Headguards

Whether you need a headguard, and which design, depends on your gym, your coach and any event you enter. 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).

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. At least one maker recommends the small and medium sizes of its guard for children.

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.