgear largely varies from one brand to another. So, don’t forget to go through the said brand’s size chart or measurement guide before purchasing.
Boxing Headgear For Women
The factors for choosing suitable headgear for women are almost the same as those mentioned above. However, some female boxers suggest avoiding anything with nose bars, mouth bars, or face cages.
Pros Of Using A Headgear
Before wrapping up the guide, we thought it’d be a good idea to list the pros of boxing headgear. If you’re still on the fence about getting one, this should be enough to settle your mind.
1. Prevents Cuts
A boxing headgear will cover the most sensitive parts of the face, prone to glove cuts. Although many organisations have debated using headgear for better mobility, the fact remains that injuries will invariably become more severe without one. While the padding protects the cheeks, eyes and jawline, you can apply Vaseline to the exposed areas.
2. Reduces Bruising
If you’re an amateur boxer or have taken up the sport as a hobby, you most likely are involved in a full-time job or academic institute. The last thing you’d want is to show up at work with a face full of bruises. Plus, they are almost as painful as cuts.
3. Minimises The Risk Of Knockouts
A tight cushion around your head in the form of headgear will invariably make you feel more secure inside the ring. Its most significant advantage is that the padding can absorb the impact while you’re falling, thereby minimising the risk of a knockout. This, in turn, allows you to play more freely. However, it may not prevent a concussion.
4. Hygienic
Using a common headgear in the gym increases the risk of infections due to the accumulated sweat and bacteria from multiple users. Hence, having one exclusively for self-use is good for hygiene.
Ultimate Guide To Boxing Headgear
Phew! That was quite a lot of information.
We understand that you may not comprehend everything on the first go, so take your time to process the details. Meanwhile, it’s almost time for us to conclude our guide, so here’s our final thought:
With so much stress on padding, the decision will ultimately depend on the individual’s comfort. If you want to opt for heavy-duty padding, remember that it will come at the expense of weight and subsequent mobility. But you can always practice more to get the hang of things.
If you need assistance purchasing boxing headgear, speak to our team! Our professionals can assist you in selecting the best option for you.
Bye for now!