Hayabusa is well known for producing quality products, and this includes their MMA gloves. It remains one of the more interesting designs with features such as a dual strap system and a different take on the usual palm strap designs.
Official Specs:
- Exclusive Y-shape volar design to keep gloves tight to the palm whether fists are clenched or when hands are open.
- Dual cross directional strap system for ultimate wrist support and striking performance.
- 4oz. regulation weight, professional MMA gloves.
The Hayabusa MMA gloves come in either white or black with red piping, and sports a very basic, clean design. While not very flashy, it will still stand out from the crowd with its distinctive logos and red accents.
The Hayabusa text logo is printed on the knuckle area, while the peregrine falcon logo is printed on the strap. Both show no sign of wear or fading thus far.
Form & Fit
Sizing for these gloves come in S/M or L/XL, a little pet-peeve of mine, since it usually means someone on the end of the spectrum is going to suffer from over or undersized gloves. As expected, the gloves ran slightly too big for my preference.
While the gloves can be tightened to a comfortable fit due to the dual strap system, there is a fair bit of excess strap that sticks out due to my small wrist and can't be strapped down to the velcro, making it potentially a scratch-galore for my partner when grappling. You can see this in the rightmost photo below. This could probably be fixed by wearing handwraps, but I seldom do with MMA gloves. Instead, I simply strap it a little more loosely, and this can be seen in the later photos.
The dual strap system itself is great for getting a snug fit, but I'm not a fan of dealing with double the straps especially when I'm in a hurry. I usually leave the inner strap on and simply work with the outer strap. For most part, it still provides a decent fit and offers good wrist protection.
The gloves sport a slightly textured lining to reduce shifting of the gloves once worn, and is feels fairly soft and comfortable. The leather and foam for this glove is fairly soft, so not much breaking in is required. However, it runs a little tight in the finger holes, and there was some initial discomfort from the lining cutting onto my fingers. This soon faded after several sessions of training, once the lining was softened up a bit.
Featuring their unique Y-shape volar design for the open palm system, it does live up to its claim of keeping the glove tight to the palm. I barely noticed the presence of the Y strip actually, which is a good thing.
Functionality
MMA gloves are usually not meant for sparring, but if you should insist on going light with these, they are soft enough if you have good control. But that's like comparing a rock to a piece of wood, both are still solid enough to do serious damage.
That said, these are great for general purpose training and drilling of techniques. The wrist support offered is better than most single strap systems out there, and the gloves feel great thanks to the soft leather. It isn't a chore to clench your fists or work your grips, making it suitable for those who want to drill with gloves on for competition purposes.
So far, the gloves are lasting pretty good, and I've yet to see much wear on it. Knowing the quality of Hayabusa products, they should last a fair amount of time if used properly.
Affordability
The official price of these gloves are US $64.99 (SGD $85) without shipping, which is in the upper tier for 4oz MMA gloves. However, you are paying for quality and technology, so it's worth the investment.
Hayabusa is getting fairly accessible these days, so it shouldn't be too hard to find an online retailer willing to ship it out for a decent price, or even a local reseller.
Conclusion
The Hayabusa gloves remain one of the top choices, especially if you have slightly larger hands than mine. If possible, try it on before you buy. Given readily available Hayabusa usually is, it shouldn't be too difficult to make a decision.
Disclaimer
All comments in the review are my own personal opinion. Prices provided in brackets are merely for reference and are based on exchange rates at the time of writing.
If you like this review and found it helpful, please post a comment or let the company or retailer know too. Should you decide to purchase them online, you might want to consult the online buying guide for advice.
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