Top 10 Best Boxing Headgear

When you’re sparring, no matter if it’s boxing or MMA, it’s important that you wear headgear to protect your face from cuts and bruises. Though cuts, scrapes, swelling and bruises can still happen through the headgear, it’s much less likely. Unfortunately, headgear does not prevent concussions as jarring of the brain will still occur when hit.

Whether you’re sparring or competing with a head guard, our top 10 best boxing headgear will protect your face the way you want it to. Scroll down to learn how to choose the right boxing headgear for you.

	Title Gel World	Ringside Competition	Ringside Competition	Venum Challenger	Everlast Everfresh	Cleto Reyes Classic	Ringside Air Max	Title Face Protector	Fairtex Super Sparring	Title Classic High Performance
Our Rating											Our Rating
Material	• Leather • Gel Lining	• Leather • Soft Suede Lining	• Leather • Soft Suede Lining	High Quality Synthetic Leather	Outer Everhide	• Full Cowhide Leather Shell • Latex foam padding	Outer Mesh & Vented Foam Padding	• Outer Leather • Leather Inner Lining	Full Grain Leather Shell	Tough denier cross-weave backed nylon cover	Material
Colors	Red / Black	Black / Red / Blue / Gold / White / Mexican Flag / Red, White & Blue USA / American Flag	Black / Red / Blue / White	White on Black	Black	Red / Black / White	Blue on Black	Red / Black	Black / White	Black	Colors
Sizes	Regular / Large	S / M / L / XL	S / M / L / XL	One Size Fits All	One Size Fits All	S / M / L	S / M / L / XL	One Size Fits All	M / L / XL	Adult / Youth	Sizes
Features	• Gel lining and multi-layered sleek design foam makes for an unbeatable combination of comfortable form-fit and impact resistance • Fully padded cheeks, forehead, ears and back make for optimal wraparound coverage and fit	• Sleek, contoured design with cheeks better protects the head and face • Soft suede lining absorbs sweat • Top quality laminated foam system disperses impact	• Sleek, contoured design with cheeks better protects the head and face • Soft suede lining absorbs sweat • Top quality laminated foam system disperses impact	• Ultra lightweight improving head movement and visibility • Triple density contoured foam to prevent cranial trauma • Head, cheek, ear and chin protection	Cheek protectors provide optimal safety and excellent visibility	• Three point anatomical fit • Allows a wide-angle vision	• Cool Max liner for comfortable, quick drying performance • Additional padding on the chin strap and across the ear canals enhances protection	• Super thick, layered foam padding provides an extra comfortable barrier • High visibility and protection from punches • Special leather inner liner provides added comfort to user • Padded, molded face bar helps to protect face from punches	• Increased padding • Fully padded forehead, ears and back • Curved chin protector to maximize comfort to throat • Lighweight design	• Shock absorbing foam in the forehead, cheeks sides and back • Performs and lasts like leather at a fraction of the cost	Features
Adjustability	Hook-and-loop rear closure	• Hook-and-loop rear closure • Adjustable chin strap	• Hook-and-loop rear closure • Adjustable chin strap	Flexible two way velcro closure	• Back closure • Adjustable chin strap	• Adjustable buckle chin strap • Lace crown area adjustment • Hook-and-loop rear closure	• Rear hook-and-loop closure • Adjustable chin strap buckle	• Top and back lace ties • Adjustable chin strap buckle	Rear hook-and-loop Velcro closure	• Hook-and-loop adjustable straps on top • Twin adjustments on the back • Adjustable chin strap	Adjustability
Suitable For	Sparring	Competition & Sparring	Competition & Sparring	Sparring	Competition & Sparring	Sparring	Sparring	Sparring	Sparring	Competition & Sparring	Suitable For
Price	**CHECK PRICE**	**CHECK PRICE**	**CHECK PRICE**	**CHECK PRICE**	**CHECK PRICE**	**CHECK PRICE**	**CHECK PRICE**	**CHECK PRICE**	**CHECK PRICE**	**CHECK PRICE**	Price

Competition vs Sparring Boxing Headgear

Certain types of sparring headgear are not allowed to be used for competition. These include full face protection headgear (any headgear that has chin protection or a face bar).

If you plan on competing, you may want to get used to wearing an amateur competition headgear (cheek protection only), even though the actual headgear you’ll be wearing for your match will likely be a different style than the one you practice with.

Choosing The Best Boxing Head Guard

As you look at the range of different models of boxing headgear available, you’ll notice that there are different types, which are usually based on how much protection you want. Let’s look at some of the main factors you must take into consideration.

• Outer Material – A high quality outer material such as full grain leather ensures that your headgear remains durable and doesn’t tear even through prolonged use.

• Inner Material – This is considered to be even more important than the outside, as it affects how comfortable you face feels especially when hit.

• Padding – Additional padding means that the impact of punches are slightly reduced, and plays a small role in comfort. However, more padding usually means more weight and reduced vision. Though if you’re not very experienced, it’s a good idea to choose a well-padded headgear. Even if you are, it may be your preference anyway.

• Face Bar – Certain boxing head guards have a wide bar that runs across the nose area. This is to protect the nose, but some boxers prefer not to have it usually because it allows for better breathing and better vision.

• Protection – All boxing headgear will have cheek protection but only some will have chin protection. Those that do, cannot be adjusted at the chin area, which can sometimes have a looser fit.

• Face Grill – If you want your face fully protected from any cuts and bruises, then certain head guards will come with a plastic face plate that attaches onto the front via velcro straps. Most boxers tend not to use this type of head guard as it obstructs the view and restricts breathability.

• Adjustability – There are three places that can be adjusted on a headgear – Chin (buckle or Velcro strap closure) back of the head and top of the head. Depending on the style of the headgear, certain areas cannot be adjusted. The adjustable areas that will provide you with the best fit are the chin and back of the head.

Comfort and durability are the two main factors that dictates on whether a boxing head guard is suitable for you, and while every boxer has their own preferences, certain characteristics remain the same. When selecting a head guard, you must ask yourself:

• Is the head guard secure enough? Even though there are adjustable straps on the majority of boxing head guards, it still may not be secure enough no matter how tightly adjusted. This could be due to the build of the head guard or the shape of your head. A perfectly fitted head guard will have little slip (movement of the head guard) when hit, preventing the guard from obstructing your view.

• Does it obstruct your view? When the head guard is fully strapped in and adjusted, you should clearly be able to see all the way from the left to the right side. Failure to do so is a surefire way of getting hit with a punch you don’t see coming. Head guards with cheek protection tend to have a narrower gap for the eyes, so you may want to use an open face head guard instead.

• Is it comfortable? A head guard that’s too tight around the temple area, restricts your breathing too much, or scratches your chin with the velcro strap, are all distractions that you shouldn’t have to worry about when punches are flying in. Make sure that there are no nuisances – no matter how minor – that will shift your focus during sparring or competition.

There is such a large variety of boxing head guards to choose from, so you’re not limited in that sense. However, the best boxing headgear are manufactured by brands that have been long established in the combat sports niche – Title, Ringside, Cleto Reyes, Everlast etc.

They’re often not cheap, as the engineering involved in creating a head guard for boxing is more complex than most other pieces of boxing equipment. It’s designed to manage consistent impact (hopefully you work on defense so that you won’t get hit much!), so don’t sacrifice quality for price.