Gear FAQ
Quick answers to the questions we hear most. Each answer links to a fuller guide if you want the whole story.
What should I buy for my first class?
Wraps, a mouthguard, shorts and a water bottle. Gyms lend the rest at first. See the beginner kit.
Why does everyone spar in 16oz gloves?
More padding protects your partners and lets everyone spar more often. It's the default house rule in most gyms. See glove sizing.
Do I need MMA gloves, or will boxing gloves work for MMA training?
Boxing gloves don't let you grip, so they can't cover the grappling side of MMA. Once your training mixes striking and grappling in the same session, a proper open-finger MMA glove is the right tool — see MMA gloves and gloves by discipline.
How long do gloves last?
Regular training: expect one to a few years depending on materials and care. Replace when padding compacts or the wrist strap dies. See gear care.
How do I get the smell out of gloves?
You mostly prevent it: dry after every session, wipe with antibacterial solution, use dryer inserts. Entrenched smell means entrenched bacteria — and usually new gloves. See gear care.
Are Muay Thai gloves different from boxing gloves?
Somewhat: more palm flexibility for clinching and padding shaped for catching kicks. Boxing gloves are fine to start Thai training. See Muay Thai gear.
Boil-and-bite or custom mouthguard?
Boil-and-bite for starting out; custom once you spar regularly — better fit, breathing and protection. See mouthguards.
Do I need a groin guard from day one?
Not for solo bag work, but the moment sparring involves kicks, knees or clinch work — early on in most Muay Thai and MMA training — a cup is standard kit. See groin guards.
Which bag for a home setup?
Banana bag for Muay Thai if you can mount it, standard heavy bag for boxing, free-standing when drilling the ceiling isn't an option. See bags & pads.
Does headgear prevent concussion?
No — it mainly prevents cuts and abrasion. Safer sparring comes from controlled intensity and good partners. See headgear.
Can my child train in adult-sized gear?
Not well. Junior gloves, headgear and shin guards are proportioned differently, not just lighter — a loose “small adult” item protects worse than a properly sized junior one. See kids' and youth gear.
Do I need special shoes for boxing or Muay Thai?
Usually not — most striking training happens barefoot. Boxing boots and wrestling shoes are situational, not defaults. See footwear.
Should I wear an ankle or wrist support even if nothing hurts?
Not by default. Supports genuinely help with a history of niggles or a specific joint under strain, but they're comfort and proprioception, not a substitute for treating an actual problem. See ankle, wrist and knee supports.
What should I wear for grappling-heavy MMA training?
A rash guard to manage friction and hygiene, plus MMA or grappling shorts with a secure waistband. See training apparel.