[fil]

Cool if true, but if these are AIBA approved why is it that every Website that carries these head guards are based in the UK? I only saw one other listing in Australia and one in the US.
http://www.totiro-usa.com/Catalog/Head-Guards

Also the head guard that was "Tested at the Technical University of Berlin Approved by AIBA" are the TOP TEN Leather AIBA head guard and not these that are listed by the OP:
http://www.ringsport.com.au/d355/top...iba-head-guard
http://www.lonsdaleboxing.co.uk/stor...show/4096.html
http://www.sugarrays.co.uk/shop/prod...cat=103&page=1

[Dabappa]

Originally Posted by fil

Cool if true, but if these are AIBA approved why is it that every Website that carries these head guards are based in the UK? I only saw one other listing in Australia and one in the US.
http://www.totiro-usa.com/Catalog/Head-Guards

Also the head guard that was "Tested at the Technical University of Berlin Approved by AIBA" are the TOP TEN Leather AIBA head guard and not these that are listed by the OP:
http://www.ringsport.com.au/d355/top...iba-head-guard
http://www.lonsdaleboxing.co.uk/stor...show/4096.html
http://www.sugarrays.co.uk/shop/prod...cat=103&page=1

AIBA (International Amateur Boxing Association) is an international organization, thus the foreign links. For whatever reason, Top-Ten has not been aggressively marketed in the USA. So far only three suppliers in the USA have been mentioned:

www.topten-usa.com
www.shop.sportkarategroup.com
www.totiro-usa.com

As far as I know there are three Top-Ten competition models available with AIBA certification, and I can only assume all have undergone the formal “crash” testing:

Top-Ten Leather
Top-Ten Olympia
Top-Ten Avantguard

I have the Avantguard training model, and none of the training models are AIBA certified, probably because the cheek guards and/or color make them illegal for competition; however the basic construction is essentially the same as the approved models.

It appears only a handful of AIBA certified guards available from other manufacturers; one each from Adidas and Greenhill come up on Google.

If fit or personal preference is an issue, there are plenty of other brands with great reviews here in G&E. Try searching for Fightgear, KO Fightgear, and Rival.

[Timm S]

The Top Ten Olympia & Avantguard Headguards are all all AIBA approved. The only difference is whether you want to pay extra for the AIBA sticker that adds unecessary cost to the items here in the US. They are made of the same patented Bayflex rubber that was tested in the Technical University of Berlin study. FYI - At the AIBA Boxing Championships held in Chicago last summer, the TOP TEN Headguard (boxing version covered in leather) was mandatory equipment.

I've used the Olympia and the Avantguard and prefer the fit of the Avantguard. I didn't believe the hype until I used one myself. The best test is to put one on (the correct size) and have someone punch and kick you and see what you think.

The best place to purchase the products in the US is at WWW.TOTIRO-USA.COM. They are the actual supplier for the TOP TEN products sold on everyone else's websites.

[Natedawg63]

I purchased 3 of the Avantgarde headguards from MAMA-USA (AKA topten-usa.com). MAMA (Martial Arts Marketing Associates) is the main importer/distributor for Top Ten, which is made in Germany. Mike at MAMA is a super guy to deal with, and threw in some free goodies with my order - mind you I spent a good deal of $$$ on my first order.

I bought for myself, my 16 y/o and his best friend. We do full-contact/knockdown Freestyle Karate like Kyokushin/Oyama Karate - so we kick and hit to the head... thus the need for great headgear, esp youngsters. I read some article online, forget where, that since the Top Ten has been used in Olympic boxing, only one KO from a head blow has been recorded, thus my decision to spend the cash on the Top Ten gear. They sell a bandanna that you can slip on before putting on the headgear... to wick away sweat so that it doesn't contact with the Bayfill material.

The Bayfill takes getting used to, but the safety is not hype... it works!!! I know there are boxers here on the forum also, and those that box as part of their MMA training. Tho I have never used their Bayfill gloves, I bet they are just as safe as the headgear. I would not hesitate to recommend or repurchase Top Ten products - like all quality stuff, its not the cheapest, but the quality def matches the price.

Nate