This review is for Ringside's IMF Tech elastic cuff training glove. (model no: MFTG E) Ringside offers this model in 14oz, 16oz, and 18oz versions, and in any color you want - as long as its black. Its also worth noting that this glove is also offered in lace-up version as well. They retail on Ringsides website for $89.99, but can frequently be found on sale at their site for less. This puts them toward the higher echelon of glove categories, so we'll see if they hold up.
I picked up a pair of these gloves a while back because i needed a easy-on easy-off solution for training at my home gym. Ringside had them on sale for a very reasonable price, and word around town was that they were very sweet gloves, so I decided to give them a try and see for myself. The gloves came quickly, packaged well, and ready to go. The first thing I noticed after unwrapping the gloves, was the smell of quality leather that exuded from them. These gloves have been manufactured to very high standards. The fit and finish of the leather and materials, the dyes, and logo screening were all top notch. After inspecting, all stitching was grade A as well. After checking out the build, it was time to get to the good stuff.
I pulled on the gloves, which have a closure on the inside, and then an elastic cuff that rolls down to pull over the exposed cuff. The gloves I ordered were the 18 oz variety, as I figured it would provide a tougher shoulder workout over my standard fare 12 ouncers. The weight is distributed pretty evenly in these gloves, and they felt great. The real beauty in these gems though, was when striking the heavy bag. The manufacturer states that they provide 2.5" of protection over the knuckles, and it feels every bit the way they say. I can honestly say that these gloves provided the most shock resistance when hammering the heavy bag. They absorbed alot of impact and kept the knuckles feeling good. The wrist closure does a very good job of keeping the wrist feeling secure, although none of the elastic/velcro wrist gloves I've used have come close to the protection that a lace up variety can provide. There will always be a trade-off there, but if you dont have someone to lace you up, this is the best option around.
The only drawback to these gloves, and its a very minor one, is that they don't breathe as well as some of the other gloves. So you'll have a little more sweat there than other gloves. I'd recommend hanging your gloves after usage to dry them properly, or use a set of glove dogs that slide inside the glove and absorb the moisture between workouts.
If an elastic cuff is not necessary for you, then I recommend the lace up version of this glove as it will have superior breathability to this version, and will also provide even better stability of the wrist.
Aside from that, these gloves are terrific!
Overall, these gloves are excellent. They provide some of the best protection available, and at a reasonable price for this type of quality.
Ratings (1-10, 10 being the highest)
Quality:10
Value:8
Performance:9
Comfort:9
Pro's: Excellent construction, top notch padding and protection
Cons: A little bit expensive, but your hands are worth it, and will thank you
Manufacturer: Ringside Boxing
Price: $89.99/$79.99 (sale) at Ringside.com