Ok so you want to punch something. Sounds about right, who doesn't want to punch something or someone every now and then? The key part of it of course is making sure that your hands are safe and protected. Last thing you want is to break those hands and not be able to do important things in your day to day life. You know what we're talking about right? Of course you do. So to help protect your hands you have a choice of gel hand wraps or regular hand wraps. What are they key differences? We ask Chat GPT to find out. before we get to that of course let's take a look at the two items in question.
First we have the gel hand wraps. We decided to go with the wraps from RDX because of the good sales they have been having. Currently on Amazon for $13.99 and they have a 4.5 star score on over 5,600 ratings.
Next we have regular hand wraps. We decided to go with Amazons overall pick of the Sanabul Elastic hand wraps. Currently on Amazon for $6.99 and they have a 4.6 star score on over 23,000 ratings.
The first thing that stands out to us of course is the difference in price. The regular hands wraps are way mroe budget friendly. That said feedback wise they have similar scores, although the Sanabul wraps having a lot more ratings does show how more units they have moved compared to the RDX gels. Let's see what Chat GPT can give us as far as insight...
"Gel hand wraps and traditional cloth hand wraps serve the same fundamental purpose, which is to provide support and protection to the hands and wrists during various combat sports and activities such as boxing, Muay Thai, or MMA. However, they have some differences in terms of construction, ease of use, and personal preference. Here are some key distinctions:
Traditional Cloth Hand Wraps:
Material: Cloth hand wraps are typically made of a soft, elastic material like cotton or a blend of materials.
Customization: They allow for more customization in terms of how tight or loose you want to wrap your hands. You can wrap them in a way that suits your hand and wrist support needs.
Breathability: Cloth wraps are generally more breathable compared to gel wraps, which can be an advantage during long training sessions.
Learning Curve: Some people find it takes a bit of practice to learn how to wrap their hands effectively with cloth wraps.
Washing: They are machine washable, making it easy to keep them clean.
Gel Hand Wraps:
Construction: Gel hand wraps have a gel padding integrated into the wrap, providing both hand and knuckle protection. The gel padding is usually covered by a neoprene or similar material.
Ease of Use: Gel wraps are often considered easier and quicker to put on compared to traditional wraps since they usually come in a pre-formed shape.
Consistency: They provide a consistent level of padding and support, which can be beneficial for those who are still learning how to wrap their hands effectively.
Durability: Gel wraps can be more durable over time since they are less prone to fraying or stretching compared to cloth wraps.
Hygiene: They are typically easier to clean and maintain than cloth wraps.
Which is Better?
The choice between gel and cloth wraps ultimately comes down to personal preference. Some fighters and athletes prefer the traditional feel and customization options of cloth wraps, while others appreciate the convenience and consistency of gel wraps. It's a good idea to try both and see which one feels more comfortable and supportive for your individual needs and preferences."
Really great assesment by the AI. That makes a lot of sense. Since the gel wraps are easier to use, they have more material involved and so as a result that is where the extra cost is coming from. It seems like if you are more hardcore and know how to handle hand wraps, then regular ones might be better because you can customize them how you want. If on the other hand you are just starting out it sounds like the gel wraps are a better way to go.
NOTE: All price and review info is based on the time of posting. The numbers may have changed since the creation of this article. Don't forget to always research everything yourself before you buy it, don't just take our word for it. All links to Amazon on this page are part of the Associates program which gives us commissions, thanks for your support!
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