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I notice there aren't any review on the Giant 3.0 and very few on the Elite, so here I am to make one after owning them for a while.
I have to say I first purchased straight to the highest end Venum offer - the Giant 3.0 and later only curiosity led me to get the Elite, purely down to my desire to make a comparison.
As the common reputation of Venum, only their higher end gloves that are [Hand Made In Thailand] are worthy of getting, others that are [Designed in Thailand] are made in China and have significantly poorer quality.
So as a venum fan, let me quickly introduce all their currently available models that are actually [Hand Made In Thailand]. These models exlude lace-up and special colours of the same gloves.
As you can see, excluding their low end models, the Giant 3.0 and Elite are sitting at the top and bottom of the higher end gloves.
Given my experience on Venum, I also have no reason to believe the Giant Sparring and Fusion use any different padding or material compare to the Elite. Only changes would be the graphic printing.
So basically it is down to Venum's Leather gloves compare to Synthetic gloves. Of course 9/10 out of 10 times Geunine Leather is superior and the retail price reflect that. But by how much, how different are they and is it worth the extra cost?
--------- Venum Giant 3.0 vs Venum Elite - Review ---------
Size/Weight/Profile
Both gloves are available in 10, 12, 14, 16 oz. I have both in 10 oz.
In comparison, the Giant 3.0 feel significantly heavier than the Elite. I don't have a kitchen scale, but by owning many other 10 oz gloves, I would say the Giant 3.0 are on weight or tiny bit over. The Elite on the other hand are definitely under weight. They feel so light, too light.
Profile wise, I don't think the Giant 3.0 are particular compact gloves, have a normal profile, but surely not a large profile. The Elite are pretty compact. In comparison the Giant 3.0 are significantly larger than the Elite as you can see on the photo. When you put the 10 oz Elite next to all my other 10 oz gloves, they look like 8 oz in term of size.
Material Quality
Giant 3.0 are made with genuine nappa leather. I would say they have one of the thickest leather I have owned. They are hand made in Thailand, but even compare to my Fairtex and Twins, these Giant 3.0's leather do seems significantly thicker. I don't think Venum use the same leather as the other Thailand made gloves. Also they give very different feeling in term of feedback compare to Thai brand due to this I think. (Later on that) Material wise the Giant are at the top of the top imo.
Elite are made with synthetic leather. They do indeed feel synthetic. I'd say there are two type of synthetic gloves I have experienced, one straight plastic feeling (Eg: Ringside Apex), you even get that plastic sticky sound when you make a fist. Another is like the Venum Elite, they feel like the raincoat type of material, they are very very smooth in hand, don't make that plastic sound, more like a smooth rubbing sound when you rub your hands together.
I believe in terms of quality both their leather and synthetic material are the top in the business.
Craftsmanship
Both are hand made in thailand, if you have owned any good Thai brand, Fairtex, Twins Special, Top King. These Venum are no different at all, straight up premium level in terms of craftsmanship, not a single loose thread. Everything is super nice and clean. They are just very very "tidy". Not a single flaw you can find in these, perfect level of craftmanship.
Look/Design
Subjective, but I would say this, the gold on my Giant 3.0 are my favourite gold, they aren't the yellowish gold that really shine brightly or have a strong metallic blink to them, they are more subtle gold that have some matte feeling to it, like champagne gold. I love the colour.
And I got to be honest I really didn't like the giant snake logo at first, only that gold brought me into buying the Giant 3.0 and I figured if the giant snake head crack or fade one day, these gloves would look even better. (But so far the printing are phenomenal, they have no sign of fading or cracking at all.)
The Elite Matte black are super subtle too, the whole gloves are matte black with the printing being a little shinier. The camera can never do them justice. They look really nice. When from far they look like plain black gloves, the closer you get the more detail you can see.
Weight balance
No issue, both are pretty balance. The Giant 3.0 with extremely tiny bit top heavy if that even count, too little to be significant though.
