The Best 16 oz Boxing Gloves

Best 16 oz Boxing Gloves for Beginners: Trideer Pro Grade Boxing Gloves

Best 16 oz Boxing Gloves for Advanced Fighters: Winning MS600 Training Boxing Gloves

Best 16 oz Boxing Gloves for Fighters on a Budget: Ringside IMF Tech Hook and Loop Boxing Gloves

18 years ago, I began my martial arts journey. I’ve spent the majority of those 18 years exploring various striking arts, one of which is boxing. So you can say that I know a thing or two about boxing gloves! With this guide, I’ve compiled a list of the best 16 oz boxing gloves. I’ve used a lot of these products, and in making this guide, I’ve also poured through hundreds of user reviews to get a more complete picture so that I can give you a list of the best 16 oz boxing gloves. Let’s get started!

1. The Best 16 oz Gloves for Beginners or Fighters on a Budget
Trideer Pro Grade Boxing Gloves
Everlast Pro Style Training Gloves
Sanabul Essential Gel Boxing Gloves
Elite Sports Kickboxing Bag Gloves
Ringside Apex Training Gloves
2. The Best 16 oz Gloves for Advanced Fighters
Winning MS600 Training Boxing Gloves
Cleto Reyes Hook & Loop Training Gloves
Ringside IMF Tech Hook and Loop Boxing Training Sparring Gloves
Twins Special Velcro Boxing Gloves
Venum Challenger Boxing Gloves
Hayabusa T3 Boxing Gloves
3. What are 16 oz Boxing Gloves Used For?
4. 14 oz vs 16 oz Boxing Gloves
5. Can You Spar With Lighter Gloves?
6. What to Look For
6.1. Material
6.2. Padding
6.3. Breathability
6.4. Comfort
6.5. Closure

1. The Best 16 oz Gloves for Beginners or Fighters on a Budget

Trideer Pro Grade Boxing Gloves

The Trideer Pro Grade Boxing Gloves are an amazing pair of beginner 16 oz boxing gloves. Their multi-layered foam padding makes them very soft. This means that you won’t hurt your sparring partner, makes them an ideal option for sparring

Even though they’re made of synthetic leather, they’re very durable. They’ve also got a very flexible wrist section, which is a big help when blocking and parrying. However, if you’re doing pure boxing, you should keep in mind that this flexibility means less wrist support. So if you want to use these gloves for the heavy bag in addition to sparring, then you may want to get the Ringside Apex Training Gloves instead.

Although the gloves have only three little air holes on the palm area, they give you really good breathability. This will prevent your hands from getting too sweaty and distracting you during sparring.

On the con side, the padding starts off a little stiff. So it’s a good idea to break them in a little before using them for sparring. A couple of heavy bag sessions should do the trick. 

Overall, the Trideer Pro Grade Boxing Gloves offer great value for money, and I definitely recommend them as the best 16 oz gloves if you’re looking for beginner gloves, or are just on a tighter budget.

Pros:

• Very low price
• Good durability for the price
• Great wrist flexibility
• Good breathability

Cons:

• Weaker wrist support
• Not a good choice for bag work

Everlast Pro Style Training Gloves

Everlast are one of the oldest and best known boxing glove brands, and their Pro Style Training Gloves are a great choice for beginners or fighters on a tighter budget.

They’re very affordable, largely because they’re not made of leather. Instead, they use 80% polyurethane and 20% plastic. Still, they’re surprisingly durable, and can last you a long time.

They have a big mesh on the palm, so you can expect some decent breathability.

Some users complain that they smell bad after use, but as long as you don’t leave them in a closed area (e.g. your gym bag), and let them ventilate, you should be fine.

If you hit very hard, then you might feel the padding getting thin, and you could start feeling your hands getting sore.  If this feeling continues even with hand wraps, then you should consider upgrading to a more heavy-duty pair of gloves. But if you only use them for sparring (like you should for 16 oz boxing gloves), then you won’t be hitting full-force anyway, so this shouldn’t be a problem. 

