Headguards

Headguards are padded headwear for sparring and amateur competition. Whether you need one, and which design, depends on your gym, your coach and any event you enter.

The main choice is the design, a trade-off between visibility and facial coverage. Designs fall into three families: open-face, cheek and full-face. Open-face guards prioritise visibility, and cheek designs add coverage over the cheeks. Full-face designs add a nose bar for more facial coverage, at some cost to visibility.

Closures range from hook-and-loop straps to lace-up tops and chin buckles. Sizes usually run from S to XL, but check each maker's size chart.

Under England Boxing's rules, for example, senior men box without headguards, while every other category must wear one (Rules 8.3.1 and 8.3.2). Read approval claims carefully. England Boxing's Technical & Competition Rules name the headguard brands sanctioned for its amateur competitions, not individual models. Some approvals shown on product pages come from bodies outside boxing. Check your club's or event's current rules.