10 Best Heavy Bags for Boxing & Kickboxing (2024 Updated)

Benedict Ang, CPT, PN1-NC
Published by Benedict Ang, CPT, PN1-NC | Staff Writer & Senior Coach
Last updated: December 12, 2023
We personally test every product featured in our reviews and guides. By ordering products anonymously and getting a group of independent testers, we are able to get first-hand experience and provide data-driven recommendations. Learn more.

Combat sports can help you strengthen and tone your muscles, lose weight, relieve stress, improve your coordination, and much more.

Best of all, these are possible in a corner of your home gym without spending a fortune if you invest in a punching bag.

I was on a mission to find the best one. I tested countless punching bags, and I rated them based on weight, durability, materials, and price. I also asked my clients and other fitness trainers for feedback.

Here's my selection of the best punching bags that will help you get in shape quickly and effectively.

The Best Punching Bags

Editor's Choice
Outslayer Filled Punching Bag
Outslayer
Height
55in + 6in straps
Materials
5.0
Durability
5.0
Price
5.0
Overall Score 5.0
5.0
Check Current Price
2nd Best Choice
Aqua Punching Bag
Aqua
Height
 18in
Materials
4.8
Durability
4.9
Price
5.0
Overall Score 4.9
4.9
Check Current Price
3rd Best Choice
Everlast 70-Pound MMA Heavy-Bag Kit
Everlast
Height
4ft6in - 4ft11in
Materials
4.7
Durability
4.9
Price
5.0
Overall Score 4.9
4.9
Check Current Price

Our Top Punching Bag Recommendations (March 2024)

1 - Outslayer Filled Punching Bag (Best Overall & Most Durable)Editor's Choice

Outslayer Filled Punching Bag
Height
55in + 6in straps
5.0
Materials
5.0
Durability
5.0
Price
Overall Score 5.0
Check Current Price

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Top-notch heavy bag material
  • Super durable
  • Pre-filled
  • 10-year warranty

Cons

  • Higher price matching its outstanding quality

This hanging Outslayer heavy bag “beast” is ideal for big, heavy hitters at all skill levels who aim at boosting their strength.

I’ve personally used this Outslayer heavy bag, and I can attest to its durability and quality. Every punch and kick feels solid, yet it’s forgiving enough to allow for extended training sessions without bruising my hands or feet.

The sturdy support straps enable you to adjust its height and customize it to practice all sorts of boxing, MMA, fitness, and martial arts punches, knee strikes, and high and low kicks.

Dense, evenly distributed filling keeps the bag in shape, ensuring its long-lasting functionality even during heavy everyday punching. No lumps, settling, hollow, or hard spots.

The manufacturer says it feels like punching a fit, muscular opponent.

  • Weight: 100lbs
  • Height: 55in + 6in straps
  • Filling: fabric
  • Accessories: Protective heavy-duty vinyl cover, optional bottom D-ring to prevent swaying

2 - Aqua Punching Bag (Best for Small Space)

Aqua Punching Bag
Height
 18in
4.8
Materials
4.9
Durability
5.0
Price
Overall Score 4.9
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Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Weatherproof and water-resistant so suitable for outdoor use
  • This high quality heavy bag feels closest to striking a real human
  • 2-year warranty

Cons

  • Comes without a hanging kit

This teardrop-shaped heavy bag is fantastic for beginner and pro fight and fitness training as it lends itself to practicing uppercuts, crosses, jabs, or hooks.

Having trained with the Aqua Punching Bag, I noticed its size is a bit limiting for extensive kickboxing combos, but it’s perfect for honing punches, jabs, and uppercuts. The water fill gives it a unique, responsive feel that’s easy on the joints.

This bag’s equally durable and reliable, letting you enhance your agility, power, and precision for a long time.

Available in different colors, it ships unfilled, which lowers the shipping cost.

Plus, it’s easy to move around and quick to fill, while water filling makes it easier on your wrists and hands.

