Beginner Gear Guide
The good news: you barely need anything to start. Most gyms lend gear for your first class, so buy a mouthguard, show up, and only invest once you know you'll stick with it. Here's what matters, by discipline.
Buy this first (whatever you train)
A fitted mouthguard and a pair of hand wraps are cheap, personal items you shouldn't borrow. Add a gym bag and you're set for day one. Skip the expensive stuff until you've trained a few weeks.
Starter essentials (any discipline)
A mouthguard, hand wraps, and a decent bag cover you on day one in almost any gym.
- Hayabusa T3 Boxing Gloves — Gloves · check price on Amazon
- Sanabul Elastic Hand Wraps — Hand wraps · check price on Amazon
- Venum Challenger Mouthguard — Mouthguard · check price on Amazon
- MIER MMA Gym Duffel Bag — Gear bag · check price on Amazon
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Most gyms lend a gi for your first class. Once you commit, you’ll want your own gi and a rash guard.
- Tatami Estilo BJJ Gi — Gi · check price on Amazon
- Sanabul Essentials Rash Guard — Rashguard · check price on Amazon
- Gold BJJ No-Gi Grappling Shorts — Shorts · check price on Amazon
- Cauliflower Ear Guards — Ear guards · check price on Amazon
Muay Thai
Gloves and shin guards are the big two. Hand wraps protect your wrists under the gloves.
- Fairtex BGV1 Muay Thai Gloves — Gloves · check price on Amazon
- Sanabul Essential Shin Guards — Shin guards · check price on Amazon
- Fairtex Hand Wraps — Hand wraps · check price on Amazon
- SISU Aero Mouthguard — Mouthguard · check price on Amazon
Boxing
Good gloves and wraps go a long way; headgear comes in once you start sparring.
- Everlast Pro Style Gloves — Gloves · check price on Amazon
- Meister Mexican Hand Wraps — Hand wraps · check price on Amazon
- Ringside Boxing Headgear — Headgear · check price on Amazon
- Speed Jump Rope — Conditioning · check price on Amazon
MMA
Smaller MMA gloves, a mouthguard, and shorts that move with you.
- Venum Challenger MMA Gloves — MMA gloves · check price on Amazon
- SISU Aero Mouthguard — Mouthguard · check price on Amazon
- Sanabul Rash Guard — Rashguard · check price on Amazon
- Venum MMA Fight Shorts — Shorts · check price on Amazon
Wrestling
Wrestling shoes and headgear are the essentials; everything else you likely own already.
- ASICS Matflex Wrestling Shoes — Shoes · check price on Amazon
- Cliff Keen Headgear — Ear guards · check price on Amazon
- Wrestling Compression Singlet — Singlet · check price on Amazon
- Speed Jump Rope — Conditioning · check price on Amazon
What you can skip at first
Don't buy headgear, fancy fight shorts, or premium gloves before your first month — your needs change fast as you learn, and gyms often have loaner gear. Spend on the items that touch your body (mouthguard, wraps) and upgrade the rest later.
Ready to train?
Find a gym and book a free trial — browse by state, pick a discipline, or read what to expect at your first class.