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Testing methodology
Every recommendation on CombatCriteria follows the same process, so you can compare pages with confidence.
Sized for you
Every recommendation matches gear to your discipline, body weight and gym rules, using the manufacturer's own size charts.
A clear verdict
Each review says who the gear suits, who should look elsewhere, and what to know before you buy. No filler, no hedging.
No paid placements
Brands cannot buy a review or a spot on a list. Partner codes save you money; they never decide what we recommend.
Kept current
Prices are dated, codes are updated across the site at once, and pages are revised when a product or rule changes.
Where our facts come from
We use the manufacturer's published specs and size charts (glove weight, closure, padding, gi weave and weight, bag weight and fill), and the equipment rules of governing bodies such as USA Boxing, the IBJJF and state athletic commissions.
What we check, by product type
| Boxing gloves | Ounce weight, closure, padding, material, hand compartment fit and intended use (bag, sparring, fight). |
|---|---|
| MMA gloves | Ounce weight, open-finger design, padding, closure and intended use. |
| Gis and rash guards | Size chart, weave and weight, shrinkage guidance, and IBJJF color and fit rules. |
| Heavy bags | Weight, height, fill, material and mounting. |
| Headgear and shin guards | Coverage, padding, fit and sizing, and the standard your gym or federation requires. |
Hands-on testing versus research
A review carries a "Hands-on tested" badge only when our team has used the product, and it lists the date and what we did. Every other page is built from published specs, governing-body rules, the brand's own documentation and owner feedback, and says so. Comparisons are research-based unless marked otherwise.
Prices and codes
Prices come from each brand's own store and are dated on every review. Reader codes come directly from the brands we partner with. When a brand changes an offer, we update the code everywhere it appears on the site at once.
Corrections
If you spot something out of date, email info@combatcriteria.com and we'll check it and fix it.