Fairtex have been making Muay Thai equipment in Bangkok since 1958, and they are the closest thing the sport has to a default. If you walk into a gym anywhere in the world, you will find Fairtex on someone's hands.

The problem is that they make an enormous amount of it, and the model numbers explain nothing. BGV1, SP9, FGV17, KPLC5, FMV11 — none of that tells you what you are looking at. This page does.

How Fairtex fit

A compact hand compartment and firmer padding. The result is a direct, responsive feel — you sense the shot land, and the glove does not get in the way in the clinch. Fairtex reward technical precision over comfort, which is why they are so common among fighters and pad-holders alike.

They run true to size, which makes them the safest brand to order without trying a pair on. If you have particularly large hands you may find them tight — Twins are roomier through the hand if that is you.

The gloves

• BGV1 — the classic. Genuine leather, the shape everything else is measured against. If you want one pair of Fairtex gloves, this is it.
• BGV1C-PLUS — the same glove in microfibre. Lighter, easier to clean, and it will not hold odour the way leather does.
• BGL6 — the standard lace-up, in the usual Fairtex shape.
• BGL7 — Mexican style lace-up. Slimmer, more contoured hand, longer cuff, punchier feel. Favoured by boxers.
• TGT7 — bag gloves. Light and fast, for heavy bag and pad work. Not for sparring.

Trying to choose between brands? We compared them directly in Fairtex vs Top King gloves.

The shin guards — the SP range

Fairtex make more shin guards than anyone, and this is where people get most lost.

• SP5 — the workhorse. Better suited to wider calves than most guards on the market.
• SP6 — neoprene, MMA style. Lighter and more flexible, less protective.
• SP7 — detachable instep protector.
• SP8 — thicker, contoured padding. The one to buy if you are still learning to check.
• SP9 Ultra Ergo — the open system. Stitching-free joints let the shin and toe sections move independently through up to 180 degrees, so the guard follows your foot instead of twisting against it. Not detachable, unlike the SP7.
• SPK9 — the kids' guard. See below.

Sizing shin guards is not obvious. Measure your shin length and calf circumference and ignore the height columns — our shin guard size guide has the full method.

The kids' range

Fairtex are one of the few Thai manufacturers who make genuine children's equipment rather than small adult sizes.

The SPK9 is a smaller version of the SP3, built for ages 8 to 12 — and crucially, it has no metal loops on the straps. That takes a hard metal edge off a piece of kit whose entire job is to crash into another child's shin, and it is what makes the SPK9 legal for amateur competition. Not every children's guard is.

The BSK shorts are cut for ages 4 to 10, with a six-strip waistband rather than the traditional eight so it sits flatter on a child's hips, plus an inner drawstring.

See the full kids' range.

The MMA gloves — the FGV range

• FGV15 — the long-standing favourite, and the safe default.
• FGV17 — a different hand shape and closure.
• FGV18 — the newest of the three.

We put all three side by side in our Fairtex MMA gloves review.

The pads and mitts

Thai pads — the KPLC range

• KPLC2 — the standard curved kick pad.
• KPLC5 — the lightweight one. Buy this if your holders are doing long sessions; pad-holder fatigue ends more rounds than anything else.

Focus mitts — the FMV range

• FMV9 Ultimate — deeply contoured face, excellent angle control.
• FMV10 Classic Pro — the traditional shape, and the safe default.
• FMV11 Aero — the lightweight one. Built for fast feeding.
• FMV13 Maximised — larger striking surface, more padding. For heavier hands.
• FMV15 — the newest.

Belly pads — the BPV range

• BPV1 — leather. More durable, will outlast the gym.
• BPV3 — microfibre. Lighter, and it does not hold odour, which matters a great deal for something strapped to a sweating torso.

Fairtex also make boxing paddles (BXP1) and boxing sticks (BXS1) — coaching tools for reaction drills and for teaching a fighter to keep their hands up.

The shorts

Fairtex shorts run longer in the leg and wider in the leg opening than most Thai brands, which makes them one of the easier fits to get right if you have powerful legs.

Their sizing is built around Thai sizes, but their measurement table is accurate — so stick to the chart and do not size up. This is the opposite of the advice for some other brands, and it catches people out. Note that the newer BS19xx range is cut slimmer than the traditional Fairtex shape.

Full measurements in our Muay Thai shorts size guide.

Liniment

Fairtex make their own Thai liniment oil, in orange (BL5) and compound peppermint (BL6). Warming, and used before training rather than after — see oils and balms.

Authenticity

Fairtex is one of the most counterfeited brands in the sport. The simplest warning sign is price — be wary of anything discounted 50% or more below RRP, which you can establish by checking three or four retailers, since it is usually consistent across all of them.

Everything here is genuine, sourced directly from authenticated distributors and from Fairtex themselves.