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Standing punching bag purchasing advice: how to choose the right product
- What You Need to Know
- A stand-up punching bag is suitable for children and adults who are enthusiastic about boxing – regardless of whether they are absolute beginners or advanced boxers.
- You can use a stand-up boxing set in the comfort of your own home and train with it at any time.
- With boxing, athletes train their reactions, coordination, body fitness as well as building muscles. In addition, boxing helps to reduce stress.
- Besides standing and hanging punching bags, there are also boxing dummies and inflatable versions.
- When choosing, pay particular attention to the size and the right filling materials.
Ideal training partners for the home
Due to the Corona-related closures of gyms, more and more sports enthusiasts are interested in setting up a home gym. If you don’t want to give up sporting activities, such as boxing, in times of pandemic, you have two options: Either you move the sport outside and thus expose yourself to the prevailing weather conditions or you train within your own four walls.
Home training also has numerous advantages independent of the corona crisis. Among other things, you don’t have to travel to the gym, which is both convenient and time-saving. In addition, you are not dependent on opening hours. Although you will have to invest a little money to buy the equipment you want, you will save the cost of a gym membership and any travel expenses. If you want to set up your own small boxing gym at home, for example, all you need is a standing punching bag and boxing gloves. If you forego a visit to the gym, the costs will quickly pay for themselves.
The positive effects of boxing training
Boxing and the associated training on the punching bag promotes reaction, coordination, fitness and muscle development because you have to learn a wide variety of punching and kicking techniques for this. The training therefore corresponds to a whole-body workout. If you only want to work out now and then, for example to relieve stress, a standing punching bag – colloquially known as a sandbag – is also a good choice. Absolute beginners should inform themselves about the basics of common punches and kicks.
The following overview illustrates the positive effects of boxing training:
- Reactivity and speed
- Coordination
- Physical fitness and endurance
- Building up muscles throughout the body
- Reduction of stress
- Balance to everyday life
- General well-being after sport
How is a punching bag constructed?
Punching bags are usually cylindrical in shape. On the outside, they are made of artificial leather, leather or nylon, and are usually filled with plastic granulate or textile scraps. Even if the name might misleadingly suggest it, the bags are not usually filled with sand. The hanging versions are attached to a ceiling by means of a suspension device. Stand-up punching bags, on the other hand, stand on the floor, where they are supported by an extremely stable base. Some models are screwed into the floor, others stand freely. A spring frame ensures that punching bags swing freely. Hanging models need a chain instead, which allows them to swing. Stand-up punching bags not only score points with their quick assembly, but also convince in terms of space saving and flexibility.
These types of punching bags are available
Punching bags are available in both hanging and standing versions. They differ first and foremost in the way they are mounted, which brings with it various advantages and disadvantages.
Hanging punching bags
Hanging punching bags are the classic training equipment in boxing. Since they hang from the ceiling on a chain, there is no need for a stand and thus no danger of falling over. The price of hanging punching bags is lower than that of standing punching bags, and the selection is wider. However, a robust ceiling installation is necessary, which is not possible in all flats: many tenants, for example, are not allowed to simply drill into the ceiling. In addition, old buildings sometimes have stucco on the ceiling, which would be damaged by the mounting.
Pro points
- No danger of falling over
- Less expensive
- Large selection
- Quieter when beating
Drawbacks
- Robust mounting on the ceiling required
- May not be permitted in rented flats
- Space-consuming
- Time-consuming repositioning
Stand-up loudspeakers
Stand-up speaker bags score points for their easy installation, space-saving and flexibility. Especially in rented flats, you may not be allowed to drill large holes in the ceiling – this is where floor-standing versions come in handy. They can be positioned flexibly, for example, if they do not have a fixed place at home. However, you should bear in mind that floor-standing speaker bags are somewhat heavier due to the filling of the stand.
Pro points
- Uncomplicated assembly
- No accessories required for installation
- Easy to move
- Flexible
Drawbacks
- Higher total weight
- More expensive
- Somewhat less stable
- Loud when hitting
Who is a boxing dummy suitable for?
A so-called boxing dummy is very similar to a standing punching bag. Instead of a simple bag, however, it features a dummy with the physiognomy of a sparring partner that moves more than an ordinary bag. Advanced boxers or very ambitious beginners can practise more specifically with such a design and direct their punches as well as kicks more precisely to individual parts of the body. Boxing trainers who also offer self-defence courses sometimes use dummies of this kind to recreate the situations as realistically as possible. For hobby boxers, however, normal punching bags are usually sufficient – especially since the dummies are priced significantly higher than conventional stand-up punching bags.
Is an inflatable stand-up punching bag suitable for professional training?
An inflatable punching bag is less suitable for ambitious boxing training. It does not have the stability that is necessary for this. Instead, it is suitable for children who are just trying it out, or for adults who just want to relieve stress from time to time. If you don’t know yet whether boxing is the right sport for you and would like to try it out first, you can also fall back on such a model. After all, an inflatable punching bag is already available at a very low price. However, in terms of durability and sustainability, it comes second.
