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Last Updated: November 2, 2026
Quick Summary
The best protective gear for MMA training starts with four items: gloves, hand wraps, a mouthguard and a groin guard. Everything else can wait, so buy these first and add shin guards, headgear and elbow pads once sparring starts.
- Hand wraps are the cheapest protection for knuckles and wrists, at $49.99 for 10 pairs.
- A 7oz glove is the standard starting point for most adults in MMA training.
- Shin guards protect the shin bone and instep during kick drills and sparring.
- Air-dry gloves and guards after every session and never leave them in a sealed bag.
- Replace gloves when the padding compresses or the casing cracks.
Table of Contents
- What Beginner MMA Gear You Actually Need First
- MMA Gloves Sizing and Hand Protection That Holds Up
- MMA Shin Guards, Mouthguards and the Rest of Your Kit
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Beginner MMA Gear You Actually Need First
The best protective gear for MMA training starts with four items: gloves, hand wraps, a mouthguard and a groin guard. Everything else can wait. Beginners often buy a full kit in week one and replace part of it later because they guessed at sizing.
Protective gear absorbs impact between your body and another athlete, a bag or the mat. It does not make a contact sport safe, and no gym should let you spar hard because you are padded up.
A sensible buying order for a first month of training:
| Priority | Item | Why it comes first | Typical spend at our store |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hand wraps | Cheapest protection for knuckles and wrists | $49.99 for 10 pairs |
| 2 | MMA or sparring gloves | Required for bag, pad and partner work | $72.99 (7oz sparring) |
| 3 | Mouthguard | Dental damage is permanent and expensive | Ask in store for current stock |
| 4 | Groin guard | Non-negotiable once partner drills start | $45.00 |
| 5 | Shin guards | Needed for kick work and sparring | $24.99 to $80.10 |
Boxing gloves belong in boxing and Muay Thai sessions, where the Aus Boxer PRO 16oz boxing glove is designed to be used.
MMA Gloves Sizing and Hand Protection That Holds Up
MMA gloves sizing comes down to two numbers: weight in ounces and hand circumference. Competition and sparring gloves are lighter than boxing gloves because the open palm lets you grip, post and grapple. A 7oz glove is the standard starting point for most adults.
Measure around the knuckles of your dominant hand with a tape. Most adults land in medium or large, and junior hands need a smaller shell rather than a scaled-down adult glove. The Mil Spec sparring gloves come in two sizes, medium or large, so measure before you order.
Hand wraps do more work than most beginners expect. A 4.5m cotton wrap supports the wrist and compresses the knuckles under the glove padding. The Aus Boxer hand wraps in a 10-pack are sold as a bulk pack of ten individually wrapped pairs.
Whichever you pick, make a fist: the padding should sit over the knuckles with no gap, and the wrist strap should hold firm without cutting circulation.
MMA GLOVES - Mil Spec® SPARRING 7oz →
MMA Shin Guards, Mouthguards and the Rest of Your Kit
Shin guards protect the shin bone and instep during kick drills and sparring. The Urban slip-on shin and instep guards are designed for bag work, drills and light sparring, while the Club Fitness MMA shin pads feature dual hook and loop neoprene strapping and a sweat-resistant inner lining.
A mouthguard protects teeth, lips and jaw. Boil-and-bite guards are the usual entry point; a custom dentist fit costs more but fits tighter. Replace any guard dropped on a gym floor or chewed thin.
The groin guard is the item beginners skip and regret. The Black Diamond steel cup guard has an adjustable hook and loop waist closure.
Headgear and elbow pads matter once sparring starts. The AAA elbow pads are developed for Muay Thai sparring and competition.
Air-dry gloves and guards after every session, never leave them in a sealed bag, wipe the inside of shin guards weekly, and wash wraps on a cool cycle. Replace gloves when the padding compresses or the casing cracks, and replace a mouthguard the moment it stops fitting snugly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What protective gear do you need for MMA training?
Start with hand wraps and MMA gloves for every session, then add a mouthguard before any sparring. Groin guards and shin guards come next once you move into partner drills, and headgear is worth adding for boxing-focused sparring. Elbow pads round out the kit for Muay Thai work. The right protective gear for MMA training matches what your gym actually allows on the mat.
How should MMA gloves fit?
Your fingers should reach the end of the glove with no pinching, and the wrist strap should close firmly without cutting off circulation. MMA gloves sizing usually comes down to two or three sizes, so measure around your dominant hand at the knuckles. A full double-length wrist wrap, like the one on the Mil Spec Sparring 7oz glove, adds stability through the wrist without restricting your grip.
Do you need shin guards for MMA sparring?
Yes, once you start sparring or drilling kicks with a partner. Light sparring suits a slip-on cotton style, while heavier rounds call for a padded guard with dual strapping. Kids and adults both need a fit that stays put through repeated kicks.
Buying protective gear in the right order saves you money and keeps you training. PRO FIGHT STORE AUSTRALIA stocks professional-grade gloves, shin guards, groin guards and hand wraps for adults, teens and children, with free freight on orders over $100.00. Get started with PRO FIGHT STORE AUSTRALIA and kit up once, correctly.
