What gear do I need to start Boxing?

When you first start boxing you definitely will need some key pieces of equipment. Now you don't have to go all out and break the bank, but you should be getting quality gear that you will put to use.

What kind of Handwraps do I need?

A basic staple in the boxing gym, but one of the most important. 180 inches should be the standard unless you have very small hands, wrist, or the person using them is a child, so in that case 120 or 108 inches could work. They also make fastwrap versions and most are absolute trash with the exception of Fortress fastwraps, but if budget is a concern stick with the classic style wraps. 

What kind of boxing gloves do I need?

When you first start boxing you may not want to invest too much money in to gear, since you aren't sure if you like it or maybe you don't have the budget for it, so I suggest getting a quality glove that can be used for all around training purposes. As you advance you should ideally have a bag glove which is made typically of a dense foam and a sparing glove, which is usually softer around the knuckles. If you need a glove that can be used for both sparring and heavy bag work under $200 I'd suggest Phenom Sg-210. Once you decide you want to put more time into the sport you can pickup a second pair of gloves that are solely dedicated to heavy bag use or sparring use. As far as weight goes 16oz+ are typically used for sparring. Unless you're a really lightweight athlete then you can spar in 14oz if your gym allows that.  For your bag gloves you have a few different options. You can go old school with a minimalistic type of glove which is very lightly padded and lightweight or you can go for a modern style bag glove that is closer to a competition styled glove that weighs between 10oz-12oz that offers a more protective denser foam. 

What mouthguards are good for boxing?

 Once you spend some time in the gym you'll begin sparring so picking up a quality mouthguard is key. Sisu is one of the lightest and protective mouthguards on the market and are a good addition to your boxing gear. 

What headgear is good for boxing?

headgears can generally be broken down into a few categories:

Training Headgear: Headgears that are worn in the gym for sparring. They can be a bar headgear, headgear with cheek protectors, and open-face headgears. Cheek protectors give you added protection around your face and I prefer them, open-face headgear allows for more visibility, but leaves you a little more open to take damage. The bar headgear I would recommend for professional's or people who have a history of breaking or damaging their nose during sparring. The bar headgear offers the most protection, but a headgear isn't a substitute for good defense and for a rookie it can give them a false sense of confidence. 

Competition: Competition headgears come in two options  open-face and with cheek protectors. The two biggest sanctioning bodies for amateur competition is AIBA and USA boxing. Having a headgear approved by either of these organizations means you can use it for competition. If you have a headgear approved by AIBA you can use it for all USA boxing sanctioned events. These headgears meet the specs of the organization and usually have a tag indicating what organization approved them. These can be used during training as well, so maybe picking up a competition headgear if you are an amateur could be a way to save some money. 

Cheek protectors, no cheek protectors/open face, bar headgear, training headgear, and competition headgear. Cheek protectors give you added protection around your face and i prefer them, openface headgear allow for more visibility, but leave you a little more open to take damage. The bar headgear I would recommend for professional's or people who have a history of breaking or damaging their nose during sparring. The bar headgear offers the most protection, but a headgear isn't a substitute for good defense and a rookie it can give you a false sense of confidence. 

What are boxing cups for?

A cup is to protect and cover your groin area, while sparring and for boxing competitions. A good cup is like a good referee...you don't notice them. You want a cup that isn't too bulky, heavy, or uncomfortable. It should protect your groin area without inhibiting your performance keeping you safe in the ring.