Where nearly every boxer wears hand wraps to support their fragile hand, only a few are well up with its maintenance. Do you know how long do hand wraps last?
Hand wraps are one of the most effective protective shields over their hands. These aim at protecting your hands from getting injured. Boxing without hand wraps is just like going hunting without a gun.
But where the hand wraps are so important, they require proper maintenance to last longer and fulfill the purpose behind wearing them.
If you are also looking to learn how long hand wraps last and the whys to make them last even longer, thanks to fortune as you have jumped to the right tab. Here in this article, we will shed light on everything that falls under the umbrella of boxing with just hand wraps.
So, without blinking the eye one more time, let’s go into the details.
What is the Purpose of Boxing Hand Wraps?
The common misconception among people is that hand wraps offer protection via extra cushioning and padding.
No, we use boxing gloves, and not hand wraps for that purpose. The boxing hand wraps are not for minimizing the shock but equally distribute it throughout the hand.
As a result, your delicate and fragile joints don’t get fractured or injured easily. These hand wraps ensure that all the joints are well aligned and move in one direction only. According to a study at the University of Waterloo, boxing hand wraps maintain the alignment of wrists and hands up to 99.7 %.
If you do boxing without hand wraps, all your tendons and ligaments will get fractured as all the joints will move in their own direction. So, in short, the purpose of boxing hand wraps is to secure your wrist, fingers, delicate knuckles, and entire hand.
Now that we have discussed the purpose behind boxing with hand wraps let’s center on the focal point of how long do hand wraps last.
How Long do Boxing Hand Wraps Last? – The Factors To Consider
The life of your boxing hand wraps ultimately depends on the way you treat and care for them.
On average, a hand wrap lasts for 6 to 12 months. However, if you keep them with proper maintenance, the life span also increases.
Similarly, if you use 2 to 3 pairs of hand wraps instead of one, the lifespan increases further.
However, the answer to how long do hand wraps last depends only on you. The more you take care of them, the better they perform and the longer they can last.
The maintenance of Boxing hand wraps include
- Washing your hand wraps
- Drying them properly
Apart from this, the material of your boxing hand wraps matters a lot.
So, here is a complete care guide to follow to make your boxing hand wraps last longer.
1: Washing Your Boxing Hand Wraps
If you practice boxing with hand wraps, you need to wash them after every workout. This is because it collects a lot of dirt, sweat, and bacteria making your hand wraps stink.
So, it’s essential to wash your hand wraps regularly to increase their life and for hygienic purposes too.
Cleaning the boxing hand wraps is a quick, easy task to perform. You don’t need any special cleaning powder, detergent, etc.
You just need to take your boxing hand wraps out and wash them in a machine using any regular washing soap or powder to wash your clothes. Isn’t it too simple?
Yes, that is why cleaning hand wraps after every workout is not a big deal. Cleaning your hand wraps requires much less than what they provide you with.
2: Drying The Boxing Hand Wraps
After cleaning, it is essential to dry your wet boxing hand wraps. If not dried properly and used, they can easily get damaged and torn.
So, after every wash, place it in a fully ventilated area with free-flowing air. Ensure that there are no knots or wrinkles in the boxing hand wraps while hanging them for drying, as it can lead to wrinkles and reduce the lifespan of hand wraps.
Storing Your Boxing Hand Wraps
To keep your hand wraps free of tangles and wrinkles after, you need to store them properly. So, roll them up in such a way that the fabric lines remain straight and flat. Avoid crossing over the material as it will lead to wrinkling all around.
What is Boxing Hand Wraps Made of?
How long do hand wraps last depends not only on the cleaning and maintenance process but also on the material it is made of.
- If the material of your hand wraps is polyester blends, it provides elasticity, hence the hand wraps will last longer as they are very durable.
- If hand wraps are the traditional cotton fabric hand wraps, they are comparatively less durable, and hence they last for a shorter time as compared to polyester or elastic hand wraps.
How many times can you reuse your Hand Wraps?
If you have only one set of hand wraps, you obviously can’t afford to wash them after every single use. Therefore, in that situation, you can reuse your hand wraps without washing them three to four times. However, it will lead to a stinky smell in your hand wraps.
In contrast to that, it is better to buy 2 to 3 sets of boxing hand wraps so that you can use them alternatively. This not only provides you with ample time to clean and wash them properly but will also increase the life of boxing hand wraps by many folds.
Do Wraps Expire? The Right Time To Replace Your Hand Wraps
Obviously, there will not be an expiry date mentioned on your hand wraps.
No, not at all!
You need to check for certain things to decide whether the purpose of hand wraps is being fulfilled by using your old hand wraps or not. If yes, there is no need to buy a new one.
But if not, there is no way out except to buy a new one. However, the boxing hand wraps aren’t so expensive, and therefore buying a new one will not break your bank.
So, here are a few factors that can help you decide whether you need a new hand wrap for boxing or not:
- Your hand wraps start to tatter.
- The hand wraps aren’t able to wrap around your hands properly.
- The stinky smells of the hand wraps persist even after washing
- There are wrinkles on your hand wraps.
So, if any of the above things will appear in your wraps, the purpose of hand wraps will obviously not be fulfilled. Therefore, you will need to buy a new pair.
Is it ok to Do boxing without Hand Wraps?
Now that you are well up with how long do hand wraps last, let’s find out if you can do boxing without hand wraps or not.
You can do shadow boxing without hand wraps. But when it comes to proper boxing in a ring or sparring, you can’t go for it without wearing hand wraps.
These wraps are necessary to provide protection and stability to the delicate joints of your hand. As a result, the impact of the pressure is minimized.
Moreover, they also fill the space between your gloves and hand, reducing the rotation and hence the chances of injury.
How much Do Boxing Hand Wraps cost?
Fortunately, where nearly every piece of boxing equipment costs your bucks, these hand wraps are generally much cheaper. A good pair of wraps will cost you somewhere between $15 to $20 only.
If you want to buy these boxing or Muay Thai hand wraps then click here
Why Boxing With Hand Wraps- A Few Benefits To Eye On!
After we are done with the part about how long do hand wraps last, let’s find out why we should use hand wraps. So, here are a few known benefits of wearing them:
- Offers a splinting effect and rigidity to your hands
- Offer hand rigidity by binding all the bones together
- A study showed that the thin padding of hand wraps results in a 9 to 12% reduction of the punching force.
- Reduces the chances of injuries
Conclusion- One Last Thought!
There is no second thought that hand wraps are one of the vital elements to add to your boxing equipment. They offer maximum value at a minimum price.
So, till now, we are done with our promise of making you well abreast with how long do hand wraps last and ways to make them last even longer.
Now it’s your turn to take out your boxing hand wraps and provide them with proper care.
