Every aspiring martial artist needs a heavy punching bag. It’s an essential piece of boxing gear for punching power and technique. That means that you need to choose the best punching bag to get the most out of your training for years to come. But there are a lot of different brands and models out there. Which one is the best for you?
Fortunately, choosing the right gear is easy when you know what to look for. We’ve reviewed some of the top rated heavy bags, and narrowed it down to a list of our top 5.
Our Top 5 Best Punching Bags
The best performers in our review are Outslayer, Ringside, and Everlast. Here’s more information on choosing the right heavy bag for you, along with a detailed review for each product we chose.
2018 update: After going back to trying out several different heavy punching bags on the market, we’ve updated this article with some new findings and information.
Weight
A good weight of a heavy punching bag is usually half your weight. But the best weight for you depends on your type of training. For strength training and powerful punches, heavier is better. A lighter bag offers a more dynamic workout; it will rebound more, ensuring more movement in your workouts. For MMA, Muay Thai or kickboxing fighters a, bigger, heavier bag is usually better, as kicks pack much more power than punches.
As standard punching bags are usually suspended from the ceiling, extremely heavy bags might be impossible to hang indoors for some fighters. A punching bag stand is a good option if you don’t think that your ceiling could endure the weight.
Filling
The core of the punching bag and it’s most important part. Good filling should remain even and solid, even after thousands of punches – but it should never be too solid. You want something that will give resistance to your punches without feeling like a brick wall. Heavy bags filled with fabric are usually the best – the contents don’t deform so easily after prolonged use.
Stitching
Stitches hold the entire heavy bag together. To prevent the filling from deforming, some brands pack their bags tightly, leaving no space for the insides to move to. This is where stitching comes into play. If the punching bag is of low quality, a powerful impact can cause the filling to put pressure on the weak spots and tear the whole thing apart. If you own a low-quality product – especially if it’s a sand bag (sand isn’t necessarily of lower quality, it just makes a mess) a good way to secure it would be to duct-tape the bottom – the part that gives out the most.
Price
An important factor – but a lot of beginners tend to look at the price first, which can be a mistake. A cheap heavy bag isn’t worth the straps it’s hanging on if it tears or deforms after a week of punching. When looking for martial arts equipment, your biggest concern should always be the price-to-quality ratio.
1. Outslayer MMA 100 lb Heavy Punching Bag
ExpertFighter rating: [usr 5]
Our best choice if you own a gym or just expect your heavy bag to see some mileage. The vinyl nylon cover material is generally more resilient to tears or abrasion than canvas, and the cloth filling is superior to most alternatives, especially to sand. This punching bag comes with 10 years of warranty in case of any damage, except for weather or sharp object damage. Many long-time users we surveyed claim that the filling doesn’t settle or form any hard spots – a common result of prolonged punching in most bags. The price is rather low for a quality piece of boxing gear, which decides it’s number one position in our review.
- Designed and made in the USA
- 10 year warranty in case of any damage (except for damage caused by weather or sharp objects)
- Material handles up to 300lbs
- Quality cloth filling
- Many custom colors available (upon request)
- Comes in a Heavy-Duty Reusable Vinyl Cover
2. Ringside Leather 65 lb Heavy Bag
ExpertFighter rating: [usr 4.7]
We’ve heard a lot about Ringside’s soft fill technology, so we decided to check it out. The 2 inches of soft foam filling under the surface make punching sessions on this bag beautiful. The foam is made for extra protection for joints and knuckles, and is meant to reduce muscle strain after long boxing workouts. According to many satisfied owners, the stitching is impeccable and the whole bag is very sturdy. It’s a very light bag – at 65lbs, it’s not suitable for heavyweights – but the D-ring on the bottom allows for extra weight to be added. The leather covering makes it a quality, but somewhat luxurious option.
- Leather covering
- 2″ soft foam filling under the surface
- D-ring on bottom included for extra weight
- Chain & Swivel included
- Custom colors available (upon request, red and black only)
3. Outslayer Muay Thai 130 lb Heavy Punching Bag
ExpertFighter rating: [usr 4.5]
The big brother to Outslayer’s Boxing & MMA Heavy Punching Bag. Our favourite heavy bag for kickboxing, karate, muay thai or MMA. It’s 130lbs heavy, 6 feet tall, and has 12″ long nylon straps. The durable material can handle more weight than most ceilings – it’s total capacity adds up to 300lbs. As far as overall quality goes, we found it doesn’t fall behind the Outslayer 100lb bag in terms of durability. It’s more resistant to tears and abrasion than most punching bags in it’s price range, and like many other Outslayer products we’ve reviewed, it comes with a 10 year warranty.
- Designed and made in the USA
- 10 year warranty in case of any damage (except for damage caused by weather or sharp objects)
- Material handles up to 300lbs
- Quality cloth filling
- No hard spots, soft spots or lumpiness
- Comes in a Heavy-Duty Reusable Vinyl Cover
4. Ringside Boxing/Muay Thai Heavy Bag
ExpertFighter rating: 4
A great punching bag if you’re a Muay Thai practitioner or practice any martial art that involves kicking. Although we liked Outslayers 130lb heavy bag slightly more, we’d still recommend this if you’re looking for something lighter. The durable powerhide construction seems capable to stand up to prolonged punching sessions, while the filling seems very resistant to deformations over time.
If you’re a heavyweight, powerful kicks may cause this bag to rebound a bit too much – but it’s weight is perfect for smaller fighters.
- Great choice for Muay Thai or just about any sport that requires kicking practice
- Durable powerhide construction
- Good price-to-quality ratio
- Good alternative to the Outslayer Muay Thai 130lb
5. Everlast 70lb MMA Heavy Bag Kit
ExpertFighter rating: [usr 3.7]
This punching bag comes with everything a beginner needs to get started quickly – heavy bag gloves and hand wraps are included, as well as a chain for easy height adjustment. Even with all of the additions, it’s still cheaper than some boxing gloves – not to mention other heavy bags. And this is where it’s problems come from. The lack of quality in some areas is obvious; some users we surveyed have noted that the filling tends to develop lumps. Others say that the materials can’t handle abuse from heavyweights without additional reinforcement. Is this a problem? It’s up to you to decide. Despite all it’s faults, it has many happy owners. We believe it’s the best punching bag for beginners and young amateurs, and a good introduction to martial arts.
- Good for beginners
- Comes with heavy bag gloves & hand wraps
- Sifted sand & natural fibers filling
- Chain for height adjustment included
- Features a bungee cord for greater resistance
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