Fairtex HG10 Headgear Review (2024) – Thoroughly Tested

Fairtex HG10 Headgear Key Features

I’ll admit that I am not a big fan of headgear and use it mainly for MMA sparring with small gloves when i am helping a fighter prepare for a match and the intensity needs to be high.

But when I do need to put on a head guard, nothing I have tried comes close to the Fairtex HG10. I will share with you my personal experience with the item, but let’s first look at the official features highlighted by Fairtex.

As usual with Faritex, everything is top-notch, and the official description matches the actual product and experience.

Fairtex HG10 Headgear Review

Craftsmanship And Quality

Like every other Fairtex product I have tried, the HG10 boasts outstanding quality and craftsmanship. Every piece is handmade in Thailand from genuine leather, as the seal on the back proudly shows.

The stitching is flawless all over the head guard, and the whole construction feels solid. I love the fact that it’s made from genuine leather, which is unrivaled in feel by other materials. The leather on the outside is nice and "glossy,” while on the inside it's more matte, which feels better on the skin of the face.

The Velcro strap on the back is also super solid. Overall, perfect craftsmanship and high-quality materials.

Features

This kind of head gear hits the perfect balance between protection and visibility. I miss the point of open-face headgear, and head guards with M-shaped brows or full nose protection are too restrictive. With the HG10, you get solid forehead, chin, and cheek protection without sacrificing too much vision.

Both the forehead and cheek padding are extra firm and protective, while the sides are a bit softer. The model has different sizes, but for the perfect fit, you can use the top lace and the extra-thick Velcro strap on the back.

You can also get solid ear protection and an additional vertical strap on each ear to prevent ruptured ear drums.

Comfort And Feel

The HG10 is the most comfortable head guard I have tried. I got size L, and the top lace and back strap offer ideal adjustability to your liking. The fit is snug, but it should be if you don’t want the gear to move around all the time. The chin area is especially well-designed and fits perfectly.

The leather on the inside is smooth and nice on the skin. You can get a bit hot with the head guard, but not more than with other products.

Visuals

Fairtex have completely nailed the looks of this product. The HG10 looks gorgeous (as much as a boxing helmet can anyway). I have the black version with white ears and a small strip above the forehead, which creates contrast.

The ear leather strips are in red, and the whole right side is sprinkled with cool little Fairtex logos. Good visuals are not a high priority for a product like this, but being cool never hurts and the Fairtex HG10 head guard will make you look cooler.

Price

For $90 the HB10 is an absolute steal. The are other great models on the market like the Hayabusa T3 or Winning, but they cost 2-3 times more. The Fairtex HG10 offers amazing value for the price and comes with high-quality materials and excellent craftsmanship.

Sparring with the Fairtex HG10 Headgear

Now to the most important part: performance. I’ve read quite a bit about headgear, and there is no consensus on whether or not they reduce impact on the brain. Nevertheless, the impact you feel with this head guard is less than without.

As I said, the cheek and forehead parts are super dense, and you can barely feel the strikes. The chance of a bone injury or cut is minuscule.

The other extremely important factor is how secure the head guards stay. There is nothing worse about headgear than for it to move, rotate, and obstruct your view, but once you adjust the HG10 properly, it won’t move an inch. I am really impressed.

In terms of vision, you have a clear view in almost all directions. I haven’t noticed obstructed peripheral vision, nor when looking down.

This is very important if kicks are involved, and some head guards I’ve tried make it hard to see kicks coming, but the problem does not exist with the Fairtex HG10.

This is why we've ranked the Fairtex HG10 Headgear as the best MMA headgear.

The only problem I had was seeing up. If you duck down a lot and use head movement or spar against taller guys, your vision with the headgear is not very good because the forehead padding is quite thick.

I find this unnecessary since the forehead is the thickest and least sensitive part of the skull anyway. This is the only flaw I can point out in the entire product, and it’s not really a flaw but a trade-off for better protection.

My main use for the headgear is for MMA sparring, where the danger of cuts and hematomas is greater because of the gloves, and I am happy to say the Fairtex HG10 is perfect for that. The protection from the padding is sufficient, and the way it sits on the head makes it relatively good for grappling as well.

This is definitely the headgear I will be using from now on.