What equipment does a beginner actually need at the start, and what can wait until later?

When you’re starting out, you don’t need much equipment. Some gyms even provide basic gear for beginners at the start, which can be helpful if you don’t own anything yet.

In general, beginners don’t spar straight away, so there’s no immediate need for things like a gumshield or groin guard. To begin training, the basics are simple:

• Shorts

• A t-shirt

• Hand wraps

• Boxing gloves

• A towel

• Water or electrolytes

That’s more than enough to get started.

As you progress and spend more time in the gym, you’ll gradually add to your kit. Most people eventually buy two pairs of gloves — one pair for pad work and bag work, and a separate pair for sparring. Pad work makes gloves harder over time, which is why the same gloves shouldn’t be used for sparring.

When sparring becomes part of your training, you’ll then need:

• A gumshield

• A groin guard

• Shin pads

There’s no rush to buy everything at once. It’s better to start simply, see how training fits into your routine, and build up your equipment as you go.