When you are looking for the best boxing headgear it is important to remember how important your actual brain is. Without a brain you cannot live; serious brain injuries can result in things like paralysis, inability to speak, a change in personality and even death. Keeping this in mind you definitely want to get yourself a good piece of headgear so that you can do the best thing possible for your brain, take on more punches and hopefully prevent as much damage as possible from occurring.
Top Boxing Headgear Comparison Chart
Even if you are a new boxer it is recommended to get yourself a quality piece of headgear because all it takes is one bad hit to cause serious damage to your brain that could result in a lifetime of suffering. Boxing is a rough sport with lots of head contact and it is important to do the best job you can in order to protect yourself from something like a knock out from occurring.
Boxing Headgear Buying Guide
Price
Price is not the most important factor when buying headgear but it definitely should be taken under consideration. Sometimes you will actually find that a low price piece of headgear provides more protection than one that is a higher price. It is important to look at price as a reference to quality, but you cannot base it entirely on just that alone. Your head is one of, if not the most important things in your body and it is important to take proper care of it no matter if you are just boxing with friend’s or if you are boxing professionally. Make sure you set yourself a budget that is high enough to properly protect your head otherwise you shouldn’t be boxing.
Warranty
Although this is something you should have a look at, it is probably not something that you should solely base your purchasing decision on. This is largely because you will have a hard time finding warranty on a piece of headgear because it puts the company on the line for potential liability. If you happen to find one with warranty it will most likely cover manufacturer defects. This is definitely a good thing and could help save you from issues like ripper fabric and broken straps.
Foam
Probably the single most important factor in a piece of headgear is the thickness and overall quality of the foam. Without quality foam to help absorb the impact of a punch it is very easy to get a head injury in such a rough sport. You are going to want something that is proven to absorb impacts properly and efficiently and it doesn’t hurt if the foam is machine washable or removable as well so that you can keep things clean and sanitary after a match in order to prepare for your next one.
Size
This is also a super important factor to take under consideration. If you buy a piece of headgear that is too small you are not going to be properly protected from punches and you may end up with a head injury. If you buy yourself headgear that is too big you are likely going to be constantly making adjustments to it and it is still not going to protect your head as well as a form fitted piece of headgear. Luckily most of the time headgear has several adjustment points so that you can better form fit it to your head.
Brand
The actual brand is not that important but it can give you a good indication as to the quality of the product. What you can do is look up the brand and see how popular they are, if they have been around for a long period of time this is a good sign that they sell good quality products. If they have not been around for a long period of time, you should probably be a little more skeptical buying from them.
Straps or Adjustment
How your headgear adjusts is actually quite important for your overall safety. If you have loose headgear it could fall off and could cause you to receive a serious injury. It is important to be careful when doing up your straps and making adjustments to your headgear to make sure that everything is nicely snug and secure. It is also important to make sure that the straps are of a high enough quality that a punch can’t make them become undone leaving your head in a vulnerable state.
Chin Strap
A chin strap is a very important part of headgear and helps to remind you to keep your mouth closed so that you don’t end up doing something like biting your tongue. It is always a good idea to look for a piece of headgear that has an adjustable chin strap otherwise you may have a hard time fitting it properly onto your head. You want to make sure that the chin strap is also something that is comfortable so that you don’t develop rashes or itchiness from rubbing fabric.
Ear Protection
This is definitely something important to take a look at when you are purchasing a set of headgear. Leaving your ears out and vulnerable to a punch can not only be extremely painful, but it can also cause hearing loss. Make sure your ears are well protected or you could really end up paying for it. Having headgear that is too tight around the ears can also be quite painful, it is important to make sure you have adequate room in this area so you don’t get sore from wearing your headgear after a prolonged period of time.
Foam Protection Over Cheek & Jaw
This part of the headgear may not have a particular name, but it is very important especially if you are prone to having your jaw broken or displaced. It can be quite easy to do this and it can literally be done in as little as one punch especially if you have your mouth open. It is a good idea to make sure that the headgear you are thinking of buying has a substantial amount of foam in these areas and yet is not blocking your line of vision.
