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.