Though the best way to learn boxing and other martial arts would be to train with partners, and the best way to train would similarly not be the one at home, however, anyone who wants to take their training seriously and doesn’t have the means or time to go to a fully equipped gym every day has to have some equipment at home. Also, the coronavirus pandemic is forcing millions of people into their homes, so what better way to rehearse your martial arts skills and possibly train even further than a punching bag for your home? In this article, we have come up with a list of the best punching bags/boxing bags you can find, so if you are interested in upping your game or just needed an excuse to buy a home bag, this article is for you, so read on!
Before we get into the reviewing of the actual products, we have to clarify what type of a list it is that we have come up with. The first two are the number one choices in our opinion in the Best Overall and the Best Budget categories, since these are the two most sought-after types of bags and products in general. The rest on the list are also all amazing products, but they are more like alternatives for your specific situation, financial background, or training requirements.
We will also be reviewing different types of punching bags, like speed bags or other types of specialized bags. All bags are great for training, but the specific martial art you are training and your fitness goals determine the type of bag you should invest in, and that is the reason why we wanted to choose different types of products: to provide as many people as possible with an amazing option to elevate their training.
We have also tried all of the products on this list since we don’t believe in recommending products that haven’t been tested by the person recommending them. We will mention more about how each of the bags fared when talking about them, but as a general statement, all these products on our list are ones you cannot go wrong with, so choose whichever one you like and have a good training session!
1. Outslayer Filled Heavy Bag 100 Pound – Best Overall
Outslayer is a brand many people have heard of, and for a reason. They make high-quality, highly durable, and long-lasting punching bags which also have good-looking designs. This 100-pound Outslayer bag is going to be your best friend for years to come and will easily be able to provide the basis for an amazing at-home, pandemic-time workout routine to keep your boxing sharp.
When looking at the overall best boxing/punching bag, the criteria is basically that it should perform equally from most or all areas of analysis. During the purchasing of a punching bag, people should look at the following factors: price, durability, quality, material, and design. The reason we chose the Outslayer Filled Heavy Bag 100 Pound is that it delivers a solid game from each mentioned category.
These bags are considered to be almost like a gold standard for boxing bags. They are made in the USA and they also come with 10 years of warranty. According to them, if anything goes wrong with your bag in 10 years’ time, a video describing the issue is enough for them to send a replacement bag. They are also filled with fabric and not sand, like many other bags. This is the reason there are few, if any hollow or tough spots, or uneven sides, even after months and years of use.
We ordered one of these punching bags and were not disappointed by the results and the overall experience. Shipping was fast, and the bag came already filled. When unpacking it and setting git up, we already got a basic feel for the type of bag we were dealing with. The build quality is amazing, the external material feels firm and sturdy yet satisfying to hit, the rings on the top, and in general, the structure of the bag was really impressive.
When hitting it and kicking it, we noticed that since the outside is so “tough”, it is easy to bruise the skin if the punches and kicks are delivered without any protective gear, but we don’t see that as a negative, since it can help you practice proper form. All-in-all, it is a great bag and we would warmly recommend it to anyone who is into training martial arts or combat sports at home. Check it out by clicking on this link to Amazon if you are interested!
2. Double End Striking Bag by Everlast – Budget Pick
Double-end bags have risen in popularity to a point where it is a must-have in every boxing gym or martial arts dojo. The added element of the moving target creates an incredibly useful challenge both for developing the reflexes and reaction time of the practitioner as well as their hand-eye coordination and footwork skills. These bags rely on a surprisingly simple principle, at least for the layman, and that is that they are tied not only to the ceiling but also to the floor, which results in a target that moves backward and forwards in an elastic motion, and it a lot harder to hit precisely.
Mostly due to the physical size difference, double-end bags are significantly cheaper than large, heavy bags. For this reason, we chose the high-quality, Everlast Double End Striking Bag. The fact that it is smaller than the bag will not mean that you cannot get amazing training out of it, and also, you can get this product for about a tenth of the price of most heavy bags. If this isn’t the best budget option for training at home, we don’t know what is.
