Hand wraps go on before the gloves, every session. They hold the small bones of the hand together, keep the wrist straight when a punch lands, and soak up the sweat that would otherwise rot the inside of your gloves. Here is how to choose a pair, and how to wrap your hands properly.

Why wrap your hands?

  • Your hand is made of small bones. A glove pads the outside; a wrap pulls the knuckles and the back of the hand together so they move as one unit when you hit.
  • Your wrist needs support. A punch that lands with the wrist bent is one of the most common ways to hurt it. A few turns of wrap around the wrist help keep it straight.
  • Your gloves last longer. The wrap takes the sweat first. You wash the wrap; the glove stays fresher.

3 m or 5 m?

Our Nova hand wraps come in two lengths:

  • 5 m for adults in boxing and Muay Thai. Enough length to cover the wrist, the knuckles and between the fingers, with some left to finish.
  • 3 m for children, small hands, and MMA gloves, which have less room inside than boxing gloves.

Both are elastic, with a thumb loop at one end and a hook-and-loop strap at the other. Elastic wraps stretch around the hand, so they are easier to get snug than plain cotton ones.

How to wrap your hands, step by step

Keep your fingers spread while you wrap. If you wrap with a closed fist, the wrap ends up too tight once you open your hand.

  1. Thumb loop. Put your thumb through the loop, with the wrap coming over the back of your hand, not the palm.
  2. Wrist. Wrap around the wrist three times. Snug, not tight.
  3. Knuckles. Go up over the back of the hand and wrap around the knuckles three times.
  4. Back to the wrist. Bring the wrap down diagonally across the back of the hand and once around the wrist.
  5. Between the fingers. From the wrist, go up between the little finger and the ring finger, across the back of the hand and back round the wrist. Repeat between the ring and middle fingers, then between the middle and index fingers. This makes an X pattern across the back of the hand and stops the wrap sliding off the knuckles.
  6. Thumb. Wrap once around the thumb, then back to the wrist.
  7. Knuckles again. One or two more turns around the knuckles for extra padding.
  8. Finish at the wrist. Use what is left around the wrist and close the strap.

Make a fist and open your hand a few times. The wrap should feel firm, but your fingers should not tingle or change colour. If they do, unwrap and start again a little looser.

Looking after your wraps

  • Unroll them and let them dry after every session. A wrap left balled up in a bag smells within days, especially in our humidity.
  • Wash them regularly, in a laundry bag so they do not tangle.
  • Roll them back up with the thumb loop on the outside, so they are ready to go on next time.
  • Two pairs make life easier: one drying while you train in the other.

What goes on after the wraps

Gloves, sized by your bodyweight. Our boxing glove sizing guide shows which ounce suits you, and MMA gloves vs boxing gloves explains why one cannot replace the other. Browse all our gloves.

Not sure which length or glove to take? Message us on WhatsApp. You can order online for delivery in Mauritius, or collect from our shop at 34 Remy Ollier Street, Port Louis.