The Boxing Gear I Actually Use (And Recommend to Every Client)
Updated: 3 days ago
Every week, somebody in class asks me what jump rope I use. Or what gloves I'd buy if I were starting from scratch. I used to just answer between rounds and forget I'd said it. Now it's written down in one place.
This isn't a list of gear a brand paid me to talk about. It's what's actually in my bag, what I hand my own students at 139 Fulton Street, and the two companies I trust enough to put my name next to.
Jump Rope: Where Footwork Actually Starts
Every boxer I've ever coached who moves well started with the rope. Not the bag, not the mitts. The rope. It's the fastest way to teach your feet to react before your brain catches up.
Why: Jumping rope forces your calves and ankles to fire in short, repeated bursts, the same pattern you use to pivot, step, and reset your stance mid-exchange. Boxers with stiff ankles get caught flat footed. Boxers who skip rope stay that way.
I train and coach with BoxRope, and it's the only rope I put in front of clients now:
BoxRope Vol. I: the rope I hand beginners. Durable, adjustable, forgiving while you're still finding your rhythm.
BOXROPE II PRO: what I train with myself. Faster spin, built for double unders and speed work once your footwork is solid.
Jump Rope Mat: saves your knees and your rope on hard studio or apartment floors.
Grip Tapes: re-wrap the handles once they start slipping mid round.
Replacement Rope (Vol. I): the cord wears out before the handles do. Replace that, not the whole set.
Last Samurai / Kaizen Socks: grip bottom socks I actually train in.
Man in the Arena Shaker: a limited run, only 500 made. More collectible than essential, but I use mine.
Everything above ships from BoxRope's own store. Use code BOXWITHSIMMY at boxrope.com/boxwithsimmy and you get 10% off the entire order, not just one item.
Gloves and Wraps: What Actually Protects Your Hands
Your hands take more punishment than any other part of your body in a boxing gym, and most beginners pick gloves by color, not fit. That's backwards.
Why: Boxing gloves aren't padding for your opponent. They're padding for your own knuckles and wrist. A glove that's too loose lets your fist shift on impact, which is how you sprain a wrist on a bag you've hit a hundred times before without issue.
I train and coach in Adidas Combat Sports gear, from gloves to wraps to the apparel I'm usually in during class. It's what I trust to hold up through daily rounds, not just an occasional workout.
Use code BOXWITHSIMMY for 20% off eligible items in selected collections at the U.S. adidas Combat Sports store. Minimum purchase: US$120.
Affiliate disclosure: I may earn a commission if you buy through my adidas link.
Recovery: What I Use After Hard Rounds
Training hard is only half of it. If your shoulders and traps are still locked up when your next session comes round, you're training faster than you're recovering.
Why: Holding your guard squeezes blood out of your shoulders and traps for the length of every round. That stiffness the next morning isn't damage, it's stagnation. Heat and suction pull blood back into the muscle.
After long sessions I use the REVO 4-in-1 Smart Cupping Therapy Massager on my shoulders, traps and lats. The heat mode loosens locked traps in a couple of minutes, it charges like a phone, and I can reach my own back without asking anyone to dig into it.
Full breakdown of why it happens and my 15-minute recovery routine: Shoulder, Trap and Lat Pain After Boxing
How This Gear Shows Up in Class
If you train with me at BOXwithSimmy, you've probably already touched some of this. The BoxRope is what we open most sessions with, and it's the rope behind Jump Rope Club, one of the perks that comes with membership alongside Running Club and Sparring Club.
You don't need any of it to walk in the door. Classes are beginner friendly and everything you need for your first session is covered. This list is for once you're training regularly and ready to build your own kit.
FAQ
What jump rope does Coach Simmy recommend for beginners?
The BoxRope Vol. I. It's more forgiving while you're still building rhythm and timing, and it holds up once you start training daily.
Is there a discount code for BoxRope?
Yes. Code BOXWITHSIMMY gets you 10% off everything at boxrope.com/boxwithsimmy, not just the rope.
What gloves does Simmy train in?
Adidas Combat Sports gloves, linked above through his affiliate page.
Do I need my own gear before my first class?
No. BOXwithSimmy covers what you need to start. This guide is for after you're training regularly and want your own gear.
Train With the Gear That Works
Good gear helps, but it doesn't teach you how to move. Skills develop faster with a coach watching your feet and your hands in real time, and that's still the biggest gap between training alone and training in a room in NYC built for it.
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About the Author
Simeon Hardy is a former WBC (CABOFE) Welterweight Champion and World Ranked Contender based in Manhattan, NYC. He trains boxers and fitness clients of all levels at BOXwithSimmy, offering private sessions in Lower Manhattan.
Website: www.boxwithsimmy.com | Follow: Instagram | YouTube | Facebook
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