Short answer. To start Muay Thai you need three things: 180-inch hand wraps, a pair of 14–16oz gloves and a mouthguard. Add shin guards and a groin guard when you begin sparring. Most gyms lend gloves for a trial class, so buy wraps first.
What you need for the first class
Very little. Most gyms lend gloves for a trial class, and you can train in shorts and a T-shirt, barefoot. Buy your own kit once you know you'll keep going, in this order:
Hand wraps
Cheap, personal and the first thing to buy: borrowed gloves are fine, borrowed wraps are not. Get 180-inch Mexican-style wraps. Hand wraps guide.
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Gloves
One pair of 14–16oz leather gloves covers pads, bag and sparring for most adults. Best Muay Thai gloves 2026; not sure whether you need Thai or boxing gloves? See boxing vs Muay Thai gloves; for children, see kids' boxing gloves.
Mouthguard
Required for sparring at almost every gym. A boil-and-bite guard moulded at home is the usual start; a custom guard from a dentist fits best.
Shin guards
Needed once you start sparring. Get a Thai-style guard with a padded instep. Shin guards guide.
Groin guard
Many gyms require one for sparring, and it is standard for competition. Thai-style steel cups and modern plastic cups both exist; fit matters more than type. The groin guard guide covers the types, competition rules and sizing. Some gyms also ask for headgear in sparring: see the sparring headgear guide.
Muay Thai shorts
Not essential, but the wide cut lets you kick and knee freely.
Later: training at home
Once you train several times a week, a bag or a set of pads lets you practise between classes. A heavy bag is for training alone; Thai pads are for training with a partner (focus mitts or Thai pads?).
Starting with boxing instead?
The first purchases are the same: wraps, gloves and a gum shield. See the boxing starter kit for the boxing-specific order, England Boxing rules and UK picks.
Training in Thailand
Many people book a week or more at a camp in Thailand once they are hooked. Camps usually run two sessions a day and most have gloves and pads to use, but bring your own wraps, mouthguard and shin guards. Retreat booking sites list camps in Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui and Bangkok with reviews and what is included.
Buying in the UK
Blitz, a UK store and one of our partner stores, sells its own version of most of this list.
Buying in the US
Revgear, a US store and one of our partner stores, sells its own version of most of this list.
FAQ
What do I need for my first Muay Thai class?
Comfortable shorts, a T-shirt and water. Most gyms lend gloves for a trial class. Buy hand wraps first if you continue.
What size gloves should a beginner buy?
14 to 16oz for most adults, so the same pair works for sparring later. Lighter people can go down a size; check the brand's chart.
When do I need shin guards?
When you start sparring. Pads and bag work don't need them.
Sources
- GloveWatch guides linked above (gloves, shin guards, hand wraps, heavy bags, Thai pads)
More buying guides
- 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.
- Focus mitts vs Thai padsWhich pads to buy for boxing, kickboxing or Muay Thai, and UK picks.
- 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.