This Everlast double-end striking bag is made of high-quality synthetic leather and is a durable and high-quality, well-built tool you can use to up your technique. It has a simple grey color, but is still aesthetic, and weighs only 1.3 pounds.
When ordering this item, you get neither the shock cord nor the hooks and wall attachments necessary for the installation, but seeing as these items are not expensive at all and the bag itself is affordable as well, this won’t be a financial problem, only a convenience issue. One of the reasons these items are not included is that there are many different gym or home sizes, a couple of different modes of use, so it is more practical for you to measure out the height of your gym and check what it’s made of, and then purchase the parts necessary to set up the bag.
Our experience with the testing went really well. For a product with such a great price, it really does feel high-quality and is also softer on the bare hand than the Outslayer Heavy Bag. We had no problem setting up the bag, and we had great fun testing it out. This bag is very well suited for practicing speed, dexterity, and technique, more so than the heavy bag, which can improve these aspects but can be more easily used for power drills. If you are interested in this awesome double-end punching bag, check it out here on Amazon
3. Everlast New Omniflex Freestanding Heavy Bag
Not everybody has the option of hanging their bag from the ceiling, or even the wall with a vertical wall boxing bag hanger like this one, either because the walls can’t support the weight or for various other reasons. In this case, it doesn’t mean you have to stop training for the time of the pandemic or when you are just bored at home. The solution is to invest in a freestanding heavy bag, which usually has a bottom weight that can be filled with sand or water. This gives it enough of a solid base for you to confidently punch and kick the target without it toppling over.
For our choice of the best standing bag, we have the Everlast New Omniflex. It is the best option available if you want to have a high-quality, well-built freestanding bag. It is also an Amazon’s Choice product, which is your extra reassurance that it is a great product.
The company making this bag, Everlast, is one of the most widely known names in all of the sports industry. A category above, you have things like Nike, Adidas, or Under Armour, but immediately below and not by much, you have the massive product line of Everlast. They excel in making products that are not only very well-made but are also durable and something that the other three we mentioned are not (as much): reasonably priced. Everlast, though they have some sky-high prices, does not overprice their products as much as other companies, creating a reliable atmosphere around them. An Everlast product is never a bad choice.
This specific bag is 67 inches tall, which is a great height for practicing all types of punches and kicks. The bag is made of high-quality shock-absorption foam, which provides a solid yet satisfying surface, and a realistic (by that we mean, that it replicates punching another human) combination of toughness and softness.
What we really liked about this product, aside from the fact that it is a lot easier to set up than wall-mounted products, for obvious reasons, is the Omniflex neck, which felt really nice and sturdy even with the strongest of roundhouse kicks we delivered to the bag. The product feels really well-built, and by the looks of it, it definitely belongs in a professional gym. The black and red design also makes it look super cool. If you are interested in getting a bag you can confidently and safely use without having to drill holes in your walls or ceiling, check out this link by clicking here, which will take you to the Amazon page of this product!
4. BAS UFC Body Action System – Fully Adjustable Punching & Kicking Pads
This is somewhat different from all the other products on this list, seeing as this isn’t exactly a bag, much rather a set of punching and kicking pads set up in a humanoid shape, which can act as a punching bag. These are very useful, since you can practice just like with a punching bag, but the direction of your strikes can be chiseled, and you can also practice realistic combinations since the shape of the product can help you imagine a moving and fighting opponent.
The reason this product is called BAS (aside from it being an abbreviation for Body Action System), is because it was developed and is still marketed with the help of the one and only Bas Rutten. Bas Rutten is a legendary UFC fighter, a UFC Hall-of-Famer, Pancrase champion multiple times, and in general, just one of the most badass guys around. Though because of marketing, you can take many videos of his with a grain of salt, we can still confidently conclude that if there is a product he helped develop and is actively putting his name to, it is definitely worth checking out.
It is designed in a way that will allow one to practice all basic strikes, punches, and kicks, string them together into efficient and deadly combinations and drills and practice the proper angle and technique at the same time. WIth multiple kicking and punching pads on the side, a central “chest”-pad, and a “head”-pad, you can really practice as if it were a real opponent, and there are small cutoffs at the bottom edges of the chest part so you can practice Bas Rutten’s infamous liver shot!
