Short answer. Buy focus mitts if you box or only punch: they sit on the holder's hands and are light to hold. Buy Thai pads if you kick: they strap along the holder's forearms and take kicks, knees and elbows as well as punches. For Muay Thai with a regular partner, get Thai pads first and add mitts later. If you train alone, buy a heavy bag instead.
The difference in one table
Both are held by a coach or partner, and both are bought by the person who holds them. The difference is what they can take. Focus mitts sit on the holder's hands and are made for punches. Thai pads strap along the holder's forearms and take kicks, knees and elbows as well as punches.
| Focus mitts | Thai pads | |
|---|---|---|
| Worn | On the hand, with a wrist strap | Along the forearm, with a handle and straps |
| Takes | Punches: jabs, hooks, uppercuts (Blitz) | Kicks, knees, elbows, hooks and uppercuts (Blitz) |
| Typical size | Blitz Club: 30 × 20 × 6 cm | Blitz Club: 38 × 17.5 × 8.5 cm; Fairtex KPLC2: 38 × 20 × 10 cm |
| Weight to hold | Blitz Cyclone: 215 g per mitt | Fairtex KPLC2: 2.5 kg per pair |
| Best for | Boxing combinations, speed and accuracy | Muay Thai and kickboxing rounds at full power |
Which one to buy
- You box, or only punch. Focus mitts. They are light enough to hold for many rounds and let the holder move and call fast combinations.
- You kick. Thai pads. A kick on a focus mitt lands on the holder's hand and arm; Thai pads are built to absorb it.
- Muay Thai with a regular partner. Thai pads first, because they also take punches. Add focus mitts later for fast hand work; many Muay Thai pad rounds use both, with a belly pad for teeps and knees.
- You train alone. Neither: a heavy bag is the better buy.
Flat or curved?
Flat mitts and pads are simple and give a clear target; Blitz's Club focus pads have a target circle for accuracy. Curved ones follow the holder's hand or forearm: Blitz describes its pre-curved Hurricane mitts as fitting the hand's natural curve, and Fairtex says curved Thai pads reduce strain on the holder's arms and shoulders.
UK picks: Blitz mitts and pads
Blitz is a UK store and one of our partner stores. It makes its own focus pads and Thai pads, all sold in pairs. The order below goes from focus mitts to Thai pads. It is not a score.
Blitz Club Focus Pads
Flat focus pads with a target circle, made for coordination, speed and power drills.
- 30 × 20 × 6 cm, sold as a pair (Blitz)
- Target circle on a flat strike surface; adjustable Velcro wrist strap (Blitz)
- Nama Hide leather (Blitz)
Blitz Hurricane Focus Pads
Pre-curved mitts that follow the shape of the hand, with extra wrist padding for the holder.
- Pre-curved shape; padded wrist support (Blitz)
- Breathable mesh lining for grip (Blitz)
- Nama Hide leather, sold as a pair (Blitz)
Blitz Cyclone Focus Pads
Lightweight mitts with air holes, for fast drills where the holder moves a lot.
- 215 g per mitt (Blitz)
- Ventilation holes; adjustable Velcro wrist strap (Blitz)
- Nama Hide leather, sold as a pair (Blitz)
Blitz Club Thai Pads
Flat Thai pads with one handle and one strap, for speed, power and stamina rounds.
- 38 × 17.5 × 8.5 cm, sold in pairs (Blitz)
- 1 reinforced handle and 1 adjustable Velcro strap (Blitz)
- Nama Hide leather with a high-density foam core (Blitz)
Blitz Havoc Thai Pads
Curved Thai pads with two forearm straps, which Blitz pitches for coaching and taking powerful kicks, knees and elbows.
- 35 × 19 × 8.5 cm (Blitz)
- Curved strike face; two padded, adjustable forearm straps; soft rear arm panel (Blitz)
- Nama Hide leather with a high-density foam core (Blitz)
For children, Blitz sells softer, round focus pads (26 × 26 × 6.5 cm) that it describes as ideal for kids.
To compare Blitz pad prices, see pads on GloveWatch.
US picks: Revgear mitts and pads
Revgear, a US store and one of our partner stores, sells its own focus mitts and Thai pads. Check sizes and whether each is sold as a pair on the product page.
On Amazon (US)
Check whether the listing is a pair, and prefer listings sold by the brand or by Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
For the striker
The person hitting the pads needs hand wraps and gloves: see the boxing glove size guide or best Muay Thai gloves. For Fairtex's curved pad sizes, see best Thai pads.
FAQ
Can you kick focus mitts?
They are made for punches. A kick lands on the holder's hand and arm, so for kicks, knees and elbows use Thai pads, which strap along the forearm.
Should a Muay Thai beginner buy focus mitts or Thai pads?
If someone will hold for you regularly, Thai pads, because they take kicks, knees and elbows as well as punches. Focus mitts can come later for fast hand combinations.
Who buys the pads, the striker or the holder?
The holder. In a gym, coaches and the club usually supply them; you buy pads when you train with a partner outside class.
Are Thai pads heavy to hold?
Heavier than mitts. Fairtex lists its standard curved KPLC2 at 2.5 kg per pair, while Blitz lists its Cyclone focus mitt at 215 g each.
How do I train pad-style rounds without a partner?
Use a heavy bag. FightNome (iPhone and Android) calls each strike out loud on the beat of the music and runs the rounds, so you can work pad-style combinations on the bag.
Sources
- Blitz, Club Focus Pads
- Blitz, Hurricane Focus Pads
- Blitz, Cyclone Focus Pads
- Blitz, Circular Focus Pads
- Blitz, Club Thai Pads
- Blitz, Havoc Thai Pads
- Fairtex, Curved Kick Pads KPLC2
- Fairtex Store, Muay Thai Curved Pads (KPLC1–4 dimensions and weights)
More buying guides
- Muay Thai starter kitWhat to buy first, in order, and what can wait.
- Boxing starter kitWhat to buy for your first boxing class, in order, with UK picks.
- Best Muay Thai gloves 2026Five leather Thai gloves by use, plus Fairtex and Yokkao size charts.
- Boxing vs Muay Thai glovesPalm, padding and cuff differences, one-glove options, and which to buy.
- Boxing glove size guide12 vs 14 vs 16oz: size charts by weight and use, and UK picks.
- Kids' boxing glovesWhat size gloves for children and juniors, 4oz to 10oz, and UK picks.
- Sparring headgear guideOpen-face vs cheek vs full face, a head-size check, and UK picks.
- Best Muay Thai shin guardsThai-style vs adjustable vs sleeve, size charts and a shin-length size check.
- Best heavy bag for homeHanging vs freestanding, how heavy, and how to set it up.
- Heavy bag workout for beginnersA 20-minute round-by-round plan, what you need, and UK picks.
- Muay Thai at home aloneA 35-minute solo round plan, with or without a bag, and what you need.
- Jump rope workout for boxingThe basic bounce, the boxer skip in five steps, a 15-minute round plan.
- Best Thai padsCurved vs straight, leather vs synthetic, and Fairtex's pad sizes.
- Hand wraps guide180 vs 120 inches, a length check, elastic vs cotton, and how tight to wrap.
- How to wrap your handsThe standard wrap step by step, a Muay Thai version, how tight, and washing.
- Groin guard guideCup types, the competition rules, Blitz's size table, and UK and US picks.