Fight gear size guide: gloves, shin guards, shorts and more
Gloves: pick oz by body weight (10 oz up to 60 kg / 132 lb, 12 oz up to 75 kg / 165 lb, 14 oz up to 90 kg / 198 lb, 16 oz above or for sparring). Shin guards: by height. Shorts: by waist, Thai brands run one size small.
Fight gear sizing is confusing because every product uses a different system: gloves in ounces, shin guards in S to XL by height, shorts by waist, and brands from Thailand, Belgium and the Netherlands do not always agree. This guide puts everything on one page, with kilograms and pounds, centimetres and inches, so you order the right size the first time wherever in Europe you train.
Boxing gloves: ounces by body weight
The oz number is the weight of the padding, not the size of your hand. Use your body weight: 10 oz up to 60 kg (132 lb), 12 oz from 60 to 75 kg (132–165 lb), 14 oz from 75 to 90 kg (165–198 lb) and 16 oz above 90 kg. For sparring, almost every gym in Europe asks for at least 14 oz and usually 16 oz, whatever your weight. Between two sizes? Take the heavier one.
Shin guards: by height, then by calf
Shin guards are sized S to XL by height: S up to 1.65 m (5'5"), M 1.65–1.75 m (5'5"–5'9"), L 1.75–1.85 m (5'9"–6'1"), XL above 1.85 m. If you have strong calves, go one size up so the straps close comfortably. The guard should cover from just below the knee to just above the ankle without blocking your foot.
Shorts: waist in centimetres and inches
Muay Thai and kickboxing shorts are sized by waist: S 66–76 cm (26–30 in), M 76–86 cm (30–34 in), L 86–96 cm (34–38 in), XL 96–106 cm (38–42 in). Thai brands such as Twins Special run about one size smaller than European brands such as Booster; if you are between sizes in a Thai brand, go up. The elastic waistband gives a few centimetres of play.
Headguards, groin guards and MMA gloves
- Headguards: measure the circumference of your head just above the eyebrows. S/M up to 57 cm (22.4 in), L/XL above. Most adult fighters wear L/XL.
- Groin guards: sized by waist like shorts; steel cups (Thai style) run small, so size up.
- MMA gloves: sized by hand circumference around the knuckles without the thumb. S up to 19 cm (7.5 in), M 19–21 cm (7.5–8.3 in), L 21–23 cm (8.3–9 in), XL above. Competition gloves are 4 oz, training gloves 6–7 oz.
- Hand wraps: 4.5 m (180 in) for adults with large hands or who like a thick wrap, 2.5 m (100 in) for kids and small hands.
| Body weight | Gloves (bag / pads) | Gloves (sparring) |
|---|---|---|
| up to 60 kg / 132 lb | 10 oz | 14 oz |
| 60–75 kg / 132–165 lb | 12 oz | 14–16 oz |
| 75–90 kg / 165–198 lb | 14 oz | 16 oz |
| above 90 kg / 198 lb | 16 oz | 16–18 oz |
Frequently asked questions
Are Thai sizes the same as European sizes?
Not quite. Twins Special and other Thai brands run about one size smaller in shorts and groin guards. Gloves in oz are the same everywhere.
Do you use EU or UK sizes?
Fight gear is mostly sized in oz and S–XL, which is the same across Europe. Where a product has a specific size chart, it is shown on the product page in centimetres.
What if I order the wrong size?
You have 14 days after delivery to return it unused in the original packaging. Email us your order number and we exchange or refund it.
Which size gloves for a 70 kg beginner?
12 oz for bag work and pads, 14 or 16 oz as soon as you start sparring.
