Why do my boxing gloves stink (and what can I do about it)?

It's a universal problem that every kickboxer experiences at some point. Whether you're still using your first pair of cheap gloves or own kickboxing gloves from a premium brand like Hayabusa, Venum or Rumble, they will start to smell sooner or later. When you put them on, it doesn't exactly feel fresh! What causes that unpleasant odour in your boxing gloves? What can you do about it? And how do you prevent this problem in the future? In this blog you'll read everything about it.

The three main reasons your kickboxing gloves smell

Why do my kickboxing gloves smell so bad? If you notice an unpleasant odour coming from your gloves, that's probably the first thing you ask yourself. There are all kinds of possible reasons, and if we were to describe them all, we'd be better off writing a book than a blog. But these are the three most common causes:

1. You sweat a lot and your gloves absorb this moisture

You sweat when you exercise. Everyone knows that. Yet people often don't consider that their hands and wrists perspire too. Because boxing gloves are thick and warm, this problem gets worse. Your gloves become moist on the inside and, because they are often made of foam and synthetic leather, your sweat has nowhere to go. As a result, it soaks into the lining. On its own this doesn't necessarily smell, but a warm, moist environment is perfect for bacterial growth… and bacteria cause odour.

2. You leave your gloves in your bag after training

Boxing gloves have very little ventilation by nature. If you leave them in your sports bag for days after an intensive training session or match, they won't dry out. This allows bacteria to keep growing unchecked, sometimes for days on end.

3. You don't wear (or wear dirty) hand wraps

When you wear hand wraps, they absorb some of your sweat. That's useful, because hand wraps can go in the washing machine. If you don't wear wraps, you're essentially giving sweat and bacteria free rein. In addition, hand wraps have many more benefits. They:

• Provide support to your wrists;
• Protect the small bones and joints in your hand;
• Keep your knuckles safe;
• Prevent abrasions and bruising;
• Absorb hard impacts.

What should you do if your boxing gloves smell?

Once your boxing gloves start to smell, you might be tempted to ignore the problem. Especially if you only wear them once a week, dealing with the odour doesn't feel like a priority. However, it's important to take action now, because the longer you leave that bad smell unaddressed, the harder it is to get rid of it. Fortunately, it really isn't much work to eliminate the odour. First and foremost, always take them out of your bag immediately when you get home. After that:

1. Open them up;
2. Place them somewhere, preferably near an open window or fan;
3. Put a deodorizer inside to combat the smell;
4. Let them dry;
5. Use a special spray to disinfect them.

Have you left the smell for so long that you can no longer get rid of it? Then your best option is to buy a new pair of boxing gloves. From that point on, make sure you take good care of them so you don't have to deal with this problem again.

How do you prevent your boxing gloves from smelling again in the future?

Want to prevent your boxing gloves from smelling again later? You do so in almost the same way: take them out of your bag immediately after training, open them up and let them dry in a convenient spot. Put a deodorizer inside as well. Don't forget to disinfect them every now and then too, because even if you let them dry properly, they will get dirty and bacterial growth will eventually occur. Finally, make sure you wear hand wraps during every training session. These absorb some of your sweat and help your boxing gloves last longer.

Want to make sure your boxing gloves stay clean? Then you can also use our Go4Dry. This is a device that cleans and dries your boxing gloves in a maximum of 45 minutes. The great thing is that you can also use this gadget for your shoes! Because this is a popular product, we don't always have it in stock. So keep a close eye on our range and order the Go4Dry as soon as it becomes available.

Should you clean your children's boxing gloves too?

If your kids do kickboxing, it's important to follow the advice in this blog for their gloves as well. They may be smaller, but that doesn't mean the problem doesn't exist. On top of that, children often wash their hands less thoroughly, meaning they leave more bacteria in their gloves.

Do you have questions about cleaning your boxing gloves?

After reading this blog, do you still have questions about deodorising and cleaning your kickboxing gloves? Or do you need new hand wraps or boxing gloves and would you prefer to try them on in person first? Then you're more than welcome in our store in Houten. Our martial arts specialists are there for you Monday through Saturday with personal advice. We're easily accessible by car and public transport and look forward to seeing you. See you soon!