Today I’ll cover 12 of the best boxing headgear you can use for sparring. Specifically, I’ll cover the best headgear for boxing based on different budget ranges: low-budget (under $100), mid-budget ($100 – $150), and high-budget ($150+).
You’ve heard the sentence—“Boxing is the most dangerous sport.”
It’s not a surprise if you trained long enough.
But if you’re a casual fan, you might think that it cannot be true, as there are sports like MMA, kickboxing or Muay Thai where people can knee or elbow each other’s heads.
I know it might seem counter-intuitive, but let me explain.
Contrary to all the other combat sports, the focus of boxing is nearly purely on doing damage to the head.
Even statistics show that people die every year due to head injuries sustained from boxing.
This is exactly why boxing is the most dangerous sport.
That’s why you need a proper headgear for sparring.
You might say: But, I am not sparring that much, so is this article for me?
YES!
It does not matter if you’re a seasoned professional, world champion, aspiring contender, or complete beginner who barely spars, choosing the right headgear is not just a matter of preference…
It’s a strategic decision that can impact your performance, well-being and health and safeguard your most vital asset – your brain.
From the article, you will learn about different types of headguards, their advantages and disadvantages, and the top 12 boxing headgear based on different budgets that I previously used in my boxing training and sparring that’s available now.
From the tried-and-true classics to the latest advancements in materials and design, we delve into the secondary features – like design, material or strapping, and those that matter most – durability, comfort, visibility, and, most importantly, the ability to absorb and disperse impact effectively.
If you want the complete list, it’s here below.
12 of The Best Boxing Headgear
Low Budget (under $100)
Mid Budget ($100 – $150)
High Budget ($150+)
Low Budget (under $100)
I know not everyone can afford expensive boxing gear.
However, sometimes, spending a bit more money upfront can save you from financial headaches (literally and figuratively) down the line.
Nevertheless, if you need a good head guard on a budget, these are the ones I recommend based on what I used so far.
#1: Venum Elite Headgear
- Lightweight
- Decent Comfort & Fit
- Good Coverage
- Good Protection (e.g. ears)
- Increased Target Area
- Design Might Not Be As Appealing
Venum is an apparel brand that’s not dedicated to boxing, but their Elite Headguard is decent.
The first thing I noticed wearing it was their lightness.
This is an extremely important quality for a head guard because we are doing a lot of head movements when we fight.
You don’t want to feel like you carry a helmet.
Besides lightness, what stood out about this head guard is comfort. Venum’s head guard includes triple-density contoured foam, which is great for both shock absorption as well as comfort.
From inside it feels like a soft pillow—very pleasant.
Straps around the head guard are very comfortable and provide a tight fit—nothing to complain about in that department.
The head guard did not move on my head, nor did it obstruct my vision in any significant way.
I rate the protective qualities of the head guard quite highly.
Nonetheless, I am slightly on the fence about the reinforced ear cover.
On the one hand, it’s great. It prevents cauliflower ears and gives you an extra bit of protection.
On the other hand, it makes your head a bigger target and probably some punches that normally would have slipped off the surface of the headguard will land because of the ear protection.
What I don’t like the most about it is the design.
I just find it quite ugly.
That’s it.
I know that design is not the most important, hence, I am not going to lower the grade too much because of it, but in my opinion, the head guard does not look that good.
#2: TITLE Boxing Blood Red Leather Sparring Headgear
- Good Aesthetics
- Decent Material Quality & Durability
- Good Breathability
- Good Fit
- Wear & Tear More Visible
- Mediocre Field of View
The first thing that stands out about the TITLE Blood Red is its colouring and design.
As much as looks are probably the least important part of any headgear, I have to compliment the beauty of this model when it first arrived!
When I bought this head guard, it looked exactly like in the picture – shiny and strongly coloured. Things like that rarely happen in our advertisement-first world.
Title Boxing Blood Red is a solid cheek protection headguard, that is well made all around.