Level of Competition
This is possibly the most important thing to take under consideration if you are an amateur or professional boxer. The last thing you want to do is get kicked out of a match because your headgear doesn’t match the rules and regulations. Before purchasing, if you are competing at any level, it is a good idea to see what kind of protection is legal and what is illegal before proceeding with your purchase.
Outer Shell
If you are looking for some headgear to last you for a long period of time you are definitely going to want to see what kind of material the outer shell on the headgear is made up of. A poor quality piece of headgear will use some kind of synthetic leather, PU leather or hide on the exterior while a higher quality piece of headgear will most likely use leather.
Best Boxing Headgear Reviews
The Ringside competition boxing headgear uses high quality laminated foam to help with impact absorption. The interior lining of the headgear is complete with a soft suede that helps to reduce sweat. This design features very good check protection and leather exterior for added durability and strength. Overall this is a very nice piece of headgear and it comes at an affordable price range. With so many colors and designs available you will also be able to get some headgear that matches your own personal tastes.
Pros:
- Affordable price tag
- Lots of colors available
- Cheek protection and quality chin strap
- Leather exterior
Cons:
- This headgear may not provide the best nose protection
- May feel bulky with all the added cheek protection
This piece of headgear features tri-slab foam for great impact absorption. Available in black, red, blue and pink this boxing helmet appeals to all genders and personalities. Made from a hide, leather construction this is a very durable piece of headgear that does a great job at protecting sensitive areas such as your eyes, nose, ears and mouth. The face portion of the headgear is actually partially plastic and therefore provides even better protection than a foam based front. This company also inputted gel into the padding to assist with shock absorbing and to improve the overall protection that the helmet offers.
Pros:
- Plastic face shield offers extra level of protection
- Should be available in a size and color to suit everyone’s tastes
- Shock absorbing foam and gel to better protect your face from damage
Cons:
- Plastic face shield may not be allowed into competition
- Face shield may appear bulky and uncomfortable to some wearers
This piece of headgear comes in a total of 4 unique designs and is a one size fits all piece of headgear. The headgear itself can be adjusted on the head by Velcro in order to offer a secure fit. Triple density foam built into the design helps to absorb shock and protects you when your opponent lands a big hit. Skintex leather construction is quite durable and helps to make the helmet a very lightweight design. This helmet offers quite a good ear and cheek protection thanks to added foam in those areas. This headgear is listed at an affordable price range and it will be difficult to find something with this kind of quality for this price.
Pros:
- Very lightweight foam material allows for easy and comfortable head movement
- Skintex leather makes this headgear durable
- Triple dense foam for added shock absorption
- One size fits all
Cons:
- Velcro adjustment straps are loud and may be seen as unprofessional
- May appear as a little bulky and a bit too flashy of a design for some people
This headgear by Venum is available in five different designs in order to appeal to a wide audience. The Skintex leather on this headgear offers good durability and makes the helmet even more lightweight to increase head movement ability. Triple dense foam gives this helmet good impact absorption and an open mask provides you with a good field of vision. This helmet has solid ear and cheek protection and is in the average price range making it fairly affordable. This headgear has an open top to allow for better air flow and to keep you cooler during your match.
Pros:
- Velcro can be used to adjust to any head size
- Open top for sweat to escape and for air to get in and cool you down
- Good field of vision
- Triple density foam for impact absorption
Cons:
- May appear bulky on cheeks and especially on ears to some boxers
- Nose isn’t that well protected from potential injury
This headgear offers a molded plastic face bar to help protect your face from punches. It has a very open front compared to most headgear on the market but offers some very good chin, forehead, ear and temple protection. This headgear is super lightweight and very easy to move around in. Available in a one size fits most, this simple black design adjusts at the top of the headgear as well as the back and under the chin so that you can get a tight and secure fit. The interior lining of the headgear is nice and smooth and easy to wear for a prolonged period of time.
Pros:
- Very lightweight headgear
- Molded plastic bar to prevent facial damage
- One size fits most
- Soft interior
- Great ear, forehead, chin and temple protection
Cons:
- May have too many adjustment options and it could be difficult to get everything form-fitted
- Plastic headgear may be banned from some competitions
This headgear has very thick foam and is available for a super low budget. The foam is multi-layered and very good for shock absorption. You will find inner foam covering all the major sensitive areas of the face. This helmet is only available in size large/ extra-large. Crossed Velcro on the backside of the helmet allow you to custom fit this headgear to the shape of your head with relative ease. Although it may feel a bit bulky, it does offer you some very good protection and due to its bulkiness better covers hard to protect areas such as your nose and your mouth.
