Know your gear before you buy it

Good gear protects your hands, your training partners and your wallet. The RAGE knowledge base explains how combat-sports equipment actually works — what the ounce ratings mean, which materials last, what beginners genuinely need — so every purchase is an informed one.

Shop combat gear at RAGE Fight Gear →

Why gear knowledge matters

Combat sports put unusual demands on equipment: repeated high-force impact, constant sweat, and gear that has to fit precisely enough to actually do its job. Buying blind — by price or looks alone — is how people end up with gloves that hurt their hands, mouthguards that won't stay in, or shin guards that slide off mid-round. Every guide on this site exists to close that gap: what a piece of gear is actually for, how it's built, how it should fit, and when it's worn out rather than “fine for one more session”.

The essentials

• Boxing gloves

  Types, ounce weights and when each is used.

• Glove sizing

  Choosing weight and fit for bag, sparring and pads.

• Hand wraps

  Why wraps matter more than gloves — and the options.

• Mouthguards

  The one item you should never train contact without.

• Shin guards

  Muay Thai and MMA shin protection compared.

• Headgear

  What headgear does — and doesn't — protect against.

Build your kit

• The beginner kit

  What to buy in week one — and what to skip.

• Muay Thai gear

  Shorts, pads and the Thai-style differences.

• Bags & pads

  Heavy bags, Thai pads and home setups.

• Materials guide

  Leather vs synthetic, foams and stitching.

• Gear care

  Stop your gloves smelling like defeat.

• Gym bag checklist

  The full packing list for training days.

Gear for your discipline and situation

• Gloves by discipline

  Boxing, Muay Thai, kickboxing and MMA glove needs compared.

• MMA & grappling gloves

  Open-finger gloves, sparring MMA gloves and grappling gloves explained.

• Groin protection

  Cups, briefs and belt styles — and who actually needs one.

• Ankle, wrist & knee supports

  Compression sleeves vs braces, and when they genuinely help.

• Training apparel

  Shorts, rash guards and compression layers that work with your gear.

• Boxing boots & training shoes

  What footwear does for footwork, and when bare feet are better.

• Kids' & youth gear

  Why junior gear is not just small adult gear.

Questions answered in the gear FAQ — or go straight to the RAGE store.