It is made from real leather, so good breathability.
I have used it for over a year and feel that it holds very well.
The only thing to look out for and I guess, something that is a small disadvantage of the shiny design is that the scratches from punches are quite visible on the shiny surface of the headguard.
Although some might like it, as it looks like battle scars—at least that’s what my gym buddy says…
The head guard is certainly comfortable, with high-quality strapping and a good fit.
What I particularly like about it is that the Velcro strap for your chin is located lower than usual.
That’s a huge plus because many headguards include a chin strap that annoys you and makes your chin itchy during sparring.
One of the things that I did not like about the TITLE Boxing Blood Red is that it has a relatively big size forehead area.
Maybe, I have a small head, but in my case, it was right above my eyes, which sometimes was problematic, because as I got hit, it took the headguard to move slightly to obstruct my vision.
I am not going to make a fuss about that because it might be just me, but it is something to look out for.
In general, I would say it’s a very solid headguard for that price.
It’s not the best head guard I have seen in my life, but certainly does the job, and hence, I rate it highly in this category.
#3: RingSide Ultra-Light Sparring Headguard
- Affordable
- Decent Comfort
- Good Fit
- Adjustable Fit
- Chin Velcro May Be Uncomfortable
- Might Not Be Aesthetically pleasing
This head guard is something that you should buy if you are starting your boxing journey and plan to buy something decent without spending too much money.
Ringside is simply best described as decent.
What stood out to me about this equipment is the material – It is not leather, but still very comfortable and most importantly moisture moisture-wicking polyester.
I always rate boxing headguards that remain dry during sparring sessions higher and that was the case with Ringside.
This model is also very light and relatively small.
After I swapped from a big Cleto Reyes to this model, I felt like I had space for 3 other head guards in my bag!
As much as that might not sound important – trust me, along the way it will! Boxing requires many items – gloves, wraps, headgear, and a groin guard. The smaller they are the easier life gets.
Another advantage of this head guard is its top, back and chin adjustment (missing in many newer-production headguards) that allows you to regulate the headguard to your needs.
It certainly allows for more comfort and greater fit.
But it also has one minus.
I found the chin Velcro to be placed in a place where it slightly annoys the chin.
As I always say, looks are not the most important thing and not something we should particularly look at, but I don’t rate the looks of this headguard too highly.
Overall, I’d say it’s decent.
Again, I recommend it as something you can buy at the beginning of your journey, or if you are unsure whether sparring is your thing, and you would like to test things out.
#4: RDX Boxing Headgear
- Thick Padding
- Good Ear Protection
- Good Design
- Heavy & Bulky
- Mediocre Field of View
- Mediocre Breathability
- Mediocre Material Quality
Designed to keep you safe, and equipped with additional thick padding, RDX Boxing Sparring Head Guard is certainly a decent investment to make.
What stands out about this head guard is its thick build. The head guard is covered with ultra-light-weight foam that gives additional cushion protection against every punch.
On one hand, it’s an advantage, as you have extra padding, on the other hand, I felt like the head guard is slightly heavy and the size of your head increases significantly after you put it in, making you potentially more susceptible to punches.
RDX’s headguards have very big ear protection, which for the same reasons and similarly to the above-mentioned is a double-edged sword.
What I don’t like about this headguard is that in my experience, momentarily it was obstructing the vision too much.
Again, I don’t like to lower the grade of the entire head guard just because it didn’t fit my head – but it’s a product review, and that’s what happened.
The headgear was moving a lot, and when someone landed a hook, I couldn’t see clearly, as I had the side of the head guard in front of my eyes.
In my eyes, it’s a big minus, because a situation where you cannot see things while you are getting barraged with punches is a big no-no.
This happened only a few times, but it did!
So, I am mentioning it!
I was also not particularly impressed by the material. Hide Convex Skin Leather is not real leather, and I could feel it during long sparring sessions.
