What type of punching bag should I get? Let’s see the 3 different types of punching bags that you can buy and where to do it at a good price.
After this, you will see our complete guide to things you have to consider before purchasing one.
As always we attach the most recommended offers we have found online.
Table of Contents
What Are The Different Types Of Punching Bags
There are two types of punching bags that practitioners choose when training: pendants and standing ones. Both types have their advantages, and you should choose the type that is most suitable for your training needs and the style of martial arts you choose to practice.
Muay Thai style bags are always hanging, but they are different from the traditional boxing bag. It is key to keep in mind that there are cheap quality punching bags of all styles. We recommend you choose the type you like best and best suits your training style.
1. Hanging Punching Bags
Hanging punching bags are usually suspended from the ceiling, and can also be mounted on a wall. Alternatively, you can order them specially designed, in case your roof does not support the weight or you do not have enough space.
Since the bags have been connected to the ceiling or wall, they are difficult to move. So, if you want to buy a punching bag, you should be sure where to place it: it will stay there for a long time.
Hanging punching bag models have a couple of important advantages. For starters, they tend to sway a little more when you hit them. That allows you to exercise more realistically, and work on the coordination and rhythm of your punches, speed, and precision. Finally, the weight is positioned in a more balanced way in the hanging punching bag models than in the standing ones. That will help you work on your technique and develop your strength more easily.
2. Standing punching bags
If you don’t have room for a hanging punching bag, a standing punching bag is your best option. You can place it wherever you have space and it is easier to move, and save it when you have finished training. The base of the cheap stand-up punching bags usually keeps them fairly stable, which makes them good for fists and kicks.
Standing punching bags can also be installed on the ground and used for floor exercises and strokes including knees and elbows among others. They can also be used in grip training.
In spite of everything, the distribution of its weight is different from that of the hanging models. They tend to move more than these, which some find uncomfortable. Punching, for example, is not a problem, but kicks can make them wobble more than the bill. Another problem with stand-up punching bag designs is that there are little padded models. If you hit them very hard, then, you will be able to notice their base.
3. Cheap Muay Thai punching bags
Muay Thai is significantly longer and thinner bags than traditional bags. They were specially designed for Muay Thai training sessions, which includes many kicks. Even so, many martial arts enthusiasts use them for other types of training. Muay Thai bags are much heavier than cheap boxing bags. On the other hand, they tend to be more expensive than their traditional equivalents, since more material is needed to manufacture them.
If you plan to use your punching bag to train kicks mostly, Muay Thai bags are a great option. Because of their length (about 2 meters for most of them), they are great for practicing low and high kicks and knees. Even so, if you plan to focus on boxing or other practice with fists and kicks, a traditional sack will be better.
Choosing the right weight of your bag
One of the busiest issues is the weight of the punching bag. There is no set of rules to help you choose, but as a general rule, you should buy a bag that weighs about half of your weight.
Of course, these are guides that should be used without too much pressure, since there will not be a bag that weighs exactly the same as you. Generally, bags of around 20 kilos are used by children or small women.
Sacks of around 35 kilos are used by those boxers weighing around 80 kilos. If you weigh more than 80 kilos, you will want to consider bags with weights closer to 45 or 50 kilos.
The weight of the bag also depends on your experience and strength. If you’ve been practicing for a long time and your punches are powerful, you’ll want to consider a heavier bag.
The reasoning behind that is that your punching bag tends to sway when you hit it.
Some movements are natural and help you practice your speed and timing. Even so, too much movement is not good either, and it can be annoying when using a mixed martial arts punching bag. So, if your punches are powerful, you’ll want to consider a heavier bag.
Exceptions
There are two types of bags that do not just fit in the guides discussed. These are the independent support boxing bag models and the Muay Thai d.
Cheap independent punching bags
These types of bags are much heavier than ordinary hanging boxing bags. Most of its weight is at the base, which means that the bag itself does not weigh as much.
They tend to respond similarly to ordinary hanging boxing bags: don’t let your superior weight put you off.
Cheap punching bags from Muay Thai
Muay Thai bags are much longer than traditional bags and therefore heavier. They are designed to practice kicks and other blows with the lower part of the body, usually more powerful than fists.
That is why they need more weight, to stabilize.
Many feel comfortable with Muay Thai bags of 45 to 50 kilos. Even so, if you weigh more or have more experience and your punches are especially powerful, we recommend a heavier bag.
Choosing the right filling material from the bag
There are many types of materials used to fill the best cheap punching bags. Each provides a slightly different experience.
The most common are sand, water, crushed fibers, and compressed tissue. Some punching bag models even use a combination of a couple of different fillings. Many of them will also include an extra layer of foam, usually internal.
