Anyone can also use a punch bag to burn calories and lose extra pounds at home without the need for an exercise bike or treadmill. But be careful. Choosing a punching bag may not be too easy, given the many products on the market.
Not all punching bags are the same size and are not made of the same materials. Some are designed for boxing only, while others allow kicks. To help you choose the best one for you, we decided to create this article containing tips, opinions and tricks for easier selection.
We will start by presenting you with a selection of the best models for us, and then we will end with choosing tips.
What is the best punching bag?
The most effective way to find the best punching bag is to know what to look for. Before you buy the product, these details will give you a clearer picture when making a decision.
The first thing you need to check is the price. Cheap isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s not durable, so you don’t have to worry. You can find quality models on the market that are not expensive.
Another important thing is the material. It needs to be strong and durable to support the hundreds of kicks and punches you will inflict with each workout. Leather and durable vinyl are the most common.
Size and weight are also essential. The heavier the bag, the less it moves and the better the workout. The size, on the other hand, will depend on the type of workout and your height.
To help you choose, here is our list of the five best models on the market:
1. ULTRA FITNESS Heavy Filled 4ft 5ft Boxing Punch Bag
Quality punching bag made of strong rexion leather reinforced bottom, and quality filling creates a pleasant feeling when you hit it.
It comes with an innovative hook designed to withstand heavy loads.
2. ULTRA FITNESS 4ft 5ft Heavy Filled Boxing Punch Bag set
The design of this particular model is simple, all in black and a logo in the centre.
Its production materials are of high quality. It is equipped with the necessary circuits. Its weight is approximately 20 to 25 kg.
3. RDX Heavy Boxing Uppercut Body Punch Bag
With professional quality, this model is recommended if you are training in martial arts.
It is made of high quality leather and polyethylene foam filled with a mixture of torn fibres, which give it medium hardness.
Available in two sizes. The small one is ideal for light and dynamic workouts, while the big one is suitable for kickboxing and MMA.
Perfect for resistance training, this model comes with a wall bracket and high-quality metal chains that will allow you to place it where it is most comfortable.
4. Klarfit Maxxmma Punching Bag
Made of polyurethane and water filling, this punching bag collects between 35 and 55 litres.
This product is what you are looking for if you want to increase your strength and endurance.
It comes with a chain on which to hang and also has a zipper and clasp so you can put it where it suits you best.
The innovative air and water filling absorbs strong shocks with low oscillations.
5. RDX Punch Bag Boxing Training, 17pc Filled 5ft 4ft Heavy Duty set
Perfect for endurance training, this model comes with a wall bracket and high-quality metal chains that will allow you to place it where it is most comfortable for you.
It has an improved design that is designed to withstand the heaviest loads. It has an anti-slip coating for a more stable training experience.
Its design, size, and quality are most recommended for practising disciplines such as Muay Thai, MMA, and Kickboxing.
6. MADX 4ft filled punching bag
The manufacturer MADX has made this punch bag, which comes with a wall bracket.
It also comes with a set of boxing gloves, wrist straps, metal chains and a jump rope.
This is a product with good value for money. Consumers who have purchased it appreciate the strength of its filling.
7. Everlast Powershot
The Everlast brand provides you with this punching bag, designed to withstand even the strongest blows. A quality that makes it ideal for training to improve strength and endurance.
It is made with layers of synthetic leather and vinyl and is available in sizes of 123 x 35 cm. This is a model that will suit you in different types of training. Those who bought it emphasize its quality and its low price.
The best brands
To offer you a complete list possible, we had the opportunity to do good market research.
They all have a similar quality, affordable price and are not intended for the same audience. After our research, we were particularly impressed by two brands known to be the market leaders in boxing equipment, Everlast and RDX. Of course, there are others, but these are the 2 best brands for us.
RDX is a British brand specializing in martial arts, offering a wide range of products ranging from important boxing gloves to wrist straps and punching bags, of course. The products are dedicated to several boxing types, be it MMA, Muay Thai, but English boxing. During the writing, we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the products offered and their very attractive prices.
RDX is a brand essential for its seriousness and the variety of products it offers.
Another brand that offers much more is the famous American company Everlast, which stands out with the design and quality.
In recent years, products that have attracted some iconic boxers are the most famous, Mike Tyson and Mohamed Ali.
This brand, created in the early twentieth century, offers a wide range of products ranging from helmets and gloves to punching bags.
All these products have in common that they are designed with quality materials and have precise and solid coatings.
Therefore, the Everlast and RDX brand are the ones that impressed us most with the quality of the products and their competitive prices.
Why do you need a good punching bag?