The inside of the head guard was getting wet and sweaty.
It wasn’t a problem, but knowing that I had worn many other headguards before, I could feel that the quality of the material was not top-notch.
A decent headguard, and something I would buy if I just started boxing, but nothing spectacular.
Mid Budget ($100 - $150)
If you want an upgrade to your boxing headgear arsenal, I’d consider headgear from this budget category.
Not crazy expensive especially as a great headgear will protect you from hospital bills and lasts a lifetime—unless you never clean your headgear as your sparring!
I highly recommend headgear from this category if you plan to stick to boxing for a while.
#1: Rival Boxing RHG10
- Good Comfort
- Excellent Fit & Visibility
- Secure Adjustment
- Great Breathability
- Expensive
The top in my list for this category is the RHG10 model from Rival.
Had this one for years before I gave it to a friend.
Truly a high-level head guard.
What stood out to me is its incredible fit, and due to that, great visibility.
Thanks to the hook and loop adjustment in the back and the ideal design, the headguard doesn’t even budge on your head.
Regardless of whether you get hit with an uppercut, hook or an overhand, tight fit allows you to always see everything in front of you because the headgear simply doesn’t move.
Despite the tight fit, I still felt very comfortable wearing it.
The material on the inside has a layer of cushion and absorbs sweat very well keeping your head dry.
Thanks to the ventilation system added on the top sides of the headguard, you don’t feel hot inside your guard.
The only thing I can say about the stitching and adjustment system is that its top notch.
No complaints here really.
Sure, might be in the higher price range, but I think it’s worth it.
#2: Venum Elite Iron Head Guard
- Secure Fit
- Great Material Quality
- Good Structure & Stitching
- Good Aesthetics
- Mediocre Bar Placement Limiting Field of View
Besides its slick design and looks, the Venum Elite Iron Head Guard is one of the best head guards I had a chance to wear.
This head guard stood out to me for one simple reason.
Even though its design doesn’t usually provide optimal vision, because of its very tight fit and the fact it NEVER moves on your head, you get the best of both worlds.
High-level protection and high-level vision—that’s what you want in your boxing headgear.
Material-wise, it is not leather, but the high-quality foam truly does the job and is resistant.
Stitching is of the highest quality and generally speaking, it is really well made.
There is only one improvement I can see in this model – the protective bar.
Even though its quality and the level of safety you feel in it is high, I think it is located a bit too high, making the owner not protected from uppercuts that well.
That’s the feedback that I came up with after using it, and after getting hit with the uppercuts too many times.
The bar is not only high enough that a glove can fit there, but it also prevents you from seeing the punch from below.
Slight minus for that, nonetheless it is worth noting.
Overall, I think it was a decent headgear.
#3: Fighting No Contact Headgear
- Great Protection
- Durable and Comfortable
- Solid Construction
- Tight Fit
- Laces Make It Harder To Wear
I always thought Fighting was a cheap copy of the brand Winning and while I still think they are, I don’t think their products are bad.
Fighting’s “No Contact” is a classic, old-school, full-face head guard that provides great protection.
Being made out of leather on the outside, and soft and light foam padding, “No Contact” provides durability, comfort, and protection at the same time.
The model has old school design and is made up solidly, containing high-quality material stitching, and straps.
Fighting is also the first head guard on the list that can be classified as a full-face head guard, as it covers most of your face.
The advantage is the protection.
The disadvantage? Normally I would say the obstruction of vision but having worn this head guard and having felt its tight fit, I have to say I did not have a huge problem with it slipping or obstructing my vision in any particular way.
Headguard is also super light and even though it is laced, you can put it on rapidly.
Of course, the disadvantage of the laces is that you are dependent on someone’s help every time you put your head guard on.
That can be annoying.
But that is not a big problem especially comparing it to the quality of the headguard.
Generally speaking, very good purchase, especially for people who spar a lot, and do not want to or cannot afford to be bruised.
