Got Smelly Shin Guards? Try This.

You know that smell. The one that hits you the second you open your kit bag. Your shin guards are basically a petri dish. Sweat, skin, mat contact, repeat.

The good news: it takes about two minutes to sort. Here is what actually works.

Why Shin Guards Get So Bad (And Why It Matters)

Combat sports gyms are known breeding grounds for bacteria and fungi. Things like ringworm and staph thrive in warm, damp environments and gym kit is exactly what they love. Keeping your shin guards clean is just basic hygiene. Same goes for your boxing gloves and pads.

The smell is your gear telling you it needs attention. Worth listening to.

After Every Session: Spray It

Do this before you even leave the gym if you can. A proper antibacterial sports gear spray cleans the surface before anything has a chance to settle in. Our Boxing Glove Cleaner Antibacterial Sports Gear Spray works just as well on shin guards as it does on gloves.

Inside and outside. Do not skip the straps.

Wipe It Down

A quick wipe with a proper microfibre cloth makes a real difference. Regular towels move bacteria around more than they remove it. Microfibre actually lifts it. Our Boxing Glove Cleaning Microfibre Cloths are soft enough not to damage the material and absorbent enough to do the job properly.

Thirty seconds. Worth it every time.

Once a Week: Deep Refresh

Even with a solid post-session routine, odour gets into the foam and stitching over time. A weekly treat with a proper sportswear refresher sorts that out. Our Boxing Glove & Sportswear Deodorising Spray neutralises odour rather than covering it up. Leave your gear open and upright overnight after applying.

One Rule Above All: Let Them Breathe

No product will save you if you seal wet shin guards in a closed bag straight after training. Get them out. Stand them up. Let air through them. Every single session.

What About Boxing Gloves?

Everything above applies to your boxing gloves too, and then some. Gloves are harder to clean and harder to deodorise because there is less airflow and the foam is thicker. A lot of fighters only think about how to clean boxing gloves when the smell has already got out of hand. Do not wait that long.

Spray the inside after every session. Wipe down the outside. Use an Antibacterial spray regularly. 

If you want to clean your boxing gloves and the rest of your kit properly without buying products separately, our Boxing Glove Cleaning & Deodoriser Kit has the Combact Antibacterial Sports Kit Spray, the Sportswear Refresher, and the Premium Microfibre Cloth all in one. Everything you need to keep your whole kit fresh. Spray after every session. Wipe down with microfibre. Deep refresh once a week. Air them out always. Two minutes of effort and your kit will last longer, smell better, and your training partners will stop giving you that look.