First of all, this product will significantly improve your technique. Also, it will help you achieve better speed, strength and endurance – key areas for success in any martial art. Choosing the right model will have a significant impact on your training as an athlete.
Different types
There are two main types: hanging and stand. Both have their advantages, and you need to choose the most suitable kind of training and the style of martial arts you plan to practice.
Hanging
They are usually hung on the ceiling with chains, but there is another way to mount on the wall using a metal bracket. This type is the most used as it has some important advantages.
First of all, they are heavier and do not swing too much when you hit them. This allows you to work on your speed and precision and have a more realistic training experience.
Second, the weight hanging from above is distributed better than those with a stand on the ground, allowing better work on strength and power.
The disadvantage of hanging is mostly practical. It is not possible to move it easily. Once installed in place, it will usually stay there for a long time. Besides, you need a ceiling or wall that is strong enough to withstand the shocks and heavyweight.
Free standing (with stand)
If you do not have a suitable place to hang a hanging punching bag, this type may be a good option for you. You can place it almost anywhere with minimal space, and most are relatively easy to move. This means you can train almost anywhere you want.
Quality models are usually equipped with a large round base, which makes them very stable. This makes it possible to practice both boxing and kicking.
However, its weight distribution is different from hanging. They move too easily, which some people don’t like, especially those who train for strength.
What you should look for when choosing a punching bag?
Weight
This is a key factor. A light models will move too much when hit. If she doesn’t resist a lot, she will shake a lot every time you hit her, reducing the workout’s effectiveness. Find a model that offers the right level of resistance.
Material
Overall, leather is the best option. It is a durable material and can withstand a high level of performance. However, this is the most expensive option, which leads some athletes with less financial means to buy models made of artificial materials. You can also find models made of wool on the market.
Filling
Of course, there are some more essential things for training with a punching bag than knowing how good the filling is. But this is crucial to avoid injuring your hands or feet when hitting or kicking.
It would help if you also remembered that you would repeatedly hit during a session. Without the right filling, you are much more likely to get injured. The most common types of fillers are heavy foam, gel or some soft compressed fibres. However, heavy foam is the most popular option as it easily absorbs the energy of each stroke.
- Hard filling: It is made of grated fibres, encapsulated in a closed inner cell with a size of 1 inch.
- Soft filling: It is usually made of materials that offer less resistance, encapsulated in a 2-inch inner cell.
- Filling with water: The type with water provides a realistic feeling that feels like hitting a human body. It also offers a level of resistance similar to that of the opponent.
Sand
Sandboxes are heavier than models with other materials.
If you are looking for a heavy punching bag, it is good to consider a model with sand.
Sand is a good material as it tends to provide constant resistance. Sandbags are not affected by temperature and are more resistant to weathering.
That is, if you usually keep it outside in the winter, it will not freeze.
Another great advantage is that the sand is usually easy to clean. In the case of bottom breaks, it is also easy to replace.
Unfortunately, sandbags have a drawback: over time, the sand accumulates at the bottom so that the base will be harder.
Some manufacturers use a layer of foam or mix materials to avoid this phenomenon.
Fibres or fabrics
Other models are filled with torn fibres or compressed fabrics. They are designed to provide you with a sand-like experience.
This means that they are easy to use and provide greater durability of the punching bag.
As mentioned above, some use a mixture of sand and pressed fabrics or fibers, thus avoiding problems with poor material distribution.
With water
Water is a widely used material for filling punching bags and gives you many benefits.
Water also gives you a more consistent and balanced resistance, so you don’t have to worry that some parts offer more or less resistance than others.
You won’t have to worry so much about possible injuries to joints or other parts of your body when you are training.
Another key advantage is that water models can be emptied and moved more easily than others.
If you think that you will have to change your training place often, we strongly recommend buying a punching bag with water.
Water bags also have their drawback: if they break, they can cause much more damage than those filled with other materials.
Keep this in mind when planning where to install it if you want to avoid the possibility of damaging the floor of the room.
Height
It would not be strange if some of your friends come to you to train with the bag, so you would like to have an adjustable model. Hardly all your friends are the same height as you, so the ability to adjust is a key point.
Installation
In principle, there are two ways in which these sports equipment can be mounted: The most famous way is to attach them to the ceiling, and the most modern alternative is to mount them on the wall with a suitable bracket.
Warranty
Having a good warranty is very important when it comes to quality and durability. However, it would help if you kept in mind that no brand will be liable for damages caused by abuse. They will be responsible for all damages related to defects in seams and materials.
From the offered guarantee, you will also get an idea of how confident the manufacturer is in the product’s quality. Also, keep in mind that no brand, no matter how good it is, has the right to sell a product with defects committed during production.
