Everlast Prostyle 2 Boxing Gloves | Men and Women, Heavy Bag | Black | 12oz

Why it's worth it

The Prostyle 2 gives you triple-layer foam, a raised cuff panel and mesh palm ventilation for far less than the leather options. It's the pair to buy when you're not yet sure how often you'll actually train.

This is the right first pair for most people building a home setup. The triple-layer foam and splint-style cuff cover the basics — knuckle protection and enough wrist support for bag rounds. Everlast's EverCool mesh palm keeps your hands from turning into a swamp, which matters more in a garage in July than any spec sheet suggests. Owners starting from zero consistently describe these as holding up through a first year of training.

The full-length hook-and-loop strap wraps high on the wrist and cinches down properly. It's a single strap rather than the T3's crossing pair, so you get less lateral stabilization. For bag work and mitt drills at moderate intensity, that gap is small. It grows if you're throwing full-power hooks several times a week.

From our review of 8 boxing gloves and punching bags for home training, by Eleanor Vance, Health & Beauty Editor

What we like

• +This is the right first pair for most people building a home setup
• +The full-length hook-and-loop strap wraps high on the wrist and cinches down properly
• +Synthetic leather is the trade-off you're making, and it's worth naming clearly
• +Owner feedback flags stitching around the thumb hole as the first thing to loosen

What to know

• –The 12oz version listed here is too light for anyone over 130 pounds hitting a heavy bag
• –Synthetic padding compresses faster than leather