Breaking in Heavy Bag Gloves: Tips and Tricks - T-Tees - Your Answers Await, Life's Questions Unraveled

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You’ve just purchased a pair of brand new gloves. The smell of fresh leather fills the air, and the soft inner lining feels great against your skin. Eager to use them, you put them on and start training. However, after a short while, your knuckles hurt, your fingers go numb, and you regret your initial enthusiasm. Don’t worry, it’s not the gloves’ fault; it’s because they’re new.

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Breaking in Your Gloves

While synthetic gloves can usually be used right away, leather gloves are a different story. They tend to be stiffer and often have higher quality padding, requiring more time to become fully comfortable. To help you break in your gloves effectively, we’ve sorted through all the advice out there and found the best tips (while debunking a few myths).

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Step 1: Gently Stretch and Squeeze

Start by putting on one glove and making a fist. Extend your fingers a few times and use your other hand to gently squeeze the padding against your knuckles. This helps ease out the stiffness of the gloves. Be careful not to overdo it, as excessive squeezing may damage the foam padding. Remember, moderation is key.

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Hit the Pads (Lightly!)

To break in your gloves, it makes sense to use them for their intended purpose: hitting things. However, don’t go all out and throw punches with the same force you would with an old, well-used glove. Instead, start at 50% of your power and allow the leather and padding to move and adjust within the glove. It may take a few sessions before you can increase the intensity, but protecting your hands is worth the wait.

Try a Punch Bag

Opinions differ when it comes to hitting heavy bags. Some believe that repeatedly using gloves on heavy bags can make the padding denser and harder. If you plan to use the gloves for sparring, it’s best to avoid excessive heavy bag work. However, using lighter punch bags, double end bags, or other bags for a few rounds can be a great way to break in your gloves. Additionally, these bags are useful if you want to go all out during your training sessions. You can end your session by using your new gloves on the bag until they are fully comfortable for everyday use. Remember, if your gloves’ padding compresses and hardens after a couple of sessions on the bag, you’ve likely purchased a low-quality pair of gloves.

What Not to Do

In your quest to break in your gloves, there are a few things you should avoid:

Moisturizing your gloves: While there are various suggestions about using oils and moisturizers to soften the leather, it’s advisable to be cautious. These substances may damage the seams or seep into the foam, potentially reducing the gloves’ durability.
Hitting brick walls: It should go without saying, but please refrain from hitting walls with your new gloves. Padded bags and focus mitts have been specially designed to ensure your safety and protect your hands. Plus, hitting walls can ruin the leather of your gloves.
Using the tumble dryer or washing machine: Although using the tumble dryer for shoes may have been done, it’s important to note that this will only destroy your new gloves. The same goes for putting them in the washing machine. Keep your gloves away from these appliances to maintain their quality and longevity.

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By gently stretching the glove and engaging in light pad and bag work over a few sessions (the frequency of your training will determine how long it takes), your gloves will become comfortable and ready for regular use. Just remember to take good care of them, and they will last you for a long time!