When deciding upon a Punching Bag, it can be so easy to focus on the cost of the bag, rather than the quality. But what determines good quality? It is generally fairly easy to spot a decent bag when it is in front of you; however, with today’s digital technologies and modern marketing, you can’t always be sure that the bag will match your expectations when it arrives on the doorstep. Before listing our favourite punching bags, we’ll weigh in with a handy buying guide that should answer some of the questions you might have about what kind of bag to buy, how much you ought to spend and anything else you need to watch out for. Whether you want to get fit, vent some stress or maintain your striking power for a combat sport, our hard-hitting roundup of the best punching bags is here to help you achieve your goals. Reflex bag: Reflex bags allow you to improve your striking reflexes and accuracy by hitting a small target – such as a hard foam ball – attached to a pole. The randomness and speed of the target’s motion provide the challenge. Children should not use a heavy hanging bag or a hard foam freestanding bag – these are made for adults. To avoid any unnecessary injuries, you should get your child a bag that is designed and marketed specifically for children. The foam in these bags will be softer and therefore they will be safer to use. Inflatable models are also on offer if you want to buy something less expensive to see if your child enjoys punching things in the first place. How much should I spend on a punching bag? Freestanding bags are extremely popular for home fitness setups, primarily because they don’t require you to do any drilling. Instead, you simply place one where you like and fill the empty base with sand or water. That’s a blessing for renters who don’t want to enrage their landlords by leaving holes in the walls or ceiling. And because they aren’t fixed in place, they can be moved around with relative ease. These bags don’t offer as much resistance to strikes as heavy bags, however. Even if a base is filled to the brim it might slide around if you hit it hard enough. Should I buy a hanging bag instead?

One feature that really seems to make this choice stand out is the even distribution of the bag’s weight. Quite often, after excessive use, the filling of a bag sinks to the bottom which creates hard spots and a sagging look. This product, however, seems to have overcome this issue. This should allow you to use this punching bag for years to come, without many problems. The freestanding human target is another modern creation which works in much the same way. For some, it could be beneficial as it allows for training accuracy on what closely resembles the human form. I have found, however, that constant uppercuts and shots to the chin can result in rips and tears, due to it primarily consisting of rubber and plastics. Another consideration to make when selecting a punching bag is whether to go for a freestanding or hanging bag. There are pros and cons to both, as I will outline below. Freestanding Everlast has been a well-known brand in the world of boxing for many years. This 70Ib heavy bag is made from synthetic leather with reinforced webbing to reduce the chance of scuffs and tears. This is especially important as I have found many of the lower priced bags tend to deteriorate, even with limited use. The nylon straps are fixed to the bag and the adjustable chain allows the user to adapt the hanging height to make it an appropriate choice for a person of any height. As the bag should generally be half the weight of the user, this is more designed for those around the 140Ib mark, as it might begin to move too much if a harder hitter attempts to train, but it could still be an appropriate choice if you are training techniques, rather than power. Fairly new to the boxing gym, the freestanding punching bag provides a great alternative to the classic, hanging bag, found in most mma gyms. One immediate benefit of such a bag would be the ability to easily move and store it after use. There is also no need for wall hangings and hooks, which can often take up large areas of space. It would generally contain a weighted base, filled with sand or water, which offers stability and reduces the overall movement of the bag. That being said, I have occasionally found them to be too rigid, not offering the movement of a hanging punching bag which mimics the movements of an opponent more closely.Hitting a heavy bag repeatedly is undoubtedly a great way to stay fit. It can be an awful lot of fun, too, and the best punching bags will see you through years of enjoyable training in your garage, garden or spare room at home. There’s a wider variety of punching bags than simply hanging or freestanding, of course. While you can probably use almost any punching bag to practise the combat sport of your choice, some are better suited than others. Here are some types to look out for. My own view is that the freestanding punching bags are a great alternative if you have a limitation of space, however it does not seem to add anything to your workout that the hanging punching bag cannot. Hanging The base can be filled with either water or sand. As with many other bags, we’d recommend opting for sand, as it’s the heavier option and will do a better job of stopping the bag from sliding (up to 159kg of sand can be put into the base). Century has even given it a snarling confrontational facial expression, reminiscent of a generic movie baddie, to help ease the guilt of constantly laying into him!

READ NEXT: The best badminton racquets to buy Do I need any special equipment to use a punching bag? READ NEXT: The best pull-up bars for your home How to choose the best punching bag for you What’s a freestanding bag? READ NEXT: The best treadmills you can buy The best punching bag to buy 1. Pro Power 4ft Punch Bag: Perfect for beginners (includes gloves) The Wavemaster’s cover is made of vinyl which, as discussed, is a good, strong alternative for leather that will last well. The high density foam filling is durable, whilst cushioning punches well.