Boxing gloves RIVAL RS11V Evolution - gold - Weight of gloves: 18oz

• Take the gloves out of your bag, don't leave them in there overnight.
• Undo the velcro and open the gloves as wide as they will go.
• Wipe the lining out with a dry cloth or kitchen paper.
• Stand them opening down so the moisture can drain out.

• Dry at room temperature, ideally somewhere with moving air.
• Expect full drying to take up to a whole day, depending on the material.
• Training daily? Rotate two pairs, a single pair won't dry in time.

The smell comes from bacteria multiplying in damp padding. There are three steps and each one solves something different.

• Put a bamboo charcoal moisture absorber inside the gloves.
• Leave it in between sessions, it draws the remaining moisture out of the padding.
• Air the pouches out in the sun once a month, which regenerates them.

• Spray the lining with a sports equipment spray, ideally after every session.
• Let it dry and don't close the gloves up straight after spraying.

• Always train in hand wraps or gel gloves, they absorb the sweat instead of the padding.
• Wash wraps and gel gloves after every use, otherwise the smell goes straight back in.

Wraps are your gloves' first line of defence. They catch the sweat before it reaches the padding, but only if they are clean and dry.

• Wash them after every session, not after the third one.
• Fasten the velcro and put them in a mesh laundry bag, otherwise they tangle.
• Wash cycle up to 40 °C, delicate or sports programme.
• No fabric softener, it clogs the fibres and the wraps stop absorbing sweat.
• Don't use bleach, it breaks down the elastic fibres.

• Dry them unrolled, hung up or laid out flat.
• Not in the tumble dryer, heat destroys the elasticity.
• Only roll them up once they are completely dry, a damp rolled wrap will go mouldy.
• Store them rolled rather than crumpled, they go on faster next time.

Gel gloves take less abuse than textile wraps. The gel insert is sensitive to heat and to the strain of a washing machine.

• Hand washing in lukewarm water with a little delicate detergent is the gentlest option.
• In the machine, only in a mesh bag, on a cold or delicate cycle up to 30 °C.
• Never bleach or fabric softener.
• Don't wring or twist them, the gel separates from the backing.

• Dry flat at room temperature.
• Never in the dryer, on a radiator or in the sun.
• Heat makes the gel soften, deform and lose its cushioning.

• Wipe with a damp cloth after training, this removes sweat and salt.
• Treat with leather conditioner every two months.
• Without care, leather dries out, hardens and cracks at the seams.

• A damp cloth is enough, no conditioner needed.
• Don't use harsh cleaners or alcohol, they attack the surface layer.

• Clear lint and hair out of it regularly, otherwise it stops holding.
• Keep it fastened in storage so it doesn't clog up.

Most gloves aren't ruined by poor care but by the wrong use. Each type has different padding and a different purpose.

• Sparring gloves – softer, bulkier padding that protects your partner. They wear out fast on the bag.
• Bag gloves – firmer, more compact padding that stands up to thousands of strikes on hard surfaces.
• Training gloves – the compromise for everyday training, technique, pads and light sparring.
• MMA gloves – open fingers, minimal padding. Not a substitute for boxing gloves.
• Competition gloves – for fights only, the least padding and the shortest lifespan.

• The care routine is the same, children just don't remember it on their own, so set up a routine after training.
• Check the size every season, gloves that are too small pinch and restrict wrist movement.
• Don't buy significantly larger ones in advance, the glove has to fit around the fist.
• Put a moisture absorber in the bag, children's gear stays in there the longest.

• Washing machine and dryer for gloves – this ruins the padding and the shape beyond repair
• Radiators, direct sun, hairdryers, car heating
• A closed sports bag overnight
• Storage in a cellar, garage or any other damp space
• Training without wraps or gel gloves
• Sharing gloves between several people

• You feel your knuckles on impact, the padding no longer cushions
• The padding has flattened and feels hard or uneven
• Cracks in the material, seams coming apart
• The velcro no longer holds the wrist firmly
• The odour stays even after cleaning and drying