Hand socks: Hand wraps

One thing I forgot to really talk about extensively in my last post was about hand wraps. I know everybody will mainly talk about hand wraps for protecting your hands. If your hands are wrapped properly  they will allow you to punch with full force and not feel it in the bones and joints of your hand.

If you wear boxing gloves  for any extended period of time while punching on something you will notice that your hands will start to get really hot. Like feet, hands also sweat profusely within the first half-hour of any intense training session. Not only do a good quality pair of hand wraps protect your hands but they also absorb moisture and prevent the rubbing of the inner gloves on your knuckles. Wraps help to soak up a lot of that sweat and are much easier to wash than gloves. Keep in mind, hand wraps can eliminate smells from bacteria, but that doesn’t mean your wraps can’t harbor odors themselves. 

Most popular types of Boxing Hand Wraps.

Traditional

Traditional hand wraps are made from a fabric weave and don’t stretch. Traditional can be quite pricey but last a much longer when compared to cotton-poly and cotton-spandex blends. Also, cotton wraps are way easier to mend in case of a rip. However, a lot of people say that this in-elasticity makes them a tad hard to wrap around especially when alone.

Mexican

Mexican hand wraps utilize a stretchy semi-elastic material, more comfortable to wear. These are a hybrid between the traditional cotton wraps and gauze style wraps that are common with professionals. What has made these wraps so popular in the recent years is their elasticity. Many users who have used cotton wraps also say that Mexican style are much more comfortable and don’t tend to cut off the blood supply.

Personally I have worn both the traditional and Mexican style hand wraps. Both types have their plus and minuses. But I will say personally my favorite has been the Maxx MMA  Bamboo Fabric 180 hand wraps. They are the softest hand wraps I ever used. The fabric is also highly breathable and has the best sweet absorbency than any cotton-spandex types I have ever used. They don't stretch it all. I don't have issues wrapping my own hands with traditional hand wraps.

Conclusion

• Boxing hand gear can be expensive. And you want to keep them in good shape for as long as possible. Once your gloves get stinky it is hard to go back. 
• The  sweat from your hands is the biggest contributor to smell because gloves provides a great environment for bacteria to breed. So make hand wraps are the central fighting accessory.
• Make sure to wash your hand wraps after every training session. If you're using a washing machine of some type, buy a small mesh bag. The bag will allow the wraps to get fully cleaned without getting tangled up with the rest of the clothes. Like socks for your feet you should purchase multiple pairs of hand wraps so that you can have a fresh pair every-time you put gloves on your hands.

Note: If you are washing wraps with laundry make sure you are aware that often times newer wraps leak a lot of excess dye when washed.

• Avoid leaving gloves in a regular gym bag after use, as the sweat you built up from the workout will allow bacteria to grow. Don't leave them in the trunk of your car. Invest in a good mesh bag. And you got to get those gloves dried out as soon as possible,  preferably in front of a fan.