As it stands, though, if you’re a beginner these are definitely a good pair of sparring gloves.

Pros:

• Low price
• Very durable for non-leather gloves
• Easy to put on and off by yourself

Cons:

• Synthetic materials. Not the best breathability
• Not recommended for heavy bag work

Sanabul Essential Gel Boxing Gloves

While Sanabul aren’t as established as a company like Everlast, they still make some very good equipment.

Their Essential Gel Boxing gloves are a great example of that. They use gel for their padding, which means they’re a bit stiff. Fortunately, their 16 oz boxing gloves have ample padding. So as long as you break them in, you won’t hurt your sparring partner. 

Still, these gloves are intended for heavy bag work, and it’s still a good idea to pull your punches when sparring with them.

Other than that, they’re very durable for the price, and the mesh on the palm of the hand offers really good breathability.

Pros:

• Good value for money
• Good breathability
• Lots of designs

Cons:

• Some users found the gloves very tight
• Not the best wrist support

Elite Sports Kickboxing Bag Gloves

The Elite Kickboxing Bag Gloves are another good pair of entry-level 16 oz boxing gloves. They’ve got gel and foam padding that makes them great for sparring.  Initially, they might not give you a lot of flexibility, but after you break them in, it shouldn’t be an issue.

They have a tight velcro strap which loops around and gives you better wrist support for punching and blocking. Their cooling mesh offers good breathability. They’ll still get sweaty, but they won’t feel so hot that they distract you from your sparring session.

They do have some disadvantages, of course. For one, they’re made of synthetic leather, so they won’t last you as long as a pair made of real leather. 

Also, the hand portion is a bit stiff, making it hard to open and close your hand. This makes parrying more difficult, and will definitely take some getting used to.

Still, if you’re looking for a pair of entry-level sparring gloves, or you just don’t want to spend as much, the Elite Sports Kickboxing Gloves give you great bang for your buck!

Pros:

• Soft padding – good for sparring
• Very good for bag work
• Good wrist support
• Good breathability
• Sleek design. Lots of colors and sizes

Cons:

• A bit top-heavy. You might need some time to adjust to the balance
• Thicker padding makes it hard to open and close your hand. Need breaking in
• Synthetic materials; won’t be as durable as leather gloves

Ringside Apex Training Gloves

The Ringside Apex Training Gloves are a more high-end choice when it comes to entry-level 16 oz gloves. They have really good knuckle protection and wrist support. They’re large and have lots of soft padding. This is very useful for blocking punches (and even kicks, if you’re also doing kickboxing and Muay Thai). So they’re ideal for sparring, especially if your style is more defensive.

They’re also a good option for bag and mitt work, although I still wouldn’t recommend using them for both sparring and bag work. They offer decent breathability, although they aren’t as breathable as the more expensive sparring gloves. Still, their cooling mesh and ventilation hole will make sure your hands don’t get hot and sweaty too early on in your workout.

Overall, they’re a great choice for beginners who don’t mind spending a bit more on their gear.

Pros:

• Very durable for synthetic leather
• Very good knuckle protection
• Good wrist support
• Decent breathability
• A wide variety of colors to choose from

Cons:

• Need some time to get broken in
• Only come in two sizes

2. The Best 16 oz Gloves for Advanced Fighters

Winning MS600 Training Boxing Gloves

Winning is the epitome of Japanese quality. Established in 1937, they make some of the best combat sports gear in the world. Their equipment is used by professional fighters in a wide range of combat sports, and their MS600 Boxing Gloves are probably their most recognizable product.

Winning are also known as “pillow gloves”. This is because their padding is pretty much the best you can find. It’s so good that you can barely feel what you’re hitting. And while getting punched hard with a Winning glove can still hurt, it won’t hurt nearly as much compared to other boxing glove brands.

