Punching bags are essential for home gyms. Sometimes, you get sick of all the machines and mechanical equipment that you just want to feel the movement of your body. Or sometimes, the stress can get to you and all you want to do is punch something.
Whether you want to train your prowess in martial arts or you want to let out some steam, punching bags can lead you into a healthier and fitter lifestyle. Not only can you develop your muscles all over your body, but you can also train your coordination, rhythm, speed, and overall oneness with your own body.
Punching bags are not only for boxers, or people that have intense workouts. Anyone can benefit from punching bags as it is another form of cardiovascular exercise which will help your overall heart health as well as aid in weight loss.
Although most people that don’t have a house or garage at their disposal is at a loss unless they go gym. However, there are other options – one of those is a standing punching bag. We’ve reviewed some of the best ones below as rated by other consumers.
Best Punching Bags For Apartments Compared and Reviewed
| Image | Name | Brand | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Top | Century Original Wavemaster Freestanding Punching Bag | Century Original | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Outslayer Filled Punching Bag | Outslayer | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Everlast HydroStrike Water Bag | Everlast | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Everlast New Omniflex Freestanding | Everlast | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Protocol Punching Bag | Protocol | Check Price on Amazon |
#1 - Century Original Wavemaster Freestanding Punching Bag
That’s why I’m a fan of standing punching bags, especially if they’re as effective as the Century Original Wavemaster freestanding bag.
This is a great choice, especially if you don’t want to drill holes in your rented apartment, or if you simply want a punching bag you can easily move around.
Not only is it a great choice for landing those punches, but it can also handle your Muay Thai kicks. Its weight when filled (around 250 pounds) is just enough to force you to exert that extra effort.
Its height is also adjustable. In 3 inch increments, you can adjust this from 47 inches to 68 inches high.
You do, however, have to be the one to fill up the base of this punching bag with a medium of your choice, be it sand or water. In my opinion, the manufacturer should have provided this.
Users have found that filling the base with water makes it quite wobbly. If you want to prevent this punching bag from moving around, consider filling it up with sand.
PROS
- Freestanding punching bag great for easy storage
- Adjustable height
- Heavyweight
CONS
- Users have to fill up the base themselves
- Quite wobbly when filled with water
#2 - Outslayer Filled Punching Bag
This is a professional-level heavyweight punching bag weighing 100 pounds. With a glance, you can clearly see its quality; its 10-year warranty solidifies that even further. This is built to last.
Unlike other punching bags that fill their punching bags with sand, Outslayer makes their bags with fabric only. They say this is to prevent shifting weights that other bags have.
Some users had a hard time “breaking in” this punching bag; sometimes punching bags are way too firm for the first few weeks.
Users recommend removing some of the fillings, but I’m sure time will make this bag more comfortable to train with.
PROS
- Professional-level heavyweight punching bag
- Durable
- 10-year warranty
- Fabric filling
CONS
- Might be too firm to use at the beginning
#3 - Everlast HydroStrike Water Bag
That’s because this bag is designed to be filled with water. They call their design “Hydrostrike technology” which intends to absorb the shocks of your punches.
Surprisingly, this teardrop punching bag weighs 100 pounds with around 12 gallons of water, making this a heavy punching bag.
For some users, it might be a bit too heavyweight. Some users are not a fan of how firm this heavy bag can be.
Like most punching bags, it might take a while to break this one in, but you wouldn’t expect a water bag to be firm. Nevertheless, other users like how much force you have to put in to budge this thing.
PROS
- Water bags tend to be more shock-absorbent
- Only water needed, no extra medium required (like sand)
- Heavyweight
CONS
- Might be too firm to use at the beginning
#4 - Everlast New Omniflex Freestanding
You might also like this if you’re looking for a bag with adjustable height. Its Nevatear outer shell is a mix of synthetic leather and webbed vinyl, which makes it ready to take your heavy punches.
They also boast their Omniflex neck, which is quite flexible yet durable. You’ll feel it as you punch that this heavy bag stable with the right amount of give to it.
