Tag Archives: Boxing Handwraps

What are Handwraps and why are they important

Handwraps can be worn in any combat sport which involves striking such as Boxing and Muay Thai. They provide hand protection and wrist support if worn correctly. Helping to protect all the small bones and joints in your hands.

If you have never worn a pair of Handwraps before or would just like to know how to put them on properly then click here to read our how-to guide.

Handwraps generally go under your boxing gloves to provide you with extra support while you train. You will sometimes see people with just their wraps on during activities like shadow boxing, light pad work or even using a double-ended bag. They help to prevent injuries, provide you with a secure fit and allow you to endure extra rounds.

Types of Handwraps

There are three main types of Handwraps, Traditional, Mexican Style and Quick-Gel Handwraps. Each has its advantages and offer slightly different Boxing protection. We will go through them all now so you can make the right decision when buying yours.

Traditional Style

Traditional style handwraps are made from 100% cotton and for decades they were the standard in the industry. They have been around for hundreds of years but came into full use in the 1920s and they have been used ever since.

They are normally a cheaper option and tend to hold their shape very well. Traditional wraps seem to last for longer than Mexican style wraps as they don’t have any elastic which can start to break down over time.

Unfortunately, you will not get the perfect fit like with Mexican though as they can be quite rigid. As newer technology has come out over the years the way handwraps have been made has changed. Traditional style handwraps still use 100% cotton which is no longer the best way to protect your hands.

Mexican Style

Mexican style handwraps have only been around for about 20 years. Even though they are a lot newer on the boxing scene they are now the most popular choice used by boxers everywhere. They are normally slightly more expensive than their cotton counterpart. This is because they are made from a durable, semi-elastic material that conforms to your hand.

They provide you with a more secure and flexible fit. Made from a blend of 50% cotton and 50% nylon. They are ultra-soft, breathable and help to keep your hands comfortable while training.

They are also fine to go in the washing machine. It is recommended that you wash your wraps once a week to keep them clean and fresh. You should put them on a cold wash and in a wash bag as well to protect them.

Quick Handwraps or Fast Handwraps

Quick-Gel Handwraps are an even more expensive option again. Lots of people see these as the smart choice as you can slide your handwraps on and off in seconds. It takes a fraction of the time to put these on compared to the other two options. And you also don’t have to worry about rolling them back up after training either.

They don’t provide you with as much of a secure fit compared to the Mexican style but lots of people tend to pick quick wraps due to the ease of use. They take less than 30 seconds to put on and they tend to last for longer than standard handwraps if looked after correctly as well.

Tape and Gauze

Another less popular type of protection you may come across are Tape and Gauze. Used by pros in competitive fights, they provide the best support and protection. These are only really used by the professionals during competitive fights so your average everyday boxer may have never seen these before.

They will be applied by an expert before the fight and will need to be cut off after. They provide you with the best fit of any handwraps if applied correctly but due to the fact they can only be used once they are not a viable alternative for everyday training.

When should you wear handwraps

You should wear handwraps anytime you are training Martial Arts. If you are Boxing, Kickboxing or training Muay Thai it is recommended you wrap your hands. This goes for pad work or sparing at the end of a class, and especially for heavy bags.

You are giving your hands the best possible protection and also allowing yourself to train as hard as possible while reducing the chances of injury. Some people think handwraps are for extra padding but they are actually to provide support for your hands and wrists. They hold all of the bones and joints together properly in your hand to prevent fractures or RSI (repetitive strain injury)

If you ever watch Muay Thai fighters or professional Boxers like Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua, they will always have their hands wrapped. Your gloves offer a lot of protection but handwraps provide you with something extra. They keep everything tight and compact and practically act as a wrist brace. There is a reason almost every single traditional martial art, like Kung Fu or Thai Boxing, make use of handwraps.

What length should you pick

Most handwraps are 180″ or 4.5 meters long, this goes for traditional and Mexican style wraps. Generally, you will find that this length fits perfectly but some people who wear smaller gloves may struggle to get theirs to fit correctly.

Especially for children, 180″ will normally be too long. The handwraps will seem bulky and their gloves will not fit properly. We advise getting a pair of smaller handwraps such as 120″ which will offer the correct protection. They will fit comfortably while still providing you with the right support.