Almost all users find Winning extremely comfortable, and many professional fighters use them both for sparring and bag work. They’re made of high quality leather, and will definitely last for a very long time.

But as good as these gloves are, they have a big downside. Namely – price. All of Winning’s boxing gloves are firmly on the high end, and the MS600 are no exception. Still, if you can afford them, then these are definitely the best 16 oz boxing gloves you can buy. They’re also a good option for people with sensitive hands, or ones with a history of hand injuries.

Pros:

• Very good wrist support
• Very comfortable
• Excellent padding
• Extremely durable, on account of high quality leather
• One of the best gloves you can buy
• Excellent padding. Protects your knuckles and sparring partner very well

Cons:

• Very expensive

 Cleto Reyes Hook & Loop Training Gloves

Cleto Reyes is one of the best known brands in boxing. They’re the pioneers of Mexican-style boxing gloves, also known as “puncher’s gloves”.

They’re made of high quality, full-grain leather. So no matter what you put them through, you can definitely expect them to last you a long, long time. 

Now, why are Cleto Reyes called “puncher’s gloves”? Because they famously use latex foam padding. This is because latex is a very responsive material. This gives the gloves a really high recoil. So when you punch, that high recoil lets you quickly get your hands back inside your guard, ready to punch again.

Another great feature of the Cleto Reyes Hook & Loop is the amazing breathability. They have a relatively open design, as well as lots of aeration holes. This makes sure that your hands stay cool during sparring. That way your sweaty hands won’t ever get too distracting.

One more thing that makes Cleto Reyes great for sparring is their flexibility. That flexibility gives your hands a very wide range of motion. Which is vital for parrying and blocking. 

That range of motion, however, comes at the price of less wrist support. So, if your technique isn’t good, you are definitely going to feel it.

Speaking of your hands “feeling it”, if you have sensitive hands, or some weakness in your wrists, then Cleto Reyes are definitely not the gloves for you. When hitting, especially if your hands aren’t wrapped, you can actually feel your knuckles through the material.

However, if you’re going to be using them only for sparring, then you won’t be punching then you won’t be punching with them full-force anyway. 

This is why Cleto Reyes Hook & Loop Training Gloves are a great pair of 16 oz boxing gloves. Especially if you’re the kind of fighter who likes to throw lots of punches per round!

Pros:

• Full grain leather. Will last a very long time
• Extremely thick and durable
• Very good breathability
• Good range of movement for your hands
• Good wrist mobility
• Very good power transfer

Cons:

• Some people have problems with the thumb area
• Little padding around the wrist. Wrong punch may cause injuries

Ringside IMF Tech Hook and Loop Boxing Training Sparring Gloves

Ringside’s IMF Tech Boxing Gloves are a good option for advanced fighters on a budget. They’re made of leather, they’ve very durable, and use a very secure velcro strap.

While they do need some time to break in, once they do, they offer great knuckle protection thanks to their thick padding. This makes them an amazing choice for sparring. You can even use them for bag work. 

Their only drawback is the low breathability. They don’t have any breathing holes or mesh. This means you’ll be relying solely on the fact they’re made out of leather. And that can only get you so far.

Still, if you’re on a tighter budget, but still want to buy a pair of leather gloves, the Ringside IMF Tech Hook and Loop Boxing Gloves are a great pair of 16 oz boxing gloves.

Pros:

• All-leather. Offers great durability
• Good for both sparring and bag work
• Good value for money

Cons:

• Difficult to put on by yourself
• Low breathability
• Need some time to break in

Twins Special Velcro Boxing Gloves

Twins is one of the premier Muay Thai brands. And their Twins Special Boxing Gloves are a great example of why that is. And even though they’re intended for Muay Thai, they’re a great fit for boxing, too.

Made of genuine leather, you can expect these to last you for many years of sparring. They’re so durable that you can even use them on the heavy bag (although, I’d recommend getting one pair of gloves for sparring, and a separate pair of heavy bag gloves). The padding is really high quality, although it may need a couple of training sessions to break in. 

