Twins Special have been making gloves in Bangkok since 1968, and for most of that time the BGVL3 has been the glove people learn to spar in. If Fairtex is the technician's glove, Twins is the one you put on when you are going to be hit a lot.

How Twins fit

Twins are widely treated as the benchmark sparring glove, and the reason is the padding: thick, soft, and exceptionally good at absorbing impact. If you block a lot of kicks with your gloves — and in Muay Thai you do — that matters enormously.

The hand compartment is roomier than Fairtex, which means noticeably less hand fatigue over a long session. If Fairtex feel tight across your knuckles, Twins are the answer.

The trade-off is honest: they feel bulkier, and a touch slower. This is a glove built for high-volume sparring and defensive work, not for a fighter who wants to feel every shot land.

The gloves, decoded

• BGVL3 — the original. Thirty years in gyms and still the reference point.
• BGVL4 — the same feel, but with the padding on the back of the hand trimmed down. That sounds minor. It is not — it makes a real difference in the clinch, where a bulky back-of-hand gets in the way of every grip and frame.
• FBGVL4 — the BGVL4 in Twins' printed and patterned designs. Same glove, more to look at.
• BGVL15 — the long cuff version. Considerably more wrist support if you want it.
• BGLL1 — the classic Thai lace-up, in the roomier Twins shape.
• TBGLA1F — bag gloves. Light and fast for bag and pad work. Not for sparring.

The Thai pads

Twins pads are the ones you will find in most UK gyms, and they earn it.

• KPL10 — the standard curved leather kick pad, in a proper range of colours. The default.
• KPL12 — the deluxe. Heavier and more heavily padded. Best protection for the holder, but you will feel it by round eight.
• KPS10 — microfibre, and noticeably lighter to hold. The one to buy if your holders do long sessions, or if the person holding is smaller than the person kicking.

See all Thai pads.

Sizing

Standard rules apply: 16oz for sparring, 12oz for bags and pads, 8oz for competition if your promotion allows it. What you use them for matters far more than your body weight.

Because Twins run roomier through the hand than Fairtex, someone moving from Fairtex usually finds the same ounce rating fits comfortably. Someone moving to Fairtex from Twins often finds it tight. Bear that in mind if you are switching.

Authenticity

Twins is among the most counterfeited brands in the sport, and there are companies trading on the name that have no connection to Twins Special in Bangkok at all.

The simplest warning sign is price — treat anything discounted 50% or more below RRP with suspicion. Everything here is genuine, sourced through authenticated channels.

More on choosing gloves in our ultimate guide to Muay Thai gloves.