Best Free Standing Punching Bag Overall: Century Original Wavemaster Free Standing Heavy Punching Bag
Best Budget Free Standing Punching Bag: Dripex Freestanding Punching Bag
Table of Contents
1. The Best Free Standing Punching Bag
Best Overall: Century Original Wavemaster Free Standing Heavy Punching Bag
Best Budget Option: Dripex Free Standing Punching Bag
FITVEN Free Standing Punching Bag
RDX Free Standing Punching Bag
RORALA Free Standing Punching Bag
GIKPAL Free Standing Punching Bag
2. Free standing Punching Bags vs. Hanging Punching Bags
3. Things to Note When Buying a Free Standing Punching Bag
3.1. Size and Weight
3.2. Base
3.3. Materials
3.4. Price
1. The Best Free Standing Punching Bags
Best Overall: Century Original Wavemaster Free Standing Heavy Punching Bag
Weighing at 250 lbs, the Century Original Wavemaster Free Standing Heavy Punching Bag is extremely stable. Once you fill the base properly, it won’t move around no matter how intensive your workout is.
It’s easy to fill, and it has an adjustable height ranging from 47 to 68 inches. Whatever your height is, you can find a level that’s comfortable for you. The adjustable height also makes it easier to work on body shots and body kicks.
The only con is that it lacks sufficient padding, so you’ll need some good bag gloves if you plan on having long workouts with it.
Overall, the Century Wavemaster is a really high-quality free standing punching bag at a very reasonable price point. So if you’ve got the budget, I’d definitely recommend it!
And if you need any more convincing, you can read my full review for it here!
Pros:
- Great quality and durability
- Adjustable height
- Easy to fill
- Great value for money
- Easy to assemble
Cons:
- Not the best padding. You’ll definitely need to use bag gloves for it
Best Budget Option: Dripex Free Standing Punching Bag
Dripex have always offered stellar gear. Their Free Standing Punching Bag is no exception. The first thing you’ll notice about it are the suction cups at the base. This means that if you have concrete or laminate floors, you don’t need to worry about the bag sliding around, as the suction cups will keep it firmly in place. It’s got a shock absorption system to keep it even more stable. And if you’re concerned about noise, the springs above the base help with sound reduction during use.
It’s also very affordable, making it perfect if you’re on a tighter budget. In terms of cons, the biggest one is that – even though it’s more stable than your average free standing bag – it’s still not as stable as something like Century Original Wavemaster Free Standing Heavy Punching Bag. This is because the Dripex has a higher center of mass. So if you pack a strong punch, and plan on having very intense workouts with it, then this might not be the best choice for you.
But if you’re a beginner, or just want a more affordable free standing punching bag, then the Dripex Free Standing Punching Bag is a great choice!
Pros:
- Sturdy with strong suction cups and springs
- Easy Assembly
- Compact enough so that it won’t take up much space
- Excellent quality for an affordable price
Cons:
- High center of mass – might fall over if you pack a strong punch
- The hole for filling the base is on the small side. Be careful when filling it.
FITVEN Free Standing Punching Bag
The FITVEN Free Standing Punching Bag comes with some very decent boxing gloves. It weighs 205 pounds, and has 12 suction cups to hold it in place. This makes it very stable. So even if you hit very hard, it’s going to stay put and won’t fall over.
It’s nearly 6 feet in height, so you can comfortably practice all kinds of kicks. So it’s a great choice for Muay Thai or kickboxing.
In terms of downsides, the bag is a little thin. This isn’t a problem for more advanced fighters, since it gives them more of a challenge trying to strike it. But if you’re a beginner, you may struggle while lining up your shots.
Another problem is that some users found that the bag broke after more intensive workouts.
Still, many more were very satisfied with it. So, if you’re looking for a good free standing punching bag, you can’t go wrong with the FITVEN.
Pros:
- Easy to set up and install
- Good quality and long-lasting
- Made of sturdy materials
- Very stable base
Cons:
- The size of the punching surface is small
- Some users found the punching bag broke after continual use
- The area for putting sand into is a bit small
RDX Free Standing Punching Bag
This RDX Free Standing Punching Bag is made of durable synthetic leather and has dense foam padding. This means that you won’t need high-quality bag gloves when using it, because the padding is soft enough to not hurt your hands. You can even use the bag gloves that come with it. Even though they don’t have the thickest padding, the bag is soft enough that it isn’t a problem.
For more information, check out my detailed review of it here.
Pros:
- Very good padding. You won’t need expensive bag gloves for it
- Great value for money
Cons:
- Some customers complained about the suction cups on the base coming off
- Some have complained about the base breaking after a month of use
RORALA Free Standing Punching Bag
The RORALA Free Standing Punching Bag is an excellent choice for adults and teenagers. This punching bag stands at 5 feet and 9 inches in height. It has a shock power distribution system and 12 strong suction cups to keep it rigid when kickboxing.
It is built using high-quality stainless steel tubing, PU leather, and dense foam. The free standing punching bag incorporates multi-layer construction. It comes in two boxes during delivery. This punching bag is also manufactured for easy relocation if you need to move the punching bag to another room.
