During sparring, it is very important to protect the head from possible injuries. Of course, a helmet cannot fully protect against the likelihood of a cut, abrasion or bruising. But with it, the risk of injury is significantly reduced. You can choose good protection yourself if you take into account the rating of the best boxing helmets for sparring, which we compiled based on the reviews and recommendations of coaches and professional athletes.
Content
There are several models of helmets for boxing, depending on the purpose:
Video review of the main types of boxing helmets:
Before buying equipment, you need to figure out how to choose a really high-quality helmet, by what criteria to evaluate a particular helmet model. You need to know what functionality is really important, and what nuances can be neglected.
One of the most important factors to consider when buying a boxing helmet is how comfortable the athlete feels in it. Ideally, there should be a feeling that the protection was made specifically for the athlete's head. But if there is no such feeling, the athlete should feel quite confident in the equipment in question.
During the fight, the fighter should not be distracted by something annoying or uncomfortable. More experienced athletes prefer equipment that provides more comfort and freedom than protection. After all, during the fight, softening material gives less protection than speed qualities and a feeling of relaxation.
The helmet should not squeeze the head, sit unsteadily or fidget. Some models sit unevenly on the head, forming gaps in some places. This creates inconvenience in the moments of receiving blows.
The quality of the internal material must also be taken into account.Particularly uncomfortable to wear are smooth materials that allow the helmet to move during sparring. On the other hand, fur stuffing gets dirty quickly, which is also annoying.
Notice how comfortable the chin strap feels on you, it should not be too tight, creating a feeling of suffocation. At the same time, the strap should not be loose, otherwise the helmet does not sit tight enough.
Another important criterion is the degree of review. For high-quality protection against blows, it is necessary to see their direction. This makes it possible to prepare and get away from the blow in a timely manner. Therefore, experienced athletes often prefer helmets with good visibility, sacrificing thick padding for this.
The quality of vision depends on the forehead and cheek protectors, as well as the thickness of the padding around the circumference of the face. Too thick a layer of padding makes it difficult to see and completely deprives the athlete of mobility. Try on different sizes of helmets at the time of purchase, choosing the one that will create the best view.
Another important selection criterion is the quality of the stuffing. This parameter must be evaluated not by the actual thickness of the protective layer, but by the sensations at the time of the impact. Some helmets provide good protection against light impacts but not at all against heavy impacts.
Most often, the cushioning properties are affected by the degree of stiffness of the padding. A softer layer protects better from light impacts, while a very hard padding takes some time to break in.
These parameters directly depend on the price of the model. If the equipment is made of high-quality and durable materials, it cannot be cheap. A good helmet will last several years, but a budget model will fall apart in just a few months after purchase.
Pay attention to the strap. If the quality is poor, the strap will be weak, which falls apart and breaks very quickly, or the buckle comes off from it.
The helmet should protect the main areas where a blow can land. Most often, blows fall on the forehead, cheeks, chin and back of the head. No model will provide uniform protection for all these areas, so it is necessary to choose what should be protected better. Here you need to focus on your own feelings and experience of fighting.
These equipment parameters to some extent affect the mobility of the athlete's head. The lighter the weight of the equipment and the tighter it fits the head, the better the mobility and the easier it is to dodge blows. Too thick padding turns the boxer's head into a large target, which is difficult to close from blows.
Equipment for boxers is made by different companies. At the same time, according to athletes who are professionally engaged in boxing, equipment that is produced by boxing brands behaves better. Equipment made by MMA brands looks and feels just as good, but the durability of such models is much lower. Within a year, MMA brand helmets may become unusable. While the equipment of boxing brands remains in excellent condition even after several years of active use.
You should also distinguish between training helmets and models designed for competition. The former have thicker padding and provide high-quality protection against impacts of various types. Competitive models have a thinner layer of padding, they are lighter and provide better mobility for the athlete. Different types of helmets should be used strictly for their intended purpose.
This helmet takes the first place in the rating by right. The Japanese brand Winning is considered one of the best. This helmet model is designed for professionals. It is light and comfortable, it is not felt at all on the head, but at the same time it provides a good level of security.
The only weak point of this helmet is the protection of the back of the head. Of all the models, this helmet has the smallest mass, for which it is very much appreciated by high-class fighters. Although the helmet is made of artificial leather, this does not prevent him from taking first place in the ranking.
The average price is 19790 rubles.
This helmet is made in Mexico. It is made of genuine leather, filled with latex foam inside. This model features an anatomical three-point design. On the chin, the helmet is fixed with a puff, Velcro is provided on the back of the head, and lacing is provided on the top of the head.
The helmet creates good protection of the face from the sides of the temples, forehead and cheeks. The design of the helmet allows you to customize it to the parameters of the athlete, creating the optimal ratio of visibility and safety. At the same time, the protection of the chin and lower jaw remains minimal.
The average price is 11200 rubles.
This model is also one of the best helmets for boxing.For cushioning, this model uses several layers of polyurethane foam and a gel pad. The helmet itself is made of genuine leather, which ensures a long service life. The helmet protects the cheek area and creates protection for the nose and chin. This helmet is used by professional athletes for training.
The average price is 6300 rubles.
This model is designed primarily for muay thai sparring, where there may be elbow strikes. In this regard, it creates good protection for the ears, cheeks and chin. The helmet provides complete safety and at the same time does not restrict visibility. This model has the most optimal ratio of good visibility and protection.
The average price is 9990 rubles.
These helmets are made in Thailand and are designed primarily for Muay Thai. The model meets all safety standards and provides excellent protection. These helmets are made only by hand and are of good quality. The helmet is completely made of genuine leather, so it will last a long time. The model has a protection for the chin, Velcro on the back of the head is provided for fixation. This model is designed for martial arts of all contact types.
The average price is 5400 rubles.
This helmet is made of thick calfskin, so it has a long service life. Polyurethane foam filler is used as a shock-absorbing material. An additional layer of foam is provided in the cheeks and forehead area. The lining is made of suede, which is soft, comfortable and durable. This model is suitable for beginners and professional athletes.
The average price is 5360 rubles.
This helmet is filled with excellent cushioning properties and protects well from heavy impacts. The model is made of leather, which ensures a long service life. Inside there is a special lining that provides air access and reduces perspiration. Ear protectors are provided to protect the sides of the head. This helmet does not provide chin protection, which is a minus.
The average price is 5600 rubles.
Video review of the helmet:
This helmet has an attractive design. In addition, it provides a good fit on the head, adjustable with Velcro at the back of the head. The design of the helmet is quite comfortable and provides reliable protection during the training process. In addition, the helmet is quite light and creates a good overview.
Average price - 24500 rubles
Video review of the advantages of the helmet:
This model is highly adjustable and made entirely of leather, completely dissipating much of the impact. The rest is absorbed by the inner soft material. The filler has an impressive thickness and protects well from impacts. The helmet is adjustable with Velcro and straps. This helmet is suitable for various martial arts. But at the same time, the model is not approved by AIBA, which makes it necessary to purchase an additional headgear for boxing tournaments.
The average price is 8490 rubles.
This helmet has thick padding for excellent protection. An additional layer of filler is laid in the nose area. The model is quite comfortable, as it has a good anatomical design. The disadvantage is limited visibility due to the additional layer of padding in the area of the nasal septum.
The average price is 6160 rubles.
Of course, when buying a helmet, it is imperative to measure it and purchase the model in which the athlete will feel most comfortable based on their own preferences. Properly selected equipment will reduce the likelihood of serious injury, and in some cases even save lives.