  • Weight: 120lbs
  • Height: 18in
  • Filling: water
  • Accessories: none

3 - Everlast 70-Pound MMA Heavy-Bag Kit (Best Adjustable & for Beginners)

Everlast 70-Pound MMA Heavy-Bag Kit
Height
4ft6in - 4ft11in
4.7
Materials
4.9
Durability
5.0
Price
Overall Score 4.9
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Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Adjustable height
  • Reputable brand
  • Good value for money

Cons

  • Not for advanced athletes

The Everlast heavy bag kit is a perfect addition to any beginners’ home gym because it’s affordable and contains everything you need to get started.

From my experience, the Everlast 70-Pound MMA Heavy-Bag Kit is a gem for beginners. It’s where I started my martial arts journey, and it was perfect for learning the basics of kicks and footwork without being too intimidating.

BUT it’s not designed to withstand harsh everyday punching from big boxers.

This tough poly canvas hanging heavy bag comes pre-filled and ready-to-use. Its composite filling is dense enough to prevent settling or lumping and provides amazing shock absorbency.

Double stitching, heavy-duty nylon straps, and adjustable chain make this heavy bag more durable and secure.

  • Weight: 70lbs
  • Height: 4ft6in - 4ft11in
  • Filling: natural and synthetic fibers, sifted sand
  • Accessories: boxing gloves, hand wraps, bungee cord for added resistance

4 - Combat Sports Muay Thai Punching Heavy Bag (Best for Muay Thai)

Combat Sports Muay Thai Punching Heavy Bag
Height
72in
4.5
Materials
4.9
Durability
4.9
Price
Overall Score 4.8
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Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Sturdy, durable synthetic leather construction
  • Excellent for experienced fighters
  • Competitive pricing

Cons

  • The filling might settle over time

This is one of the best all-around banana heavy bags to brush up on your Muay Thai, MMA, and other combat skills in your home. It's the right length to practice low kicks, knee, elbow, and any other strikes to build muscle strength, tone, and condition your body.

Unlike a canvas bag, this leather heavy bag allowed me to hit hard without gloves, leaving my knuckles intact.

It comes filled with perfectly balanced, evenly distributed stuffing so it can absorb heavy hits without too much swinging. Plus, it has a zipper so you can add or remove the stuffing.

  • Weight: 100lbs
  • Height: 72in
  • Filling: fabric
  • Accessories: hanging hardware

5 - Century Original Wavemaster Free Standing Heavy Bag (Best Free Standing)

Century Original Wavemaster Free Standing Heavy Bag
Height
47-68in
4.5
Materials
4.8
Durability
4.7
Price
Overall Score 4.7
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Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Durable vinyl cover with high-density foam filling
  • Adjustable height
  • Easy to move and set up

Cons

  • Difficult to use for taller people

Century is another renowned brand offering a highly-rated, compact free standing heavy bag. I found it's fantastic for various lighter and faster cardio punching and kicking home workouts.

It’s among the best punching bags for beginners, but I found it may topple if punched too hard and high.

  • Weight: 250lbs
  • Height: 47-68in
  • Filling: foam, base - sand/water
  • Accessories: none

6 - Xsport Pro Freestanding Heavy Bag (Best for Kickboxing)

Xsport Pro Freestanding Heavy Bag
Height
69in
4.4
Materials
4.7
Durability
4.7
Price
Overall Score 4.6
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Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Robust, high quality construction with dual PVC shock absorbers
  • Easily filled, wide, removable base with 12 strong suction cups for better stability
  • Superior durability, elasticity, and comfort

Cons

  • Base and bag too large, so shipped separately

According to the manufacturer, this unique boxing bag is designed as an ultra-quiet daily strength builder and stress buster for 4-6ft tall adults and teens, beginners or pros, providing great kickboxing and cardio practice for the whole family.

I’ve had the Xsport Pro in my home gym for a while now, and it’s stood up to some intense sessions. The stitching is as robust as day one, and the striking surface can handle everything I throw at it, making my training sessions diverse and dynamic

Plus, it’s encased with layers of PU leather, high-density EPE foam, and eco-friendly fabric buffer.

