Whether you want to buy a punching bag for at home or want to find out more about punching bags in general, you will quickly find that there are different models, sizes and weight classes for punching bags. So the decision is not that easy. We tell you what you should look out for when buying a punching bag and give you helpful tips to find the right punching bag for you.
What you will learn in this post:
- What makes boxing an ideal sport!
- What a punching bag brings you during training!
- How punching bags differ!
- How to find the right punching bag!
- What a good punching bag costs!
- How to properly train on the punching bag!
Boxing is a popular sport
There are many reasons to take up boxing. Boxing is a demanding full-body sport that not only helps you to lose weight, but above all to define your body and build muscle mass. You don't only use your fists and arms in boxing, you have to use your whole body; turn, take cover, move your legs. This also puts strain on the back, stomach and legs. This is incredibly challenging and burns a lot of calories. After just 30 minutes of boxing training, you have burned between 300 and 400 calories. At the same time, you can relieve a lot of stress and tension by working out like this.
Boxing not only challenges you physically, but also mentally. You'll need to quickly apply the right punch combos, stay alert, and take cover at the right time. At the same time, you must coordinate your head, arms, and legs to avoid getting hit, but be accurate and quick enough to land a hit yourself. To achieve success in boxing, you need to be focused and disciplined. You learn a very good body feeling, develop self-confidence and self-confidence.
What does a punching bag bring me? 
The punching bag is one of the most important training accessories in boxing. On the punching bag you will consolidate the first basic techniques when hitting, train your endurance and build up strength. It doesn't matter whether you are a beginner or a professional: training without a punching bag is not possible. The best thing about punching bag training: you don't necessarily need a training partner, you can train your punching techniques, endurance and strength on your own on the punching bag. Therefore, the punching bag is also a very popular piece of fitness equipment for your own four walls.
What is the right punching bag for me?
Even if you just want to box as a hobby and are not interested in sparring or competitions, it does matter which punching bag you train on. There are many different punching bag models that differ in a few factors. This not only affects training and how effective it is, but also, for example, the longevity of the punching bag and the cost of a punching bag. Below you will find the main features in which punching bags differ.
Form: Which models are there for punching bags?
One very obvious difference in punching bags is the shape. The classic punching bags include the hanging punching bags, also known as heavy bags . They have a cylindrical, regular shape. They are usually attached to the ceiling or a beam with an appropriate bracket. The hanging punching bag also includes the so-called angle bag - a punching bag with a slight curve in the upper area, so that a realistic imitation of the human upper body is created. You can not only train jabs and hooks on the Angle Bag, but above all uppercuts. As an alternative to the hanging punching bags, there are also standing punching bags with a base or stand. In our experience, these punching bags only offer advantages in terms of space requirements. In addition, you don't have to drill any holes in the ceiling. However, if you want to train really effectively and also want to land hard punches on the punching bag, we recommend a hanging punching bag.
In addition to the large punching bags, there are also smaller models such as the wrecking ball, also known as Big Berta, the small wrecking ball, and the speed ball and double-ended ball . These are all punching bags that we believe are best suited for advanced boxers, as you should be able to master the various punching techniques.
If you would like to learn more about the different models, we recommend this article from our blog.
Size: How big does a punching bag have to be?
Punching bags come in different sizes. This refers on the one hand to the length and on the other hand to the diameter of the punching bag, which in turn depends on the length and weight. In classic boxing, the focus is on punches above the waistline, so you usually train on smaller punching bags. Here the sizes range between 80 and 150 cm - depending on the height of the boxer, with many boxers boxing on a 120 cm long punching bag. From 150 cm, the punching bags are very long, so you can practice punching and kicking techniques. This is especially important in kickboxing or similar martial arts.
Weight: How heavy does a punching bag have to be?
The weight of the punching bag is usually between 15 and 50 kg . But there are also punching bags with 60 kg and more as well as punching bags with less weight, which are then suitable for children. In principle, the requirement of the training increases with the weight of the punching bag. The more intensively you want to train, the heavier the punching bag should be. What else you need to know about the weight of the punching bag is explained below in our tips for buying a punching bag.
Material: What material are punching bags made of?
You will find punching bags made of imitation leather or natural leather from most suppliers. These are the materials that have proven themselves in boxing for many years and that promise a long service life even with intensive use. There are now also punching bags made of textile materials such as nylon or polyester. However, in our experience, these materials cannot withstand a hard hit - not in the long run. In the worst case, the upper material tears and also damages your boxing gloves. Imitation leather and real leather are the much better choice for the upper material of the punching bag.
Filling: What are punching bags filled with?
Punching bags are also often referred to as sandbags because they used to be filled with sand. Today, however, another filling material has prevailed: fabric remnants . Sand gets very hard the more you hit it. Remnants of fabric compress but remain soft, thereby reducing the risk of injury during boxing training.
What kind of punching bag do I need? Tips for your punching bag purchase!