What is important when buying a standing punching bag?
First of all, find out about the right size, the material and appropriate filling quantities and materials. Especially when it comes to filling materials, there are a number of things you should consider when making a purchase decision.
Size
Before buying a standing punching bag, it is advisable to measure your own body size. You will get the right punching bag size if you add about ten centimetres to your height. This will ensure that the new punching bag is perfectly adapted to your body measurements.
Height adjustment options are especially practical if different people use the punching bag. Telescopic solutions, for example, are suitable for this. From a height of 1.60 metres, a standing punching bag is considered a model for adults. For smaller athletes and children, there are correspondingly smaller versions. Manufacturers also offer models for very tall people that are up to 2.00 metres high. Sizes are usually given in height x diameter in the manufacturer’s specifications.
Outer material
The exterior of punching bags is very rarely made of real leather these days due to cost. Most versions are made of artificial leather, nylon or vinyl. These materials are characterised by their tear resistance and durability. Other materials are not recommended.
Filling weight of the punching bag
The weight of the punching bag should be around 60 kilograms. For very strong people, however, it may make sense to add a few kilograms. The weight always depends on the size of the punching bag: the bigger the punching bag, the heavier it should be.
Filling weight of the stand
It is also advisable to plan for a filling weight of at least 60 kilograms for the stand. If it is a larger punching bag, users should consider a filling weight of 100 or even 150 kilograms. It is important that the punching bag remains firmly on the floor during training and does not start to slide back and forth. Also note that you have to fill the stand yourself.
If the punching bag slips
The size fits, the filling weight is sufficient, but the bag still slides back and forth? If the floor is slippery, such as laminate or tiles, anti-slip mats can help.
Material filling for the bag
Various materials are suitable for filling the punching bag, but not all of them are perfect. In principle, everything is possible, from scraps of fabric to foam or a combination of both to plastic granulate, corn and sawdust. Sand is less suitable as a filling material because, firstly, it becomes very heavy in the mass, which leads to an unnecessarily high dead weight of the bag, and secondly, it is so hard that the blows and kicks against the bag would put too much strain on the joints.
Materials such as maize, rice or sawdust are also not advisable – there are similar problems here as with sand. They are too heavy, and food also draws in moisture, which means there is a risk of mould in the long term. So you should fill the bag with textile scraps. The material density is pleasant, the weight is not too heavy and it is relatively easy to procure. If you can spare some old textile scraps from your wardrobe for this purpose, there is not even any additional cost.
An integrated zip is ideal if you want to change the material in between – for example, when children are training with you. For a very soft filling, foam scraps are suitable; fabric scraps in combination with foam also work. For a soft inner wall in the bag, users pad the edge with foam and fill the rest of the bag with fabric scraps.
Furthermore, manufacturers offer plastic, rubber or cork granules specially made for filling punching bags. These materials cost extra, but offer a particularly joint-friendly workout because they are elastic and have a low density.
Price range
The average price for standing punching bags is between 180 and 200 euros, but those interested can also find one for around 100 euros. Particularly high-quality, but more expensive models cost up to 500 euros. So-called boxing dummies are also in this price category. Inflatable punching bags cost only 20 to 30 euros. However, they are less suitable for ambitious sports training.
Instructions for filling and safety
To ensure that boxing beginners also get their money’s worth, here is some helpful information. As with all sports, boxing is also about your own health. Beginners should start with light punches and kicks. Do short workouts and increase slowly. A warm-up programme is also highly recommended. People who have had little or no prior exposure to boxing ideally start with a guided video to learn about the techniques.
What do I fill the foot with for weighting?
Sand, pebbles or water are suitable for filling the foot, depending on where you are training. Water, for example, is less suitable for use in homes with sensitive wooden floors. However, it has the advantage that it does not have to be procured first. Many boxers use sand or small pebbles as an alternative, which can best be filled into the foot with the help of a funnel. Especially with water, this approach is helpful to avoid spillage. It is also possible to moisten the sand. Since sand is more stable than water, you will usually need a little less of it than for a water filling. Plan on a minimum of 60 kilograms for the filling.
If you plan to transport the punching bag, it is advisable to remove the material beforehand. Simply turn the base upside down. This way, the water will flow out or the sand will trickle out.
Should I wear safety equipment such as boxing gloves and a mouth guard?
Boxing gloves and bandages are part of the basic equipment of boxing athletes. The equipment is important for beginners as well as for advanced boxers in order to protect the hands and wrists during punches. It also prevents injuries and enables extensive training sessions. A mouthguard is only recommended if you are training with another person. If you are initially only practising on the punching bag, a mouthguard is not absolutely necessary. However, please note that a rebounding standing punching bag can also cause tooth damage.
