One of the promises I made after partnering with Nara-Style was that I would only recommend products I genuinely like. That also means I won’t be reviewing equipment after taking it straight out of the box.
The new Octagon Legion boxing gloves were kindly provided by Nara-Style for testing. Instead of relying solely on my own opinion, I asked experienced people to put them through a proper training session before sharing my first impressions.
Patrick from Hardcore Tattoo by Patrick, together with coach Kamil, tested the gloves on the heavy bag and during pad work to see how they perform in real training conditions.
First impressions
The version I received is the 14 oz model, which makes it an excellent all-round choice for heavy bag work, pad training and regular gym sessions.
The first thing that caught my attention was the design. The matte black finish looks fantastic. I know appearance isn’t the most important thing when choosing boxing gloves, but there’s nothing wrong with equipment that performs well and looks great at the same time.
More importantly, the gloves feel very well made.
They are manufactured from genuine leather, the fit is comfortable, the hand sits securely inside the glove and the wrist support feels solid. Even straight out of the box they felt comfortable without needing any time to get used to them.
Patrick’s feedback was very positive. According to him, the gloves feel natural on the heavy bag, offer good protection and remain comfortable throughout training. I also had the opportunity to try them myself and my impressions were very similar.
The Velcro question
During our conversation, coach Kamil mentioned that some older Octagon glove models had occasional issues with the Velcro straps. While this usually wasn’t a major concern during competitions, as the straps are taped before every fight anyway, it was still something worth asking about.
Rather than guessing, I contacted Octagon directly.
Their response was straightforward. The Velcro fastening is covered by a one-year warranty.
If anyone experiences a problem with the strap during normal use, Octagon encourages customers to contact them directly and they will deal with the issue under warranty.
Personally, I don’t expect this to become a problem with the Legion model, but I will continue using the gloves over the coming months and report back if anything changes.
Final thoughts
This is not intended to be a long-term review.
It is a genuine first impression based not only on my own experience but also on feedback from people who spend many hours every week training in boxing and Muay Thai.
So far, the Octagon Legion gloves have impressed us with their comfort, build quality, secure fit and excellent overall finish. They are enjoyable to train with and have made a very positive first impression.
The real test, however, will come after months of regular use.
I will continue testing them and, once they’ve had plenty of rounds on the heavy bag and pads, I’ll return with a long-term review to see how they stand the test of time.
Octagon products are available in the UK through OctagonShop.co.uk.
You can also use discount code MMFN20 to receive 20% off your order.
Transparency
These gloves were kindly provided by Nara-Style for testing. No payment was received for this review. All opinions expressed in this article are honest and based on our own experience together with feedback from experienced athletes.