The base is also quite low, which is great for kicks. Filled with water, this punching bag weighs 130 pounds. You can also choose to fill it with sand!
Filling your bag up is always a hassle, to be honest, and users seem to express the same sentiment. The cushion is also too firm for some users, so beware! I’m sure it will break in after a few weeks.
PROS
- Nevatear outer shell makes this great for heavy hitters
- Adjustable height
- Heavyweight
CONS
- Filling up with water or sand is quite a hassle
#5 - Protocol Punching Bag
Protocol gives you a freestanding punching bag that can be shared by the whole family. They actually offer 3 options: heavy-duty, junior, and standard, giving you different levels of difficulty to choose from.
Remember, though, that this isn’t a heavy bag; its inflatable punching bag is more suitable for faster punches rather than heavy hits. You might also find it hard to use this for kicks, though you can definitely target the bag with the back of your foot.
Its adjustable stand ranges from 48 inches to 58 inches high. You also have to put fillings at the base of this punching bag. You can use sand or water, although sand will be heavier and will keep the base more stable.
This is definitely a punching bag that forces you to moderate your strength and your precision. Since this has a smaller surface area, you’ll be trained to target a specific area.
PROS
- Great for sharing with the whole family
- Adjustable height
- Less expensive
- Trains precision on punches
CONS
- Might be hard to target for kicks
- Not great for heavier punches
My Number One Pick
- MADE IN THE USA!
- Fill Base with Sand or Water
- Round Base for Easy Roll Away
- 7 Height Adjustments from 47 to 68 in 3 Increments
- Weighs Approximately 250 lbs when filled
What To Look Out For When Buying Punching Bags For Apartments
Punching bags seem to be simple purchases, but prices start stacking when it’s of better quality or sold by a bigger brand.
The trick to buying anything, really, is balancing your budget with the quality of the product you buy. Although we all like lower prices, we have to manage our expectations with these products.
I’m here to help you reflect on what your personal preferences are so you can make the most out of the money you’ll be investing in your very own punching bag.
Types of Punching Bags
Punching bags are bags that contain some kind of weight, like water, sand, or fabric fillings. It’s designed for you to practice your punches and kicks on.
The type of punching bag you require depends especially on what kind of training you’re doing. Let’s get into it!
Hanging Heavy Bags
Picture your favorite movie, with the protagonist furiously hitting a punching bag. A dramatic scene, indeed, but the real star is the hanging heavy bag there!
Hanging heavy bags is the archetypical punching bag that you see in mainstream media; cylindrical leather bags hanging from the ceiling.
They are usually very dense (hence, heavy) filled with fabric. They do have different weights, ranging from 70 to 150 pounds. A rule of thumb is to get a heavy bag that is half your weight.
Although you can find this in most gyms and is probably the most flexible kind of punching bag out there in terms of levels of experience and kinds of training, it’s also the most stable. You’ll have to find a good spot in your apartment to drill in a wall mount or a hook.
There are other variations of hanging heavy bags, like the teardrop heavy bag. Shaped like a teardrop, obviously, you’ll be able to do a lot more moves such as uppercuts because of its smaller height.
I really like this kind of heavy bag because the angles at which you can punch and kick can be easily changed.
The wrecking ball heavy bag is similar, except it’s much thicker and heavier, therefore it swings less. This is great for close-distance fighting and more powerful hits instead of speed.
If, however, you don’t want to sacrifice a wall and ceiling to the gods of martial arts, maybe you want to check out other types of punching bags.
Freestanding bags
Freestanding bags are a great choice for those who live in small spaces or who don’t want to dedicate their day to drilling holes into their walls.
Instead, dedicate your day to filling your new punching bag up. Let’s get the bad news out of the way: most freestanding bags will require you to fill up their base with water and sand, which I’ll talk about in a little bit.
That’s a hassle in and of itself, but the good news is that freestanding bags make this worth it because you can easily move this around to store away.
You’ll find, however, that you might not be able to hit this with as much power as hanging heavy bags. If you buy lower quality freestanding bags, they tend to fall easily.