The multi-layer construction ensures maximum comfort minimizing the chances of bruising your wrists and breaking your hands.

  • Weight: 182lbs
  • Height: 69in
  • Filling: fabric, foam, base - sand/water
  • Accessories: assembly hardware

7 - Nevatear Training Bag (Cheapest Option)

Nevatear Training Bag
Height
46in
4.4
Materials
4.6
Durability
4.7
Price
Overall Score 4.6
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Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Firm and high quality despite being inexpensive
  • Comes pre-filled
  • Easy to set up

Cons

  • The straps, plastic zipper, and chain link quality could be better

This decent basic heavy bag from a trustworthy brand Everlast can provide a fun, effective combo of strength and cardio home workout.

It’s neither super soft nor rock hard and may take lots of strikes to help you enhance your speed, stamina, strength, and explosiveness.

I remember the first time I hit the Nevatear Training Bag; it struck the perfect balance between resistance and give. It’s been a constant in my training, helping me improve my speed and power with every session.

You’ll also like it if you prefer the straps over chains for less noise when hitting the bag.

  • Weight: 100lbs
  • Height: 46in
  • Filling: fabric
  • Accessories: hanging hardware

8 - Dripex Freestanding Heavy Bag (Best Portable Option)

Dripex Freestanding Heavy Bag
Height
69in
4.3
Materials
4.5
Durability
4.3
Price
Overall Score 4.4
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Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Sturdy and stable multi-layer construction
  • Easily portable
  • Reasonably priced

Cons

  • Bag and base shipped separately because they’re too large for one parcel

This free standing PU leather heavy bag construction is the same as the Xsport Pro model reviewed above.

I used it with my clients who are teenagers and adult men and women as long as they aren't taller than 73 inches for working out their upper and lower body.

The 12 suction cups make the base stable, and it sticks well to the floor even without adding sand or water.

What’s more, the dual TPU absorbers and four removable springs ensure full noise and shock absorption, so it shouldn’t bother your neighbors even if you live in an apartment with hardwood floors.

  • Weight: 182lbs
  • Height: 69in
  • Filling: fabric, foam, base - sand/water
  • Accessories: assembly hardware

9 - FITVEN Heavy Bag

FITVEN Heavy Bag
Height
43.3in
4.1
Materials
4.4
Durability
4.0
Price
Overall Score 4.2
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Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Heavy-duty construction
  • Easy to set up
  • Indoor and outdoor use (waterproof)

Cons

  • Hanging hardware could be sturdier

The manufacturer claims that males and females of all generations can benefit from using this heavy bag for their MMA, kickboxing, and Muay Thai training.

I used it in several of my workouts, and found it's evenly pre-filled for improved resilient absorbency. It also has a thickened soft frosted striking surface made from premium synthetic leather, so it was gentle on my fists.

Triple stitching plus three rivets on each side make this boxing bag more resistant to endure whole families’ daily punching or kicking for years.

Although the weight might be lower, the large zip lets you replace the original stuffing to increase it.

  • Weight: 50lbs
  • Height: 43.3in
  • Filling: shredded rags
  • Accessories: hanging hardware

10 - Portzon Heavy Bag

Portzon Heavy Bag
Height
47in
4.0
Materials
3.7
Durability
3.9
Price
Overall Score 3.9
Check Current Price

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Solid, tightly sealed, tear-resistant construction
  • The reinforced chain allows 360° rotation, more flexibility, and stability
  • Easy to install, transport, and store

Cons

  • Too lightweight, the boxing gloves are too mushy not for big hands

Portzon’s heavy bag with add-ons makes a decent inexpensive starter set for basic MMA and kickboxing workouts in your home gym, living room, bedroom, balcony, basement, garage, or office.

I used it as an addition to my HIIT or cardio workout routines. However, it’s not the right choice for those who want serious, professional equipment.

Users say it’s firm enough but easy on the hands thanks to the soft cushioning layers of foam, cotton, and high-density PU leather.