The leather and aeration holes give you lots of breathability. And while your hands may not stay dry, they won’t feel unbearably hot – even during intense workouts.

However, a lot of people complain that the gloves were smaller than expected. So, if you have larger hands, you should definitely order a larger size than you normally use. Another thing to note is that – like most Muay Thai gloves – the thumb sticks out a little. Typically, this is extremely useful in clinching – an important distance in Muay Thai. But if you’re using them for boxing, then this feature can be a hindrance. Especially if you aren’t used to this type of thumb setup.

But as long as you can get used to that, the Twins Special Boxing Gloves are a great choice for 16 oz sparring gloves.

Pros:

• Great wrist support
• Good breathability
• Excellent padding
• Made of leather. Makes them durable, and helps with smell

Cons:

• Thumb is small. Some users found it uncomfortable
• May be too small for some users

Venum Challenger Boxing Gloves

Venum is definitely one of the most recognizable brands in combat sports. And their Venum Challenger 3.0 Boxing Gloves are among their most popular products.

Their multi-layered, natural foam padding makes them great for sparring. They’ve also very compact and really well balanced. Their compact size means they won’t block your vision during sparring sessions, and their light weight will help you move faster.

They also have very thick padding in the palm area. This makes them amazing for blocking punches and kicks. In fact, the padding is so thick that you can even use it for mitt drills, where you and your partner can both use gloves instead of mitts. That way, when it comes to switching roles, you won’t waste time changing from mitts to gloves.

To me, their biggest downside is that they’re made of synthetic leather. While the Venum Challenger offer a higher quality than other synthetic leather gloves, chances are, they won’t last as long as a pair of leather gloves will. And at this price point you can easily get a pair of leather gloves.

Another thing you should definitely keep in mind is that this is a striker’s glove. The padding is on the stiffer side. So if you want to use them for bagwork as well, you will definitely feel it when you hit the heavy bag. And if you don’t have good, proper form, it could lead to injury.

But if you’re only going to spar with them, then their 16 oz gloves are definitely a solid choice. Especially if you also do Muay Thai or kickboxing (which is what the Venum Challenger are intended for).

Pros:

• High-quality padding. Great for sparring
• Compact
• Good balance
• Lots of colors to choose from

Cons:

• Not a good option if you have sensitive hands
• Made of synthetic leather. Doesn’t last as long as leather

Hayabusa T3 Boxing Gloves

Like Venum, Hayabusa is another mainstay of combat sports, and their T3 Boxing Gloves one of their most recognizable products. 

They’ve got really good padding, made out of 4 layers of foam. This makes them a great fit for the heavy bag, pads, and sparring in particular.

And speaking of sparring, the Hayabusa T3 have four foam splints on the back of the hand. These splints help in two ways. First, they’re very useful in blocking kicks. And two, they give you great wrist support. When you strap your hand tightly, they snap in place, and keep your hand secure. But this does come at the price of reduced wrist mobility. So, bear that in mind if you prefer to parry or clinch.

Another feature that helps with wrist support are the tightening straps. Most gloves use only one tightening strap, but the Hayabusa T3 have two. And while tightening both of them can be a bit annoying (especially if your other hand is already gloved), that annoyance is a small price to pay for the amazing support they provide.

Another unique feature of the T3 is the fabric on the thumb. The idea is that you can use it to wipe sweat from your face during training. This can be especially useful during sparring, when you don’t have the time to wipe the sweat from your eyes using your T-shirt.

In terms of downsides, a major drawback for me is that the Hayabusa T3 aren’t made of genuine leather. They claim that the “engineered leather” they use is stronger than real leather, one thing these gloves struggle with is odor. While they do have a special lining to help deal with the smell after a long, sweaty, sparring session, they’ll need a lot of time to air out after training. Way more time than leather gloves in a similar price range.

