Which 12 ounce gloves for Thai Boxing?

[Shinobu]

Hope this is the right forum but since the question is not really about technique I thought I'd give it a try here, maybe you guys can help me out.
So I started taking Thai Boxing classes and since these vary a bit from your usual full contact Karate classes (just a slight bit ;)) I need to buy me some gear. I bought some cheapo 10 ounce gloves just to get started but now I have some money left and would like to buy something better. So which gloves would you recommend? Twins, Windy any gloves in particular? They shouldn't cost an arm and a leg but should be of good quality either.
And while we're at it, I need shin supports as well. Any recommendations?
Thanks in advance.

[Shinbone]

If you're going to use your gloves for training purposes only, I would recommed you 16 ounce gloves. These gloves have more padding and protect your training partners.
So these gloves are more friendly for your training buddy's. Which brand? I dunno, but make sure you buy some decent gloves, otherwise within 2 months you can buy new gloves again when you have bought cheap ones.

Good gloves are expensive but you will be able to enjoy them over a longer period.

Because, cheap is eventually expensive after all.

[Tommy_Arashikage]

My gloves don't seem to be of a very high quality, but they've lasted for about two years or so. After you break them in they are very comfortable. I think they cost about 45 bucks for the 12 oz. Depending on your size you may want to you use 16 oz gloves so you can develop power in your punches. Fairtex and Ringside both have websites with some high quality, durable gloves.

Kwon shin pads are pretty good and easy to obtain. Make sure to get the ones that cover the top of your foot and not just your shin, because kicking someone's elbow is no fun :(

[Shinobu]

Thanks guys,
I will look for 16 ounce gloves then. Don't know if I can get Fairtex stuff here in Germany but I'll give it a try. Kwon stuff is no problem though.

[danvari]

I have a pair of Twins Special Gloves that are almost 8 years old and still in top shape that I can recommend, they are laced up. If you buy velcro gloves the velcro tends to get old in a while (but you can change the velcro). I would say that Twins, MTG and Windy all make good equipment. Many people recommend Cusley gloves, but I've never tried them. I would also recommend you to buy a different pair of gloves for bag work, either a pair of 10oz gloves or a pair of bag gloves.

[zero]

Check out Sakura brand too.. Thats what i use

[HolyRamenEmpire]

I recommend:
Twins or Windy.
If I had to pick, maybe Twins.

One 8oz or 10oz gloves for bag/mit work.
One 14 or 16 oz gloves for sparring or when your fist hurts or when you want to work on power/speed.

If you're below middle weight, I'd perhaps recommend getting 14oz instead of 16oz. To avoid getting slow or getting sloppy. Depends on your size and power and the condition of your fist or the level of your boxing.

I don't know much about shin pad. Gyms usually provide them. You'll probably know best by trying them out.

In terms of gloves, just make sure you dry them up frequently... I leave them to dry after every practice. And they last a long time. Many years. They're worth spending money. I don't think they're too many choices of "good" gloves. I think they're are just a few, around similar price range. I usually face a situation where shops only have one or two brands, and I need to pick out of one or two.

Cheers.

[Shinobu]

Thanks for the input guys, after a lot of thought and saving up I got me some Twins 14oz love and I must say these are f*ing great! I got some standard KWON shin guards as well and they seem to be OK (were dirt cheap :)).