Now you know that punching bags differ in shape, size, weight and material - inside and out. Of course you have to be able to do something with this information. Therefore, we have summarized some tips for you that you should heed before buying a punching bag:
Tip #1 If you want to choose a model, first think about what training goals you are pursuing and ask yourself at what level you are already boxing. A heavy bag or angle bag is a good all-rounder model. On the other hand, you can use a wrecking ball or a speed ball to train specific shots / skills. For this, however, you need a certain basic skill in boxing.
Tip #2 When it comes to the length of the punching bag, you can use this rule of thumb as a guide - provided you only use the punching bag for punches: In order for the punching bag to swing optimally, you should hit it in the middle. Based on this, you can calculate how big the punching bag should be based on your height. Most boxers box on a 120 cm long punching bag. If you also want to incorporate kicking techniques into your training, choose a punching bag that is at least 150 cm long.
Tip #3 There is also a rule of thumb for the weight of the punching bag: The punching bag should weigh at least one third and at most two thirds of your body weight. Light punching bags swing more, so you have to move a lot, but at the same time you don't have to use much force. Light punching bags are therefore also ideal for cardio workouts. For heavy punching bags you need a corresponding punching power; they oscillate less, so you can definitely work intensively on your endurance.
Tip #4 No matter what modern punching bags promise: When it comes to the material, you should rather stick to imitation leather or leather. These two materials have really proven themselves - both at the hobby and professional level. Which material you choose is often a question of faith (genuine leather is considered to be of very high quality, while artificial leather is free from animal cruelty), but also a question of money. As a natural product, leather is simply more expensive than artificial leather.
How much does a good punching bag cost?
If you want to buy a punching bag for training at home, you should be aware that there is no good quality for 50 or 60 euros. In our experience, punching bags that cost 100 euros and less are “a waste of money”. The workmanship is often very poor, so that the seams have burst before the first use. You can read here how much a good punching bag costs.
Buy a punching bag - our recommendations for you!
The shape typical of the angle punching bag allows you to train very realistically. This is especially true for uppercuts. The synthetic leather upper is characterized by its high resilience. Thanks to the easy care, the PU material is particularly uncomplicated.
TUF WEAR PU Angled Punching Bag (3ft) is ideal for
- Endurance and coordination training
- Reaction and speed training
- Improving punching power and punch combinations
- Training sessions that are as realistic as possible
This punching bag is made of synthetic leather, which reliably withstands your hard punches. Together with the careful processing, you are guaranteed a punching bag that you will enjoy for a long time. With a weight of 42 kg and a length of 122 cm, the TUF WEAR punching bag PU Quilted 4ft is the right choice for tall and heavy boxers and anyone looking for a punching bag for a demanding workout.
TUF WEAR punching bag PU Quilted 4ft is ideal for
- Classic boxing training of all kinds
- Suitable for taller people
In the Classic Brown collection from TUF WEAR, this is truly the giant among the punching bags - with a length of 137 cm and a weight of 65 kg. High-quality cowhide leather was used for the upper material, which not only makes the punching bag look classy, but also makes it classy - durable, tear-resistant, robust!
TUF WEAR Gigantor Punching Bag 137 cm in Classic Brown is ideal for
- Classic boxing training for tall boxers (heavyweight)
- Endurance and fitness training
- Improvement in punching power
With the PU punching bag standard (6ft) you really get a super-long heavy bag. Because the punching bag measures an impressive 182 cm in length. This allows you to perfect punch and kick combinations. The combination of artificial leather and a thin PU coating makes the PU punching bag standard (6ft) very durable. The upper is robust and durable.
TUF WEAR PU Punching Bag Standard (6ft) ideal for
- Classic boxing training (big boxers)
- Kickboxing and Muay Thai Boxing
- Freefight
- Fitness boxing training for home
Customers ask, we answer!
What are the most important criteria for a punching bag?
When buying a punching bag, you should make sure that the size and weight suit you, your training level and your goals.
Where can you buy punching bags?
You can get punching bags online, but also occasionally in sports equipment stores. Here, however, the selection may not be that large because the shops cannot provide as much space. However, you have more choice online.
Which punching bag is good for beginners?
If you're buying a punching bag as a beginner, it should be lighter rather than heavier. In this way you can learn the basic techniques and gradually improve your condition and power.
How do you fill a punching bag?
If you bought a punching bag without filling, you have to fill it yourself at home. In our experience, fabric is best suited for filling punching bags. You simply gradually add a little more filling to the punching bag. Then you can let the punching bag hang for a while so that the filling slips down. After a few training sessions you can add some filling.
How do you attach a punching bag?
So that a punching bag swings freely and you can train properly, you should ideally attach the punching bag to the ceiling or a bracket on the beam using a hook chain. You will receive some of these together with the punching bag.
How do I box correctly on the punching bag?
When training on the punching bag, it is not always important to hit with full force. Depending on the training goal, you follow different approaches - speed, precision or power. However, it is always important that your wrist remains straight and not bent.
Do I need boxing gloves for the punching bag?
Yes absolutely. No matter how soft the filling of the punching bag is, there is always a risk of injury. Your fingers and wrists in particular can be injured if you hit the punching bag wrong. There is a risk, especially for beginners, because they still have to learn the right punching techniques and do not always hit the punching bag correctly.
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