If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what best boxing headgear for sparring is, then I’d recommend the Venum Challenger 2.0 Headgear as the best one.
Professional boxers spar with protective gear, so as a beginner, it’s vital that you utilize the proper headgear.
The best boxing headgear may keep you safe from bruises, abrasions, and any other affect from your partner’s strikes.
With our buyer’s guide and reviews of five top-rated products, you should find the right one for your sparring needs.
Here are the top boxing headgears we’ll be reviewing:
- Sanabul Essential Professional Boxing Headgear
- Everlast Everfresh Headgear
- Venum Challenger 2.0 Headgear
- Ringside Competition-Like Boxing Headgear
- SANJOIN Boxing Headgear
Everything You Should Know About Boxing Headgear
It’s not simple to choose the first headgear you see and go from there.
Even if you appreciate some of the products in our list later on, there are still some things you should consider before you purchase any protective gear.
Benefits of Using Boxing Headgear
There are professional studies that support the use of headgear as it can help reduce the impact from an opponent’s hits.
It may not completely eliminate the chance of you experiencing trauma, but it may certainly curb some of the harsher effects.
Since it may cut back the sensation of a punch, it might make you more accepting of the fact that you’re going to get hit, a fact many new boxers may not be willing to deal with yet.
With the right headgear, you won’t feel it as much, which might help you develop some more confidence in stepping in the ring.
One of the best things quality boxing headgear can do for you is prevent the more superficial injuries such as cuts and bruising.
In addition, if you find headgear that has adequate protection around the ears, you may even cut down the risk of developing the dreaded cauliflower ear many boxers have.
For those of unfamiliar with the term, it’s a deformity of the ear that’s due to repeated blunt trauma, which then leads to small collections of blood blocking the flow of blood.
The right padding from headgear may block those strikes, lowering your risk of experiencing such injuries.
Type of Coverage
How much coverage you need is a more personal choice than anything. Generally, headgear protects the sides and back of your head, your cheeks, forehead, and chin.
However, not all headgear offers the same coverage.
For instance, you may find some headgear that lacks any sort of chin protection.
It’s not something that everyone needs though, so you may benefit just as well from that type of headgear as others would with something that offers full coverage.
Padding Amount
Another important aspect you need to consider when shopping for headgear is how much padding it has.
Regardless of where the coverage is, it can still provide different levels of protection.
Thick cushioning may block out the worst sensations of getting hit, but if it’s too heavy, it may make you too comfortable while sparring.
Also, it can also make the headgear weigh you down a bit.
Many quality headgear are made with lightweight padding that manages to provide adequate protection without being too heavy.
This way, you can still move about with no restrictions.
Padding also determines how much visibility you have. If there is too much padding around the cheek and forehead area, it may start to obscure your vision.
This can negatively impact your performance.
Likewise with the area of coverage, how much padding you can handle is based more on preference.
You want to be protected, but you also want to be comfortable so that you can focus on your technique.
Fit and Closure System
The best boxing headgear is one that actually fits you well. You don’t want it sliding around during a sparring match, and you also don’t want it overtly tight that it feels constricting.
Some are designed in a one-size-fits-all style that offers a certain amount of adjustability. Others come in various sizes.
You may have to try some on to understand what fits best with your head.
Another aspect to consider when it comes to fit is the design choices of the headgear piece.
For instance, some may offer a more contoured style in an effort to better follow the natural curves of your face.
Having the right fit leads into the closure system.
Does it offer the standard hook and loop closure?
It’s a style that seems simpler and quicker to use.
Others may have a wider Velcro fastening system instead that may be just as easy.
Some fastenings are found under the chin, while you may locate others on the back of the headgear.
Either location may still offer you the necessary security to keep the headgear firmly in place.
Lining
Certain material may feel better against your skin than others.
It’s yet another feature of boxing headgear that may boil down to how you personally feel.
No matter what type of lining the headgear has, it shouldn’t irritate the skin.
In addition, it may help if the lining has options such as breathability. This way, you may not feel sweat and hot while you spar.
Best Boxing Headgear – Top 5 Reviewed
Sanabul Essential Professional Boxing Headgear
The Sanabul Essential Professional Boxing Headgear is available in select sizes as well as six different color variations.
It also full coverage protection for the head, cheeks, and chin. The cheek padding seems to sit well enough to not block your peripheral vision.
However, there’s a chance that rough impact may cause the headgear to move a bit.
Otherwise, under light sparring, the headgear appears to fit snug if not a bit lopsided.
If need be, it’s simple enough to adjust, allowing a multitude of users to be able to wear it.
Securing it is easy as well as it fastens with a reliable hook and loop closure system.
As for the material, the padding is Dura-shock impact protection foam that’s light in weight. There’s still enough of the padding to absorb a good amount of shock.
The lining of the headgear has a soft feel to it so it may not irritate the skin.
Also, it doesn’t appear to lock in heat, so you might not have to worry too much about accumulating sweat.
