VIP Intermediate Training Gloves Review
Published October 30, 2008 by Boxing Capital
Having launched in December 2006, VIP Boxing Equipment (VIP stands for VITAL IMPACT PROTECTION in this instance) are a relatively new name in the boxing world. Co-Founded by talented British Light-Middleweight Jamie Moore and Steve Wood (Chief of the successful Manchester based VIP Promotions), the company have put together an impressively wide range of equipment to cater for all levels; Beginner, Intermediate and Professional.
For this test, we were provided with Training Gloves from VIP’s Intermediate Range. The Gloves come in two sizes in this range - 10oz and 12oz - and our test was conducted using the 10oz Gloves.
Gloves are the bread and butter of boxing equipment and can often serve as a decent guide as to the quality of a manufacturers whole equipment range. With none of our 4 testers having used any VIP products before, we were looking forward to trying these gloves out. Read on to find out what we thought.
First Impressions.....
A good start as the VIP Gloves arrived in a useful glove bag (pictured right) , meaning you can keep your new gloves separate from all the other sweaty stuff in your training bag. The glove bag did have a very plastic type feel, which wasn't too pretty to look at but it does the job its intended to; if used after each session the glove bag will certainly extend the life of your gloves. Given the price of these gloves (see value for the full lowdown) the glove bag is an excellent addition. Handily, a card is enclosed within the glove bag and this acts a mini VIP product brochure - a neat idea.
The Look .....
We used the Green Gloves and these also come in Brown. These are undoubtedly unusual colours for gloves but that isn't necessarily a bad thing - it's nice to stand out in gym's that are often filled with Red and Blue gloves. In terms of quality, the Gloves look compact and solid, whilst not being too cumbersome. Ideal for Training.
The Fit .....
The Gloves are a nice snug fit, especially when your hands are bandaged correctly. As often seen in these type of Training Gloves, the outer layers are of the 'pre mould' type, providing a good (although unspectacular) fit. The inner lining of the gloves feels good on your hands.
Particularly impressive is the Vecro Strap (these gloves come in Velcro fit only); we tightened the strap as much as possible during training and it did not come loose at all during intensive bag or pad work. In addition, tightening the strap enhances the fit of the gloves, which feel much better when tighter.
Protection.....
In my view, this is the most important category of any Glove review. Protecting your hands is essential if you wish to enjoy many years of boxing - be it training, competing or just keeping fit. Now it's very important to remember these Gloves are designed for training rather than sparring and is therefore unfair to compare them with Sparring Gloves we have reviewed.
For 10oz Training Gloves, the VIP Intermediate Gloves offered significant protection around the knuckle, back of the hand and thumb areas - much better protection than offered by similar 10oz gloves. The amount of dense foam used within the Gloves actually increases around the all important knuckle area, which was a real positive. The only downside was the lack of protection around the wrist area, which was marginal at best.
Durability.....
10oz Gloves at this price are generally not meant to be too durable but VIP bucks this trend. The gloves are hard wearing and the dense foam used is strong; they will take some serious punishment before showing any signs of wear and tear.
We've only had the benefit of a 10 day test but we feel it is safe to say that using these Gloves on the bag and pads regularly (2/3 times a week) should see them last at least 6 months, if not more.
Negatives.....
No review is complete without touching on the negative aspects. After all, its essential to have a fully rounded view before making any purchase.
Protection: As mentioned above, the Gloves lack protection in the wrist area, which is a problem. Although this is typical of many gloves in this price bracket, the minimal protection offered to such an important area is a disappointment - especially as the protection around the knuckle area is excellent.
Usage: Described as 'Training Gloves' these, in our opinion, should only be used for Sparring by Junior Boxers aged 16 years and under. For Seniors, this restricts usage to Bag and Pad Work only.
Ventilation: The small amount of ventilation in the palm area can lead to some very sweaty training sessions, but at this point the glove bag (see First Impressions above) becomes especially useful.
Testimonials.....
As mentioned previously, the VIP Brand is the brainchild of Jamie Moore. A quick visit to VIP's website gave Jamie's own take on what he saw as a gap in the boxing equipment market and why he decided to launch VIP Boxing Equipment alongside Steve Wood.
''Previously, I've never been 100% satisfied with the equipment I've used and for some reason I’ve always found it difficult to get suitable, decent quality kit in Manchester - which I found strange as it’s probably Britain’s boxing capital. For example, the strapping on some of the gloves I used to wear was great but I’d find the knuckle part wouldn’t last too long, or the knuckle may have lasted some time but the remainder of the glove would have worn out within a month. So we decided to do something about it''.
See Jamie Using the Gloves Here (2nd Video Link Down)
Value.....
Undoubtedly the very best aspect of the gloves is the value they offer. Priced at a super competitive GBP 25.95 you get a Training Glove of such quality that you would expect to pay at least GBP 20 more. Assuming they do last at least six months, it'd cost you what works out to be just over 4 GBP per month. Brilliant value.
Judges Scorecard
Value - 9
Durability - 7.5
Protection - 7
The Look - 7
The Fit - 8
Overall - 8
Summary
These are good, solid gloves for both Pad and Bag work. The Price of GBP 25.95 is fantastic and this makes them an excellent purchase if you are looking for good quality training gloves - especially if you're on a budget.
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