The best cheap MMA gloves for under $20
Training any martial art can be financially challenging at times, and MMA is no different. Between shin pads, mouth guards, head guards and everything in between, this hobby (or profession for some) can become expensive pretty quickly. With this in mind, we’ve hand picked the 8 best MMA gloves that cost under $20. These are all good quality and have certain positives about them which make them stick out compared to other gloves on the market.
What’s ideal about buying cheap MMA gloves is that if you’re new, you don’t have to financially commit to anything. There’s no point spending $80 on gloves if you’re going to quit within a month. On a similar note, if you do train for longer, you can keep these ones either as your main gloves, or even as spares if you eventually do want to invest in higher-costing brands. Just remember though, even though something is expensive, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good quality.
These MMA gloves have been picked on the following criteria:
Table of Contents
What to look for in budget MMA gloves
Price
As all of the gloves on this list are under $20, you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank. At the same time, there are still some gloves that are substantially cheaper than others which is certainly something to consider. Here, you should try to find a bargain that is cheap enough to save on money, without compromising on quality. Ultimately, this is something that everyone has to consider when buying gym equipment. Ultimately, it’s a balancing act and it depends on how much life you want out of your gloves as well as your budget.
Design
Although these MMA gloves are affordable, it doesn’t mean the design is lacking. In fact, a lot of the designs featured are the same as high end MMA gloves which is definitely a positive. One of the main discrepancies between MMA gloves is the way the fingers are shaped. For example, some gloves may have curved knuckles, whereas some may have less material around the fingers. This is something you’ll want to consider as an MMA fighter and each design has its own pros and cons. For instance, extra freedom on your fingers may feel more natural but it may also lead to more knuckle injuries. There are other factors to look out for as well, such as allowing your palms to breathe and weight.
Comfort
Undoubtedly, one of the biggest factors when buying budget MMA gloves is comfort. You can get the best looking, cheapest gloves on earth – but if they are uncomfortable then what’s the point? Here, it’s important to look out for certain materials such as leather which will naturally feel good on your fists. These days, lots of MMA gloves also come with breathable mesh material and use a reinforced bar for your grip to hold on to whilst throwing punches. It’s nuances like these that can make a glove feel much nicer whilst sparring which is obviously quite a big deal.
Quality and longevity
Another big deal when buying MMA gloves is quality and durability. Even though these gloves are under $20, it doesn’t mean that they should fall apart after a couple of training sessions. Again, it’s good to keep an eye out on certain materials such as leather which is typically a good indicator of quality. Similarly, if you can see the stitching then this can also be an indicator of how well the glove will hold up.
One of the main benefits of buying a budget MMA glove though is that it won’t cost you hundreds if it does eventually break down. Whilst this isn’t wished upon, it means it’s not the worst thing that could happen if your gloves were to decay after a while. If they do hold up well and last over time then you’ll have saved a lot of money in the process.
Everlast Mixed Martial Arts Gloves – $19.99
If you know anything about fighting, then you’ll have heard of Everlast. Back in the day, Everlast made their name by making boxing gloves and their stellar reputation has remained ever since. Made from elastic, these gloves fit well for all and are reinforced with extra padding around the knuckles. This makes it safer to punch, both for your own fist and for the person getting hit.
What’s nice about these is that they’re also fitted with ‘Everfresh’ which is an antimicrobial technology that prevents smells and odors. If you’re training then you’re going to sweat, so this is a very welcome feature.
Contender Fight Sports Gloves – $17.99
Simply put, Contender Fight Sports gloves offer a no-nonsense approach to MMA gloves that may want you to consider using them. What’s also nice about these gloves is that they have open palms. Unlike most MMA gloves out there, they don’t cover the palms which is brilliant if you naturally sweat a lot whilst fighting.
These are also pretty lightweight too which helps in terms of punch speed and in other areas. Basically, it won’t feel like you’re gloves are made of concrete whilst throwing punches.
ZooBoo MMA Gloves – $18.99
If you’re after something that is eyecatching and unique, then the ZooBoo MMA gloves may be something to consider. As you can see, these gloves have an unusual x-ray, skeleton artwork that features on the outside of the glove. Generally, most MMA gloves don’t use designs, so if you’re after something different then your choices will be fairly limited.
These are also made with leather and have an adjustable strap, which means the size can practically fit most people’s hands. They also include a 30 day money-back guarantee which shows that ZooBoo are confident in their product should something go wrong or you don’t like them.
Enzhe MMA Gloves – $14.99
Available in multiple designs, these use a leather exterior with a breathable underside for your palms. In short, they’re pretty solid as far as MMA gloves go. One thing that cheaper MMA gloves often suffer from is skimping on the padding and this often makes gloves feel more like hand wraps which is not good.
Obviously, none of the gloves on this list suffer from a lack of padding, and the Enzhe gloves are good in this department, too. Overall, these are a good pick and are priced within the range of a low budget.
Fits T4 MMA Mits – $15.99
The Fits T4 MMA gloves are made from breathable elastic materials that make them comfy to train in. They also have a handy cylindrical rod in the middle of the glove which allows you to grip harder whilst punching. They also have plenty of protection and padding in key areas of the glove. In short, these are well made and priced very competitively.
What’s also nice is that these are also available in sizes extra small through to extra, extra large. This is very convenient if you’re naturally larger or smaller than most. Sadly, many glove manufacturers don’t offer XXL or XS gloves which is surprising but equally frustrating for those in that size bracket.
Jayefo Sports MMA Gloves – $9.99
Jayefo have been making martial arts equipment for a while now and whilst they’re not well known in the mainstream, they still have a good reputation with those who use their stuff. These gloves are the cheapest on this list and honestly, the quality isn’t any different compared to the others featured.
Obviously, the main feature of these gloves is the price. Coming in at under $10 is a massive bargain and this price can’t really be beaten – especially in terms of quality. Made from leather and using a hook and loop closing mechanism, these will last you long enough whilst also looking pretty stylish – a rare feature for gloves at this price.
Brace Master MMA Gloves – $14.99
Even though they have a strange name, Brace Master MMA gloves make for a very useful purchase. What’s nice about these gloves is they have ample padding, but they’re also made with reinforced stitching. The last thing you want to do is buy cheaper MMA gloves that fall apart due to poor stitching.
Sadly, there are a few on the market that aren’t good in this department, but not the Brace Master’s. Another good thing about these gloves is that they come in red, meaning you’ll never lose them or mix them up at the gym due to their unique coloring. At under $20, these gloves are a real bargain.
Hunter MMA Gloves – $17.99
The Hunter MMA gloves use a basic glove design that has a grip-bar that makes clenching a fist easier. A nice touch about these is that they also have padding on the thumb. If you’ve ever trained MMA or grappling, the thumb is probably the digit that gets injured the most due to sticking out. This can be very frustrating and an injured thumb can take months to heal.
These also have a mesh material on the palms which is useful if you sweat whilst sparring. In short, these gloves do what they say on the tin. At this price, you can’t really go wrong.
