There is no doubt that boxing is a relatively dangerous sport and it makes no difference whether it is two men or two women beating each other or being beaten, the opportunity for injury to your hands and body is still the same either way.
This is why having the right protective equipment for each specific area of boxing is vital to reducing your chances of breaking bones, spraining a joint or tearing your muscles.
In boxing your hands are your attacking weapons and defensive tools, they receive a good deal of impact both during training sessions and in a fight, so more effort should be put into keeping them well protected from harm.
When purchasing new equipment a lot of first time boxers tend to overlook the necessity of a good set of hand wraps, believing that a pair of boxing gloves is enough; but until you strengthen your hands and build up wrist and forearm muscles a decent hand wrap is a must.
What are hand wraps and how can they help me? Hand wraps for boxing are basically a long stretch of material about 2 inches wide by 120 inches long.
Usually made from cotton, this long piece of material is tightly wrapped around your fingers, palm and wrist areas, slipping under your gloves to give it extra support from impact injuries.
Most fighters have noted that using a hand wrap not only reduces the chance of breaks or sprains, but they also help to increase the strength of their fist clench.
Theses days you'll find a wide variety of hand wraps available, each made of various natural and synthetic materials that provide differing support to the hands.
Trainers Tape: This comes in a throw-away type roll that looks similar to medical bandage gauze and as the name suggests it is perfect for use in training sessions.
It is made from a soft and supple material that is comfortable to the hands; also for those with allergies this particular tape is non-hypoallergenic.
Professional elastic wraps: These are the most commonly used forms of hand wraps, as they can be washed for constant re-use during both training and matches.
They come in a variety of different colors, lengths and styles, sometimes with markings that help the user wrap their hands correctly.
They are made from a soft, elastic material and have adjustable Velcro strips on each end for easy wearing.
Gel wraps: These innovative pieces of equipment are slightly different from the traditional form of hand wraps, although they do the same job.
Instead of coming as a long piece of material, gel wraps are a set of finger-less gloves made from a form fitting neoprene material that is light weight and offers excellent impact absorption during training or fights.
They are easier to put on and take off than regular hand wraps and usually come with an open thumb space and a long wrist strap with Velcro fittings to protect the wrist area from damage.