Punching Bags
You’ve learned how to punch and practiced your form countless times by shadow boxing. Now it’s time to make contact.
A punching bag, also known as a heavy bag, is perfect to take your training to the next level. Nothing’s better than being able to know how hard your strike is, and it’s great to develop your strength and endurance. It’s a completely different experience from punching in the air.
Punching bags are a great investment if you want to train on your own at home. But since they tend to be a pricier piece of martial art equipment, you need to know what to look for when choosing one.
Leather vs. Synthetic vs. Canvas
These days, punching bags made out of synthetic materials are getting better in quality. They don’t need to be taken care of as much as genuine leather (such as moisturizing it to prevent cracking). Further, punching bags constructed out of pvc or other imitation leather typically have lesser seams because the casing can be cut to order. Leather can only be cut a specific size, and for larger bags, more pieces have to be sewn together, resulting in more seams where tears normally occur.
In any case, make sure the seams are reinforced not once or twice, but at least three times with a sturdy material. This will make all the difference!
While it is the most expensive, most people still prefer leather, since it feels nice and is still considered the most durable. Canvas is the cheapest, but make sure to wear protection because it is way more unforgiving to the knuckles than the other materials.
Filling of the Punching Bag
Punching bags can be filled with all sorts of things, including rubber bits, cloth and other fiber. In the middle of the punching bag, there may be sand to add weight. If this is the case, be aware that after prolonged use, the casing the sand is in can break. This means that the sand will eventually settle to the bottom of the punching bag, warping its shape and making it rock hard on the bottom.
When you’re choosing a punching bag, make sure to hit it a couple of times to see if you like the feel of it. The filling could be too hard or too soft for you.
The Top of the Punching Bag
At the top of the punching bag, you’ll find a three or more places where hooks are attached to a chain, so that it can be suspended. These areas should be reinforced well, as it is another area where tears often occur.
March 7th, 2007 at 6:23 am
It has been our experience that punching bags filled with rags are most commonly preferred above those that are filled with sand or some other material. We sell unfilled punching bags made, and the general feedback we have gotten from customers is that the ones filled with rags are much more to the liking. However, rags are obviously much more expensive than sand, so you have to weigh your options when you purchase an unfilled bag with the intention of filling it yourself.
May 2nd, 2007 at 1:33 am
I`m 16 and i really have no $$. I really also want a kickboxing bag as i enjoy the sport, but as i said before–i`m lacking funds. Can you help me with tips on making my own–like the material needed and stuff–nothing tooo expensive tought…thanks again.
May 5th, 2007 at 3:01 am
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the comment.
We really wouldn’t recommend making your own punching bag, since it’ll take a lot of material and a very strong needle to sew it together. Plus, the top part where the chains attach is quite difficult to reinforce.
Instead, how about buying just the shell of a punching bag. A lot of stores sell unfilled punching bags, usually far cheaper than filled ones. You can either buy one online or just pick one up from a store. Then, you’ll have to just buy the filling.
We recommend filling punching bags with scraps of leather, because it makes for a nicer feel when you hit them. Cloth scraps tend to get very hard after you’ve shoved them into the bag. If want cloth scraps, though, just get some old clothes from a thrift shop (sometimes you can buy them by the pound). You might be able to find leather as well.
Let us know if this helped!
September 14th, 2007 at 8:12 am
Hi,
Although it may cost slightly more than a canvas bag, the leather ones will last years even through heavy use. I bought mine, which is about 40 kilos in weight and 5ft long. its filled with old cut up peices of curtain which i purchased for £10 at a local curtain shop. The feel is solid but not to so that i cant use full force on it. I definatly recommend leather bags!!!
marks
May 16th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Hey… im lookin at Punching bags.. I live in an appartment with a Concrete cieling above me.. can I attach one through this by drilling in??
i dont really think i want a stand up punchin bag..
PLease any response would be great ..
Just type it in Below.. thx
May 16th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Hi Philip,
You’d need to check with your landlord before you can attach anything but yes, it is possible.
You need to look for a celling mount and you’ll need concrete screws. Also, since you don’t want to make too much noise or tear out your celling, you should also get a heavy duty bag spring to go between the bag chain and the swivel mount. This way when the bag bounces from the strikes, the spring will take some of the pressure. You can find mounts online from places like Everlast and if you don’t want to buy the spring from them, you can probably get something at any larger hardware store.
If you are allowed to drill into the celling, it’s a much better option than any kind of stand.
good luck.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:38 am
HI,
i jus bought a canvans punching bag lately its big.
Can u suggest me wat type of filling i should fill it with?
i am 176cm 80kg.A kickboxer
i filled it with wood shaving + sand then the sand sank to the bottom.the sand i put is much lesser than the woodshaving but the btm part is very hard.
Thx
June 30th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Filling your punching bag directly with sand is not a good idea. Over time, the sand will settle to the bottom and it can pick up moisture and harden to the point that you can quite easily break a bone from kicking it.
The best filling material is leather scraps. They are hard to come by but a good alternative is used clothing or rags. You can buy them in bulk fairly cheap. If you find that the bag is not well balanced, a small sand bag can be laced in the middle or at whatever height suits you best. However you have to ensure that you seal it properly and duct tape it quite a bit because it can rupture from the strikes and you’ll have the same problem again with the sand at the bottom. Pack you back tightly with used clothing and that will probably be your best option.
Good luck.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Thx alot man.
Does the clothing nid to be cut into stripe then stuff it in?
u mean putting a small sand bag is for the weight so tat it wont *fly* so easily?
July 12th, 2008 at 12:05 am
you can cut the clothing but if it’s soft cloth, it really won’t matter. But strips will let you distribute it more evenly. Either way you have to pack it tight so in the end, it won’t really make a difference.
The weight is a counter balance so for example if you punch up high, the bag won’t wobble excessively. It just keeps the balance so the bag can take the punches. Good luck with your bag.
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:21 am
Looking for a good punching bag for outside ,does anyone sell one?
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:23 pm
I believe Everlast makes an indoor outdoor bag filled with rubber pellets. You can probably find it on their site: http://www.everlast.com/out-n-about-indoor-outdoor-boxing-gym.html
I don’t see the bag being sold separately but you can probably give them a call and arrange to buy just the bag if you don’t want the whole setup.