Liner
Both use Satin liner, like the Thai Brand, best type of liner imo, just the most comfortable to slide your hands in, don't bunch up your hand wraps, easiest to clean and dry. But also easier to smell if you don't take care.
Note that the Giant 3.0 the satin liner don't start until the back of your hand, the back of your wrist are straight gold leather, which look even better, even easier to clean and dry. Doesn't affect performance by any mean though.
Heat/Ventilation/Air out
Giant 3.0 - 6 vent holes on the thumb, 3 above the grip bar and 9 below the bar.
Elite - I believe they have the same amount (6) on the thumb, the grip bar and above are made with mesh material that actually don't breath, because there are liner covering them. Below the grip bar are a few vent holes too, if I remember correctly.
Heat wise, this is really where the main issue come in, the Giant 3.0 feel normal or relatively cool during work out.
The Elite literally feel like you are wearing a raincoat while doing your work out.
I have to clarify, there are different type of synthetic non-breathable experience I have had. One is like the Hayabusa Tokushu, you feel completely being suffocate with cotton around your hands, the exact feeling as wearing tons of layer of thick cotton clothing, with all your winter long coat, jumper, scarf, beanie on and you are training under hot summer, that is how that feel. all your skin are being wrapped around tightly with the hot cotton. You wish you could take off the amount of layer.
The Elite don't feel like that, you don't feel like you are being wrapped tightly with the thick layer of cotton in hot summer. Instead, you can feel there are air in your hand compartment, they are cool at the start, but like a sauna room or training with a big raincoat with zero ventilation on your very outer layer (despite there are vent holes), as you are training, that exact same air just aren't getting anywhere at all, they keep heating up more and more, eventually your fingers are dipping in your sweat.
You really feel the difference, Hayabusa Tokushu feel like your hands and skins are heating up, there are no air inside, the Elite feel the air are heating up and forcing your hand to sweat as much as possible like a sauna suit they use to cut weight.
For airing out, there aren't any problem at all, both with Satin lining and vent holes, dry quick enough.
I have to say I first purchased straight to the highest end Venum offer - the Giant 3.0 and later only curiosity led me to get the Elite, purely down to my desire to make a comparison.
As the common reputation of Venum, only their higher end gloves that are [Hand Made In Thailand] are worthy of getting, others that are [Designed in Thailand] are made in China and have significantly poorer quality.
So as a venum fan, let me quickly introduce all their currently available models that are actually [Hand Made In Thailand]. These models exlude lace-up and special colours of the same gloves.
As you can see, excluding their low end models, the Giant 3.0 and Elite are sitting at the top and bottom of the higher end gloves.
Given my experience on Venum, I also have no reason to believe the Giant Sparring and Fusion use any different padding or material compare to the Elite. Only changes would be the graphic printing.
So basically it is down to Venum's Leather gloves compare to Synthetic gloves. Of course 9/10 out of 10 times Geunine Leather is superior and the retail price reflect that. But by how much, how different are they and is it worth the extra cost?
--------- Venum Giant 3.0 vs Venum Elite - Review ---------
Size/Weight/Profile
Both gloves are available in 10, 12, 14, 16 oz. I have both in 10 oz.
In comparison, the Giant 3.0 feel significantly heavier than the Elite. I don't have a kitchen scale, but by owning many other 10 oz gloves, I would say the Giant 3.0 are on weight or tiny bit over. The Elite on the other hand are definitely under weight. They feel so light, too light.
Profile wise, I don't think the Giant 3.0 are particular compact gloves, have a normal profile, but surely not a large profile. The Elite are pretty compact. In comparison the Giant 3.0 are significantly larger than the Elite as you can see on the photo. When you put the 10 oz Elite next to all my other 10 oz gloves, they look like 8 oz in term of size.