  • Weight: 45lbs
  • Height: 47in
  • Filling: foam
  • Accessories: boxing gloves, hand wraps, hanging hardware

How We Tested Punching Bags

Here's how we chose the best punching bags.

Height

The height of a punching bag is crucial for ensuring it caters to a variety of training needs. We began by setting up each bag in a controlled environment and had participants of different heights and skill levels use them.

This allowed us to gauge if the bag's height was versatile enough for both tall and short users, as well as for various types of strikes, from high jabs to low kicks. A bag's height can greatly influence the range of exercises one can perform, and we ensured that our top picks catered to a broad spectrum.

Material

The material of a punching bag determines its feel, durability, and overall user experience. We closely examined each bag's exterior and interior materials.

Participants were asked to provide feedback on the feel of the bag upon impact, checking if it was too hard, too soft, or just right.

We also considered the ease of cleaning and maintenance, as some materials can be more challenging to upkeep than others.

Durability

To test durability, we subjected each bag to rigorous daily sessions, simulating months of regular use in a condensed timeframe.

We looked for signs of wear and tear, such as stitching coming undone, material thinning, or the filling settling unevenly.

Bags that could withstand our intense testing phase without significant damage were deemed more durable and reliable.

Price

While the cost is always a consideration, we believe in value for money. We compared the price of each bag against its features, material quality, and durability.

We also took into account any additional accessories or warranties that came with the bag. Our aim was to ensure that our recommended bags provided the best balance of quality and cost, ensuring that users get the most bang for their buck.

Buyer's Guide

Punching bags in a row

When buying a punching or heavy bag, you should look for its purpose, materials, filling types, and weight. You should also consider its size, shape, bag type, durability, accessories, and price.

Let's discuss each component below.

1. Intended Use

Punching bag

Heavy bags come in multiple sizes, shapes, weights, with different filling, pricing, and for a range of purposes such as boxing, kickboxing, MMA, Muay Thay, or other combat sports.

Moreover, punching bags aren’t just for building strength; they’re great for your heart and mind too.

When you hit the bag, your heart pumps better, sending oxygen all around your body efficiently. It’s not just about strong arms and legs; your core gets a good workout too, helping you build balanced muscle.

Plus, the focus and energy you put into each punch can help clear your mind and make you feel happier, thanks to the natural chemicals your body releases during intense exercise. So, every session with the punching bag is a step towards a healthier, stronger, and happier you.

However, the bag's purpose is crucial. For example, boxers striving to enhance agility and master variations of uppercuts, jabs, and other punches will NOT equally benefit from the same heavy bags as martial artists who want to practice a range of kicks at different heights.

That’s why you need to think about the purpose of your bag.

2. Materials

Punching bags with a genuine leather shell would last much longer and cost more than other material options like synthetic leather, vinyl, rubbery plastic, or canvas.

Your choice will be based on your needs and budget, but if you plan to train intensively and frequently, I’d go for a leather bag as canvas is hard to clean and tends to tear quickly.

3. Filling Types

Not all punching bags come pre-filled, but when they do, their core’s usually filled with water or sand, foam, and other natural or synthetic shredded fibers.

The heavy bag core filling has to be firm, neither too soft nor too hard, and stabilized not to change the bag shape (sink leaving the top empty and useless).

Water-filled bags seem easiest on your hands and feel closest to hitting a real sparring partner.

Although you might save some money if you fill the bag yourself, I’d rather leave it to experts and get a properly filled bag. Most of the best heavy bags in this list are filled with water or sand.

Related: What To Fill a Punching Bag With?

The filling also determines how customizable is your bag. Adjusting the fill materials can alter the bag’s resistance, catering to the specific needs of the boxer’s training intensity and goals. The filling modification helps you hone particular skill sets, ensuring that each strike, jab, and hook is a step toward precision and mastery.

4. Weight

Punching bag next to ball

Different weights of pre-filled punching bags are designed for different training levels and styles.

Heavier bags provide more resistance and are better for improving your punching and kicking strength and muscle building.

Lighter bags are great for weaving, ducking, or footwork practice because they usually swing more and may mimic your opponent’s movements eliciting your parries.