Pros
- Allows for good peripheral vision
- Easy to adjust
- Soft, comfortable material
Cons
- Sits a bit lopsided
- May move under heavy impacts
Everlast Everfresh Headgear
The Everlast Everfresh Headgear may be the best boxing headgear designed in a one-size-fits-most style.
There are adjustable straps located behind the head and under the chin so that you can change it to fit your head.
With a Velcro closure, the headgear is quick and easy to put on and take off. There’s just enough of the single hard density padding to protect against superficial injuries.
If there is any concern about the fit, it’s that it might feel a touch stiff. This may be due to the fact that it’s not intended to contour to your face.
The headgear may feel more comfortable after you break it in, a period that shouldn’t take long.
However, with it not contouring to your face, the cheek padding seems to stick outward, which may have a chance of impeding your vision when it comes to viewing uppercuts.
The headgear does seem easy to wear though in spite of that. It offers breathable material so that you may remain cool.
Also, maintaining it is simple considering the use of “Everfresh”, which is the company’s antimicrobial treatment that fights off odor.
Pros
- Provides good breathability
- Quick to put on and take off
- Short break-in period
Cons
- May fit a bit stiff
- Cheek padding seems awkward
Venum Challenger 2.0 Headgear
With the Venum Challenger 2.0 Headgear, you can choose from two stylish designs: a black on black version or a black and white version.
It’s constructed using ultra-lightweight materials so that it may not feel uncomfortable to wear for an extended time.
The design is open at the top and features mesh material, it can help manage your sweat better.
Made from Skintex leather, it feels easy enough to wear too.
The Velcro fastening is wide to help secure the headgear better so that it won’t move around.
There is a chance that it can run large though, but you can adjust it accordingly.
Its overall concept design is meant to give you 180° vision so that you have as good visibility as possible while still being safe.
When it comes to the padding, some of it may be uneven. For instance, it may be thicker or thinner on one side than the other.
However, this may still be the best boxing headgear with a contoured design so that it fits comfortably.
The triple density foam also provides protection to the most sensitive areas such as the chin, temples, and cheeks.
It absorbs shock well enough to handle light to moderate sparring.
Pros
- Doesn’t move around
- Maintains your vision
- Contoured foam padding
Cons
- Might run large
- Padding may be uneven
Ringside Competition-Like Boxing Headgear
The Ringside Competition-Like Boxing Headgear may be the closest you can get to sporting gear that’s close to what the pros wear.
It’s made from quality leather that should last you a good deal of time. The material is also flexible enough to give you a comfortable fit.
It comes in four different sizes, but take caution as the sizes may run small. You can choose from a number of different colors though.
There is enough adjustability to help it sit easier on your head.
You may experience some difficulty with the chin strap, however, which might make it tough to put the headgear on and take it off.
Once it is fitted properly, it doesn’t appear to move around.
As for the padding situation, it has a foam system that disperses the impact throughout the headgear to reduce how much of it you feel.
The cheek areas are curved to give you a contoured design. Although this headgear may give you good field of vision, it may disrupt your overall peripheral vision at times.
Pros
- Good amount of adjustability
- Flexible for a comfortable fit
- Disperses impact well
Cons
- Chin strap seems difficult to use
- May hinder peripheral vision
SANJOIN Boxing Headgear
The SANJOIN Boxing Headgear features synthetic leather material that’s lightweight and soft so that it may feel easier to wear.
It’s also sweat-resistant, which may allow you to feel drier while wearing and also help with the overall maintenance of the headgear.
This is available in a single size, but it features a good deal of adjustability using a hook and loop closure system.
With height adjustability, it may be able to fit on a variety of head sizes.
You may need to utilize the adjustable system frequently though as the headgear seems to slip while you spar.
This slippage might cause it to obscure your vision at times, but you can slip it back into place.
Another complication that may arise is that it can be tough to adjust alone, so assistance might be needed from your sparring partner.
For the sake of protection, when it fits, the headgear can absorb enough shock to keep you safe from light impact.
The gel tech integrated padding is also intended to fit the natural shape of your face.
Pros
- Plenty of adjustability
- Lightweight materials
- Sweat-resistant
Cons
- Not that user-friendly
- Might require frequent readjusting
Final Thoughts
Although it may not look the most attractive, headgear is vital for adding an element of safety to your sparring.
Out of the headgear we reviewed, we feel that the Venum Challenger 2.0 Headgear stands out as the best boxing headgear to use for your training sessions.
It features lightweight material that won’t weigh you down and make you uncomfortable.
The Skintex leather is reliable enough, and the inner lining is breathable. There’s even an open top with mesh material to reduce humidity inside the headgear.
The padding absorbs shock enough to reduce a good deal of the impact from your sparring partner’s strikes.
It’s also contoured for a more secure fit so the headgear won’t move around. In addition, it gives you 180° vision so your technique won’t be disrupted.
If you’re worried about appearances, the headgear is even available in two unique color styles.
