Hayabusa Focus mitts review (LONG)

[igaboj]

These focus mitts come with quite a hefty price tag; I got them for $96 from fighterwarehouse.com when they had a 20% off all boxing equipment coupon, but otherwise, expect to pay $120 for these. When I got them, I was surprised by how large they were; they're about 3 inches wider than traditional mitts at the widest point. (Ringside's to be exact). I was concerned because the huge size might make me lazier and my punches less accurate. Although the mitts were huge, they were incredibly light, especially compared with my old Ringside gelshock mitts. When I slipped them on, they weren't too tight or loose, but after wrapping my hands, I had a much more difficult time getting my hand inside, especially since there was a wrist pad that protected your wrist in case someone punched too low on the mitt while you were holding. For some reason, but the materials felt a little bit delicate when I first tried them on; I was questioning whether they would last; the leather that comprises the hand and finger compartment felt too soft and thin. The padding used for the mitts seemed to be comprised of 3-4 layers. The outermost layer that you would hit was really stiff, to the point that you could really feel your punches when hitting, but light, similar to title platinum or top contender punch mitts if you've ever used them, but the middle layer(s) had a bit more give, although still pretty stiff. The final layer was the ball which we usually see in some curved mitts, which was yet softer.

Anyways, onto how the mitts felt during padwork.. Before, my primary mitts were Ringside's gelshock mitts, which were decent at protecting the hands, although when holding for heavier hitters, my forearms and hands would be sore, or shake a little after training and you would damn well feel the force of every punch. On the other hand, with the Hayabusa mitts, the shock of punches is absorbed really well, so you barely feel anything when taking punches. Although the covers are mesh and “breathable”, you do sweat quite a bit in these mitts, and they do take a while to dry out.

Although the mitts are very light, they do give me the feeling that they might not last that long. The leather in the hand compartment feels too soft, and it seems that the hand compartment has gotten more loose since I first bought it, although this might just be the mitt breaking in. Other than that, and the size issue, the mitt is almost perfect. I've used some of the best mitts, like Winning's curved mitts, and these are almost as good, only differences were the winning mitts felt more solid in the hand compartment, and the target area was smaller. It seems like these mitts would be really good for beginners

Pros:
Absorbs impact very well
Extremely light
Very comfortable
Won't get hurt using these mitts (jammed fingers)

Cons:
Too large
Price
Durability may be an issue, although only time will tell


I can try to post up some pics. If you guys have any questions please ask.

thanks for reading.

[stu3ufc]

excellent review!!! could you post pictures?? if you could

[Jeff822]

I'd like to see some pics of them on your hand just to try to see what you mean in the size difference. We've been using some Top Contenders at the gym cause we get them at a rediculously low price and they are "too" bad..

[igaboj]

I don't have my other mitts on me, but heres some pics next to some familiar items, twins 16 oz gloves and an 8.5 by 11 sheet of printer paper.






Actually, upon close inspection, the width of the widest point of the mitt is 8.5 inches wide, which is supposed to be about 1.5 inches wider than my other mitts.

[Jeff822]

That side shot makes those things look so sick and comfy to hold haha.

[Ninjutsu Master]

hahah, they do look pretty comfy. I was thinking about buying these for my coach cuz MMA Warehouse has em for $20 less than everyone else and I want mitts that are shock absorbent to protect my coaches messed up joints.

[igaboj]

They're definitely comfy, although not as much as winnings similar curved mitts (although those will run you more than double the cost of the hayabusa's). Also, the hand compartment isn't as tight as the winning's.

Also, theyre still available for $100 + $8 shipping at mmawarehouse. Some good alternative are Ringside's ultimate classic panther punch mitts and Rivals curved mitts. I was looking at those too, and which I knew what they were like compared to the Hayabusa's but Im satisfied. If anyone knows anything about those, Id like to hear about them.

[Ninjutsu Master]

Here's what one user had to say about the Ultimate Classics:

Originally Posted by FIGHTER1980

Hey bro, what's up? I read where you posted in the Title Boxing forum asking Wes what he recommended for punch mitts. I figured he'd just recommend whatever Title had instead of any mitts available so if you don't mind I'd like to recommend some. I was going to reply on the post but didn't think Wes would take it kindly since the mitts I'm recommending are from Ringside(Titles biggest competition. These Ultimate Classic mitts from Ringside are AWESOME IMO. They're a little pricey but IMO well worth the money. I'm sure they'll last a long time. I've had mine for about a year and look great. I've had cheap Everlast mitts (which I gave away), some Ringside gel mitts (for like $50), and have used the one's we have at my Muay Thai gym (I think they're Title) and these Ultimate Classics take the cake. I'd give them a 4 1/2 or maybe 5 star rating. Hope this helps and sorry for all the rambling. ~Ryan~
Ultimate Classic Panther Punch Mitts-www.Ringside.Com

[Mumrik]

So, exactly what is the difference between the 30-45USD low end curved mitts and these 100+USD higher end products?

[Ninjutsu Master]

Originally Posted by Mumrik

So, exactly what is the difference between the 30-45USD low end curved mitts and these 100+USD higher end products?

Mostly protection for the pad holder. They have better padding, more wrist support, covers for the fingers, and are more durable.