Short answer. For regular club sparring, a head guard with cheek protection is a common middle ground: it covers the forehead, ears and cheeks and keeps a wide view. Open-face guards are lighter with the widest view; full-face guards with a bar, grill or visor also cover the nose and mouth. Measure around your head just above the ears and use that model's chart. In England Boxing competition, everyone except senior men must wear a sanctioned brand.
Open-face, cheek protection or full face
Head guards differ mainly in how much of the face they cover. All of the types below protect the forehead, the ears and the sides of the head; the difference is the cheeks, chin and nose. The more of the face a guard covers, the more padding or bar sits at the edge of your view, so pick the least coverage your sparring actually calls for.
| Type | Covers | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Open-face | Forehead, ears, back and sides of the head | Light and technical sparring, semi contact; the widest view |
| Cheek protection (semi-face) | Adds padding over the cheeks, some models also the chin | Regular club sparring; a common middle ground |
| Full face (bar, grill or visor) | Adds a bar, grill or clear shield in front of the nose and mouth | Hard sparring, full contact, and training around a healing face injury |
Your gym's rule comes first: some clubs ask for headgear in all sparring, some leave it to you. If you will box in amateur competition, see the competition rules before you buy.
How to size a head guard
Measure around your head at its widest point, just above the ears, as Blitz describes it, and use the chart of the guard you are buying. Charts are not shared across models, even within one brand:
| Blitz model | Head circumference by size |
|---|---|
| Club Semi Contact | S 53–54 cm · M 55–56 cm · L 57–58 cm |
| Grilled | M 53–54 cm · L 55–56 cm |
| Dipped Foam with Face Shield | XXS 50–51.5 cm · XS 51.6–53.5 cm · S 53.6–55.5 cm · M 55.6–57.5 cm · L 57.6 cm and up (sold in S, M and L) |
| Clear Protective Visor | Suggested for 55–60 cm |
The same 55 cm head is a Medium in one chart and a Large in another. Once it is on, tighten the rear and chin straps so the guard sits snugly and does not slide over your eyes when you move your head.
Quick size check
UK picks: Blitz head guards
Blitz is a UK store and one of our partner stores. It makes its own head guards for club training and sparring, from open-face to full face. The order below follows coverage, from least to most. It is not a score.
Blitz Club Semi Contact Head Guard
An open-face leather guard that Blitz makes for semi contact training; the lightest kind of coverage here.
- Velcro cross fastening over the top of the head and a chin strap (Blitz)
- Bound ear sections; breathable, anti-microbial lining (Blitz)
- Nama Hide leather, latex-free; sizes S to L (Blitz)
Blitz Centurion Head Guard
A semi-face guard for sparring and training that keeps peripheral vision open, with padding over the forehead, ears and sides of the head.
- Lightweight high-density foam; anti-microbial lining (Blitz)
- Adjustable Velcro straps at the back and under the chin (Blitz)
- Nama Hide leather; Blitz lists no size chart, so check the sizes on the product page
Blitz Grilled Head Guard
A full contact guard whose face grill comes off, so one guard covers both hard sparring and lighter rounds.
- Detachable high-impact plastic grill, held with reinforced Velcro straps (Blitz)
- Protects forehead, cheeks, chin and ears (Blitz)
- Nama Hide leather; sizes M and L (Blitz)
Blitz Dipped Foam Head Guard With Face Shield
A very light EVA-foam guard with a clear shield that can be taken off.
- Detachable, shatterproof acrylic face shield (Blitz)
- Soft EVA foam dipped in PVC resin, with ventilation holes (Blitz)
- Elastic Velcro strap at the back; sold in S, M and L (Blitz)
Blitz Clear Protective Visor Head Guard
A full contact guard with a fixed clear visor. Blitz suggests it for training while a facial injury heals.
- Visor cannot be removed (Blitz)
- Adjustable rear Velcro straps (Blitz)
- Nama Hide leather; suggested for 55–60 cm heads (Blitz)
Blitz's head guards are club training gear. They are not on England Boxing's list of brands for competition (below). To compare Blitz head guard prices, see headgear on GloveWatch.
US picks: Revgear headgear
Revgear, a US store and one of our partner stores, sells its own headgear from open-face to a face cage. Check Revgear's sizes on each product page.
On Amazon (US)
Search by type and check the brand's own size chart before you buy. Prefer listings sold by the brand or by Amazon.
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Amateur competition in England
England Boxing's 2026 rules (8.3) set out who wears a head guard in a bout. Senior men box without one. Minors, schools, junior and youth boxers of both sexes and senior women must wear one, and when a youth boxer is matched with a senior, both wear head guards. The guard must match your corner, red or blue.
Only sanctioned brands may be worn: Sting, Adidas, Wesing, Top Ten, Greenhill and Taishan, with Sting head guards used in the final rounds of England Boxing championships. The rule book notes that at domestic competitions boxers usually wear their own, so a competing junior, youth or female boxer needs a sanctioned guard in the right colour. Ask your club's coach which one before you buy; train in whichever guard fits best.
The rest of your sparring kit
Sparring gloves are usually 16oz for adults: see the boxing glove size guide. Wear a mouthguard whenever you spar, and Muay Thai sparring adds shin guards; the starter kit lists everything in buying order. Buying for a child? See kids' boxing gloves.
FAQ
Do I need headgear for sparring?
It depends on your gym: some clubs ask for it in all sparring, others leave it to you. In England Boxing competition it is required for everyone except senior men.
Open-face or cheek protection?
Open-face guards are the lightest and give the widest view, which suits light and technical sparring. Cheek protection adds padding over the cheekbones and is a common middle ground for regular sparring. Full-face guards with a bar, grill or visor cover the nose and mouth as well.
What size headgear do I need?
Measure around your head at the widest point, just above the ears, and use the chart of the model you buy. Blitz's charts differ by model: 55 cm is a Medium in its Club Semi Contact chart and a Large in its Grilled chart. The quick size check on this page looks your measurement up in each Blitz chart.
Can I wear any head guard in an England Boxing bout?
No. Only sanctioned brands are allowed: Sting, Adidas, Wesing, Top Ten, Greenhill and Taishan, in red or blue to match your corner. Senior men box without head guards.
Which head guard for training with a face injury?
A full-face guard. Blitz suggests its Clear Protective Visor Head Guard for protecting a recovering facial injury; check with whoever is treating the injury before you spar.
Sources
- England Boxing, Technical and Competition Rules 2026 (8.3 Head Guards; 2.6.4)
- England Boxing, Updated rule book published for 2026
- Blitz, Club Semi Contact Head Guard (size chart)
- Blitz, Centurion Head Guard
- Blitz, Grilled Head Guard (size chart)
- Blitz, Dipped Foam Head Guard With Face Shield (size chart)
- Blitz, Clear Protective Visor Head Guard
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