How to look after your handwraps

Just like with your boxing gloves it is best to let your handwraps dry after training. The worst thing you can do is roll them straight back up and put them in your sweaty gym bag. Ideally, you would leave them somewhere to air out and dry before rolling them back up.

It is also recommended to wash them once a week. This helps to clean any bacteria off and keep them smelling fresh. You may want to invest in a wash bag as well, this will protect your handwraps and washing machine and they are relatively cheap as well.

When should I replace my handwraps

You should look to replace your handwraps every 2 years. One of the main reasons people look to replace theirs is due to the smell but the main reason is that you won’t be getting the correct protection anymore. Handwraps will start to degrade from the inside first where you can’t see before they start to fray or tear. Especially, with Mexican style wraps, the elastic will start to break down and you won’t be getting the same protection anymore.

Our thoughts

It doesn’t matter if you train full time in a Muay Thai gym or are just trying to lose weight in a Boxing class, you should always wrap your hands. If you want to get the best protection then Mexican style handwraps are the way to go. They provide you with the best fit thanks to their ultra-soft and breathable material and they are not too much more expensive than traditional wraps.
If however you are not training every day or you simply don’t want to spend the first half of your class wrapping your hands then the best way to go is quick-gel handwraps. They are easy to put on and it will take you less than 30 seconds to wraps your hands. You will not have to roll them back up either after training.

We offer a wide range of handwraps and protective gloves which you can find on our website here. If you are new to Martial Arts and not sure what type of Boxing gloves to pick then read our blog here to help you make the best decision.

Handwrap Guide – How To Put Them On

Handwrap Guide

First thing you need to do is fully unwrap both of the handwraps and check them over. You want to make sure they are suitable for you first. Measure them to check they are at least 180″ long or 4.5 meters. Any shorter and you won’t be getting the proper protection. You can get 120″ wraps for people with smaller hands or children. Don’t worry if you have smaller wraps, this handwrap guide will still be fine for you.

Start With Your Thumb

Start by hooking your thumb through the loop. You will be holding your hand palm down and start wrapping the back of your hand first. You will want to start going around your wrist with the handwrap as you can see in the picture below. Make sure you wrap the back of your hand first instead of the front as the wraps may loosen during training.

You will want to go around your wrist three times to make sure you have enough protection but remember as you are doing this do not go too tight. You still want the blood to get to your hands while you are training, so keep this in mind.

Start Wrapping Your Hand Not Your Knuckles

After you have been around your wrist several times you can move onto your hand. Remember you want to aim more for your hand here rather than your knuckles. You will do your knuckles next so make sure you go above your thumb and just below you knuckles. You will want to make three full wraps at this point.

Wrapping In Between Your Fingers

After you have covered your hands you can move onto your fingers and knuckles. As you are finishing the third wrap around your hand you will want to pull the wrap under your palm. You want to have it where your wrist meets the bottom of your thumb. This is because you will now be wrapping upwards and your thumb will help to keep your handwraps in place. Next, pull the wrap over your hand and you want to go in between your little finger and ring finger.

Now you will need to bring the wrap between your thumb and index finger, as you can see here. Wrap across your hand again aiming for your wrist. After you have crossed your hand, wrap the underneath of your wrist.

You will now be going up again to covering the next gap between your ring finger and middle finger. After you have wrapped this knuckle you will repeat the step from earlier, going across your hand, around your wrist and back up to cover the next gap, which will be between the index finger and middle finger.

Once Around Your Thumb

When you have finished wrapping your knuckles you can move onto your thumb. So after you have wrapped across your hand and the wrap is under the bottom of your hand just below your thumb you will now wrap over and under your thumb. You only need to do this once.

Secure It All With Three Wraps

You will now want your palm facing upwards. Turn your hand over and pull the wrap along your palm and now start wrapping around your hand, front and back. Making sure to cover your knuckles three times.

Securing your Handwraps with three goes around your hand.

Once you have finished wrapping your knuckles, you will want to use the remaining material to cover your wrist. So just follow the instruction that you did before to use up the material that is left.

