-Boxing Gloves:

   There are so many different options out there, the first thing you probably will notice is they come in diffrent sizes. What size is rite for you? The standard weight for sparring gloves in a gym is 16oz. Lighter kids (under 100lbs) can wear 14oz gloves when they spar. Heavyweight's (over 200lbs) can wear 16oz gloves, but sometimes it is safer to use 18oz gloves, not just for your partners protection, but for your hands as well.  
  Bigger boxers generate more power and can hurt there wrists,hands,or knuckles, especially in the early stages when they don't have great technique.
  If you don't plan to spar and just want to hit the bags you can go a size lower, it will make you punch harder and faster, but that will increase the chance of injury, especially in the beginner stages when developing proper punching technique.
  The second thing you might notice is some gloves are tightened by a velcro strap, others by laces. For beginners, the Velcro straps will be better. The laces require a partner to lace and unlace every time you want to get in and out of them. The truth is the laces do offer more wrist support. Some of my boxers do wear them to spar 3 hard rounds, but doing class we switch between bag, calisthenics, running, jump roping, battle ropes, ladders, etc, so much that it would be to much of an inconvince for you and your partner to spend so much time lacing them. It is crucial that when getting velcro style, the wrist strap that has the velcro on it wraps all the way around your forearm (as seen in above picture), not just a tab that flips over the bottom of your wrist. This will provide so much more wrist support. As well as more velcro, so it does not wear out as fast.
 The third noticeable thing about different types of gloves is that there are "bag gloves" and "sparring gloves". Bag gloves are much harder and have tuffer stitching so they don't get damaged from punching bags repeatedly. They will also provide more hand protection because of the harder shell. Some brands use a medal or plastic buckle to pull shut around you forearm for more wrist support, because of this, you are more likely to cut or injur your partner. If you plan on sparring you will want to get sparring gloves. Sparring gloves will be smoother and rounder, this will keep your partner safe, but the gloves will wear out faster when hitting bags with them. A lot of company's make "training gloves" that are ok for both bags and sparring, but a true bag glove will have the longest life span. 
 The last thing to consider when buying gloves that many people don't notice when purchasing online is that they are not all shaped the same. Some gloves are wider and have more padding along the top. They call this a "pillow glove" they are softer and keep your knuckles and hands safer. The material they use to provide the padding with is lighter weight, so it creates a larger layer between your hand and what you are punching.

  On the opposite end a "punchers glove" is a bit thinner, made with a more rubbery material providing a bounce back feeling when hitting things. The material used for padding will weigh more, so the gap between your knuckles and what your punching will be smaller, providing you with less protection. It is crucial that you know how to wrap your hands properly and I even suggest using knuckle guards when wearing this type of glove to spar in. Some brands are built into a "hybrid style" between both types.
  Kickboxing and boxing gloves are not the same. Many company's advertise as both, but a true Kickboxing glove has more padding along the inside of the hands to help protect when blocking kicks. This means less padding for your knuckles. 

-"Cleto Reyes" is a high end brand of a pure "Punchers glove".

-"Winning" is a high end brand of a pure "Pillow Glove".

-"Rival" is a high end brand of a "hybrid style" glove.

  Ecspect to pay around $80-$100 for a good pair of gloves. Higher end gloves range between $200-$300. Lower end gloves that cost $40-$60 is just asking for injury, as well as a much shorter life span. 
  If you are training hard  4-5 days a week a glove will last around a year give or take. Some of my full time boxers have a higher end glove they use only to spar, and keep them for a lot longer, but hitting bags, pads, and doing push ups, break the gloves down a lot faster. 
 The last thing I will say about gloves, no matter how nice they are, if you do not take care of them properly they will get gross. Wearing hand wraps not only protects your hands but also absorbs the sweat. It's like a sox for your hand. Airing them out after use is important. Putting them on boot dryers after class or using specific glove deodorizers can help your gloves stay fresh longer.