I used it when I had a job in which I had to look representative.
#4: Top Ten Competition Avantgarde Head Guard
- Durable Foam Material
- Washable
- Comfortable & Well Fitting
- Great Field of View
- Less Protection To Facial Area
- Not Designed Purely For Boxing
This probably will be one of the most controversial choices on the list, and I can imagine that some of you might question why this model of Top Ten made it here…
But hear me out.
Yes, it is indeed true, that this model is not as often used in boxing, and it is indeed true that in other sports (taekwondo) it is rather used for competitions, and not sparring.
Nonetheless, I think it’s a great purchase and a head guard that simply does the job in boxing.
What makes this headguard stand out is that it is made from foam!
Contrary to many headgear made from leather or other fabric, foam material gives two huge advantages.
One is that it is extremely durable, and it is extremely difficult to break it.
There is no stitching, or anything else that actually can break.
Moreover, it has one other quality that is a gem in the head guard world…
ITS WASHABLE.
This is super important.
One of the biggest outcomes of boxing in general, and especially boxing head guards is bad skin.
It’s very hard to have good skin if you spend hours in a sweaty and smelly headguard that covers most of your face.
This model allows you to solve that problem, as you can easily wash it!
As much as the material is maybe not the most pleasant, and certainly not as comfortable in comparison to the material of let’s say Rival’s RHG10, foam headguards like the one from Top Ten are very well-fitting and comfortable.
Top Ten is a bit heavier, but also a bit more fitting and holding your head very tight.
As a big fan of headguards that do not obstruct vision, I naturally rate the top ten very high.
Since it fits tight and is an open-face head guard, you can always see everything—no obstruction.
Yes, you might have a black eye, as there is no check protection, but seeing your opponent’s punches at all times is also something that has to be considered when speaking about being protected by the head guard.
Lastly, the last two advantages of the Top Ten are the following:
- It is small and fits tight, so you don’t get hit more than you should (like might happen in the case of Venum Elite)
- It has a very similar structure to the headguards you will have in amateurs. So, it will allow you to get used to it.
I hope my reasoning convinced you, and you do not see Top Ten as a controversial choice anymore!
With its crude and “rough” design, decent price for quality, and unique features—I rate it highly. The only reason why it’s not a 5, it’s because technically speaking it’s not a typical boxing product.
High Budget ($150+)
Some people just want the best of the best.
That is reasonable if you’re a career boxer or simply want the best headgear to protect yourself as much as possible.
I would highly recommend getting a head guard from below if you want to consider boxing seriously.
#1: Cleto Reyes Boxing Headgear With Facebar
- High-Quality Cow Leather
- Great Construction & Stitching
- Excellent Protection
- Great Comfort & Fit
- Unobstructed Field of View
- Expensive
By far one of the best headgear I’ve used in my boxing sparring.
It took me a while to gather my thoughts around what I would like to say, as it’s very difficult to explain what makes this head guard stand out so much.
The best way to feel it is to try it on.
It’s something that happens when you put it on, that you know this is the best thing you can wear to protect your head.
The first thing I would like to tell you though is that this product is not expensive. Yes, it is pricy, but in comparison to what you get—it’s a bargain.
What makes it an absolute elite? 3 things.
First of all: the cow leather has a high-quality feel that provides comfort and unmatched durability.
Again, it is hard to describe, but when you grab and touch the headguard you will feel that the material is soft, stretchy, and durable.
Together with the highest quality hand-made stitching, it makes the headguard an item that will serve you for years.
My brother bought his 6 or 7 years ago and he uses it till today just fine.
Second of all: it offers maximum protection with the unique round face bar that doesn’t allow the punch to touch your face.
The face bar is designed in a way that from no angle the glove can touch your face.
That makes it particularly good for people who cannot be bruised at work (e.g., work as a salesman or in diplomacy).
