Over the past several weeks we have bought and tested four separate boxing headgear. We have reviews live and posted on our site for each of the headgear that has made this list but as we buy and test out more this list will ultimately change. Grapplers Graveyard is your spot if you are new to the sport of boxing and are looking for the best reviews using a transparent scale.
Here at Grapplers Graveyard, we have a rating scale for each of the products that we test out known as the Graveyard Scale. We look at specific metrics to rate the gear that we test out to give you an overall rating from 1 – 10 so you have a good idea of our thoughts about the products. Each product rating will be found on the specific product review page on our website with their respective reason on why they got the score in the first place.
Best Boxing Headgear [List]
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Best Overall Headgear: RDX Headgear (RDX Boxing Headgear Review)
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Runner Up: Hayabusa Headgear (Hayabusa Boxing Headgear Review)
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Best Boxing Headgear (with Nose Bar): RDX L2 Mark Pro
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Best Headgear for Sparring: Venum Headgear (Venum Boxing Headgear Review)
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Best Budget Headgear: Elite Sports Boxing Headgear (Elite Sports Boxing Headgear Review)
Best Boxing Headgear
Best Overall Headgear: RDX Headgear
On the Graveyard Scale, RDX Kara Boxing Headgear is being given a 9 out of 10. I have come to find out that Hayabusa and RDX Sports have my heart when it comes to gear lately. RDX Sports boxing headgear is incredibly comfortable, sleek, soft like memory foam, and protective (for the most part). RDX Sports probably has the largest selection of Boxing Headgear to choose from compared to all the options on our ‘Best Boxing Headgear’ list.
Why It Is Here
Right now, you can get one of the best quality boxing headgear for only $54.99. While I generally do not think it is the best idea to go cheap on something like headgear, this product is both protective and cost-effective. So really it is a win-win! Here is the rating breakdown we gave this RDX Sports boxing headgear:
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Head Protection: 6.2/7
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Quality and Feel: 2.8/3
For a total of 9 out of 10.
Pros
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Great quality product that feels incredible on the face
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Soft and lightweight
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Protective
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Great price for what you get ($50)
Cons
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No nose bar
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The chin strap can scratch the bottom part of your neck
Runner Up: Hayabusa Headgear
On the Graveyard Scale, Hayabusa T3 Boxing Headgear is being given an 8.6 out of 10. We are rating boxing headgear based on two qualities mainly, protection of the face and the quality of the product. Price is not a consideration on the rating in the Graveyard Scale but is mentioned as a personal preference.
Why It Is Here
I do not think it is a good idea to go cheap with boxing equipment like this. I almost want to sit here and tell you to avoid anything cheap and just shoot for the best quality stuff, especially on headgear. You would have to be dumb to penny-pinch on the protection of your brain and face if you decide to take on MMA or boxing.
Hayabusa T3 boxing/mma headgear is not cheap, I get it. But its cheaper than a bill to fix brain goop that for sure. At the end of the day this is a high-quality product that gets the job done. Again, it is not cheap but objectively its good, looks good, and feels good on the head.
Here is the rating breakdown we gave this Hayabusa boxing headgear:
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Protection: 6/7
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Quality and Feel: 2.6/3
For a total of 8.6 out of 10.
Pros
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Insanely good quality
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Feels good on the face, cheeks, and forehead
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Lightweight, yet protective
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Offers a great field of vision
Cons
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The chin strap can get a little annoying under the neck
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No nose bar or chin protection
Best Boxing Headgear for Sparring: Venum Headgear
On the Graveyard Scale, Venum Boxing Headgear is being given an 8.4. This headgear sits at the price of $69.99 as of writing this post. While I think an 8.4 is a solid rating I do think if I was new I would go with one of the other options available only because the padding on the inside just feels a bit crowded and it hurts my mouth with the braces I have on right now. Otherwise, the leather on the outside of this headgear is super high quality and the protection from the padding is up there with some of the best.
Why It Is Here
While I do think this headgear is a great add-on to my collection, I do think it would be best to be purchased by a beginner. Venum is already a well-established brand with a massive product line ranging from boxing gloves to apparel.
My favorite part about this headgear was the ear protection, many of the other ones I have tried out have very little ear protection. Being that I have cauliflower ear and sometimes any kind of hit to the ear causes tenderness, I thought this add-on was awesome.
