How to Choose the Right Headgear

If you intend to spar or compete in the world of boxing, you’ll need some headgear for your protection. Ensuring you have the right fit is crucial in providing proper protection. In this blog we will discuss the different designs in headgear, as well as how your headgear should fit.

 

TYPES OF HEADGEAR

Competition Headgear:

Competition headgear will have less padding than the kind of helmet you’d use for sparring sessions. This makes it lighter, less bulky, and less of an impediment to your field of view. National Tournaments require an open face headgear, while some local/regional tournaments might allow cheek protectors. Competition headgear can be used for sparring to get used to the gear before a tournament. Amateur boxers aged 35+ are eligible to fight in the Masters class at tournaments (boxers aged 40+ can only compete in Masters class). The required headgear for this is a thicker padding and larger cheek guards than the standard version. 

Required headgear for boxing competition must be approved by USA Boxing or AIBA.

 

Sparring Headgear:

Sparring headgear comes in different styles. They can include a variety of protective features, such as cheek coverings, full face cages or a face bar (protects the nose). You’ll want to choose a set of sparring headgear that meets the needs of the kind of sparring you do, and the biggest question will be the amount of protection you need.

 

 

Fit:

The headgear should feel snug but fit comfortably. There should be no parts that feel like they’re pinching or squeezing tight. You’ll want it to feel very secure when before you start exerting yourself, because you don’t want it flopping around your head when you start sweating and moving. On this note, it's important to move around a bit as you're trying it on and make sure there's no movement on your head. Make adjustments to your headgear’s fasteners until it fits exactly right and if you're unsure you can always ask our staff to assess the fit for you.