Boxing Head Guards

Choosing the best boxing head guard for you

Investing in a good quality boxing head guard keeps you protected but also, it means you won’t have to share or use a gym or club’s communal head guards. Let’s face it, boxing headgear can get pretty unappealing over time with dirt, sweat, and the smell!!.

More seriously, using an improper or uncomfortable fitting head guard which slips around as you box, can be dangerous plus hamper your training, so owning your own boxing head guard is the best option all around.

Here are the most important considerations to make when picking head guards for boxers:

• Correct and tight fit
• Clear vision through the head guard
• Secure fastening (no slippage)
• Protection for your head and ears

Build, materials and fit

Boxing head guards are usually comprised of a full-face mask which wraps around the front and back of your head towards your jaw-line. Full facial protection doesn’t just protect from punches but will also prevent nasty impacts if you were to get knocked out. Some head guards have super-dense padding, and extreme coverage, while others are more minimal and thinner overall in construction.

• Thicker padded head guards, normally means better protection but have added weight and lessened visibility.
• Thinner padded head guards mean less protection but greater flexibility, lighter weight for faster head movement and they often have better visibility.

Head guards may come in a one-size-fits-all or there may be different sizes available including those suitable for younger boxers. Fitting is incredibly important not just from a safety perspective but from a performance perspective also. Too loose and your head guard might slide about and move when struck, if too tight it might feel way too constricted and hot.

Head guard size guide

Either measure your own head and choose the best size online using our size guide, or pop into our Essex store for one-on-one professional help with fitting.

How to measure your head

Simply use a measuring tape to discover the circumference of your head, and find the best fit from XSMALL to XXLARGE from our range.

To measure the circumference of your head, make sure the tape is above the top of your ears, wrapped around your head , and repeat two or three times to check your accuracy. Ensure you don't hold the tape too tight, otherwise your head guard will also be too tight. We suggest that you ask someone to help you, as it is far easier with two people.

Padding and coverage

Within our head guard range, there are several types that you can choose from, all with pros and cons and certain specifics that would make them right for you and your boxing requirements.

Open Face

Open face head guards provide minimal protection to the front of the face, including the nose and mouth. The upshot is you gain breathability and vision but sacrifice extra protection. If you’re not training with full front blows permitted then this is an appropriate choice but it’s worth bearing in mind that it's only an essential level of protection and not full protection. Open face head guards are worn by ABA boxers when applicable and it is sometimes felt that if you fight in an open face head guard, then train in one too.

Cheek Guards

Cheek guards come across your cheekbones towards your mouth and therefore protect a greater area than a simple open-faced guard.

If you’re training more intensely with harder strikes to the face then it’s always wise to protect the cheeks. Injuries on the face can be particularly painful, including any accidental head clashes.

Cheek and Chin Guards or Nose Bar - ‘Facesavers’

For the greatest levels of protection, cheek and chin head guards or full face nose bar head guards are the best for preventing both damage to the chin and nose. These high-level full face protective guards are commonly used by professional fighters who want to avoid all possibility of getting a cut or their nose broken just before fight night.

Cheek and chin head guards can also add another level of stability to keep the mask sturdy during rougher training sessions. They are also the choice for boxers who have jobs that do not allow for any head or face injuries to be on show but allow them to heavy spar with confidence that they will not get marked up.

How to care for your headguard

Head guards do get sweaty and can generally smell pretty horrible! Whilst the materials used will repel sweat to a degree, sweat and grime will still build up. Spray-on deodorisers will help if you simply spray on once your head guard has dried off after training.

In addition to using sprays, consider the following:

• Store in a cool, dry, ventilated place and keep away from used gym kit
• Place in front of a fan (not a heater) to dry moisture and remove with antibacterial wipes
• Spend time getting into the edges of the guard for a deeper clean
• If you have a leather headguard, ensure you're using a leather cleaning product
• Spray now and again with a dry kit deoderising spray,

Top brands of boxing head gear

There are many brands of boxing head guards ranging from sportswear titans such as Adidas, plus boxing specialists Pro Box, Lonsdale, Ringside, Tufwear, Fly and Rival. At Boxfit, there’s something for everyone from every brand ranging from the most well known to the most niche in the boxing world. With all forms of headgear represented, we can provide head guards for any type of boxer out there.

Speak with our team

Boxfit is passionate about boxing in all its forms, and we’ve worked alongside the professional game as well as schools, clubs and gyms for over 14 years. We’re always happy to speak to our customers about anything boxing related, our dedicated team can recommend boxing equipment or discuss bulk orders for clubs, gyms or schools and answer nearly any other boxing-related question or query.

Please contact us if you have any query or question surrounding boxing, our brand or our products by calling 01708 320320 (option 3) or info@boxfituk.com.