Choosing the Best Heavy Bag
I’ve owned more than one heavy bag throughout my life to say the least. Some of the bags were good and lasted a long time, others couldn’t take a punch at all without falling. I’ve had a heavy bag made of water, sand, and even cloth wrapped around a metal pole. So which is the best heavy bag type?
When I was young, I always wanted to fight. And now that I am an amateur fighter, I know how important bag work is. Equally important is choosing the right bag for you. They come in all sizes, materials, shapes, and colors.
Below, I’ll go over a few different kinds of bags so you can decide which type would be best best heavy bag for you. If you’re looking for a workout to do once you purchase the bag, click here.
Free Standing Bags
These are the most common bags you see the casual shopper looking at. They look like a heavy bag, but they stand as opposed to hang. They’re usually short-ish and on a stand that you fill with water or sand.
Personally, I’m not a huge fan of these. There are some exceptions of course, but most seem to flimsy. A strong punch or kick tends to send these things head over heels onto the ground, meaning you gotta pick it up. These bags are probably better for children, teens, or just someone who doesn’t hit that hard.
There are heavier bags that don’t fall over so easy, but those usually cost quite a bit more. These is the best heavy bag type for newcomers or those that do not have a place to hang one from the ceiling.
Standard Heavy bag
Heavy bags are cylindrical bags that hang from the ceiling. These are honestly my first choice for anyone who plans to use their bag seriously. Standard bags provide the best striking experience in my opinion. They tend to swing when you strike, which forces you to move and work angles. I find these to be the best heavy bag choice. They have been used for decades but they still are effective and popular.
Heavy bags hanging from the ceiling do have some pros and cons. For me, the pros outweigh the negatives though. Hanging from the ceiling allows the bag to swing, but not fall. You can drill a heavy bag hard and not worry about it tipping over.
But if you put it in the ceiling incorrectly, you do run the risk of it falling out and taking a chunk with it.
Bag Weight
One important thing to look at while you shop for a bag is it’s weight. Whether you go with a standing or hanging bag, choosing one too light or too heavy is bad news. Too light, and it will fly all over the place when you punch or kick. Too heavy, the bag could hurt your hands and legs.
One rule to go by is to try and select a bag that is half your weight if it’s a hanging bag. Not many bags will be exactly half of most people’s weight, but that’s okay. Just round up or down to as close as you can get it.
If you’re an experienced fighter or just a powerful puncher, you’re gonna want to look into a heavier bag.
Heavy bags also come with many different fillings. Some of these fillings are sand and water, among other things. At the end of the day, most fillings are about the same to me, but each person tends to have a different opinion on these, so you’ll just have to feel what’s right for you. At the end of the day the best heavy bag depends on your use for them, the space you have and whether or not you can make modification to your household.