When we ordered the product, we were really excited to try it out, since we are all fans of Bas, and the amount of positive feedback on the internet was also compelling. It took us about 15-20 minutes to assemble it, and then off we went with the drills. Though it is not a traditional bag, it gave us one of the best bag training experiences in our lives. The only question we have is how long it will stay this way, since the flailing pads on the humanoid metal skeleton don’t seem as durable as a 100-pound heavy bag, but we will only see that with the months and possibly years to come. The build quality is solid, so we guess it will be quite durable. Check it out on Amazon by clicking on this link here!
5. Everlast HydroStrike Water Bag, 100 lb
Now for a product that is a striking bag, but might still seem really weird to most practitioners, we present to you the Everlast HydroStrike Water Bag, the 100-pound punching balloon. Even though it seems unusual, there are actually many benefits to having this bag, so stick with us throughout the review!
We have talked about Everlast before, but we haven’t mentioned one of the main reasons we personally like the company. This reason is that they are open to innovation and new technologies and products. Water bags are quite an unusual sight, but Everlast took the concept and created a durable and fun product, which can enhance your training in many ways.
One of the main advantages of a water bag compared to sand- or fabric-filled bags is that they are very easy to fill alone and even easier to empty. Aside from this convenient and economic factor, it also makes the bag easily portable. If you have a fabric-filled bag like the Outslayer one, you have to transport the bag the way it is, which takes up a lot of space and is also heavy to carry. On the other hand, you just empty out the Everlast HydroStrike, and you have an empty, rubberized PVC bag, ready to be transported.
Another advantage of this bag over traditional bags is that it is lighter on the joints. Due to the rubberized PVC exterior and the water inside, it does give a realistic feel to every punch, but it also remains light on the wrist and other joints due to the amount of shock absorbed by the water and the rubber. There is also a 2-year warranty on these bags, should anything happen to them which is the manufacturer’s fault.
We tried the bag, and honestly, we didn’t enjoy it as much as the traditional bags, but that might be due to us being used to the old-school sand- and fabric-filled bags. However, it did feel really good to punch this bag, and the filling and emptying were literally like filling and emptying a large water bottle, so we were glad about that. If you travel a lot and are open to new things, we would highly recommend the Everlast HydroStrike Water Bag. If you are interested in purchasing it, check out this link to Amazon by clicking here!
6. Combat Sports 100-pound Muay Thai Punching Heavy Bag
If you are looking for an alternative to the Outslayer 100-pound heavy bag, we have got the right one for you. The Combat Sports 100-pound Muay Thai Punching Heavy Bag is a great alternative if you don’t enjoy the look or feel of the Outslayer 100-pound punching bag.
We don’t have too much to say about the specific use of this bag, since it is exactly the same as that of any other heavy bag. What sets heavy bags apart in general is their price, quality, aesthetics, and their brand. This Combat Sports heavy bag has been developed with Muay Thai in mind, as the name suggests, which means durability was definitely a priority of theirs, since the heavy knees, elbows, and shins Muay Thai practitioners can drop on these bags can wear them out pretty quickly.
In terms of quality, to us, this product seemed similar to the Outslayer, but with a somewhat softer touch on the outside, so it is easier to avoid all the bruising we talked about earlier. This is probably due to the type of faux leather it is made of. However, if you are looking for a 100-pound heavy bag, you probably have some experience, in which case the tougher exterior shouldn’t be a problem with the Outslayer. With this bag and its somewhat softer touch, what you get is a superior feel and a somewhat lighter impact on your joints, which seems like a pretty good tradeoff.
What we were glad about is that this product came with a chain as well, whereas many bags you order online actually require you to buy a separate chain from the manufacturing company, which is kind of a rip-off. It was easy to set up just like any heavy bag, and it performed amazingly. We were more used to the Outslayer bags, but we kept this one on as well because some people who used it actually favored it over those. If you are interested in an awesome alternative to the Outslayer heavy bag, which is somewhat softer and has a more traditional design, check out this link to Amazon!