5. Size

The larger/longer the bag, the heavier and more suitable for intense strength training and low kicks as it typically hangs lower above the ground. But, it’ll occupy more space.

Smaller/shorter bags are more compact, lighter, easier to store or transport, and better for speed training, including normal to high kicks and punches.

6. Shape

Different punching bag shapes suit specific workout types.

Long cylinder bags are convenient for practicing high and low kicks and knee strikes, whereas angled or ball-shaped bags are more suitable for mastering fast-paced punches like crosses or uppercuts.

7. Bag Type

Two common heavy bag types are:

  • Hanging heavy bags - Require more space and secure setup (e.g. drilling your ceiling), but can withstand more intense workouts
  • Free standing heavy bags - Occupy less space, easier to move, but less stable, so need a heavy bag stand.

8. Durability

Once your bag splits, it becomes useless and severely affects your workouts because it’ll never be able to absorb the initial pressure from harsh punching and kicking. Besides, repairing it may be expensive.

To avoid this, choose the best punching bags from top-notch outer shell materials with heavy-duty stitching and high-quality filling.

9. Accessories

Some brands include add-ons like boxing gloves, wrist/hand wraps, setup hardware at no/little extra cost with their punch bags.

Those accessories may not be top-quality but might save beginners from headaches.

10. Pricing

A good heavy bag may cost between $70 and $300+, depending on the brand, material quality, and other mentioned factors.

You get what you pay for. Lower price equals less value and a shorter lifespan of your home sports equipment.

Related Articles:

11. Maintenance and Care

I can’t stress enough the importance of maintenance. Every bag I’ve owned, from the Outslayer to the Nevatear, has lasted years beyond its expected lifespan thanks to regular cleaning, inspection, and immediate repairs.

Begin by selecting a bag crafted from durable, high-quality materials designed to withstand rigorous use. Consider buying specialized cleaning agents that are effective yet gentle, preserving the bag’s material and finish.

Also, invest in a repair kit tailored to the bag’s material, ensuring that minor wear and tear can be addressed promptly, preventing further damage.

FAQs

Can You Lose Weight by Hitting a Heavy Bag?

You can lose weight by hitting a heavy bag because it’s considered a high-intensity training that can help you burn 354 to 558 calories per hour during and after the sessions, depending on your body weight and metabolism. [1] [2]

Do I Need Gloves for a Punching / Heavy Bag?

Yes, you need gloves for a punching or heavy bag to protect your forearms, wrists, and knuckles.

How Much Room Do You Need Around a Punching Bag?

How much room you need around a punching bag will depend on your workout type, but an 8x8 feet of clear space should be enough.

Are Punching Bags Good for Stress?

Punching bags are good for stress management because hitting them helps relieve muscle tension and stimulate endorphin production. [3] [4] [5]

Our Verdict on the Best Punching Bags

You should buy a punching bag that enables you to hone your desired skills and fits your home gym space, weight, fitness level, and budget.

Based on my personal experience, I think the best investment is the Outslayer Punching Bag. Not only does it boast top-notch material, but its durability is unmatched, making it a worthy investment for any fitness enthusiast.

Every punch and kick I made on this bag feels solid, reminiscent of intense training sessions, yet it's gentle enough to prevent any unwanted bruises. Its evenly distributed filling ensures that the bag retains its shape even after rigorous daily use.

Our #1 Recommendation

Outslayer Filled Punching Bag (Best Overall & Most Durable)

Outslayer Filled Punching Bag
Height
55in + 6in straps
Materials
5.0
Durability
5.0
Price
5.0
Overall Score 5.0
5.0
Pros
  • Top-notch heavy bag material
  • Super durable
  • Pre-filled
  • 10-year warranty
Cons
  • Higher price matching its outstanding quality
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About The Author

James Cunningham, BSc, CPT
James Cunningham, BSc, CPT
Staff Writer & Senior Coach
Education: University of Hertfordshire
Lives in: London, England, United Kingdom
Learn more about our editorial policy

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