For some of the cheap boxing bags, some will use fillings with materials around them to do my home gyms, such as old clothes or rags.
If you do not have access to the standard fillings of the punching bag models, you can use them, but we recommend those bags that have been pre-filled with the standard materials or add those materials yourself.
Punching bag of sand stand
Sand is probably the most common material to fill the heaviest boxing bags. Sandbags tend to be heavier than bags with other materials: if you are looking for a heavy bag, you will want to consider using sand.
Sand is a good material because it usually provides consistent resistance. Sandboxes are not affected by temperature and are more resistant to time. That is, if you usually have it outside during winter, it will not freeze.
Another great advantage is that the sand is usually easy to clean in case the case of the punching bag is broken, and easy to replace.
Unfortunately, sandbags have a disadvantage: sand tends to accumulate at the base, so it will be more solid than the rest of the bag. Some bags use a layer of foam or mix materials to avoid such a phenomenon.
Stand-up punching bag of fibers or fabrics
Some bags use crushed fibers or compressed tissues. These are designed to provide you with an experience similar to that of sandbags. Even so, they do not usually have the same problem as these, and the materials are distributed equally.
That means they are easy to use and provide more resistance throughout the entire bag. As we mentioned earlier, some use a mixture of sand and crushed tissues or fibers and thus avoid such problems of material distribution.
Waterbag punching bag
Water is a material used to fill heavy bags, and it gives you many advantages. Many boxers use the water bags because it provides a more realistic experience on every hit. They are bags that tend to mimic the effects you would notice when competing with a real person.
Water also gives you a more consistent and balanced resistance experience, so you don’t need to worry about certain parts offering more or less resistance than the rest.
You will not have to worry so much about possible injuries to joints or other parts of your body when hitting them.
Another key advantage is that water punching bags can be emptied and moved more easily than others. If you think you are going to need to move your bag often, we strongly recommend buying a water punching bag.
Water bags have a disadvantage: if they break, they can cause much more stropt than those of other materials. Consider its location if you want to avoid the possibility of spoiling the cheap rubber floor of an entire room.
Choosing the right material cover
The cost of your punching bag is extremely influenced by the material of its case. There are different materials used to make the majority of cheap punching bags, and they all have their advantages and disadvantages. The three most popular materials are leather, vinyl, and canvas. Finally, we have the sack in the form of an opponent, or BOB.
Leather punching bag
The skin is a popular choice for boxing bag models dedicated to martial arts. When you hit a leather bag, especially with your fists, it gives you a natural feeling. It gives you a more realistic experience compared to other materials.
Many of the boxing practitioners who prefer to hit without gloves prefer skin covers because it does not damage their knuckles as other materials do – we recommend that you wear gloves, equally, to protect your joints.
The skin also usually lasts longer than other materials, it has a particularly high resistance level. There are a few disadvantages associated with leather bags. Perhaps the most common is that they are much more expensive than vinyl or canvas bags.
Vinyl Boxing Bag
Vinyl bags are made to imitate skin in sensation and appearance and are a great alternative.
They are definitely the most common, and we have tried a lot of quality. Even so, the quality of the vinyl siding does not just reach the level of the leather siding.
Undoubtedly, its biggest advantage is that you find cheap punching bags more affordable and resistant than leather ones. They are very popular in mixed martial arts because of their combination of a decent price and good structural quality.
Canvas punching bag
The canvas punching bag is usually of poor quality. The sensation of blow that it gives you is much inferior when compared to leather or vinyl bags.
Fortunately, they are much cheaper than leather or vinyl bags, a great advantage if you have a reduced budget.
Apart from their lower cost, another advantage of canvas bags is that they are more water-resistant than vinyl or leather covers. If you want to leave your sack exposed outdoors – in your garden, for example – the canvas will be perfect and affordable.
Something to keep in mind and that we strongly recommend is that you wear gloves with heavy canvas bags . Especially boxing, the canvas can cut your knuckles after a few punches, something that the gloves will prevent. The durability of canvas bags is another disadvantage: they are not particularly resistant.
Main pros and cons of the punching bag
For anyone who has gone to buy a punching bag for the first time, such a selection of products can confuse. You will quickly realize the wide variety of weights, materials, and covers. It is important to ask what use you are going to give it and be honest with your budget.
Differences between bags according to their weight
Heavy sack
Basically, the difference is in the amount of resistance that the bag will offer. The more the bag weighs, the more force you will need to do to move it.
A sack that swings is not bad either since it ensures that you do not stand between blow and blow. That is, it gives you a more realistic boxing experience. The added resistance, then, will be beneficial for the development of more powerful blows.
Like dumbbell and weight bench workouts, you should increase the weight of the bag as you gain strength. That’s why most offer the option of filling them yourself, even mixing materials.
