What Gear Do You Need to Start Muay Thai? A Coach’s Honest Guide

Before your first Muay Thai class, you will probably spend at least an hour going down a rabbit hole of gear guides, forum posts, and YouTube videos about gloves. You’ll find strong opinions about brands, weights, materials, and whether you need shin guards on day one.

Here’s what I tell every new student who asks: you need a lot less than you think, and you should buy as little as possible until you know the sport is for you.

Here’s the honest breakdown.

What You Actually Need on Day One

When I walked into my first Muay Thai class, I had two things with me: a pair of handwraps and a pair of boxing gloves. That’s it. That’s genuinely all you need to get started.

Handwraps go on before your gloves and protect the small bones and tendons in your hands and wrists. They’re inexpensive, usually around $10 to $15, and any brand will do at this stage. Your gloves go on top. For a beginner, 12, 14, or 16 oz all work fine for your first few classes.

As for clothing, come in athletic shorts that are loose enough to kick in, or tights. That’s it. You’re barefoot, no uniform, no equipment bag full of gear. Show up, get your hands wrapped, and get to work.

Everything else can wait until you’ve decided the sport is something you want to stick with.

How to Buy Muay Thai Gloves (and What to Avoid)

Gloves are where most beginners go wrong, usually by buying the wrong type from the wrong place.

Avoid gloves from general department stores or big-box sports retailers. They’re usually not built for the repeated impact of actual Muay Thai training and tend to break down quickly. You want to buy from a retailer that focuses specifically on combat sports, either online or in person. The difference in construction quality is real.

A few things to look for and avoid when choosing gloves:

• Velcro closure only. Lace-up gloves look great in photos but take forever to put on and take off between rounds. In a class setting, you’ll regret them immediately.
• No MMA gloves. Open-fingered MMA gloves are not appropriate for Muay Thai. The sport is practiced with closed-fist boxing-style gloves.
• Watch the cuff size. Some boxing-specific gloves have oversized cuffs that are designed for boxing’s wrist support needs. They can feel bulky and restrictive for Muay Thai, where your arms and elbows move more freely.
• They should feel slightly roomy. A lot of new students worry their gloves are too big. Remember, your handwraps go on first and take up space inside the glove. Try them on over wraps before you decide.

For a Canadian brand that hits the right balance of quality and price, we’re fans of Kimurawear. They’re made for this sport, not repurposed from a boxing or MMA line, and they hold up well.

In fact, that’s why our New Member Promo gets you 3 classes, a 14 oz pair of Kimurawear gloves, and handwraps for $115. It’s everything you need to get started!

New Member Promo at Lotus Fitness

12 oz vs 14 oz vs 16 oz: Which Glove Weight Should You Get?

For most beginners, 14 oz is a solid all-around choice. It’s heavy enough to provide good protection and padding, light enough that it won’t slow you down awkwardly in your first classes.

If you know from day one that you eventually want to try sparring, think about starting with 16 oz. Sparring isn’t something that happens early, and it’s completely optional at our gym, but if it’s on your radar, 16 oz is the standard size required to keep training partners safe. Most gyms won’t allow anything lighter for sparring. That said, by the time you get to sparring, you’ll likely want a dedicated pair of sparring gloves anyway, kept clean and used only for that purpose.

So: 14 oz to start, 16 oz if sparring is a near-term goal, and don’t overthink it. You can always buy a second pair later.

And, after you’ve gotten your fresh gear – keep it fresh by learning how to keep them clean and odour free.

Gear to Add as You Progress

Once you’ve been training for a few weeks and you know you’re sticking with it, there are a few things worth adding.

• Muay Thai shorts. Not required, but genuinely useful. The wide hip cut is specifically designed to allow full range of motion for kicks. You’ll notice the difference when you start working on your teep and swing kick. They’re also just a fun way to invest in the sport. Come in whatever athletic shorts work for now, but Muay Thai shorts are worth picking up once you’re a regular.
• Shin guards. Not needed in beginner classes where there’s no contact work, but essential before any sparring. When the time comes, your coach will let you know.
• Mouthguard. Again, not for your first classes, but required for sparring. Buy a decent one when the time comes.
• Groin guard. Same story. Not day-one gear, but you’ll want one eventually if you spar.

The One Piece of “Gear” Nobody Talks About

A nail clipper.

Seriously. Long toenails are a genuine hazard in Muay Thai. When you’re doing pad work and your partner is holding Thai pads, a sharp toenail can scratch or cut them. In sparring, it’s worse. Keep your toenails short. Your training partners will appreciate it more than any piece of expensive equipment you own.

This is the kind of thing no gear guide ever mentions, but every experienced Muay Thai practitioner knows.

The Short Answer

To start Muay Thai, you need handwraps, a pair of gloves from a reputable combat sports retailer, and something comfortable to train in. That’s the whole list.

Don’t buy shin guards, a mouthguard, sparring gloves, or anything else until your coach tells you it’s time. Don’t buy from a department store. And for the love of your training partners, clip your toenails.

Don’t let the gear question stop you from realizing the fitness benefits of Muay Thai. If you’re in Toronto and ready to try your first class, check out our New Member Promo. Three classes and the gear you need to get started, all in one package.

Get a pair of 14 oz Kimurawear Gloves, Handwraps, and 3 Classes