The whole structure of the headguard feels like you are hitting a metal pipe from the outside but is extremely soft and comfortable when you wear it from the inside.
Third of all: it provides maximum vision.
The amount of vision you get is truly exceptional. You simply feel like you are not wearing the headguard.
The range of view is unobstructed and thanks to great fit, the headguard doesn’t move, so the vision can only be ranked as 6/6.
An absolute elite-level quality, that I strongly recommend.
#2: Cleto Reyes Cheek Protection Head Gear
- Excellent Fit
- Great Comfort
- Great Construction & Stitching
- Thick and Dense Padding
- Classic, Old-School Design
- Expensive
This is Cleto Reyes’ variant of the traditional Mexican-style cheek protector headgear and one of the best in the market currently.
…and one of the things that makes it one of the very best, is the way it fits.
Thanks to the great quality adjustment system, and anatomically designed shape, it matches the head perfectly and as with other highest-quality head guards – does not move on your head while sparring.
When you first try it on it might feel a little stiff.
But one thing you need to know about Cleto Reyes’s products is that they “break in”.
Meaning that after a few sparring they naturally adjust to the size of your head and become more comfortable than anything you ever wore.
The Cleto Reyes check protector model sits on your head tight, but at the same time there are no pressure points, and you do not feel like your head is going to explode (which might happen when you tighten lower-quality headgear).
The material, stitching, straps, and quality is top-notch.
What stands out in terms of the quality and design is of course the real leather, but also the fact that the crown of the headguard is laced not stitched, which makes it even more durable.
Regarding protection – I rate it very highly. The padding is thick and very dense. Because vision is perfect, not only you are well protected by the material, but you know that you will not have a situation where you cannot see the punches coming.
Besides, it is a classic, beautiful, old-school model that looks banging when you wear it.
Absolute must have if you have the money on you.
#3: Rival Boxing RHG100
- Excellent Fit
- Great Durability & Material
- Excellent Construction & Stitching
- Lightweight
- Great Protection
- Dependency On Lacing
The more expensive bigger brother of Rival’s RHG 10—RHG 100.
Honestly, I think it is my favourite head guard on the list and one of the finest pieces of boxing equipment I have seen in my life.
Beautifully designed and hand-crafted using microfiber, this equipment is something you can wear both as an amateur fighter starting his career or as a world champion.
What is good about this head guard? Everything.
The fit is tight, the vision is not obstructed, the headgear is super-resistant, the stitching is top-level, and there is a large cheek protector, but at the same time wide and lateral eye-opening.
What else would you want from the headgear?
The headgear is also very light and small.
Contrary to many other headgear equipment you don’t feel like you wear a heavy, big tank.
I honestly felt like I didn’t wear anything while wearing it.
Some might not like that it is laced as you will require a 2nd person to tighten it for you, but it’s a fantastic headgear nonetheless.
#4: Sting Open Face Head Guard
- Great Quality Leather Construction
- Good Shock Absorption
- Hidden Ear Protection
- Great Fit
- Great Field Of View
- Very Exposed Face
Sting’s open-face head guard is amazing.
So amazing in fact that it is supported by one of the biggest amateur boxing federations – AIBA: the International Boxing Association, which requires that model for all of their amateur competitions.
If you are an amateur boxer – this head guard is a piece of protective equipment you will most likely wear to any serious or major competition.
I never owed this headguard, but I fought in it multiple times in amateurs in England.
So let me explain what makes this model so great and why it made it to the list.
When I first touched it, I noticed that the Sting Super Series is made out of excellent quality leather, which makes the headguard durable, comfortable, and resilient.
Its safety design is aligned with the highest professional standards and its high-level shock absorption system, allows you to be as safe as you can be in the boxing ring.
What stands out about its design is its hidden ear protective system. It offers protection to your ears without making the headguard bigger and by that your head more susceptible to more punches.
Moreover, I noticed when wearing it that Sting has a perfect anatomic design which doesn’t move during a boxing fight so naturally, it will not obstruct your vision after being hit.
