Combat sports & bouldering: hand wraps, chalk bag

Two pieces of kit that sit closest to your hands, whether you hit pads or pull on holds. The Leone 1947 AB705 hand wraps come as a pair in the black Italy design, each 3.5 m long. The semi-elastic cotton/nylon blend follows the shape of your hand, with a thumb loop to start the wrap and a hook-and-loop closure to finish it. They go under your gloves for boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai and heavy bag sessions. The Mammut Gym Basic chalk bag is made for indoor climbing and bouldering: recycled polyester outside, a dense fleece lining that spreads chalk evenly on your hand, a drawstring, a brush holder and an adjustable waist belt, at about 47 g.

What to look for

With hand wraps, length is the main decision. Leone makes the AB705 in 2.5 m for children, 3.5 m for most amateurs and 4.5 m for people who want more turns and padding. Semi-elastic wraps are easier to get snug than classic non-elastic ones, which helps beginners. A chalk bag should close well, so chalk stays inside between climbs, and sit on a belt so it moves with you on the wall.