Knockout Athletics “Evo Sparring Gloves” Review

For students of the sport, it can be difficult to make decisions when it comes to buying a new pair of gloves. Sure, you can go to Modell’s and buy a pair of Everlast Gloves, or UFC branded gloves (which are actually now just Century Fitness gloves with the logo screened on), but most of the better stuff requires using the internet and making a leap of faith. You can’t really try the product out since you’re getting it from some warehouse in the land of far, far away, so that is why The Fight Nerd is here to make your life easier.

Most people think Thailand is the place to get the best gloves, but many American-based companies are producing great alternatives that give the Thai products a run for their money. That is why we are taking a look at the newest pair of boxing gloves from Knockout Athletics, the “Evo Sparring Gloves”. These are not your cheapo Everlast gloves, but some serious toys – but are they any good and worth the price?

Hit the jump for the full review of these new gloves!

The “Evo Sparring Gloves” are made from 100% genuine cowhide leather, and contain three layers of premium high density foam padding in the gloves to keep you safe and comfy inside it. The glove interior contours to the users hand for the perfect fit the more you use it, like memory foam, and makes these very personal gloves (as all good gloves should). The big key here is the dual-strap wrist-closure at the base of the gloves, which offers additional wrist support for the user. The gloves are intended for sparring and bag training, and weigh in at 18 oz. each.

I really like the design and overall look of the gloves. The majority of the punching area is black with red trim, while the segmented thumb area is all red. The palm-side is also completely red, except for that side of the thumb area. This two-toned look is very striking (no pun intended) and refreshing compared to so many other gloves that are either just black or just red. I am a fan of both colors and I like how they work together here with equal space for both shades. The Knockout Athletics logo is printed on the top of the gloves by the hands and again on the thumb, as well as sewn into the wrist strap. Without being a lecture on the design of their logo, I will say that I like the way it looks on the glove and is underplayed. With these two colors, it could have become an eyesore very quickly, even just by having the logo slightly larger, but here they fit perfectly into the construction of the glove and brand this product nicely.

Slipping on the gloves, you immediately feel snug and protected from your knuckles to wrist, but not constrained. The inside is comfortable and lined with a firm but soft to touch padding. The palm-side of the glove reveals a foam bar for your fingers to grip, helping to keep your knuckles in place, but not obtrusive like some other gloves with much larger and harder foam bars. There are also five small holes on the outside that are meant to cool down your hands and to relieve some of the odor from sweat. Using gloves of this size for several rounds will get you sweaty quick, so these holes do make a difference when compared with other gloves without it, and those holes will be very crucial in drying your gloves after. Even with those tiny openings, I still suggest you keep your gloves open wide when not being used so they can air out as much as possible, but that is a given with any pair of gloves.

The dual-wrist straps are becoming a popular thing with glove makers these days, and rightfully so. In theory, they add an extra level of protection for your wrists, and who can argue against that? The wrist straps are adjustable for fighters of all sizes, which will be very useful for the larger fighter especially. For a smaller guy like me, I did not need to do much tightening of the gloves, but bulkier students will definitely appreciate this function. The wrist strap area is wider than other gloves, past where your wrist bone connects to your hand, ensuring fewer snapped limbs when hitting a heavy bag or thai pads. With handwraps on too, you will be extremely secured and not have to worry about ever bending your wrist from a missed punch.

The gloves are great for hitting a bag, focus mitts, thai pads and even sparring. Being a smaller dude, 18 oz. gloves are slightly heftier than what I am used to, but if you swap them in between rounds like a pyramid of weights, your hand speed and power will quickly increase over time. They are also good for sparring since, again, they will weigh you down and force you to be more aware of your cardio as rounds progress. If you thought your arms felt like lead before, wait till you go a few rounds in these. If you can handle those extra two ounces, you will be pretty happy with the results of these gloves in action and find them great for anything.

These are high-end gloves and will set you back $89.99, excluding shipping & handling charges. These are not gloves meant for beginners at all; these are purely meant for the professional, or for the person ready to make the leap from beginner to intermediate and up. For someone who trains seriously, quality becomes more important than price tag in most cases, and these gloves are no exception to that rule. If you are serious about training, these gloves should not be overlooked, and will easily be part of your daily training regimen with their multi-purpose use.

At the end of the day, I give these gloves two thumbs up. You can not skimp when it comes to quality, and these gloves are durable, well-constructed and comfortable to use. If you are a serious student or ready to take the plunge, nothing should hold you back from buying these since you are investing in your future and personal safety (since your hands are your money makers). If you are a newer student, they are worth spoiling yourself with for the look alone, but the protection they offer will be your long-term reward. You can order these on Knockout Athletic’s official site for full-price, but on September 27-28 you can order these for a mere $45 from MMA HQ. Hurry while supplies last!