There’s a reason you’ll find punching bags in almost every gym in the world.
They’re the best way to perfect new techniques if you’re a fighter and they provide a great workout if you’re just looking for a good sweat.
In this post you’ll discover:
- Different sizes of punching bags you can get
- How much punching bags cost
- Where to buy punching bags
- 7 Types of punching bags you can buy
- How punching bags are made and why they’re so expensive
So let’s get into it!
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How Heavy Are Punching Bags?
Punching bags come in a wide range of styles and weights. They can be as light as 30 lbs and as heavy as 200 lbs or more, depending on your requirements. Heavy bags used for kicking tend to be longer and heavier than punching bags used only for boxing. Choosing the right punching bag for your home or gym is important.
Remember, if you’re hanging your punching bag up in your home you should always make sure the bracket can handle its weight.
Not only the weight of the big itself but also the back and forth swaying that puts additional strain on your mounting system.
How Much Do Punching Bags Cost?
The cost of punching bags depends on if the bag is filled or not. Many companies sell their punching bags without filling or charge separately for them. You can expect to pay around $30 – $50 for unfilled punching bags (filling sold separately), and up to $300 for some of the larger heavy bags with material filling.
Always double-check if you’re buying your punching bag online.
You don’t want to be caught receiving a bag that you still need to buy filling for.
Where To Buy Punching Bags
You can buy punching bags at most sporting outlet stores, or you can buy them online. The best place to buy punching bags online is on Amazon. Most big brands sell their bags on there, so you’ll often find great discounts and bundle offers. It’s also a great way of checking reviews from previous buyers.
Best Punching Bags On Amazon
There are a bunch more, but these are the 6 best punching bags I recommend buying on Amazon.
7 Types of Punching Bags
The world of punching bags has grown by leaps and bounds in the modern era of martial arts.
The 7 main types of punching bags on the market today are:
- Free-standing bags
- Mounted heavy bags
- Double-end bags
- Speed bags
- Uppercut bags
- Wall bags
- Grappling dummies
Let’s look at a few great examples.
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Free-Standing Punching Bags
Free-standing punching bags are great if you don’t have space to mount a heavy bag.
They use a heavy base that keeps the bag still while you punch and kick it.
Great for apartments or homes. Set this free-standing punching bag up wherever you have some floor space and you're ready to go. No need to deal with complicated mounting systems.
Mounted Heavy Bags
Mounted heavy bags are your most common punching bags.
They’re the ones you hang up using a bracket.
Pro Tip: ALWAYS make sure your mounting is strong enough to hold your punching bag or you could get seriously hurt. I learned that the hard way.
If you've got space to hang a 100 lb punching bag, this is the one to get. This professionally made heavy bag is strong, durable, and is only filled with fabric.
Double-End Bags
Double-end punching bags are much smaller than the free-standing and mounted bags.
In fact, you use them for completely different reasons.
You use double-end bags to work on your timing and rhythm, anticipating where a strike will land to effectively counterpunch.
A counterpuncher's secret weapon. Double-end bags teach you to anticipate your opponent's movement, get out of the way, and counter with your own attack. Double-end bags are a must if you're looking to take your striking to the next level.
Speed Bags
Speed bags are extremely light bags, normally filled with air and used for working on endurance, timing, and building shoulder and arm strength.
They’re also great for ingraining the habit of keeping your hands up in a fight.
Speed bags are normally suspended from a dropped ceiling or on a wall with a bracket.
You've probably seen videos of the pros training on speed bags. They're great for working on your hand speed, coordination, and endurance for boxing. This easy-to-install speed bag and platform kit are a great addition to your home gym.
Uppercut Bags
Uppercut bags are, as they say, meant for practicing your uppercuts.
But you can use them for far more than that, including jabs and crosses.
They’re a bit awkward for practicing hooks, but talented boxers manage them just fine.
If you've got limited space, an uppercut bag might be the one for you. Mounted against a wall, these punching bags are great for working your entire arsenal of strikes. Mount it lower for knees and front kicks, or higher for elbows and punches. The choice is yours.
Wall Bags
Also known as wall mounted punching bags, these are used for very focused punching training.
Unlike the bags mentioned before, wall bags don’t have much give when punched.
These are typically used when larger heavy or free-standing bags aren’t feasible.
Sure you can punch hard, but can you punch accurately? For more targeted striking practice, use a wall-mounted punching target. These are less mobile than traditional heavy bags so you can really focus on your technique.
Grappling Dummies (Punching Dummies)
For a more lifelike experience, or if you’re training MMA, grappling dummies work great for training ground-and-pound striking.
With the added arms, legs, torso, and head, you can really focus your striking while training.
Pro Tip: Stay away from cheaply made grappling dummies. Their arms and legs break off very easily. Again, another hard-learned lesson.
If you don't have a human-shaped punching bag in your gym, you're missing out. These grappling dummies are great for practicing ground-and-pound which you can't do with mounted or free-standing punching bags. This will be your training partner that always shows up.
Now you know the types of punching bags you can buy, let’s look at how they can help you.
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How Are Punching Bags Made?
Punching bags are made using either leather or synthetic leather outer which is strong enough to withstand regular punches and kicks. The outer is created first, followed by adding the inner filling which gives the punching bag its structure and strength allowing you to practice your striking.
Sometimes companies sell punching bags without filling, which makes shipping easier.
But this also allows you to choose the stuffing you’d like to use because your bag filling is what determines:
- Bag weight – How heavy your punching bag is
- Firmness – How hard your punching bag is
- Response – How it absorbs your punches
Beginners do better with softer filling like old clothes, advanced strikers prefer harder filling like sand.
What Are Punching Bags Filled With?
Punching bags have been filled with all sorts of things in the past.
The most common ways to fill a punching bag is by using:
- Old clothes
- Sand
- Rags
- Rice husk
- Corn cob
- Wood shavings
If you’re a beginner, old clothes and rags will work just fine.
Why Are Punching Bags So Expensive?
Generally, punching bags are expensive for one of two reasons. Either they’re more durable and can withstand a lot of impact without breaking or because the bag is being used in martial arts training as opposed to just regular boxing workouts at home.
I recommend staying away from poorly-made or cheap punching bags.
Especially if you don’t want to buy a new one each year because you keep breaking them.
Invest in a good bag from the beginning and you’re good to go for a while.
Are Punching Bags Worth It?
Punching bags are not just for boxers.
You can use them to release anger, anxiety, or stress. Punching a bag is also great exercise!
In the world of fitness, it can be tricky to find something that is worth your time.
Punching bags offer a fun way for you to get some exercise without spending all day at the gym or being stuck in front of an expensive television set with nothing but junk food and soda nearby.
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Hi! I’m the Founder of Strictly Fighters and I write about martial arts and self-defense.
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