In terms of durability, fighters report them lasting about as long as leather gloves. So I don’t think the trade-off is worth it… 

Still, it comes down to personal preference. If you value good wrist support, and just can’t resist the slick design, then the 16 oz Hayabusa T3 Boxing Gloves are a very good choice for sparring gloves. 

But for this price, I’d recommend getting the Ringside IMF Tech Hook and Loop Boxing Gloves or the Twins Special Boxing Gloves, both of which are made of leather, and are also great for sparring.

Pros:

• Very good wrist support
• Padding makes it very good for both heavy bag, and sparring
• Padding on back of the hand very good for blocking kicks
• Very slim profile
• Fabric thumb to wipe off sweat
• Lots of designs to choose from

Cons:

• “Engineered” (a.k.a. synthetic) leather. Provide very low breathability
• Compared to leather gloves in this price range, these gloves smell more after training
• Restricted wrist mobility
• Sweat-wiping thumb gets soggy if used too often

3. What are 16 oz Boxing Gloves Used For?

16 oz boxing gloves are most widely used for sparring. Why? Well, remember how our Moms used to say “Don’t break your toys!”?

Well, sparring is the same! When you’re sparring you want boxing gloves with thick padding in order to minimize the damage you do to your sparring partner. No one wants to train with the tryhard who goes really hard on his training partners!

This is also why you shouldn’t use your 16 oz sparring gloves for bag work. This is because punching the heavy bag wears down the padding and makes it harder. Which is going to be bad for your training partners.

4. 14oz vs 16 oz Boxing Gloves

Since 14 oz boxing gloves are lighter than 16 oz gloves, your hands will be much faster. However, 14 oz gloves also have less padding, so you’ll need to make an effort to pull your punches.

But I would still advise using 16 oz boxing gloves. There are three main reasons:

• First, 16 oz gloves have more padding, which means it’s less likely you’ll hurt your partner. 
• Second, since they’re heavier, they give you a much better workout.
• And third, they’ll make your hands faster in the long run. How? Well, with time your hands will get used to the weight of the heavier gloves. And the moment you put on lighter gloves, your hands will suddenly be lightning-fast!

5. Can You Spar With Lighter Gloves?

I would say that the only reason to spar with lighter gloves is if you’re getting ready for a tournament. Usually, tournaments require lighter gloves, so it’s a good idea to be prepared for that. After all, getting hit with a 10 oz boxing glove feels very different than getting hit with a 16 oz boxing glove.

But if you aren’t getting ready for a tournament, then I’d strongly advise against sparring with lighter gloves. Unless both you and your training partner are advanced enough, and are aware of the risks.

6. What to Look For

There are several factors that apply to all types of combat sports gloves. So no matter what you’re training – boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, or MMA. These are the factors you need to look for in a good pair of boxing gloves.

6.1. Material

When you buy a boxing glove, you obviously want it to last as long as possible. This is why the best 16 oz boxing gloves are made out of leather.

This is because high-quality leather is strong, durable, and lasts a long time. It lets the glove breathe, and it looks good. 

The only downside to real leather is the price – leather is expensive, and so are the boxing gloves that use it.

But don’t fret! If you’re a beginner, or just don’t have the budget, you can still find some very good 16 oz boxing gloves made of synthetic leather or other materials. The Trideer Pro Grade Boxing Gloves are a great example of this.

Bear in mind, synthetic leather probably won’t last you as long as genuine leather. Synthetic leather gloves also have less breathability.

It’s also a plus if the glove isn’t made of many separate pieces. The more pieces there are, the more seams are needed to keep them together. And lots of seams mean more places where the gloves can tear apart.

6.2. Padding

The point of boxing gloves (especially 16 oz boxing gloves) is to protect your hand and your partner. They do this by using thick padding. 

Padding on the knuckles protects them from injury when punching your opponent’s body, while padding on the back of the hand helps you defend against attacks when blocking and parrying. These days, almost all gloves use latex or foam padding. 