Finish With The Velcro

Finishing putting your Handwraps on with the velcro strap.

Finally, use the velcro to fasten the wraps in place and make them secure. After you have done this, make a fist to check the wraps feel comfortable and don’t hurt. If everything checks out then you can finally put your gloves on. Just remember if your hands start to hurt or go discoloured at any time take your gloves and wraps off. Let your hand’s breath and then try wrapping them again but not as tight.

Check Out Our Other Handwrap Guide

I hope you liked my Handwrap guide and if you are looking for a pair of wraps then have a look at my blog here. I have outlined all of the features that make a great pair of wraps. So why not take a look and see if you agree.

If you are looking for a new pair of wraps then while not check out Hayabusa’s new perfect stretch ones. They are definitely the bestlooking wraps on the market and you can take a look for yourself here.

The Perfect Pair Of Boxing Handwraps

When Should I Wear Handwraps

Firstly, it is recommended that handwraps are worn for both bag work and sparring with a partner. This is to protect your hands and wrists against injuries which are caused by punching. And as you can imagine there’s a lot of that in boxing. Repeatedly, hitting a bag or jabbing a partner will eventually cause injury so the wraps are there to help minimise this.

Can I Wear Them During A Fight

It’s not just a good idea to wear them during a fight but it’s necessary. Officials are required to check that handwraps are being worn by both fighters before a fight starts in order to protect the boxers. If you don’t want to wear them then you will not be allowed to fight.

Make Sure Your Wraps Go With Your Gloves

And I’m not talking about getting matching colours here. If you are planning on buying a pair of boxing gloves, then make sure you try the gloves on with your wraps. This is so you can see how the gloves fit while you are wearing your handwraps. You need to make sure the gloves are not too tight or loose with your wraps. If you are not sure what gloves you should be buying then why not take a look at our guide here to find out what will be best for you.

What Makes A Good Pair Of Wraps

So now that you know why wraps are important we will get into what makes a good pair. An important part of this is making sure you have good quality hand wraps. And that they’re the right ones for you. If you opt for a cheaper pair then they will not provide you with the level of protection that you need. You want to find some with thick enough material to provide you with adequate padding for your training. And after protection the second best thing is looking good while wearing them. Just like with the new Punisher Handwraps below. If you would like to see the whole Marvel range then click here.

Hayabusa Handwraps

The new Hayabusa handwraps which you can find here, offer maximum protection. They have been designed with an innovative material which helps conform to your hand and aligns your hand and wrist. These high-performance wraps will protect the many small joints, bones and tendons from repeated impact during training. They also offer a hook & loop closure system which is 71% longer than rivals which ensures a superior and secure fit every time you train. This is to stop your wraps from coming undone during training. Which can cause them to loosen around your hand and therefore not offer you the best protection which can lead to injury!

Style Of Wraps

Another important aspect of great handwraps in their style. There are two main styles, traditional and Mexican. Traditional handwraps are made from cotton alone and have been around the longest. They do provide you with a tighter fit but do not stretch. This is why they have been replaced by the more popular Mexican style wraps. Mexican handwraps are a more modern version which is a blend of spandex and semi-elastic cotton. Mexican will always be the best option and they are a more comfortable choice as well.

Length Of Wraps

You will want to make sure your handwraps are long enough. Any wrap under 180″ won’t give you the necessary support and protection that you need and it is wise to stay away from anything less. Some children or people who have smaller hands may look for a shorter wrap and 120″ is popular for kids but the longer the wrap the more padding you will have and the safer you will be.

How To Put Your Handwraps On

What’s the point in buying a great pair of hand wraps unless you know how to put them on. How you wrap your hands, is just as important as buying a good pair. You could have the best handwraps in the world but unless you know how to put them on properly you are risking injury. So click here to see our guide on how to properly put your wraps on. There are several different ways to wrap your hands but any variations from the ones we have just shown you will be fine. Remember to try and cover all of your hand with an even layer of material.

Recap What We’ve Learned

So now that you have all the information it’s time to go out and get you handwraps. Remember the important bits though. Mexican over traditional. Nothing under 180″ long. Look for something with a long and secure hook & loop closure system. And make sure you try them on with your gloves before you buy anything.