10 Best Muay Thai Elbow Pads in 2023 – Buying Guide

Choosing a good elbow pad for your Muay Thai training might initially seem simple, but there’s much more to it than you think. To properly protect your arm’s bony extremities, you must choose the right size and the right material. Then, you must consider that some elbow pads are optimized for practicing techniques on a bag, while others are designed for sparring.

Today, I shall review the best Muay Thai elbow pads. You must understand that even with these pads, a strike at anything above 50% power will easily cut open your sparring partner’s face. You must combine elbow pads with power control during sparring to keep each other safe.

Venum Kontact Elbow Protector

• Size: XS
• Color: Khaki
• Material: Cotton
• Features: Velcro closure
• Strengths: Ergonomic pad design curves around your elbow and provides all-around coverage

Because this is a Venum pad, it has to look edgy and special. Don’t worry; the snake logo doesn’t protrude from the pad. It’s not going to cut up your sparring partner.

As for the quality of this pad, it’s really good. The sleeves are made from pure cotton, which is great for wicking up sweat and releasing it into the air. It breathes well, is elastic, and fits perfectly on your arm.

NationMan Elbow Pads

• Size: One-size
• Color: Red
• Material: Polyester
• Features: Hook and loop closure
• Strengths: Breathable, light, flexible

Another Thai manufacturer, which means these guys know their Muay Thai customers. NationMan isn’t a brand many people are familiar with, but you shouldn’t let that color your opinion of these pads. Because they offer excellent functionality for the price and fit a wide range of arms thanks to the stretchy polyester sleeves.

On top are hook and loop straps that you can use to adjust the fit. Don’t put it on too tight, or you’ll choke out the blood flow through your arm. As for the padding material, it’s just regular foam and doesn’t restrict your elbow motion at all.

Fairtex Elastic Elbow Pads EBE1

• Size: Regular
• Color: Red, black, blue
• Material: Polyester
• Features: Adjustable strap
• Strengths: Low profile padding, improved flexibility, low weight

There can be no discussion about Muay Thai equipment without mentioning Fairtex; these guys are a Thai homegrown brand and pride themselves in making quality products at reasonable prices. The EBE1 elbow pads use an elastic cloth base and have a decent bit of high-density foam for protection.

You can adjust the fit, but I don’t recommend these pads for people over 5’10” unless you’ve got skinny arms. There is a hole in the middle to allow for air circulation. While the EBE1 is only available in one size, it comes in 3 different colors- red, black, and blue.

Combat Sports Striking Elbow Pads

• Size: Regular, Large
• Color: Black and blue
• Material: Neoprene
• Features: Injection molded foam pad
• Strengths: Great impact resistance

Compared to the Fairtex pads, these are slightly bigger and also more heavily padded. That’s because they use injection molded foam, which is tougher than regular foam but also quite flexible and light. The regular size will be a perfect fit if you’re of average height.

For people over 6’ in height, I recommend the large version. Compared to some other elbow pads, the foam layer on this one tends to protrude more. However, it provides improved elbow protection, which is useful for striking heavy bags at full power.

Combat Sports Ground & Pound Elbow Pads

• Size: Regular, Large
• Color: Black
• Material: Neoprene, synthetic leather
• Features: EVA foam pads
• Strengths: Light, flexible, soft pad doesn’t help your sparring partner

They are cheaper than the injection molded pads but smoother and less abrasive, which makes them better for light sparring. These elbow pads feature a neoprene sleeve, which has quite a lot of stretch to it, and use synthetic leather for the pad surface. I recommend the large size if you’re above 5’8” and have a muscular build.

If you go with regular size, you need to be a short person or someone who’s got a lean build. These pads aren’t as breathable as others, so long workout/ sparring sessions will feel uncomfortable.

Combat Corner Muay Thai Elbow Pads

• Size: L, XL
• Color: Red, blue
• Material: Polyester
• Features: Hook and loop adjustment
• Strengths: The thick padding helps with recovery from elbow injuries

While they look bulky and weird, these pads tick all the checkboxes. First off, they feature adjustable straps, so you can make the fit looser or tighter depending on your arm size. Second, a nice large hole on the top of your elbow joint improves airflow and prevents your arms from becoming slippery with sweat.

Finally, the padding is made from lower-density foam but done in triple layers. This means your partner won’t feel as hard of a bump as they would with a stiffer pad. And your elbows will still be protected very well.

RDX Elbow Pads

• Size: S, M, L, XL
• Color: Black, blue, red
• Material: Polyester-neoprene
• Features: EVA padding, mesh panel
• Strengths: The Pad stays in place no matter what and provides good joint compression

Cheap but well-built and versatile, the RDX pads are CE SATRA certified, which means they have been tested and proven to protect your elbow. More importantly, these pads can be used for a multitude of activities and not just Muay Thai. You could use them for biking, basketball, MMA, etc.

Underneath the mesh layer, there is a significant amount of EVA foam padding. This is the same stuff that’s used in hockey pads, MMA gloves, and sports shoes as a shock absorber. The RDX pads also have hook and loop (Velcro) straps for adjustment.

Ring to Cage Muay Thai Elbow Pads

• Size: S, M, L, XL,
• Color: Black
• Material: Heavy knit fabric
• Features: Injection molded foam pad
• Strengths: Good joint compression

The best thing about these Ring to Cage Muay Thai pads is the build quality. They are made from heavy-knit fabric and feel extremely snug with a smooth texture. The padding is made from injection molded foam, which is slightly tougher but should present no problem if you control your power.

These are perfect for striking a heavy bag as they allow you to go all out. You get an excellent thumping sound whenever you hit the bag with those injection molded pads. And there are 4 different sizes, one of which is X-large, so all you big guys can finally buy an elbow pad that fits.

Revgear Slip-On Muay Thai Elbow Pads

• Size: S/ M, L/ XL
• Color: Black
• Material: Nylon
• Features: Hook and loop closure
• Strengths: Easy to slip on and remove, well-ventilated

Revgear is a well-known brand in the boxing gloves industry, and its products are vetted by professional fighters. These Muay Thai pads carry on the legacy by delivering solid quality at a competitive price. You can get them in small-medium or large and extra-large sizes.

On the top of each pad is a hook and loop strap for adjusting the fit, and in the middle, there’s a large ventilation hole for airflow. The material used is nylon, which is known to be extremely tough yet lightweight and breathable. These pads are comfortable and offer great protection for you and your sparring partner.

WESING Muay Thai Elbow Pad

• Size: XS, S, M, L, XL
• Color: Blue, red
• Material: Neoprene
• Features: EVA foam pad
• Strengths: Approved by AIBA, WKF, WTK, and IFMA

WESING gear is approved by top-notch martial arts federations worldwide, such as the World Karate Federation and World Taekwondo Federation. These pads are used by legit Muay Thai pros for sparring and learning elbow techniques. The sleeves are neoprene, and the padding is EVA foam.

Because of the neoprene construction, it’s extremely flexible and grips onto your skin. The downside is that it doesn’t breathe very well and is not as comfortable as cotton/ polyester sleeves.

Conclusion

If your Muay Thai gym has a full contact sparring session, talk with the instructor and your rival beforehand to ensure you both understand the basics. With pads, you can go full power on a heavy bag. But not on another person’s head, even if they wear headgear.

Get an elbow pad that fits your arm; you don’t want it slipping around during the training session. Make sure it’s of good quality, with ample padding. Pads will eventually mess with the circulation in your arms, so don’t wear them for prolonged periods.

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Last update on 2024-07-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API