Material Quality
Giant 3.0 are made with genuine nappa leather. I would say they have one of the thickest leather I have owned. They are hand made in Thailand, but even compare to my Fairtex and Twins, these Giant 3.0's leather do seems significantly thicker. I don't think Venum use the same leather as the other Thailand made gloves. Also they give very different feeling in term of feedback compare to Thai brand due to this I think. (Later on that) Material wise the Giant are at the top of the top imo.
Elite are made with synthetic leather. They do indeed feel synthetic. I'd say there are two type of synthetic gloves I have experienced, one straight plastic feeling (Eg: Ringside Apex), you even get that plastic sticky sound when you make a fist. Another is like the Venum Elite, they feel like the raincoat type of material, they are very very smooth in hand, don't make that plastic sound, more like a smooth rubbing sound when you rub your hands together.
I believe in terms of quality both their leather and synthetic material are the top in the business.
Craftsmanship
Both are hand made in thailand, if you have owned any good Thai brand, Fairtex, Twins Special, Top King. These Venum are no different at all, straight up premium level in terms of craftsmanship, not a single loose thread. Everything is super nice and clean. They are just very very "tidy". Not a single flaw you can find in these, perfect level of craftmanship.
Look/Design
Subjective, but I would say this, the gold on my Giant 3.0 are my favourite gold, they aren't the yellowish gold that really shine brightly or have a strong metallic blink to them, they are more subtle gold that have some matte feeling to it, like champagne gold. I love the colour.
And I got to be honest I really didn't like the giant snake logo at first, only that gold brought me into buying the Giant 3.0 and I figured if the giant snake head crack or fade one day, these gloves would look even better. (But so far the printing are phenomenal, they have no sign of fading or cracking at all.)
The Elite Matte black are super subtle too, the whole gloves are matte black with the printing being a little shinier. The camera can never do them justice. They look really nice. When from far they look like plain black gloves, the closer you get the more detail you can see.
Weight balance
No issue, both are pretty balance. The Giant 3.0 with extremely tiny bit top heavy if that even count, too little to be significant though.
Liner
Both use Satin liner, like the Thai Brand, best type of liner imo, just the most comfortable to slide your hands in, don't bunch up your hand wraps, easiest to clean and dry. But also easier to smell if you don't take care.
Note that the Giant 3.0 the satin liner don't start until the back of your hand, the back of your wrist are straight gold leather, which look even better, even easier to clean and dry. Doesn't affect performance by any mean though.
Heat/Ventilation/Air out
Giant 3.0 - 6 vent holes on the thumb, 3 above the grip bar and 9 below the bar.
Elite - I believe they have the same amount (6) on the thumb, the grip bar and above are made with mesh material that actually don't breath, because there are liner covering them. Below the grip bar are a few vent holes too, if I remember correctly.
Heat wise, this is really where the main issue come in, the Giant 3.0 feel normal or relatively cool during work out.
The Elite literally feel like you are wearing a raincoat while doing your work out.
I have to clarify, there are different type of synthetic non-breathable experience I have had. One is like the Hayabusa Tokushu, you feel completely being suffocate with cotton around your hands, the exact feeling as wearing tons of layer of thick cotton clothing, with all your winter long coat, jumper, scarf, beanie on and you are training under hot summer, that is how that feel. all your skin are being wrapped around tightly with the hot cotton. You wish you could take off the amount of layer.
The Elite don't feel like that, you don't feel like you are being wrapped tightly with the thick layer of cotton in hot summer. Instead, you can feel there are air in your hand compartment, they are cool at the start, but like a sauna room or training with a big raincoat with zero ventilation on your very outer layer (despite there are vent holes), as you are training, that exact same air just aren't getting anywhere at all, they keep heating up more and more, eventually your fingers are dipping in your sweat.
You really feel the difference, Hayabusa Tokushu feel like your hands and skins are heating up, there are no air inside, the Elite feel the air are heating up and forcing your hand to sweat as much as possible like a sauna suit they use to cut weight.
For airing out, there aren't any problem at all, both with Satin lining and vent holes, dry quick enough.
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