Headgear protects against cuts and bruising and takes some sting out of shots in sparring. The main choice is between open-face and face-bar designs.
What is open-face headgear?
Open-face headgear (like our FG-2900 styles) covers the forehead, cheeks, ears and back of the head while leaving a wide opening for vision. It’s the most common choice for sparring.
What is face-bar headgear?
Face-bar headgear (FG-5000 styles) adds a padded bar across the face to protect the nose and mouth. It reduces direct shots to the face but slightly limits downward vision.
Which is safer?
Face-bar headgear offers more facial protection, which suits hard sparring, heavier boxers or anyone protecting a nose injury. Open-face gives better vision for learning to slip and counter.
Comparison
| Open-face | Face-bar | |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Best | Good |
| Nose/mouth protection | Limited | High |
| Best for | Technical sparring | Hard sparring |
How do I get the right size?
Read how to measure your head for headgear, then shop our boxing headgear collection. Want everything matching? See sparring sets.
FAQ
Does headgear prevent concussions?
Headgear mainly reduces cuts and bruising. It does not prevent concussion, so controlled sparring is still essential.
Can I use face-bar headgear in competition?
Most competitions require approved open-face headgear or none at all. Check the rules.