Different brands use different techniques when cutting and layering the foam they use for padding, and that greatly affects the quality of the glove. If it’s done right, it feels great when you hit, you won’t hurt your partner, and the gloves can last a long time. If it’s done wrong, you can hurt your sparring partner, and even yourself!

Unfortunately, the outer appearance can’t always tell you how good punching with the glove feels like. Some gloves look thin on the outside, but feel extremely soft when you punch, and vice versa. Some gloves look massive on the outside, but feel like you’re hitting bricks. It all depends on the glove’s construction and foam design.

One of the best ways to tell if a glove has good padding or not is to look for a manufacturer who has a proven track record of making high-quality products that last a long time.

Usually, if it’s a 16 oz boxing glove you can be fairly certain that the padding is going to be soft, and won’t cause injuries.

6.3. Breathability

Let’s not beat around the bush – a good sparring session will get you very sweaty! And the first place that sweat appears will be in your gloves.

This is why it’s important to have more open gloves that let the skin on your hands breathe. 

Not only is this more comfortable, it’s also good for the gloves’ padding. Sweat is acidic, and with enough time, it can actually break down the padding, and set your gloves on a course straight to the trash!

This is why it’s a good idea to invest in 16 oz boxing gloves made of real leather. Not only is leather more durable, but it’s also more breathable than its synthetic counterparts. This breathability allows the sweat to evaporate before it’s had a chance to damage the padding.

But if you do go for synthetic gloves, make sure they have either a breathing mesh, or some holes in the palm area.

And no matter what kind of boxing gloves you have, you should always let them air out after your training session is over. Don’t just chuck them in your gym bag straight away!

6.4. Comfort

How a glove fits your hand is obviously very important. Even when we’re talking about 16 oz boxing gloves – which are almost as big as they come. Some gloves are better suited for people with bigger hands and wrists, while others fit better on smaller hands. 

If your gloves are too big or too small, it’s going to be hard to form a tight fist. Hitting like that will not only ruin your workout, but can also give you some serious hand injuries.

Another important thing is how long your fingers are. They need to fit comfortably, and the glove should curl easily when you make a fist.

Another important aspect is how easy it is to open and close your hand. That way you can quickly transition from having a relaxed hand for parrying to making your hand tighter for punching and blocking.

In terms of the actual size of boxing gloves you should use, you’ll need three things: your height, weight and the circumference of your dominant hand.

Height and weight are easy, but hand circumference is a bit more tricky. The best way to measure that is to use a fabric tape measure and measure around your open dominant hand just below the knuckles. The tape should meet in the center of your palm in order to get a clear number.

If you don’t have a fabric tape measure, you can also wrap a piece of string around your hand and mark it. Then, measure the mark against a ruler.

If you want to get the absolute perfect fit, using your hand circumference is much better than using your height or weight.

6.5. Closure

Closure is the way a boxing glove is fastened to your hand. There are two main types of closure:

• Velcro – the most popular closure method. It’s not as secure as laces, but it’s much faster and more convenient. They’re ideal if you’re training alone.
• Laces – this is the classic closure type. It’s much more secure and supportive than velcro. Unfortunately, it’s also the slowest, and you’ll need help when you take them on and off. If you’re training alone, you can either tape them, or use Lace Converters

For 16 oz boxing gloves, I strongly recommend getting laces, if you can. Since you’re going to be using your 16 oz boxing gloves for sparring, you really need the security you get from laces. Because the last thing you want is for your boxing gloves to come undone during sparring!

You might also like:
RDX Freestanding Punching Bag Review
Title Classic Boxing Gloves Review
The Best Outdoor Punching Bag
The Best Sparring Gloves
The Best Cheap Boxing Gloves under $100
The Best Kickboxing Gloves
The Best Muay Thai Gloves
The Best Outdoor Punching Bag
Best Muay Thai Shin Guards