These are our top recommendations for the best hand wraps for Muay Thai fighters, some suitable for students and others for advanced practitioners. You’ll learn all there is to know about the different types of materials used as well as the unique benefits they offer in terms of flexibility, comfort, and durability. Finally, you’ll get an idea of what length of a hand wrap you should go for and what ways you can take care of them to ensure longevity. Read on to find out!
Why You Should Wear Hand Wraps
In a combat sport like Muay Thai, your two main striking tools will be your hands. Whether it be practicing your technique on the heavy bags, a friendly sparring session with your training partner, or a pro-level fighting match, it is absolutely vital to take care of your hands. Every time you land a punch or block an incoming strike with your hands, the small bones and tendons that make up your hand will feel its vibrations.
A Muay Thai glove will absorb some of those impacts, but another piece of essential protective gear is required to make sure your knuckles, fingers, thumbs, and wrists get sufficient padding as well as the support they need. A pair of good-quality Muay Thai hand wraps provide that support by keeping your joints aligned and your soft tissues properly compressed. Hand wraps also restrict unwanted movements of the fragile parts of your hand, thereby preventing injuries such as sprains and fractures. To read more on how important hand wraps are to Muay Thai, check out Why Every Muay Thai Fighter Should Wear Handwraps.
The Types Of Muay Thai Hand Wraps
There are two main types of Muay Thai hand wraps in use. First, there’s the combination of athletic tape and gauze used in professional fighting tournaments. While they provide the highest level of protection and a customizable fit for your hands, these hand wraps require the assistance of your trainer to apply. They can not be reused when removed. While tape and gauze are great in a competition, they are terribly inconvenient when you’re training at your local Muay Thai gym.
The second type is the reusable kind, which is made from different materials. Traditional hand wraps are usually made of cotton and are the most affordable. These cotton fabric hand wraps can be washed and reused for years when properly taken care of. There are also the Mexican-style hand wraps, which are mainly cotton but contain elastic properties that allow them to stretch and fit the shape of your hand better, ensuring they don’t get loose during a training session. Reusable hand wraps usually use a hook and loop closure system like Velcro to fasten them.
The Best Muay Thai Hand Wraps
Different fighters have their preferred Muay Thai hand wraps based on their length, elasticity, thickness, and how the material feels on the skin. There are also many brands that specialize in Muay Thai, as well as other combat sports like boxing and mixed martial arts, that manufacture hand wraps. The following list includes the best hand wraps on the market that are reusable and made for use in training or sparring in Muay Thai.
Top King Hand Wraps
The Top King hand wraps are 4.5 meters (180 inches) long and come in a variety of colors to choose from. They are made from premium cotton fabric that contains elastic properties designed to improve their fit. They wrap around your hands securely, and you can have peace of mind knowing they won’t get loose during a fight.
The only downside to these is that they show noticeable pilling, with small balls of fiber accumulating on the fabric after washing. The fabric also has a tendency to stick to the Velcro straps of Muay Thai gloves. However, Top King hand wraps offer great quality at a reasonable price and are a great choice for students. Just remember to take care during washing and wrapping to ensure longevity.
Twins Special Hand Wraps
Twins Special hand wraps come in both premium cotton and the slightly more expensive elastic cotton material. Both are high-quality products that are made in Thailand. Pro fighters prefer the elastic cotton hand wraps, which fit snugly on the hands without restricting flexibility, support, or protection.
Another reason some prefer Twins Special hand wraps over other brands is that they come in at a length of 5 meters, which is slightly longer than the standard 4.5 meters. This means that there’s more material to cover your hands should you require that. Twins Special Premium Elastic Cotton Fabric hand wraps are durable, affordable, and have over 10 colors to choose from.
Fairtex Mesh Hand Wraps
While Fairtex has their cotton hand wraps with elastic properties, which are perfect for any student of Muay Thai, they have also introduced mesh hand wraps for professional Muay Thai fighters. These are made from 75% nylon, with 20% rubber and 5% polyester, which provides even more flexibility than traditional hand wraps. Due to the ventilated holes of the mesh, these Fairtex hand wraps are capable of retaining their shape after regular use and washing for a long time.
The only downside is that the Fairtex Mesh hand wraps are nearly twice as expensive compared to other elastic cotton hand wraps from competitors, although this is to be expected from a product made for professional Muay Thai athletes. With excellent wrist support and a secure fit, the Fairtex Mesh hand wraps are great for a variety of other sports and fitness exercises in addition to Muay Thai.
Venum Kontact Boxing Hand Wraps
Out of all the Muay Thai hand wraps we’ve discussed thus far, Venum’s Kontact Boxing line offers the best variety in terms of colors, designs, and lengths. The 2.5 meter (100 inch) hand wraps are available for those preferring to fit into smaller gloves after applying hand wraps. However, most fighters will prefer the more standard 4 meters (160 inches) since it provides more length to maximize padding.
