Muay Thai Equipment Guide: What to Buy Before Your Phuket Training Camp

Most Phuket Muay Thai camps include gloves and hand wraps in the training fee, so you do not technically need to bring your own equipment. But if you are training more than a few days, personal gear makes a real difference. Shared gloves that have absorbed a week of other people's sweat are not pleasant, and the camps know this, which is why the gear they lend out is often in rough shape.

Here is what to buy, what to skip, and whether it is cheaper to get it before you arrive or once you are in Phuket.

Essential gear to have

Boxing Gloves

Your own gloves are the single most important item. Camp loaner gloves smell, fit badly, and often have padding that has compressed from overuse. For bag work and pad work, most people train with 12oz or 14oz gloves. Sparring typically requires 16oz.

If you are buying before you travel, Fairtex and Twins are the two brands most recommended by Thai trainers. Both are made in Thailand and priced reasonably when bought locally in Phuket (around 1,500 to 2,500 baht depending on model). Buying internationally means paying import markup. If you have the room in your bag and want to bring gloves from home, Hayabusa and Venum are reliable options available in most countries.

For Phuket, 14oz is a good all-purpose size for most adults. Go 16oz if you plan to spar regularly or you have large hands.

Hand Wraps

Bring two or three pairs. They are cheap (100 to 200 baht in Phuket), wash easily, and need to dry between sessions. If you are training twice a day, which is standard at many camps, having multiple pairs means you are not putting on damp wraps in the afternoon. Elastic wraps are easier to put on yourself than traditional cotton, which matters when you are doing it daily.

Shin Guards

Shin guards matter the moment you start sparring. For pure bag and pad work you do not need them, but most camps encourage or require them for partner drilling. Fairtex, Twins, and Top King all make good options available in Phuket markets and at the shops near Chalong circle. Sizing varies by brand so try them on if you buy locally.

These are bulky to travel with. If your luggage situation is tight, buy them in Phuket. The price difference from buying internationally is not significant enough to justify the hassle of checking an extra bag.

Mouthguard

Buy a decent mouthguard before you leave. The boil-and-bite options available at most pharmacies do the job for training. Custom-fitted mouthguards are better but overkill unless you are competing. This is one item that is genuinely easier and cheaper to sort out at home.

Shorts

Muay Thai shorts are available everywhere in Phuket at prices that are far lower than buying them abroad. Expect to pay 200 to 400 baht for a decent pair near any camp or market. They are lightweight and pack small, so buy a few pairs when you arrive rather than bringing training shorts from home. Most camps have their own branded shorts available too.

What you do not need to buy

Heavy Bag

Obvious, but worth saying. The camp provides the bags.

Groin Guard (Maybe)

For men training at a serious camp, a groin guard is worth having if you are sparring regularly. If you are doing pad work and bag work only, skip it. Available in Phuket if you decide you need one after arriving.

Ankle Supports

Useful if you have existing ankle issues. Most people manage without them during introductory camps. Thai boxers rarely train with them.

Buying gear in Phuket vs. before you go

The straightforward answer: buy gloves and wraps before you go if you are particular about fit and brand. Buy everything else in Phuket. The selection around Chalong, Rawai, and near Tiger Muay Thai is good, prices are fair, and you avoid traveling with bulky equipment.

Sports Authority stores and dedicated Muay Thai shops near the main camps stock Fairtex, Twins, and Top King gear. The night markets occasionally have cheap gear but quality is inconsistent.

Caring for your equipment in the tropics

Phuket's humidity accelerates gear breakdown. After every session, air your gloves out properly rather than leaving them in your bag. Glove deodorizers (small cedar inserts or similar) help. Rinse your wraps and hang them to dry the same day. Leather gloves will start to degrade if left damp, and in Phuket humidity, everything stays damp unless you take steps to prevent it.

Some camps have fans or drying areas for equipment. Ask when you arrive.

Finding a camp

If you are still deciding which camp to train at, the Phuket gym finder lists Muay Thai camps across the island with details on training style, pricing, and location. Rawai and Chalong have the highest concentration of serious training camps.