How do you develop powerful punches (and maybe even get a little ripped in the process)?
You might think it would involve hours lifting weights in the gym or purchasing expensive home workout equipment. But none of that is the key.
The trick is to start incorporating punching bag workouts into your training regime. And you can do that with a simple free-standing punching bag in your own home.
Intrigued? Learn all about how to select the best free standing punching bag for you and check out a few top-rated options here!
Table of Contents
Why Get a Punching Bag?
If you’re a karate practitioner, you might be wondering why the best boxing bag should even be on your radar. After all, you’re not a boxer or kickboxer, you’re a proud karateka.
While boxing and karate might be distinctly different styles, each, at their core, is all about attack and defense. Boxers spend hours in the gym with their punching bags for a reason — if they want to knock out opponents in the ring, they’re going to have to pack a mean punch. Striking an unyielding object activates the muscles required to do that, strengthening them over time.
Still not convinced? Check out our in-depth article on the benefits of punching bag workouts for karateka and a few sample workouts to get started.
Alternatively, check out this 30-minute workout for beginners here.
How to Choose the Best Free Standing Punching Bag?
There are various types of heavy punching bags and they can be divided into two basic categories — hanging or freestanding. Hanging ones are nice because you can choose the exact height you want your punching bag to be.
However, the freestanding ones tend to be the most practical for home gyms. After all, not everyone has a beam in their home or garage that is capable of sustaining the weight of a punching bag.
You also have to consider the added force and vibration of constantly beating on the thing. You don’t want to bring your garage down around your ears!
Of course, you can get wall mount setups, which are nice but add expense. Plus, they can’t be installed in every home. If you rent, imagine your landlord’s face when they see the holes you put in the wall for a punching bag. In fact, you might want to offer it to them for use instead of your face!
Pick the Type of Floor Standing Punching Bag You Want
Freestanding punching bags generally come with a hollow base that you can fill with sand or water. This makes it heavy enough to stay in place when you are beating on it — for the most part. Some also come with a suction cup system that can be used to secure the bag to a floor with a smooth surface, such as hardwood or tile.
Typically a stainless steel pole rises from the base amidst high-impact foam which is covered with some type of faux leather like vinyl or nylon. For this reason, floor punching bags tend to be softer on your hands than hanging heavy bags. The inner material has more give than what is traditionally used in hanging bags.
You still might want to start out with gloves, though, until you get used to the workouts. Many freestanding punching bags are sold in a set with gloves for convenience.
If you want to get really fancy, you might consider buying BOB, or a Body Opponent Bag. This punching bag is shaped to look like the head and torso of a man. The design is supposed to help those training martial arts give a more realistic feel to their workouts. It’s a lot easier to envision how your punches would land on a person with a person-shaped target as opposed to a cylindrical bag!
You can also get a little punching bag ball. These look more like those little teardrop-shaped speed bags that boxers commonly use to improve speed but not power. However, instead of hanging from the ceiling, they come on a stand.
These are great for being small and easy to manage and they are a great option for practicing your technique and getting in some cardio — but that’s about it. If you’re looking to develop strength and power by hitting something with resistance, this is not the type of punching bag for you.
What to Watch for When Choosing Free Standing Punching Bags
The biggest complaint people have about freestanding bags is that they fall over when you hit them too hard. This is why it is extremely important to choose a freestanding bag according to who will be using it. If you’re buying a punching bag for kids, you can get away with a lot lighter (and thus less expensive) option. However, for adults, especially hard-hitting ones, you’ll want to spend the extra money on something heavier.
You also want to make sure that the bag is made with quality materials. In general, the cheaper the bag, the lower the quality. When you’re talking about something that you plan to beat on daily, you need something that can take a punch. That cheap, free-standing punching bag that you saw on Amazon won’t be the steal that you think it is if it rips apart with a few times of use.
Other than the price, how can you know the quality of a bag before buying it? The best way is to read punch bag reviews on the bags you’re considering to see what experiences other people have had with them.
Now, let’s get specific and look at some of the top-rated freestanding punching bags that you might consider.
7 Best Free Standing Punching Bag
1. Century Uppercut Wavemaster Punching Bag
The Century Uppercut Wavemaster punching bag is great for any kind of martial arts workout. Unlike most bags which are straight up and down, the Wavemaster has a slightly conical shape to it with the top being larger than the bottom. This contouring gives you a better angle for kicking.
With 7 height adjustments ranging from 47 inches to 68 inches, this bag is ideal for a household where multiple people might be using the bag. The 26-inch tall bag is 20.5 inches around at the top and tapers down to 13 inches around at the bottom.
The bag itself weighs 28.65 pounds. However, once you fill the 24-inch in diameter sturdy base with sand or water it weighs approximately 270 pounds. The rounded base makes it easy to roll the bag out to use and roll it back in the corner out of the way when you’re done.
Made with high-impact foam and sturdy vinyl, it is durable and comes with a one-year warranty. There are colored target zones on either side of the bag for precision work.
Pros:
- Made by Century, the company that invented the freestanding bag
- Sturdy and durable
- One-year warranty
- Adjustable
Cons:
- Difficult to fill the base
2. Century Wavemaster XXL Freestanding Punching Bag
Want plenty of space to work lower and upper body techniques for people of all sizes? This extra-large punching bag option from Century might be just the ticket.
The low-profile base allows the bag to begin a bit lower than on most other models. It’s perfect when you’re looking for a martial arts kicking bag as well as a good punching bag.
