Ordered the Master's and Mexi for my guys. Thought I'd take some pictures and give a quick opinion.
Pictured are the:
Winning FG-2900 2L (this one's mine, used regularly)
Ringside Master's Competition Headgear (MASTHG) L (owned this in the past when it was sold under the Fightgear brand)
Ringside Mexi-Flex Headgear (MHG2) Large/XL (no experience with this headgear, besides trying it on)
Lightness
Masters < Mexi < 2900
The 2900 is extremely light. The Mexi is about 2X heavier than the 2900 and the Master's is about 3X the 2900.
Least Bulky
Masters < 2900 < Mexi
From the photos and video's online, I thougt the Mexi would be bulky. The one I received was not, it was actually very compact.
The Master's on the other hand is fairly big.
Padding/Shock Absorption
Mexi < 2900 < Masters
If you're looking for thick padding, the Master's is for you. It's like duct taping a big pillow to your head. This thing can absorb punishment. The padding is thick and soft. I've taken a few elbows wearing this guy. The Mexi has the thinnest padding of the three and the most dense. Not dense enough that I wouldn't spar in it, but I would want it to soften up a bit, which it should.
Back of the head padding
2900 < Mexi < Masters
The Master's is the thickest and the 2900 is just laces in the back.
Fit
Master's < Mexi < 2900
Both he Mexi and Master's were comfortable to put on, the Mexi a little more so. The Mexi-Flex design is a good idea. The side panels allow a comfortable fit and the completely open back design let's you customize the circumference. The Master's has elastic holding the back padding in place so depending on your head it may give you a little pressure.
Vision
Masters < 2900 < Mexi
The Master's padding is fairly thick. This contributes to the lack of vision, kind of like you have tunnel vision. The vision is acceptable though. The 2900 gets slightly edged out by the Mexi because the 2900 has thicker check protectors giving it worse low line vision. If you've never used Mexican style headgear, it'll take getting use to.
Nose Protection
Mexi < Masters < 2900
For me all three provided adequate nose protection. A boxing glove would hit the foam first before hitting my nose. The question is how much foam before it strikes the nose.
Both the Mexi and the Master's have approximately 1.25" of cheek protection. The reason the Master's edge out the Mexi is because the Master's has overall, thicker foam. Which causes the cheek proectors to come out futher not completely laying flush on your cheeks. The 2900 has approximately 1.5" of cheek protection. I think with all Mexican style headgear your milage will vary. If you have a narrow face, a square face, or if it tapers downward the cheek protectors will stay close together. If however, you have have a face that tapers upwards or bigger cheeks I believe the cheek protectors will get pushed further apart and your nose will be exposed.
Top Adjustment
Masters < Mexi < 2900
The 2900 has laces; can't really beat laces. The Mexi has 3 points of velcro adjustments. The Master's has only one.
Back Adjustment
Masters < Mexi < 2900
The Master's has elastic to keep the back padding in place, then overlapping velcro. To me the Mexi's system is more comfortable.
Resistance to sliding while sparring
Masters < 2900
I've only sparred with these two so... The laces in the back and top keep the 2900 from moving much. Also the buckle chin strap allows you to get a better custom fit. As for the Master's, all smooth leather touching your head, combined with sweat is a recipe for slippage.
Masters < Mexi < 2900
Based on purely observation, I would think the Mexi would stay in place better than the Master's. The material on the side of your head on the Mexi is the elastic flex material that this headgear is named for. It has a texture to it and should provide some resistance to slippage.
Construction
Masters < Mexi < 2900
I would say the Mexi is only slightly better than the Master's in terms of construction. It just feels a little bit better put together.
Who should by which headgear and final thoughts.
Ringside Master's Competition Headgear
-If you're looking for a Master's approved headgear, buy this headgear.
-If you're a beginner, who tends to eat a lot of shots, buy this headgear.
-If you train beginners and looking for community headgear, buy this headgear.
-If you like to brawl, sit in the pocket and exchange, aren't really worried about being slick, buy this headgear.
This headgear is designed for one thing, taking punishment and it does that well. I think this headgear is a bit bulky. Once you learn how to move your head, you'll be a little annoyed that you're getting clipped because your head is a bigger target. On the plus side that means you're advancing, moving your head better, and it's time for an upgrade.
Ringside Mexi-Flex Headgear
-Looking for a good 2900 alternative because the 2900 is too pricey, buy this headgear.
If I didn't already own a 2900, I'd probably pick up this headgear for myself.
Couple things would make this headgear even better (this is for the Ringside Reps if you're reading this):
-They should change the metal buckle to a plastic clip with a nylon strap; it's easier/faster to take on and off, and the adjustments are better.
-Raise the cheek protectors to 1.5".
-Add more padding to the sides.
-Increase overall padding just slightly. Maybe a thicker layer of soft foam on the inside for added comfort.
-Change the material to a light synthetic. I appreciate leather gloves, but I think with all the sweating you do in headgear, a synthetic is just easier to keep clean and is lower maintenance.
Winning FG-2900
-If you've gone through a few headgears and haven't found any you like, buy this headgear.
-If you're not into trying out gear that imitates the 2900 to save a few bucks, buy this headgear.
-If you're looking for nose protection, but don't want to get a facebar, buy this headgear.
-If your current headgear is a rock and you get headaches everytime you spar, buy this headgear.
-If you're serious about boxing and have been doing this for awhile, buy this headgear.
