I figure someone is going to ask about my experience with the equipment that I started out with. Keep in mind I don't have much frame of reference, so I can't compare my gear with anything from Twins, Top King, Fairtex, etc...

Venum Challenger 2.0 Boxing Gloves ($48) - These have been my only pair of gloves, and I've been running them a about 4 hours a week. I like that they're longer than some of the other gloves I looked at, which seems to keep my wrists aligned with my fists, and keeps everything supported. The only wear that I've noticed is that a few days ago, I found a small tear in the lining of one of my gloves. I think these gloves are great for someone new to MT, and especially for someone that isn't training a lot. I'm happy with these gloves, and I think they'll last me a year (especially if I pick up a pair of bag gloves). I'm religious about spraying disinfectant on my gear and drying it out between uses, so that may be a factor)

Venum "Kontact" Shin and Instep Guards ($29) - The elastic is still tight after 5 months, and the foam is contouring to my shin nicely. These seem to do thejob, although two days ago I took a hit from an elbow or a knee, and the impact seemed to have penetrated through the foam. My shin feels a little brutalized, so my opinions might be changing about these things. At some point I want to upgrade to the Top King shin guards.

Shock Doctor Gel Nano Convertible Mouthguard ($14) - The guard seems a little bulky. It covers the top teeth, but partially forms to portions of your bottom teeth, so it seems to keep the jaw stable. I still have all my teeth, so that's good.

Ringside Mexican-Style Boxing Handwraps , 180-inch ($7) - I initially bought super cheap, shorter, cotton, Everlast handwraps that were garbage. When I started sweating the Everlast wraps loosened up, and didn't seem to do the trick. My Ringside wraps are awesome. I now have two pairs, and I think I'll sneak a few more into my Amazon basket, the next time my wife wants me to order _____ for the home (certain colors of wraps are an Amazon add-on item, where you need to spend $25 to get free shipping)

(I also recently bought some MT shorts from amazon. I like them well enough, and they're a huge improvement over working out in standard workout shorts. My only problem is that these shorts don't exhibit a competitive level of flair and are completely deficient in dragons and tassels.)