The bag itself stands 69 inches tall and measures 18 around. This allows for a small space footprint, but a sturdy enough bag that it won’t fall over easily. The rounded base makes it easy to roll in and out of storage.
When filled with sand or water, the bag weighs approximately 270 pounds.
Pros:
- Made by Century, the company that invented the freestanding bag
- Extra-long bag allowing for a variety of techniques
- The short base doesn’t get in the way
- Durable and sturdy
Cons:
- Strong kicks can knock it over
3. WGCC Freestanding Punching Bag
Do you plan to be going at your stand-up punching bag with all your considerable might? Then you’re going to need something that can stand up to you.
The bag and base of this WGCC punching bag stand about 71 inches tall and the long bag allows you to work both upper and lower body techniques. High-density EPE foam encircles a stainless steel tube stand and is topped with 2 mm’s of premium PU leather.
If you’re looking for something that won’t move around much when you hit it, this baby will do the trick. The rounded base features 12 strong 80mm suction cups on the bottom. Reviewers mention that these things really grip a smooth surface. You’ll have to be ready with a credit card or something similar to slide into them to break the suction and get them off.
Of course, bags that don’t move aren’t always a good thing as you are more prone to injury. This stand up bag takes care of that problem by using dual TPU absorbers and 4 springs that allow the bag to move and spring back into place without the base moving even an inch.
The base can also be filled with sand and can weigh up to an astonishing 440 when full! Arguably, the best freestanding heavy bag on this list.
Pros:
- Won’t move around when hit
- Shock absorbing punching bag to avoid injury
- Versatile enough for the whole family to use.
Cons:
- Suction cups means it can’t be as easily put away daily
- Can only be used on smooth floors like tile or hardwood
4. Century B.O.B. Dummy Bag
The more serious martial arts trainee will appreciate the realistic simulation of this punching bag. Designed to look like the torso and head of a man, you can use it to practice precise strikes.
The mannequin is designed to be lifesize, measuring about 30 inches tall and 20 inches wide. Keep in mind this is only from the waist up so you can’t practice lower body strikes to the legs. Adjustable height options allow you to move it from 60 inches to 78 inches tall.
The 24-inch round base is fillable with water or sand so it stands sturdy and is suitable even for heavy hitters. Flesh-toned vinyl “skin” is used to add a real feel to training and the bag is soft enough to be used without boxing gloves (or with if you prefer). The inside features a hard plastic cylinder to provide structural support.
Pros:
- Good for precision training
- Resistant and sturdy
- Lifesize and good for realism training
Cons:
- Not good for low body techniques
5. FITVEN Freestanding Punching Bag
Like the WGCC, this FITVEN freestanding punching bag features 12 strong suction cups to firmly root the bag to the floor. This bag, however, weighs considerably less at 205 pounds when filled with sand (recommended), which is nice to be able to move it around. The base is rounded so you can roll it across the floor rather than lifting it.
The bag adjusts to stand between 47 and 73 inches tall, giving a nice range of height for all members of the family. The dual TPU absorbers and 4 springs allow the bag to move when struck, then spring back into place. Those looking for more resistance can remove the spring.
The stainless steel tube is encased in high-density EPE foam and topped with 2mm premium PU leather. This construction allows it to take a heavy punch without breaking down quickly.
Comes with a set of 12 oz high-quality boxing gloves for hand protection.
Pros:
- Though on the lighter side, this bag doesn’t move around
- 360-degree shock and sound absorption
- Durable and sturdy
Cons:
- Suction cups make it less mobile
- Must be used on a smooth floor surface such as tile or hardwood
6. Everlast Power Core Bag
If you’ve done any training with boxing or MMA, you’ve heard of Everlast. It’s always nice to know the brand you’re buying from.
This Power Core bag comes with a sturdy, tall base. When filled with water it weighs approximately 250 pounds, 370 when filled with sand.
The air-foam chamber bag above is adjustable from 54 inches to 65 inches. Features a power transfer ring that both absorbs the impact and helps keep the base from sliding around.
Pros:
- Less expensive than other options
- Adjustable
Cons:
- Potentially cumbersome tall base
- Some reviewers mention that it doesn’t hold water as advertised
7. Dripex Freestanding Punching Bag
We’ll round out our list with one more suction cup option. This floor-standing punch bag from Dripex is rather inexpensive and has thousands of positive reviews on Amazon — promising to say the least.
This free-standing punching bag can be adjusted between 47 and 73 inches, making it a good option for the whole family. The rounded base features 12 strong suction cups to firmly position the freestanding bag on the floor. The base can also be filled with water or sand and the whole thing weighs about 182 pounds when filled.
Like the other similar options, Dripex Freestanding punching bag features dual TPU shock absorbers + 4 springs. The springs can be removed to allow for heavier strength training. Made with EPE foam and 2mm PU leather.
Pros:
- An inexpensive yet durable option
- Small space requirements
- Sturdy and resilient
Cons:
- Requires a smooth floor
Add a Free Standing Punching Bag For Home Gym
Getting a good workout at home is more important than ever these days. A freestanding punching bag is a fantastic piece of equipment to add. Not only do you get a great cardio and strength workout, but also it’s not too expensive and most don’t take up much space.
With options available for everyone from the casual martial artist to serious trainees on their way to a black belt in Karate and beyond, floor punching bags are versatile and practical.
Are you ready to up your Karate prowess? Start banging away on a kickboxing bag and you’ll notice your strength improving in no time. Need to review the basics before you begin? Here’s how to perform perfect Karate punches. Punching a bag with perfect form is essential for avoiding injury.