BAG GLOVES
The primary function of a bag glove is to protect your hands when doing focus mitt or heavy bag workouts. Bag gloves are lighter than sparring gloves to allow you to throw more punches over an extended period of time, in order to work on endurance.
WHEN CHOOSING A BAG GLOVE YOU SHOULD CONSIDER:
FIT
When you try on a pair of gloves the glove should slide on easily. The glove should fit snug, but not feel tight. There should be room enough for wraps and there should be no areas that feel pinched or constricted. You should feel minimal resistance when making a fist, and your fingertips should touch the tip of the glove.
PADDING TYPE
One type of padding for a bag glove is Injection molded foam or IMF. IMF is a liquid poured into a mold. One advantage of IMF foam is because it is poured into a mold, you can push more padding up to the front of the glove over the knuckles where it is need most.
Another option is layered foam which is sheets of foam glued together. The advantage to this is you can vary the density of the outer layer of foam and make it quite firm to deal with the daily pounding on a bag, while using a softer inner layer for comfort.
Lastly, there is a gel option. Gel tends to be very heavy, so Ringside combines the gel with either a layered foam or IMF foam. This combination produces outstanding shock absorbing capabilities.
WEIGHT
Ringside manufactures bag gloves from 10oz to 14oz. Most recreational boxers or fitness boxers will use the 12oz or 14oz weight, because of the added protection this provides,
More seasoned boxers may use a 10oz glove to give them a better feel for the bag and enhance their speed development.
MATERIAL
If you are a hard-core athlete and are working the bag and focus mitts daily, you will want to consider a leather shell for the better durability.
Another option is a glove with a synthetic outer shell. Todays’ synthetics are almost as durable as leather and easier to clean. If you are a fitness or recreational boxer, or new to boxing, this will be a more cost-effective solution for you.