In my experience, though, if you have a good base and choose a good filling medium, then it can act as a true heavy bag.
Speed Bags
If you want to train your speed, coordination, and rhythm, speed bags are the way to go.
This might take a little bit of getting used to, especially if you’ve been training with heavy bags that require you to use your strength. Speed bags, instead, train your arms to hit the exact target at a certain rhythm and speed.
To make things easier, beginners tend to go for wider speed bags for more surface area, making it an easier target.
Using a speed bag doesn’t necessarily mean your workout is easier; you still tend to do footwork while hitting the bag, working different muscles in your body.
Water Bag
Water bags are preferred for their ease in filling. All it takes, really, is water! But because of this, water bags tend to be more shock absorbent. This is great for your joints, which gives you a lot more leeway to hit harder.
Its usual leather exterior tends to make for a firmer hit, though, and users tend to complain about that. You also shouldn’t expect this to break in so much, since this is water and doesn’t tend to change its density (unlike sand that would give you softer spots).
Filling a punching bag
I have to mention what to fill your punching bag with, especially since a lot of the products I mentioned require you to fill in the base or bag with a medium.
What’s the best medium there is? Let’s find out.
Water
Water bags are preferred for their ease in filling. All it takes, really, is water!
But because of this, water bags tend to be more shock absorbent. This is great for your joints, which gives you a lot more leeway to hit harder.
Its usual leather exterior tends to make for a firmer hit, though, and users tend to complain about that. You also shouldn’t expect this to break in so much, since this is water and doesn’t tend to change its density (unlike sand that would give you softer spots).
Sand
If you need a firmer bag, you might want to use finer materials like sand and sawdust.
You should expect, however, that if you hit a certain spot more often than others, sand will tend to move around and make that spot softer.
Fabric
Take old rags and clothes, and stuff them into your punching bag. This will make for a softer punching bag, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be easier.
The punching bag will tend to absorb shocks more if it’s filled with fabric. You can also mix your media, like fabric on the outside and sand on the inside, for a heavier bag but a softer landing.
Height Of Your Punching Bag
Most freestanding heavy bags are adjustable. Hanging bags (like the water bag) can also be adjusted to be lower or higher if you want. But where do you stop, and where should you place the punching bag relative to yourself?
For hanging heavy bags, a great way to estimate this is to align the top of your bag with the top of your head.
For freestanding bags, if you have to adjust the height, make sure you have something to hit aligned with your shoulder height.
Frequently Asked Questions About Punching Bags For Apartment Use
Q: Does a heavier bag mean better results for me?
A: No. Your weight will be what determines how heavy your bag should be. The general recommendation is that your bag should be at most 50% of your body weight. Unnecessary heavier bags do more harm than good.
Q: Can I use a punching bag without hanging it?
A: If you’re living in an apartment where it is restricted to have any kind of installation done, you should opt for a free-standing punching bag. These are hollow punching bags that you can put sand and water in to add weight to it. Alternatively, you can opt to buy a sturdy punching bag stand. You would just need to hang the bag on that stand and do away with any mounting on the ceiling or wall.
Conclusion
Punching bags tend to require a lot of work to install, but I hope this article cleared it all out for you. It can be quite easy, especially if you buy the punching bag perfect for your needs. I definitely consider them one of the home gym essentials.
Do your own research and check the reviews! User experience with the products will tend to help you decide the best punching bag for you. Don’t be afraid to ask your local sports store, too. I’m sure they will readily help you, even as a beginner!
If you’re looking for more advanced ways to train with a punching bag, consider adding weights to your weight with a weighted vest, we’ve done a post on them together with a guide on what to keep an eye out for, check it out!
Good luck punching your way to a new punching bag!
Sources:
https://fightquality.com/2018/04/13/types-of-heavy-bag/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/best-punching-bag#how-to-choose
Marko Rakic is a trail runner and fitness enthusiast from Sydney, Australia. He is the lead writer for The Ultimate Primate and believes the best way to live a happy life is through constantly challenging yourself.