-If you are a gear whore, buy this headgear (although if you're a gear whore, you proably already have this headgear).
Pictured are the:
Winning FG-2900 2L (this one's mine, used regularly)
Ringside Master's Competition Headgear (MASTHG) L (owned this in the past when it was sold under the Fightgear brand)
Ringside Mexi-Flex Headgear (MHG2) Large/XL (no experience with this headgear, besides trying it on)
Lightness
Masters < Mexi < 2900
The 2900 is extremely light. The Mexi is about 2X heavier than the 2900 and the Master's is about 3X the 2900.
Least Bulky
Masters < 2900 < Mexi
From the photos and video's online, I thougt the Mexi would be bulky. The one I received was not, it was actually very compact.
The Master's on the other hand is fairly big.
Padding/Shock Absorption
Mexi < 2900 < Masters
If you're looking for thick padding, the Master's is for you. It's like duct taping a big pillow to your head. This thing can absorb punishment. The padding is thick and soft. I've taken a few elbows wearing this guy. The Mexi has the thinnest padding of the three and the most dense. Not dense enough that I wouldn't spar in it, but I would want it to soften up a bit, which it should.
Back of the head padding
2900 < Mexi < Masters
The Master's is the thickest and the 2900 is just laces in the back.
Fit
Master's < Mexi < 2900
Both he Mexi and Master's were comfortable to put on, the Mexi a little more so. The Mexi-Flex design is a good idea. The side panels allow a comfortable fit and the completely open back design let's you customize the circumference. The Master's has elastic holding the back padding in place so depending on your head it may give you a little pressure.
Vision
Masters < 2900 < Mexi
The Master's padding is fairly thick. This contributes to the lack of vision, kind of like you have tunnel vision. The vision is acceptable though. The 2900 gets slightly edged out by the Mexi because the 2900 has thicker check protectors giving it worse low line vision. If you've never used Mexican style headgear, it'll take getting use to.
Nose Protection
Mexi < Masters < 2900
For me all three provided adequate nose protection. A boxing glove would hit the foam first before hitting my nose. The question is how much foam before it strikes the nose.
Both the Mexi and the Master's have approximately 1.25" of cheek protection. The reason the Master's edge out the Mexi is because the Master's has overall, thicker foam. Which causes the cheek proectors to come out futher not completely laying flush on your cheeks. The 2900 has approximately 1.5" of cheek protection. I think with all Mexican style headgear your milage will vary. If you have a narrow face, a square face, or if it tapers downward the cheek protectors will stay close together. If however, you have have a face that tapers upwards or bigger cheeks I believe the cheek protectors will get pushed further apart and your nose will be exposed.
Top Adjustment
Masters < Mexi < 2900
The 2900 has laces; can't really beat laces. The Mexi has 3 points of velcro adjustments. The Master's has only one.
Back Adjustment
Masters < Mexi < 2900
The Master's has elastic to keep the back padding in place, then overlapping velcro. To me the Mexi's system is more comfortable.
Resistance to sliding while sparring
Masters < 2900
I've only sparred with these two so... The laces in the back and top keep the 2900 from moving much. Also the buckle chin strap allows you to get a better custom fit. As for the Master's, all smooth leather touching your head, combined with sweat is a recipe for slippage.
Masters < Mexi < 2900
Based on purely observation, I would think the Mexi would stay in place better than the Master's. The material on the side of your head on the Mexi is the elastic flex material that this headgear is named for. It has a texture to it and should provide some resistance to slippage.
Construction
Masters < Mexi < 2900
I would say the Mexi is only slightly better than the Master's in terms of construction. It just feels a little bit better put together.
Who should by which headgear and final thoughts.
Ringside Master's Competition Headgear
-If you're looking for a Master's approved headgear, buy this headgear.
-If you're a beginner, who tends to eat a lot of shots, buy this headgear.
-If you train beginners and looking for community headgear, buy this headgear.
-If you like to brawl, sit in the pocket and exchange, aren't really worried about being slick, buy this headgear.
This headgear is designed for one thing, taking punishment and it does that well. I think this headgear is a bit bulky. Once you learn how to move your head, you'll be a little annoyed that you're getting clipped because your head is a bigger target. On the plus side that means you're advancing, moving your head better, and it's time for an upgrade.
Ringside Mexi-Flex Headgear
-Looking for a good 2900 alternative because the 2900 is too pricey, buy this headgear.
If I didn't already own a 2900, I'd probably pick up this headgear for myself.
Couple things would make this headgear even better (this is for the Ringside Reps if you're reading this):
-They should change the metal buckle to a plastic clip with a nylon strap; it's easier/faster to take on and off, and the adjustments are better.
-Raise the cheek protectors to 1.5".
-Add more padding to the sides.
-Increase overall padding just slightly. Maybe a thicker layer of soft foam on the inside for added comfort.
-Change the material to a light synthetic. I appreciate leather gloves, but I think with all the sweating you do in headgear, a synthetic is just easier to keep clean and is lower maintenance.
Winning FG-2900
-If you've gone through a few headgears and haven't found any you like, buy this headgear.
-If you're not into trying out gear that imitates the 2900 to save a few bucks, buy this headgear.
-If you're looking for nose protection, but don't want to get a facebar, buy this headgear.
-If your current headgear is a rock and you get headaches everytime you spar, buy this headgear.
-If you're serious about boxing and have been doing this for awhile, buy this headgear.
-If you are a gear whore, buy this headgear (although if you're a gear whore, you proably already have this headgear).