Here is the rating breakdown we gave this Venum boxing headgear:
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Protection: 6.2/7
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Quality and Feel: 2.2/3
For a total of 8.4 out of 10.
Pros
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Padding on the inside is very comfy
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Fair-priced product and would classify this as a mid-tier product
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Foam is protective on the head and around the ears
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Made with high-quality material
Cons
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Kind of uncomfortable for me personally because I have braces
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Smaller field of vision compared to other guards
Best Budget Boxing Headgear for Training: Elite Sports
This Elite Sports Boxing Headgear is the last of the original four headgear that we bought. If you are trying to find some equipment and doing your best to stay on a budget, this is for you!
Usually, I do not recommend the cheapest gear on the market but I do not think this boxing headgear is a bad choice. It is by far the cheapest headgear on the list hence why it is getting rated as the best budget brand boxing headgear.
On the Graveyard Scale, Elite Sports Boxing Headgear is being given an 8 out of 10. Elite Sports is a super affordable brand meaning that you what you kind of pay for here. I won’t bash it but there is nothing really special about it. It is a piece of equipment that will get the job done and you’ll only have to spend $25 on it. So if you are super new and do not know if you are ready to commit and want something that gets the job done without massive investment, Elite Sports will be your brand.
Why It Is Here
Good field of vision, breathable, and lightweight but the foam firmness concerns me and my nose sticks out pretty bad… and I don’t even have a big nose. This is the best boxing headgear around the price point so this is why it made it here on this list.
Here is the rating breakdown of the Elite Sports boxing headgear:
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Protection: 6/7
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Quality and Feel: 2/3
For a total of 8 out of 10. Still objectively a good rating.
Pros
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Cheap and effective
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Feels really good on the head
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Great field of vision
Cons
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Nose exposure is high even for someone with a small nose
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Foam is pretty hard and does not feel like it is shock absorbant as the other gear on this list
Importance of Investing Into the Right Headgear
It should go without saying that when training in any sport like MMA, boxing, or Muay Thai investing into the right pair of headgear is a pivitol decision. Good gear lets you stay in the game longer. Again, I am not the person who tells people to go cheap for the sake of saving a dollar. I will spend more money if the benefits I get from it outweigh the added price point. My personal recommendation to anyone reading this list today will be the RDX Sports Boxing headgear (specifically the Kara one). The funny thing is that you can find it cheaper on Amazon than on their website right now.
What to Look For in Boxing Headgear
Safety & Protection
This is a no-brainer. you want something that is softer foam. Not too soft that it is not going to be like a feather but soft enough that it feels more like what a Tempurpedic pillow feels like. This level of softness still is somewhat firm and is known to be shock-absorbing.
Protecting Your Cheeks
Now, whether you are more keen to keeping your face in tack while training there are headgear that have a bit more protection to the cheeks, nose, or chin area. When you go for something without a nose bar or chin padding, you typically get a better field of vision when training so keep that in mind.
Protecting Your Nose & Chin
I am not one who likes to feel narrow vision when sparring and am willing to not have a nose bar or chin strap when training. Picking the right partners though is also a factor in that equation so this is more of a personal preference thing for those out there reading this.
Vision
I think the field of vision will be best for the boxing headgear that does not have a nose bar or chin padding. Vision plays a huge role in my decision on which headgear is/was rated the highest on my list.
Weight
Most boxing headgear is relatively lightweight. Each egar is different so be sure to check the product specs and compare weights if this is going to be a point of concern for you.
Closure System
Typically the closure system for a pair of boxing headgear is either just a velcro strap (which can get annoying under the chin/neck area) or just the chin padding itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Headgear Prevent Concussions?
No necessarily. Even football helmets on football players do not prevent concussions. While the severity of the concussion may be subdued if you are wearing headgear, you can still get one with it on.
Is nosebar headgear better?
This is a personal preference kind of thing. I am not a fan of it because it narrows my field of vision more. You already have limited space wearing the headgear to begin with.
How to find the right size?
Typically, measuring the circumference of your head will do the trick in finding the size that suits you best. Most companies have a size guide right on the product page and some even have a one-size-fits-all product.