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Want to add protective gears to your boxing kit? The best hand wraps will protect your hands from bruises. Read this guide to make informed decisions.
During boxing practice, when you throw a punch, the point of impact is always your hands. Your hands can become hurt or bruised if you don't use enough protection, which you want to avoid if you want to work out consistently.
Although boxing gloves provide considerable padding for your hands and wrists, additional layers are required for proper cushioning. This is when the boxing hand wraps come into play. Not all hand wraps, however, are created equal. In truth, there are numerous aspects to consider before deciding on a pair.
What are some factors to consider before purchasing boxing hand wraps?
To assist you in making an informed purchasing decision, we've compiled a list of the most important factors to consider when selecting a pair of boxing hand wraps.
The Fabric
The fabric's quality, durability, and comfort are all important factors. Handwraps are often constructed of 100 percent cotton or a combination of materials such as cotton-elastane or nylon-polyester. These material combinations are excellent since they are extremely durable and have a soft texture that feels wonderful against your skin. If you want a hand wrap that will last a long time, choose one with reinforced stitching.
Breathability
When picking the best pair of boxing hand wraps, one of the most crucial elements to consider is breathability. Remember that you'll be wearing these hand wraps under your regular boxing gloves, which means your hands will sweat profusely. Your hand wraps will pass enough air through a breathable fabric to keep your hands cool and dry.
Antimicrobial treatment is also available on some hand wraps to prevent bacteria and odor buildup. If you don't want to wash your hand wraps too often, an antimicrobial-treated pair would be ideal.
Stretchability
If the cloth isn't supple enough, it can be difficult to put on boxing hand wraps. To ensure that the fabric is wrapped tightly around your hands and wrists, it must have some elasticity. You will have slack patches without stretchability, which can easily result in the hand wrap unraveling throughout your practice session.
Hand wrap manufacturers usually take this into account and use a nice combination of materials for appropriate stretchability. Manufacturers use cotton and elastane, nylon and polyester, or any other mix.
Length
The length of your boxing hand wraps is entirely dependent on the size you select. In most cases, the largest size available on the market is roughly 180 inches. This size is appropriate for players at all skill levels and allows you to wrap around your hands and wrists with ease, regardless of your preferred wrapping style. This size also provides excellent wrist support, helping to keep the wrist stable and reduce the chance of damage.
If you only require hand protection and not wrist protection, a 120-inch long hand wrap should suffice. You'll have enough cloth to cover the most vulnerable parts of your hands for maximum protection.
Closure system
Most, if not all, boxing hand wraps feature a velcro-based hook and loop closure system that makes it simple to open and close the wraps with one hand. The velcro keeps the wrap in place and prevents it from unraveling throughout your practice session.
Loop of the thumb
If you want a hand wrap that you can simply and firmly secure to your hands, choose one with a thumb loop. The wrap is kept linked to the thumb by a thumb loop, making it much easier to maintain a tight fit on your hands as you wrap the fabric around your wrists and hands.
Why should you use hand wraps?
When you punch, a solid set of boxing/muay Thai hand wraps will protect your knuckles and wrists.
Wearing gloves without first wrapping your hands might sprain your wrist, bruise your knuckles, and cause other significant injuries. It's critical to safeguard your hands properly, especially if you train frequently. Punch after punch, day after day, week after week, can be quite taxing on your hands.
While you may take your hands for granted when they are healthy, just one little injury to the hand can set you back months in your training. This is why, before training, you should know how to wrap your hands correctly.
Apart from your boxing gloves, your most vital piece of Thai muay equipment is a decent pair (or multiple pairs) of hand wraps. As a result, you must purchase the correct hand wraps. A poor set of wraps will waste your time, provide little protection, and chafe your knuckles.
What are different types of hand wraps?
Traditional hand wraps
Traditional hand wraps are typically constructed of cotton fabric that is not stretchable or elastic. If you're seeking low-cost wraps that will provide you with adequate protection when fighting or training, they're a good choice.
However, when tightly wrapped, they are not very flexible and will tend to cut off blood circulation to your finger. As a result, wearing these wraps for an extended period may induce numbness in your fingertips.
On the other hand, traditional hand wraps are sturdy enough to provide adequate protection if you simply want more padding. They are, however, being phased out as boxers favor newer or better hand wraps.
Mexican hand wraps
Mexican hand wraps are constructed from a blend of breathable cotton and elastic. They're highly flexible, can be wrapped around your hands firmly, and won't cut off blood flow to any of your fingers. If you want to box with confidence, comfort, and efficiency, these are the shoes for you.
Hand wraps: traditional vs. Mexican
Hand wraps, both conventional and Mexican, provide adequate protection for your hands. So, while deciding between the two options, it all comes down to personal preference. On the other hand, Mexican hand wraps are clearly more comfortable, provide superior protection, and do not easily loosen.
How much do hand wraps cost?
You may get a pair of boxing hand wraps for as little as $6.99, which is on the lower end of the pricing spectrum. If you're searching for something a little more expensive, hand wraps start at $14.99.
At least when it comes to our selection of products, there is no correlation between the price of hand wraps and their quality. As a result, you must assess each pair of hand wraps on its own merits.
Best Hand Wraps FAQs
Q: Do boxing hand wraps need to be worn under boxing gloves?
A: Yes, especially if you are a beginner, it is highly advised that you wear boxing hand wraps under your gloves. As you hurl high-impact blows, your hands will need all the padding they can get. Handwraps also give your wrists more support and stability, reducing the danger of damage.
Q: What should the tightness of my boxing hand wraps be?
A: Your wrap should be loose enough that you can comfortably create a fist with it but tight enough that it does not move from its place in the least while you do so. Also, if it's obstructing blood flow, it's probably too tight and needs to be adjusted.
Q: Velcro versus lace-up: which is more durable?
A: Both velcro and lace-up have advantages; nonetheless, it is always good for beginners to learn how to use velcro. Advanced and experienced boxers commonly use lace-ups.