** EDIT: I originally rated these gloves at 4 stars due to paint peel, but after trying on more gloves from other brands, the fit and quality of these are so nice compared to some of the other 4.5 stars I've seen on Amazon that I wanted to bump it to 5 stars to be fair.
First off, let me say that I love these gloves. I used a pair of Everlasts heavily for a year, which were also good, but you can feel the upgrade and luxury in these babies.
They feel great. I'm 6' with average-sized hands, got the 16 oz. gloves, and the fit is nice and snug with my wraps on. I definitely like the snugness, although they are less breathable than other lighter-weight material (but not to a point of being an issue). The weight balance feels superb - maybe it's psychological but they feel lighter than my 14 oz. Everlasts which were front-heavy. The foam is surprisingly more sturdy and stiff than I had imagined. While this makes me feel remorse for my sparring partners, it definitely protects my hands well. 3 months of light-to-moderate use and no noticeable degradation in foam quality yet.
My favorite part is the aesthetics. I got the white gloves which look amazing. They are incredibly stylish, stand out amidst a sea of standard black gloves at the gym, and people definitely comment on them.
However, they are not perfect, and please be aware of these caveats. In the ~3 months that I've used them, about 3 times a week, the following has happened:
1. The stitching on the inner finger-tip area of one of my gloves has become loose. Functionally this was no problem but it caused me great heartache - these are my babies.
2. The red paint on the seam of the thumb compartment is starting to peel. It's not severe, but it's revealing a long slit of the black color underneath along the seam.
3. The paint on the white front of my gloves has started to give way to tiny but long microfractures, revealing the black base material underneath. The color of the gloves is provided by paint instead of a natural material color, so they peel.
Ultimately I don't hold these superficial flaws too heavily against the product - after all, these are luxurious gloves and anything created for the sole purpose to be smashed against hard surfaces repeatedly is expected to have accelerated wear and tear. But know that these superficial deteriorations will happen (or you can opt to buy the black color theme). It's like owning a sports car - you've always wanted one, but when you get one, start driving it, and it starts getting paint chips or scratches, your heart breaks a little every time and you might just want to keep it stored away in your garage for special occasions.
I recommend these as sparring gloves as your partners' fleshy heads will be less punishing on the paint than the heavy bag, but please, don't destroy these babies on punching bags. Buy a lesser glove for that. And please buy a glove dog deodorizer for these, it will make them last a lot longer, and I will sleep easier knowing my babies' kin are well cared-for.
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 16.65 x 6.75 x 5.75 inches |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 1.04 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 16 x 7 x 5 inches |
| Item Weight | 2 Pounds |
| Brand Name | Ringside |
| Color | Black |
| Material | Leather |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| Manufacturer | Ringside |
| Part Number | PROMFTGE BLACK18OZ |
| Size | 18-Ounce |
| Sport Type | Boxing |
