Alright, so today I wanted to talk about my experience with the Rival RS11V sparring gloves. It’s been a bit of a journey finding the right gear, as you all know, and I like to share what works, and sometimes what doesn’t.
Getting to the RS11V
My old sparring gloves, bless their cotton socks, were pretty much falling apart. Padding was compressed, the leather was cracked – you know the drill. I was starting to feel it in my knuckles, and more importantly, I was worried about my sparring partners. Nobody wants to be that guy with the dodgy gloves.
So, the hunt began. I’d heard a lot about Rival. Seen plenty of pros using their stuff. Guys like Lomachenko, even Joshua. Now, I’m no pro, far from it, but I figure if it’s good enough for them to punch each other in the face with, it’s probably decent quality.
I spent a fair bit of time looking at different models. Rival has a bunch, right? It can get a bit confusing. But the RS11V, the “Evolution” sparring glove, kept popping up. The main thing that caught my eye was that angled V-strap system they have. My wrists aren’t what they used to be, and good support is non-negotiable for me these days.
First Impressions and Breaking In
So, I pulled the trigger and ordered a pair. When they arrived, first thing I noticed was the build. They felt solid. Really well put together. The leather felt good, stitching looked clean. But man, were they stiff out of the box. Like, seriously rigid. I remember thinking, “Uh oh, these are gonna take some work.”
That famous V-strap, the Ergo Strap System as they call it, looked a bit complicated at first glance, but it’s actually pretty intuitive once you get the hang of it. You can really crank it down and get a super snug fit around the wrist.
The first few sparring sessions were, well, an experience. Like breaking in a new pair of stubborn leather boots. My hands felt a bit constricted, and the feedback on the bag wasn’t quite there yet. I was a little concerned, not gonna lie. I thought maybe I’d made a mistake.
Living with the Gloves
But I stuck with them. Kept using them for bag work, pad work, and of course, sparring. And slowly but surely, they started to break in. That stiffness began to ease up, and the inner lining started to conform to my hands. It probably took a good 15-20 rounds on the heavy bag and a few sparring sessions before they felt truly “mine.”
And once they did? Oh yeah. That wrist support from the V-strap is legit. Seriously good. My wrists felt secure, locked in. It made a noticeable difference, especially when blocking shots or if a punch landed a bit awkwardly. The padding is also excellent. It’s protective, for sure. My knuckles felt fine, and my sparring partners commented that the punches felt “thuddy” but not sharp or painful, which is what you want in a sparring glove.
They’re not the lightest gloves I’ve ever used, being 16oz, but they don’t feel overly cumbersome either. The weight distribution is pretty good. The hand compartment, once broken in, is snug but comfortable. Not too much room for your hands to slide around, which I like.
Some Final Thoughts
I’ve had these RS11Vs for a good while now, and they’ve held up really well. The stitching is still perfect, the leather is aging nicely, and the padding hasn’t flattened out. They’ve definitely become my go-to for sparring.
You know, it’s funny. I remember when I first started boxing, I’d just buy whatever cheap gloves were on sale. Thought it didn’t make a difference. Boy, was I wrong. My hands used to ache all the time. It took a few sore lessons, and honestly, a bit of stubbornness, to realize that investing in good protective gear isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity if you want to stay in this game long-term without wrecking yourself.
So, yeah, the Rival RS11V. They take a bit of patience to break in, no doubt about it. They’re not pillowy soft from day one. But if you give them the time, they become fantastic sparring gloves. Great protection, incredible wrist support, and built to last. Definitely a piece of kit I’m happy to have in my bag.
It’s like my old coach used to say, “Protect your tools, and your tools will protect you.” He was usually talking about keeping our hands wrapped properly, but I reckon it applies to gloves too. These Rivals, they do a good job of that.
