Introduction
Ring to Cage carries an impressive variety of MMA equipment, and you can find almost all your gear needs from them. They have a distinctive green for most of their gearline, although there are more colour variations now. I was first introduced to it while surfing online and looking for mini focus mitts that would be easier to carry around. What I did not expect was how 'mini' they would be! (A good thing for me, by the way.)
Official Specs:
- All leather construction.
- A full 2" of padding absorb shock as well as a full size mitt.
- 6 1/2" wide, 7 1/2" height.
- Curved design with grip ball for anatomically correct hand position.
- Smaller surface area helps develop timing and speed.
- This new style comes with velcro strap over the wrist area for perfect fit
Aesthetics
R2C gear tends to be clothed in olive green, which is rather different from other gear lines out there. Initially I was a little hesitant, but I figured it'd make it easier to spot my gear and differentiate it from the rest. When I did receive them though, they looked a lot better in person, and eventually the colours grew on me. That said, personal preferences may vary, so you might have different opinion.
Anyway, the mitts sport a black and green design, with a the R2C logo across the front of the mitts, as well as the logo patch sewn on the back. Looks pretty good actually, once you get used to it. There are already some cracks on the logo printed in front from pad work, and I suppose it will eventually fade away with use.
Form & Fit
These babies are small but roomy. While there's enough space to fill them out even if you have larger hands, I can get a very comfortable fit on them with my small hands. Any wiggle space can be further tightened with the velcro wrist strap. Together with the ball grip, they make a very secure mitt that doesn't shift.
Another thing I like about the mitts is the inner lining material. It's soft and extremely comfortable, and I'd much prefer the feel of the lining to just leather as some mitts have it.
Functionality
The mitts are very convenient to carry around, and make it excellent for travelling. I can dump it in with all my other gear without worrying about space management. The mitts are a curved design, and I generally prefer it such as it's easier for both boxer to feel the right impact and mitt holder to control the mitts.
In training, the size can be deceiving. It still offers a very good padding and force absorption comparable to normal sized mitts. I was nursing a finger injury when using these, and was still able to handle full force hits with it. The ball grip helps great in positioning the hand for absorbing impact, and there's a little padding to support the back of the hand as well.
Being small mitts, they are very light and easy to maneuver. I'm able to do quick combinations with these, and they also work the accuracy of the boxer. I use this with guys who train bare knuckled or with just gel wraps, and mitts are still soft enough for them to handle.
Construction-wise, these look pretty solid. The stitching is well done, and with the exception of the logo on the front, everything is still looking good as day one.
And in case you're wondering, here's a size comparison.
Affordability
These mitts cost US $49.95 (SGD $64) from the R2C website, which are a decent price for what you're getting. It's definitely cheaper than a full size mitt of the same quality, but pricier than some of the canvas mitts out there. That said, there are not many mini focus mitts as far as I know, so these are as good a bet as any.
However, R2C shipping can be a little pricey, which might not make it worth your while shipping directly to this region. Might be better if you can get their gear during the discount season or pool up with buddies to get the free shipping option to a US address and ship over from there.
Conclusion
These are great quality focus mitts, and pack some punch for their size. If you're looking for something small but still performs up to regular mitts, these might well be within your consideration.
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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