The only disadvantages of this head guard are those that stem from the design of the open-face headguards.
Your face is exposed, so don’t be surprised if you get some bruises or little cuts. That can happen.
But it’s not a great minus, it’s simply a different type of headgear.
In general, though, I recommend it strongly.
Types of Head Guards
If you’re buying boxing headgear for yourself, there are some different types of headgear you must be aware of.
There exist 3 classic types of head guards:
- Open-Face Head Guard
- Cheek Projection Head Guard (Mexican Style)
- Full-face Head Guard
What are the differences between them?
Open Face Head Guard
Open-face head Guards look exactly how they sound and are the most common type of protective gear used in amateur boxing!
Open Face head Guard offers protection from the top (forehead), sides, and back of the head while offering minimum facial coverage to the front of the face.
If you are wondering, why you should choose a headgear that doesn’t offer protection to the front of the face…
I’ll tell you the main reason.
The primary objective behind this headgear and the reason why it is used in amateur boxing is that this type of head guard in no way obstructs the fighter’s vision.
It offers maximum vision while providing significant protection.
That’s how I would define the open-face model!
So, who’s this head guard for?
- Amateur Fighters who want to use it for competition
- Kids (it is unlikely that kids will hit each other hard enough to cause serious facial damage)
- Fighters who prefer more vision rather than more protection (myself)
Cheek Protector Head Guard (Mexican Style)
Check Protector Head Guards are probably one of the most common types of head guards on the market.
If I were to summarize them, I would say that they offer a balance between open-head gears where you have no protection to the face and maximum vision, and full-face head gears which completely protect you from all sides but obstruct your vision.
I guess, the above-mentioned is exactly why they are so appealing to the widespread boxing community.
Mexican-style headgear construction includes protection from all the sides of your head like in the case of Open Head Guard, but additionally offers substantial padding that extends to cover both cheeks.
They cover and protect your ears, back of the head, and eyes.
That’s an advantage.
The main disadvantage is that they slightly obstruct your vision and that sometimes they move on your head.
So… who’s it for?
- Every person who is into boxing sparring
- Amateur fighters who want to use it for sparring
- Boxers who are not as worried about long-term trauma, but are more worried about facial damage (e.g. people who work in jobs where you cannot have a black eye)
Full Face Head Gear
The last type of headgear also looks exactly how it sounds.
Full-face headgear is the type of head guard that offers protection to your entire head and includes full-face coverage.
The key distinction between Mexican Style and Full-Face Head Gear lies in the fact that full-face head guards extend their protection to include the chin.
Some types of full-face headgear also offer a protective bar.
Please note that on some pages, you will find people claiming that Bar Head Gear is a different type of Head Gear.
Well, you can look at things how you want, but in this article, I am classifying Bar Head Gear simply as Full-Face Head Gear, because… well, it’s a full-face headgear.
Much like their cheek protector counterparts, full-face head guards enjoy significant popularity among fighters due to their extensive protective capabilities.
The biggest shortcoming of this type of headgear is vision.
So, who is this head guard for?
- Boxers who care a bit extra about protection
- Boxers who are not as worried about long-term trauma, but are more worried about facial damage (e.g., people who work in jobs where you cannot have a black eye)
- Heavier Weight Boxers (90kg+)
Wrapping Up
These were the 12 of the best boxing headgear that I’ve used in the past during my boxing sparring and boxing bouts, based on different budget ranges.
Starting boxing sparring or you’re on a tight budget? Get a headgear from the lower budget (under $100).
If you’re more serious about boxing and want to invest more in protecting your head for your sparring, then get a head guard from the mid-budget section ($100 – $150).
Finally, if you want the maximum protection because you’re a professional boxer or you spar frequently, then go for a high-budget headgear ($150+).
Since you’re sparring, you might as well check out our article to learn some tips for boxing sparring.
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