A sport which splits the views of the population with some thinking it is a barbaric pastime, boxing is seen by many as a way to focus the attention of many young men and boys, keeping them off of the streets and out of trouble. As such there are lots of new boxing clubs springing up over the country, some of which provide the boxing equipment free of charge and some that require you to bring your own.
Here we give you an overview of the different pieces of boxing equipment and which you really should buy yourself and which are less important.
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If you are boxing just as a hobby then buying any additional things might not seem like a good investment and with clothing this is probably the correct assertion. Having professional shorts, vests and gowns is only appropriate if you are taking the sport more seriously.
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Most boxing clubs should provide gloves with which to spar and train but these might not always be the most comfortable given the different sized hands the gym would have to cater for. This is one area where buying your own might be wise to assure the protection that well fitting gloves give.
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When you are in the ring you need to be light on your feet which is why boxing boots are specially made to have soles with little friction and that do not mark the ring surface. In some clubs they will not let you in the ring without a pair of boxing boots to protect their ring from marking.
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You do occasionally see these in homes but as far as amateur boxers go these can be quite expensive so only buy one if you think it will be of benefit to your boxing abilities.
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Boxing Bag
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Just a name to encompass the variety of different bags designed to aid a boxer. A punchbag is an example of one but again these can set you back quite a bit. On the plus side, they are almost certain to last years without any noticeable damage.
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Now these can set you back many hundreds if not thousands of pounds so obviously those looking to buy one are either affluent individuals or gyms themselves. Part time boxing fans need not buy one.
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Ideal for boxers who want to train together in their own homes or gardens, boxing pads give protection to one while the other practices throwing punches in different directions and at different heights.
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A cheap but almost essential purchase, hand wraps give the boxer vital protection to his hands and especially the bones in the hand. Most boxing clubs and gyms will insist every boxer wear them inside and outside of the ring when training.
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Boxing Punch Bag
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Just another name for the typical punchbag described above, not an essential buy unless you want to train properly in your own home.
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One of the best ways a boxer can improve his speed and nimbleness is to use a skipping rope and vary the speed at which he jumps and with boxing skipping ropes being relatively cheap it's an investment you could make quite easily.
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Boxing Mitt |
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This is an alternative name for boxing gloves and as such the same applies here, paying for a good pair is good value for money.
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Used to improve your timing and reflexes among other things, a speedball is a useful piece of equipment but not one that most trainers would consider a necessary purchase for your home. They are, however, a lot cheaper than a full size punchbag so could be a good alternative.
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There are plenty of things that come in handy for boxers and some of these accessories included gum shields, towels, brackets for hanging bags and kit bags for storing all your stuff.
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Either referring to the equipment needed to hang a bag or indeed something on which to put the bag to make it stand freely on the floor, these are only needed if you have decided to buy a bag and will often come with them.
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Boxing Bag Gloves |
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These specific gloves or mitts are used when a boxer is training on a boxing bag and are heavier and more padded than some gloves due to the intensity and repetition of the punching.
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Speedbag a.k.a. Speed Bag |
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Just another name for the speedball or speed ball, these bags are cheaper than punchbags and take up less space so might be more suitable for homes.
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Free Standing Boxing Bag |
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These punchbags come complete with stands which means that you do not have to attach them to a bracket. This makes them more portable and easier to store so could be a better option than a general punchbag.
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Tape is used so frequently in boxing that it is important you have a good supply. From taping gloves around the wrist to make them more secure to taping up socks when in the ring you'll use a lot of this so go buy some.
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Boxing Speedball |
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Just the complete name for a speedball or speedbag, the same advice applies here as it did for them.
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