7. Century B.O.B. Body Opponent Bag Freestanding Training Dummy
No punching bag or punching equipment list is complete without the Century B.O.B. Body Opponent Bag Freestanding Training Dummy. Aside from the fact that with the rise of the internet, it has become the centerpiece of some of the funniest videos ever shot, it is actually a really good piece of equipment to train with.
The idea for B.O.B. was to create a freestanding punching bag that resembles a human being, in order to be able to practice precise and realistic strikes to different parts of the body. The creators have managed this task beautifully, creating the iconic B.O.B. freestanding punching bag.
As we have mentioned, this type of bag has an edge over a simple freestanding one, simply because you can practice where you want your hits to land on a hypothetical human being. Aside from this, it is also pretty light to carry around if the base isn’t filled with water or sand, which is great if you happen to be moving your gym or home somewhere else. Assembly is simple, with a flathead screwdriver being the only necessary tool, along with a partner to help set it up. The height can be adjustable, so anyone from children to grown adults can use it.
We have tested it, and we had a lot more fun with this than with any other bag. However, jokes aside, it actually provided a great training experience, since although the 100-pound bags are great for training too, with this one, you actually feel like you are fighting a living, breathing person. Check it out on Amazon if you are interested in purchasing a Body Opponent Bag!
8. Ringside Fitness Reflex Bag
Talking about freestanding, how about mixing up freestanding with the double-end bag’s training dynamic? You get the reflex bag as a result. It is one of the best pieces of equipment you can use to improve your reflexes (hence the name), your striking precision, and your foot- and head-movement at the same time.
The concept is similar to the double-ended bag, except that when this one comes striking back after you hit it, it is going to hit you with a massive strike from an upward direction, down into your face if you didn’t manage to move out of the way. This is the reason it is great for reflex and foot- and head-work training. When hitting it from all the different directions while moving around it, you change the trajectory of the ball as well, creating new paths towards which one should go to avoid getting hit. This engages the legs and also the core to perform steps and to avoid getting hit.
We had a lot of fun with this product since it really is a challenge to keep the bag away from one’s face after the first punch to the bag. The product itself seemed high-quality, which is also proven by Amazon’s Choice sign near the name of the product on Amazon. We filled it with water, which, according to the advertisement, resulted in 125 pounds of base stability, which was already enough to prevent it from falling over. However, had we wanted to weigh it down, even more, filling it with sand would have resulted in the base weighing around 240 pounds, which is more than enough to hold the bag in place. Check it out by clicking on this link to Amazon if you are interested in purchasing a product that will improve your fighting game in many aspects all at once.
9. DMoose Punching Bag
Have you ever seen a professional boxer working out with a punching bag? If so, you know that these athletes take their training seriously. Hitting a punching bag can provide an excellent workout, helping to build strength, speed, and endurance. In addition, punching bags helps to improve coordination and agility. When choosing a punching bag, it is important to consider the size, weight, and material.
So if you want those serious professional punches, DMoose punching bag is the way to go! This high-quality punching bag is made up of durable synthetic leather, which means it will take your power punches for a long time, even if you train on a regular basis. This fail-proof punching bag is a must-have for any boxer or MMA fighter.
The ultimate punching bag is 3 feet tall and comes with heavy-duty nylon straps that can quickly absorb shock and noise. The D-rings are sturdy and robust which ensures that the bag won’t tip over when you’re throwing your hardest punches.
DMoose high-quality punching bag is built to last. It’s made from durable materials that can withstand repeated abuse. You won’t have to replace your punching bag anytime soon if you invest in this quality product. It will wow you with its sturdiness, as it can take your power punches without flinching.
Hitting a punching bag also improves your hand-eye coordination and accuracy. As the saying goes, “practice makes perfect.” We felt more confident in our boxing skills and techniques when we had to put in the time on this punching bag. Be sure to get this perfect punching bag if you want to feel the benefits of increased strength, power, and confidence!
When you have a top-notch training tool, it shows that you’re serious about your craft. Plus, your peers will be impressed with the results you get from using a stupendous punching bag. Investing in a quality product is worth it for any serious boxer or MMA fighter.
Check the bag availability on DMoose website.