Pros:
- Extremely low price tag
- Very good coverage on all sides of the head
- Flexible and easy to adjust
Cons:
- Only available in black
- Velcro straps may seem loud and unprofessional
- Vision may be blocked by a large amount of thick foam padding depending on the shape of your head
Another extremely budget friendly piece of headgear that offers quality protection is this one made by Everlast. Made from Everhide material this head gear should last you for a long period of time as long as you are taking care of it. Adjustment areas built onto the rear and chin area allows most adults to wear this headgear with relative ease. This headgear offers some cheek protection and ear protection as well in case you are taking on punches from the side. Everlast also offers a very nice 120 day manufacturer’s defect warranty on all of their products to help give you some peace of mind with your purchase.
Pros:
- Everhide is durable and should last you a long time if you are taking proper care of your headgear
- Warranty for 120 days will give you peace of mind
- Extremely affordable price tag
- Very lightweight and easy to maneuver in
Cons:
- May appear a little bulky
- May not offer the ear protection that you desire
- Not available for kids and not available in colors
Contender makes a nice piece of affordable headgear. This headgear is available in black, red and blue and is also available in sizes small, medium, large and extra-large. This helmet has very nice padding that helps to absorb hard impacts and it also has padding over top of your cheek to protect that sensitive area as well. Although this helmet may not have padding in the jaw area, it does have a buckle chin strap so that you can keep your jaw locked in tight and help to prevent injury. The exterior is made of leather and therefore is quite a durable design overall. A synthetic lining will help to keep you comfortable for a prolonged period of time and will keep you nice and warm.
Pros:
- Affordable price tag
- Cheek protectors
- Great padding to help with impact absorbing.
- Available in 3 different colors and a multitude of sizes
Cons:
- Padding may seem thick in areas and you may want jaw padding that this headgear doesn’t provide
- Synthetic interior lining may be a bit warm during an intense fight
This boxing helmet is one of the lowest prices that you can probably find on the market. It is fully adjustable and can fit an adult or child as needed. The company also stands behind their product and offers a satisfaction guarantee for your money back. The helmet itself is actually made up of a nthetic leather which is quite surprising especially at this low price range. Double layered foam built into the headgear offers very good impact absorption and this headgear has a substantial amount of foam in areas such as your cheeks, chin, back and temples. This helmet is extremely light weight and will go a good job of protecting you for a super low price.
Pros:
- Very low budget price tag
- Black exterior appeals to a broad audience
- Double layered foam for good impact absorption
- Synthetic leather is durable and sweat resistant
Cons:
- Substantial amount of foam will likely block some of your field of vision
- Not triple layered foam like many other helmets are on the market
Another very budget friendly helmet, this one comes in a variety of accent colors on the basic black base. Made of leather, this helmet is quite durable and offers full face protection to all of your sensitive areas. This headgear has very thick foam and you may notice that it does end up blocking some of your field of view. If you are willing to sacrifice a bit of view in order to get something for a cheap price, this could definitely be headgear that you might be interested in. Soft material on the interior of this headgear will keep you comfortable for a long period of time even though this helmet is relatively tight fitting overall.
Pros:
- An extremely affordable price tag
- Available in blue as well as red to suit your personal tastes
- PU leather is fairly durable and should last you for a long period of time
- Offers a comfortable, tight fit
Cons:
- Some people think that the headgear looks a bit goody
- Definitely blocks out some of your field of vision due to tha ick foam
Conclusion & Recommendations
Getting yourself good quality headgear is one of, if not the best way to protect yourself from a boxing injury. Finding headgear that properly fits and that is legal to use for the level of your boxing is essential for your own safety as well as others. Headgear can prevent a serious concussion, brain injury and even death in the event of a deadly blow to the head. It is important to realize how fast an injury can occur and do the best you can in order to prevent that from occurring. Best of luck finding your headgear and hope this list helped open your eyes to what you should look for, or gave you an idea as to which one you should potentially buy.
