Not a software post.
Update 2023
The Rival RFX-Guerrero-V Bag Gloves(HDE-F) 10oz.
Pros:
High-density padding
Sleek like a pro fight glove
Feels true to weight
Pre-Formed Pro Fit
Rival's Trademark 15° Angle Cuff
Dual angle "V" strap Wrist-lock 2 system
Velcro strap perfect for skinny wrist
Wrist Protection is top notch
Con:
Not suitable for "super" large hands
No vegan (super microfibre) option
No gold color option.
A little expensive
For
those who don't know the Guerrero bag gloves are a traditional
“Mexican-Style” competition boxing gloves, which Rivel has adapted for
bag/mitt use. Every boxer from beginner to expert will workout with a
heavy bag at some point in their training. It helps you hone your
skills and strengthen muscles. As bag work involves a lot of punching,
it pays to have the right hand gear.
I've been
into combat sports for a while. So like choosing a Linux distro, buying
boxing gloves for the first time can be overwhelming. There are so many
brands and so many recommendations. Just like with Linux distributions, I
will never claim that my recommendations are the best, but they come
from my experience with punching things and some feedback from legit
fighters.
After trying out a pair a few years ago I finally decided to acquire a pair of my own. I got the 10 oz
RIVAL
RFX-GUERRERO-V - "HDE-F" version of the bag glove. On this HDE-F
version, the leather is laminated with a high density EVA foam which
makes it stiffer and firmer than the SF-F version.
There
is also the new SF-H that has a quilted layer of horsehair padding.
The SF-H version is about 80% horsehair to 20% foam. The SF-H version
are durable, but they absorb sweat easier, wearing the padding down
quicker than that of the HDE-F.
These gloves get
top marks from people who try them out. The laminated high density EVA
foam on the knuckle area gives very good protection. But the Guerrero
claim to fame is their enclosure called Wrist-Lock 2. The wrist lock
straps are far better than any other velcro I have ever used. The
wrist-lock fasteners are unique and utilize two straps, one around the
wrist and one coming down from the palm. They are almost as good as
being laced up. With Wrist-Lock 2 the wrap-around makes it easy to put
the glove on or take it off with no assistance from others. The premium
design of the Guerrero does come with a premium price tag, but they’re
more than worth it for beginners and professionals alike.
I
would love to see a Guerrero bag glove made out of synthetic leather,
like my RS100 Professional Sparring Gloves. A lot of leather gloves are
made out of cattle, sheep, goats, horses, buffalo, pigs, and hogs, as
well as aquatic animals like seals and alligators. I prefer cruelty
free, sustainable alternative leather. The vast majority of gloves I own
are made out of Super Rich Microfibre or Cactus leather made from the
leaves of the Nopal cactus plant. But I suppose if Rivals Guerrero fight
gloves are made out of real leather, it stands the reason their bag
gloves would have to be leather too.
Most
gloves on the market today tend to stick with a fairly bland design, But
not Rival gloves. They are almost always visually stunning (in my
humble opinion), and their custom gloves are some of the most unique
gloves in the world. To me they look futuristic, like they're ahead of
the curve in terms of the way they look. On the grip bar "handcrafted
with pride" is stitched in.
What I love about
rival is they're the first company that I have seen that consistently
separate “bag gloves” from “sparring gloves”. In my opinion it makes no
sense when boxing companies promote all-purpose “training gloves” meant
for both hitting the bag and sparring. My RS100 has soft foam meant for
hitting humans. These RFX-GUERRERO gloves are laminated with a hard
outside layer. In other words: Either a glove has dense-foam that’s
meant for bag/mitt work, or soft foam for sparring sessions. There
should not be any hybrids.
Using the gloves
Fair
warning the hand compartment is snug. If you have super huge hands
these may not be the gloves for you. People with knuckle problems will
also have some trouble. The striking surface is very compact and the
lightweight just like the fight glove counterpart. When the v straps
are tightened, they really immobilize the wrist like a lace-up glove. I
could barely bend my wrist back as the wrist-lock 2 provided a stung
custom fit, even on narrow forearms. From my past experience with these
gloves they should hold up under pressure. I know people talk a lot of
times about gloves that fall apart in a couple of months, but I am
confident these will not. I can definitely tell you from personal
experience these bag gloves are not a gimmick. They actually feel the
difference in comfort and support from glove design.
Conclusion
I
bought (Black Friday sale) these gloves with the intention of getting a
10oz fight glove which I can use for bag and pads/mitts. I only saved
15%, but Sezzle sweeten the deal. Sezzle provides a buy now, pay later
loan that allows me to pay down this purchase in four payments over the
next six months.
These gloves are specifically
designed for ONLY bag and mitt use only. They cannot be used sparring
as they are not designed for that – they will great for all your other
training. So if you are looking for a professional or semi-professional
glove to train with, this is definitely a glove to consider.
In
my humble opinion these are some of the best looking gloves out there. I
love the White/Gold color scheme worn by Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Usyk.
However I ultimately purchased the White/Black color scheme in 10 oz.
It
does feel true to weight, and there is absolutely no discomfort even
with straps pulled tight. I have big hands, so it can be a little bit
challenging when using hand wraps or tape/gauze. If you have
"super-duper" large hands the the RB-11 or the more expensive RB10
Intelli-Shock XL bag gloves have a little bit more room and a bit more
padding.