# CombatCriteria

> Combat sports gear reviews and buying guides: boxing gloves, wraps, MMA gloves, BJJ gis, Muay Thai gear, heavy bags and mats, with sizing and materials explained, plus reader codes.

CombatCriteria publishes combat sports gear reviews, buying guides and reader discount codes. Every review states who the product suits, the current price from the brand's own store, and any active reader code.

## Key pages
- [Reviews](https://combatcriteria.com/reviews): every product we recommend
- [Buying guides](https://combatcriteria.com/guides): how to choose
- [Glossary](https://combatcriteria.com/glossary): combat sports gear terms defined
- [How we test](https://combatcriteria.com/testing-methodology)

## Topics
- [Boxing](https://combatcriteria.com/category/boxing): Boxing gloves, hand wraps, headgear and boxing shoes.
- [MMA & Muay Thai](https://combatcriteria.com/category/mma): MMA gloves, Muay Thai gloves and shin guards, fight shorts and kick pads.
- [BJJ & grappling](https://combatcriteria.com/category/bjj-grappling): BJJ gis, belts, rash guards, spats and wrestling shoes.
- [Training gear](https://combatcriteria.com/category/training-gear): Heavy bags, focus mitts, Thai pads, mats, mouthguards and groin guards.

## Buying guides
- [Bag Gloves vs Sparring Gloves: What's the Difference?](https://combatcriteria.com/guides/bag-gloves-vs-sparring-gloves): Bag gloves use denser, firmer padding built to survive thousands of heavy bag strikes. Sparring gloves use softer, thicker padding meant to be kinder to a training partner, and they are usually 14 to 16 oz or more. Many boxers keep one pair for the bag and one for sparring so the sparring padding stays soft. A training glove can do both for beginners.
- [BJJ Gi Sizing Guide: A0 to A5, Weaves and Shrinkage](https://combatcriteria.com/guides/bjj-gi-sizing-guide): BJJ gis use A sizes for adults (commonly A0 to A5, plus tall and wide variants), set by each brand's height and weight chart. Choose by height first, then weight. Cotton gis can shrink, so check whether the gi is preshrunk and wash cold. Pearl weave is light and popular; heavier weaves are stiffer and harder to grip. For IBJJF events, gis must be white, royal blue or black.
- [Boxing Glove Size Chart: What Ounce Gloves Do You Need?](https://combatcriteria.com/guides/boxing-glove-size-chart): Boxing gloves are sold by weight in ounces, and more ounces means more padding. For sparring, many gyms ask adults to wear 16 oz gloves, and lighter people often use 12 or 14 oz. Bag and mitt gloves can be lighter or the same weight as your sparring pair. Fight gloves are set by the event's rules. Make sure your wrapped hand fits the hand compartment, and choose hook-and-loop closures for training alone or laces for the snuggest fit.
- [Boxing Hand Wraps Guide: Lengths, Types and Wrapping](https://combatcriteria.com/guides/boxing-hand-wraps-guide): Hand wraps support the wrist and knuckles under gloves. Adults usually use 180-inch wraps, which cover the wrist and knuckles with room to spare; 120-inch wraps suit kids and small hands. Elastic Mexican-style wraps conform to the hand, while cotton wraps are firmer. Quick wraps and gel wraps are faster but less adjustable. Wash wraps after every session.
- [Boxing Headgear Guide: Fit, Coverage and Rules](https://combatcriteria.com/guides/boxing-headgear-buying-guide): Choose boxing headgear by the coverage and fit you want for training, then check the exact rulebook for any sanctioned bout. USA Boxing publishes its current rulebook and certified-equipment information, so event approval can determine which models are eligible. Use the maker's head-circumference chart and adjust each closure until the unit stays in its intended position.
- [Boxing Mouthguard Guide: Stock, Boil-and-Bite or Custom](https://combatcriteria.com/guides/boxing-mouthguard-buying-guide): Boxing mouthguards come in stock, boil-and-bite and dentist-made custom formats. Stock guards arrive preformed, boil-and-bite guards are softened and molded by following their maker's directions, and custom guards are made to an individual's mouth by a dentist. Check event rules, fit and any dental appliances before choosing a style.
- [Heavy Bag Buying Guide: Weight, Length, Fill and Mounting](https://combatcriteria.com/guides/heavy-bag-buying-guide): A common rule of thumb is a heavy bag around half your body weight, so it moves a little without swinging wildly. Long bags (about 5 to 6 feet) suit kickboxing and Muay Thai, while shorter bags suit boxing. Hanging bags need a solid ceiling joist, beam or stand; freestanding bags need floor space and a weighted base. Filled bags are ready to use; unfilled bags ship lighter.
- [Home Grappling Mats: Roll-Out vs Puzzle Mats](https://combatcriteria.com/guides/home-grappling-mats-guide): For a home grappling area, compare roll-out mats with interlocking puzzle mats by footprint, edge seams, surface texture and storage. Choose dimensions and thickness from a manufacturer's guidance for the training styles you plan to do; there is no one specification that fits every room and practice. Measure the floor and storage space before choosing a system.
- [MMA Gloves Guide: Competition vs Sparring Gloves](https://combatcriteria.com/guides/mma-gloves-guide): MMA gloves leave the fingers open so you can grapple. Professional bouts commonly use 4 oz gloves with thin padding. For sparring, most gyms ask for heavier MMA sparring gloves, often around 6 to 7 oz, with thicker padding over the knuckles. Bag gloves for MMA striking add more padding still. Size them by the maker's chart, with room for thin wraps if you use them.
- [Muay Thai Shin Guards Guide: Types, Sizing and Fit](https://combatcriteria.com/guides/muay-thai-shin-guards-guide): Shin guards cover the shin and usually the instep for kicking drills and sparring. Strap-on guards with hook-and-loop closures offer the most padding and are popular in Muay Thai gyms. Slip-on sleeve guards stay put during clinching and suit MMA, where they also allow some grappling. Size them by the maker's chart, usually by height, so the guard covers from below the knee to the top of the foot.
- [No-Gi BJJ Apparel: Rash Guards, Shorts and Spats](https://combatcriteria.com/guides/no-gi-bjj-apparel-guide): A no-gi outfit usually pairs a fitted rash guard with grappling shorts, compression shorts or spats. For IBJJF competition, the rash guard must cover the torso to the shorts waistband and meet the stated material and color requirements; shorts also have construction and length rules. Use the rules for your event and each garment's size chart before buying.

Contact: info@combatcriteria.com