RAJABOXING
Born in 2002 after a dispute in the TWINS family, RAJABOXING has been struggling to find its own identity on the market until 2007, when it launched a glitzy fancy line which was very daring at the time and is still around today.
RAJABOXING product range is, unsurprisingly, pretty similar to TWINS, apart from the screened designs. RAJABOXING’s craftmanship and leather quality is a notch below the four best brands, but the gear is definitely good quality. Unfortunately, it is expensive. As TWINS sponsors Lumpini’s fighters and has its main retail point in the stadium, RAJABOXING does exactly the same at the Rajadamnern.
RAJABOXING doesn’t launch new products very often, while some of the old one are no longer in production. Not a good sign.
KING
Another sub-brand from the ever quarrelling TWINS family, KING appeared in a shop near Lumpini Stadium in 2005. KING introduced its own colorful style mixing three colors on every item. KING quality is as good as TWINS, as the gear is manufactured at the TWINS factory. There are no fancy screenings: instead, KING’s style is about mixing many different colors. In May 2009 KING split with TWINS and became TOPKING, a totally independent brand with its own factory. The KING brand is still there, manufactured by TWINS, but TWINS doesn’t seem keen on reviving KING’s products. In facts, no new items bearing the KING’s logo have been produced since 2008.
BOON
The brand BOON (Thai word for virtue) is a very small, family run operation dealing mostly with domestivc market. Being managed by Scott, an Australian, BOON sells well to Muay Thai camps in Thailand (for foreigners) and abroad. BOON’s items are a great match between traditional Thai craftmanship and a new approach on stitchings, paddings and selection of materials. The quality of the cowhide is remarkable, and BOON’s trademark is the “raw leather” look of the gear, especially belly protectors and kickpads. BOON range is very limited, as its output capacity.
ULTRAFIGHT GEAR UFG
ULTRAFIGHT GEAR is also known as MASTER TODDY’s in USA. The gear is the same but is sold with a different logo and it’s made in Bangkok. Master Toddy’s spwent his adult life in the US and his , entrepreneurial skills and vision permeate every UFG item, which is envisioned and designed by the man himself. Therefore, UFG has rteally unique products, created out of original ideas, stuff that nobody else makes. Instead of focusing on colorful designs or elaborate screenings, UFG goes for creativity: the usual gear (gloves, kickpads, mitts) at6 UFG is often improved, modified, with added details or into shapes that make you wonder why nobody did it before. Many items are thought especially to help the trainers, being Master Toddy’s a famous trainer of famous people in Las Vegas. UFG stuff looks solid; raw stitches, not smoothly cut leather and cowhide quality malke the gear look hand-made, with a raw flavor that may not appeal to everybody.
THAISMAI
THAISMAI (established 1960) is possibly the first (established 1960) original Thai manufacturers of boxing equipment.
Pronounced thai-samai, meaning “modern thai”, this brand is very well known and respected in Thailand. THAISMAI was truly big decades ago, when TWINS didn’t even exist and FAIRTEX was already looking abroad. THAISMAI was the main supplier of boxing gear in the 60’s and 70’s and the small, old-fashioned product range hasn’t probably been updated ever since. THAISMAI sells predominantly to the low-end of the domestic market, even though its prices are not cheap. THAISMAI has a small but loyal market of buyers abroad, too. THAISMAI small, old-fashioned and dusty shop is located on Charoenkrung Rd., near the river, and has the feeling of the “old days” of Muay Thai, JUST before Bangkok and Muay Thai both became international tourist attractions.
WINDY
Established in 1988 and for many years synonymous with Muay Thai together with THAISMAI, WINDY is a respected brand in Thailand. Few people may know that TWINS was created as a spin-off of WINDY decades ago. WINDY has refreshed its product range in recent years, trying to catch-up with its more successful competitors on the international markets. Nowadays WINDY has enough fancy colors and designs to challenge them all, but the cowhide is of lower quality and prices are unrealistic. Also, WINDY manufactures plenty of PU and PVC low-quality gear.
The following companies produce various kinds of sport equipment including Muay Thai gear.
SIAMBALL also known as SBS, produces balls for basket, soccer, athletics, golf, etc. The factory where muay thai gear is made is large and modern. The gear is solid, well-built, with strong stitchings. Every item is available in leather grade “B”, PU and PVC. Whilst items made with leather are disappointing, SIAMBALL’s strong point is definitely PU: the product range is good and the gear is definitely worth the price.
FOOTBALL THAI (FBT) The biggest manufacturer of sportswear and sport equipment in Thailand, FBT was established in 1957 and is still is the most popular and most sold brand in the country. By selling nice, colorful stuff at very low prices and sponsoring every sport-related event in Thailand, FBT has become a giant. FBT logo is everywhere, from Thailand’s national team on almopst every sport to school tournaments upcountry. Regarding Muay Thai equipment, FBT’s gear is very low quality, being made with PVC. And prices are absurdly high.
NATIONMAN
Established in 1981 with the goal of becoming Thailand’s premier sporting goods manufacturer and steal FBT’s spotlight, NATIONMAN has grown into a major force on the Thai sportswear market. NATIONMAN has an interesting product range for Muay Thai which looks very similar to SBS, in terms of pricing and quality. For some obscure reasons, NATIONMAN has managed to dominate the world’s markets with only one item: the elastic ankle supports, produced in dozens of different colors.