Does the type of material used be important?
As we have said, each material has its advantages and disadvantages. Each of them maintains the shape and hardness of the bag in its own way and affects how you interact with them.
The filling you choose depends on your personal preferences and physical limitations. A heavy and very full bag will keep its shape easily, and it will be very solid.
It won’t give much of itself, which means it will have more impact on your body – positively and negatively. Always remember to protect your joints and bones.
A lighter and less full bag will give more of itself. That will lessen the effects of the impact on your bones and joints, and will be softer for your hands.
As we mentioned earlier, water punching bags will give you a unique experience. It is the closest thing to close combat that a punching bag can give you. They will give more of themselves, which will be better for your joints, but they will also keep their shape, they will be heavier.
Recommendations on the covers
Each material has a certain duration, to consider if your workouts will destroy it. A leather punching bag will last longer than your ability to train. Vinyl bags will mimic more bags of skin in sensation, but they will not last as long. Keep that in mind if you plan to exercise very often.
Other considerations before buying a punching bag
Space to place it
punching bag if you don’t have a place to hang it – a sturdy roof/wall – you’ll want to consider a stand-up stand or stand-alone. They are convenient and more adaptable to your lifestyle – especially if you plan to place it in a multipurpose space.
Space needed to hang a heavy bag
Ideally, you need enough space for the bag to swing without colliding with anything. Also, you should be able to move around it while swinging without touching it. Even so, the definition of ideal space will vary according to the altitude of your roof.
A longer chain will require more distance because your bag will be able to move more with it. A lower ceiling, then, will be adequate in rooms with little space.
Brands and their importance
As with all the products you buy, it is always more important to take into account their production quality, customer service, availability of spare parts and warranty than your brand. Be careful not to pay an excessive sum of money simply by having an embroidered brand on your bag. That said, Everlast, Ringside and TKO are some of our favorites.
Consider your weight
As we mentioned, and especially during your first training phases, the bag should weigh half as much as you. A heavier bag could be beneficial in case you need to add resistance or stability, and you already have a certain base and power in your punches.
Buy online vs. Buy in stores
If you decide to buy them online, try that the shipping costs do not influence the final price of the product excessively. Depending on where you buy it, it could cost you twice as much. One option is to buy an unfilled bag, which will arrive for a much lower price.
If you decide to buy an unfilled bag, you will need to consider its material. By filling it out on your own, we recommend you consider the following issues:
- We recommend you not to use sand: It compresses and it will be like hitting the cement. And, if it gets wet, it will be hard as a rock. Even so, if you live in extreme weather conditions it can be advantageous. In the case of snowing in winter, for example, it will be your best option if you keep the bag outdoors.
- Better fillings: You can make homemade fillings, depending on the materials you have and your preferences. About five centimeters thick of rubber or foam will be perfect. You can continue to fill the rest with wooden granules, beans or peas, rags or old clothes. If you buy a bag designed for it, even so, we recommend filling it with water.
Seams or zipper?
This is a matter that only matters if you plan to buy your bag without padding. If you do, you need an easy way to open and fill it, so we recommend a zipper. If you buy it already full and do not plan to fill it in the future, choose the seams. It will be more durable. Although if you buy it with a zipper, most manufacturers use very resistant zippers, you should not have problems with them.
Place the punching bag outside
It is perfectly acceptable, but you should consider that it will be influenced by time, and choose the materials in line with it. If you live in a humid climate, you can expect some rot at some time. The same will happen if you are directly exposed to sunlight: the leather and canvas covers will dry and deteriorate.
Of course, you can slow down premature wear with proper care. Treating the skin from time to time or covering the bag with a cover will make it last longer.
Is it advisable to leave it hanging all the time?
As time passes, the filling will be compacted or reorganized inside the case. That will cause your punching bag to be harder at the base than at the top. Occasionally, you should pick it up and roll it to level its contents. In case of injury, or deciding to take an extended break from boxing, it is a good idea to lower it and leave it in a horizontal position.
Standing punching bag vs Hanging
As already mentioned, we always recommend hanging the sack from the ceiling or a sturdy wall. Doing so gives you the possibility to move around completely, 360 degrees. And that will be beneficial in training, especially when working on the footwork, practicing turns and others.
Having the bag hung obviously requires space. If you don’t have space, you can use the best free stand punching bag, although you won’t have the same motion or adaptability.
Chains or straps?
Honestly, it matters little as long as they are of quality and hold your punching bag without risk of breaking. The chains are usually fixed to a pivot that allows the bag to rotate without interruption.
With the straps, on the other hand, the bag will turn and you will need to untangle, turning once more in the opposite direction. Most quality cheap boxing bags use chains, and we prefer them over the straps.