Venum hand wraps are made from elastic cotton to be comfortable and flexible. Many users will advise you to take special care when washing to prevent wrinkling. The Venum Kontact Boxing hand wraps are one of the more affordable hand wraps on the market, making them ideal for novice fighters, although the fancier designs will drive up the price.
Yokkao Hand Wraps
One of the most premium brands in Muay Thai gear is Yokkao, and their hand wraps, made from high-quality elastic cotton, are no exception. Yokkao uses a special weaving pattern to improve breathability and comfort while retaining enough toughness to withstand the most heavy-hitting blows during a fight.
They are also incredibly durable, with a longer lifespan compared to other hand wraps. However, these advantages come at a cost, and Yokkao hand wraps aren’t exactly cheap. Yokkao Premium hand wraps are available in multiple colors and 4.5 meter pairs.
Primo Pro White Gauze Hand Wraps
Primo Fight Wear is one of the hottest new names in Muay Thai gear. Their aim is to make use of modern materials and design sensibilities to enhance what is possible in fight wear. An example of this is their Pro White Gauze Hand Wraps, designed for professional Muay Thai fighters to use in training and competition.
They are made from Primo’s Rayon Fabric, giving them improved breathability, comfort, and lightness that few traditional hand wraps can match. This is a hand-wash only product that needs special care for longevity. The Primo Pro White Gauze hand wraps only come in one color, are pricey, and therefore are only suitable for advanced fighters that are competing at a pro level.
However, Primo also has standard cotton and mesh hand wraps at affordable prices that are perfect for any student of Muay Thai.
Lengths Of Muay Thai Hand Wraps
The standard 4-4.5 meter (160-180 inch) hand wraps will fit most hand sizes, with 5 meters (200 inches) being used if you feel like you need extra protection. The 2.5 meter (100 inch) hand wraps are fine for younger fighters in their teens but are unlikely to provide adequate padding for adults. In the end, no matter what length of hand wraps you choose, your wrapped hands will need to fit into your Muay Thai gloves. Therefore, consider this when selecting new gloves and hand wraps.
Tips For Using Muay Thai Hand Wraps
Now that you know about all the different options, from affordable elastic cotton hand wraps suitable for beginners to the expensive mesh fabric hand wraps designed for pro fighters, it’s time to look at a few tips you’ll need when using and taking care of your hand wraps.
Some of the cotton fabric hand wraps will develop pilling issues after some time. You’ll notice small balls of fabric accumulating on your hand wraps. The best way to prevent this and ensure their longevity is to hand wash your wraps. It’s also a good idea to make sure your Velcro straps are securely tied in a way that doesn’t make them come into contact with and stick to the cotton fabric.
It is also important when wrapping to avoid making it too tight to prevent cutting off your blood circulation. Wearing hand wraps too loose will keep coming off during training. Other tips include making fists during wrapping to ensure a snug fit and adding enough loops to cover your wrists for maximum support. This is where choosing those lengthier Muay Thai hand wraps will come in handy.
Visit A Store Before You Buy
You can’t go wrong with any of these recommendations. There are many other great brands too like Everlast, Sanabul and Meister, from which Everlast hand wraps are a great choice for comfort with breathable cotton material while Sanabul hand wraps made of elastic material are a fan-favorite too. What matters is that you find out which one of these quality hand wraps will be best suited for your hands.
While you can browse online, it is worthwhile to visit a Muay Thai equipment store to get a good look and a feel for your next set of hand wraps before placing an order. If you’re in Thailand, you might even run into a kickboxing legend and get to ask what their preferred Muay Thai hand wraps are.
If you’re planning to browse through other Muay Thai training gear while you’re at the local store, read Muay Thai Gear That Every Beginner Should Have before you go. We’ll tell you about all the gear you need like Muay Thai gloves, shin guards, and more so that you’ll have adequate protection for both training and sparring.
FAQs
The protection the boxing and Muay Thai gloves provide during striking absorbs much of the impact. However, a hand wrap worn inside the glove will ensure the fragile small bones of the wrist and knuckles are supported. This prevents any hand injuries resulting from unnatural movements of these bones.
Cloth hand wraps are affordable, reusable, and great for training sessions for beginners. There are also Mexican-style hand wraps used by more advanced fighters. Both use easy to put on by yourself with hook and loop closure systems.
Tape and gauze type hand wraps are worn by professional fighters when competing in a Muay Thai match. They are lighter and fit more snugly inside the Muay Thai gloves. However, tape and gauze hand wraps require another person to wrap them for you.
Muay Thai gear brands like Twins, Fairtex, Top King, and Yokkao are the best for Muay Thai, with Sanabul and Everlast hand wraps also being of great quality.
