If you’re a boxer or kickboxer that can’t make it to the gym every day or you’re just looking for a great full body cardio workout you can do at home, a heavy bag can be a great asset. You don’t need a partner and you can hit it hard to build power, fast to build speed, and over and over again to build endurance.
There are so many things to consider when buying a heavy bag. How to hang it, where to hang it, maybe get a free standing bag and skip the hanging altogether?
How heavy should it be, what shape, what surface, what filling, etc.
There is no one right bag for everyone. Keep reading and you’ll know everything you need to know to buy the right bag for you, with confidence!
Consider Your space
If you own your own home, then you have a few more options than apartment dwellers. But there are still quite a few variables to consider.
Ceiling Mounted Bags
If you have a building with sturdy ceiling joists in a room with lots of space on every side then this is likely the way to go. Obviously, everyone’s place is different so hopefully you can see how to modify these methods to your unique situation
When you mount a bag, in most cases that’s where it’s going to be forever so it’s worth spending some time planning your space.
Mounting A Heavy Bag To The Wall
Freestanding Bags have the benefit of being somewhat mobile, you can move them around the house, even inside and out, however you see fit. But they are more bulky by nature than their hanging counterparts.
If you are hanging your bag outside consider the durability of materials or maybe it’s practical to bring the bag inside when you aren’t using it.
Hanging Bag Styles
Heavier bags are harder to move and are great for working punching power and endurance. Lots of reps on a heavy bag will make those shoulders grow. A lighter bag will move around a bit more, especially if you put it on a longer chain, which is great for practicing footwork and distance control.
Muay Thai Bags
Muay Thai bags are 6 feet long so that you can practice knees and leg kicks easily. The six foot bag is certainly not the only type of bag used in Muay Thai training but it is most likely what someone is talking about if they use that term.
Wrecking Ball Bags
Wrecking ball bags have unusual features that might make one ideal for your home. They come in a variety of weights and sizes, but are usually considerably smaller than a typical boxing style bag. Great for working uppercuts and hooks!
Angle Bags
Another style of bag that is gaining popularity is the angle bag. They feature a “head” region that is wider than the bottom. In addition to allowing powerful uppercuts, there is also an unusual balance to the bag once you start throwing in kicks and knees.
Boxing Bags
Should you buy filled or fill it yourself?
Hanging Bag Mounts
Ceiling Joist mounted
Wall Mounted
Bag Stand
Free Standing Bags
Other Options
Double End Bags
Doorway bags
Speed bags
Uppercut Bags
Wall Bags
Hanging Dummy