Pros:
- High-quality materials
- Affordable price for the value
- Well-made and easy to use
- Fun to use when exercising
Cons:
- A bit hard to assemble
- Some users complained about the suction cups falling off
GIKPAL Free Standing Punching Bag
As you look for a superior punching bag, you can’t pass by the GIKPAL Free Standing Punching Bag. This free standing bag is 5 feet and 7 inches in height. It is perfect for teens and adults. If your son is into boxing, consider buying this punching bag for his 16th birthday.
This punching bag is safe for kickboxing since it has a shock-absorbing system in place. It even has a noise absorption rubber to ensure your workout doesn’t disturb the rest of your family.
Pros:
- Sturdy base
- Excellent height
- Stays in place and doesn’t move when boxing
Cons:
- The punching bag may not be large enough for some
- Some find it flimsy, especially after several months of use
- Too heavy when you need to move it
2. Free standing Punching Bags vs. Hanging Punching Bags
Hanging bags are usually heavier, and can give you a good amount of resistance when you punch and kick. They also can’t fall over. Which is something that can happen with free standing bags (especially if they’re of bad quality or not filled properly).
Another advantage of hanging bags is that they’re easier to move around and transport. They’re much easier to handle if you want to move them around your gym. If you move houses a lot, it’s also easy to handle – you just empty the bag, and you can transport it no problem.
That being said, free standing punching bags have their advantages, too. For one, setting them up is extremely easy. You just fill in the base and bag, and you’re ready to go! No need for drilling your ceiling or annoying DIY.
Another advantage of free standing bags is that they better resemble a human body shape. This can make for more realistic training by helping you improve your accuracy in targeting the jawline and temples, which are knockout punches. This is even easier if you use a free standing punching bag like the B.O.B.
3. What to Note When Buying a Free Standing Punching Bag
With free standing boxing bags, the first thing you should do is consider your flooring. Even though the base of a free stander is usually filled with sand or water so it doesn’t move around, that’s still not a guarantee for stability.
So If you have smooth floors (e.g. laminate), it’s a good idea to put a rubber mat under your free standing punching bag, so that it doesn’t move around too much. You should use a mat even if you have some sort of carpet, because as that heavy bag moves around – even if only slightly – it could damage your carpet.
Related: What Weight Punching Bag Should I Get?
3.1. Size and Weight
The main decision regarding size is whether to get a long or short punching bag.
Short bags have the advantage of being lighter and more compact. So, if you like to put your bag away after training, getting a shorter punching bag is a good idea. Being lighter, short punching bags are also a good choice for beginners. Even if your form is bad, hitting the bag wrong is less likely to lead to an injury.
But short punching bags have some disadvantages. For one, they don’t allow for training low kicks. And if the bag is particularly short, landing mid-height kicks could also be difficult.
Even if you’re a pure boxer, and don’t train kicks, after a certain point you’ll want to train hitting something that gives you more resistance. And there is only so much resistance a light punching bag can give you.
This is where the longer punching bags come in. Not only can you train kicks on them, but you need much more power to get them moving. And you can only do that with proper form and technique.
Heavier bags also require you to have more stamina and endurance, since you need more power to get them moving. But if you’re a beginner, you need to be careful when using a heavier punching bag. If you hit it improperly, you could end up hurting yourself.
A good rule of thumb is to get a punching bag which is half your weight. Depending on your skill level, you could get a heavier or lighter one. If you’re a beginner, I’d suggest starting out with a lighter bag, and moving up from there.
3.2. Base
If you don’t want your free standing bag to constantly fall over, you need to make sure it has a heavy base. There are two types of bases:
- Base with water. The main advantage to a base filled with water is convenience. It’s easy to fill and empty. This means that if you move the bag often, you can just pour the water out, and not have to lug around a huge, heavy punching bag. The only issue you could have is if the screw cap gets damaged, and the bag gets knocked over – then you’ll have water leaking all over your gym
- Base with rocks. Rocks avoid the main disadvantage of water – they’re big, and they won’t leak out if the bag gets knocked over. But – compared to water – they’re hard to load in and out of the base. Using smaller gravel can somewhat make up for this disadvantage
- Base with sand. Sand combines some of the pros and cons of water and rocks. Like water, it’s easy to load into the base. And like rocks, it won’t spill out too much if the bag gets knocked over. The big problem with sand is that if there’s moisture in the base, the sand will settle, making the bag really heavy and difficult to move
- Base with sand and water. This will make the base heavier, and your punching bag definitely won’t be moving around! Unfortunately, this has the same issue as a base where the sand is settled – the bag will be very hard to move around your gym. Also, one a week or two has passed, it’s going to be very hard getting that filling out of the base.
If your bag is filled with sand or rocks, after you’re done with your workout, you should always give the base a good shake. That way the filling is levelled. If you don’t do that, the base will be unlevelled, and the bag will move around when hitting. It could even tip over more easily.
When it comes to filling, there is no one-size-fits-all solution – it all depends on your situation. If you often have to move your bag around the gym, then it’s best to fill your base with water, or a base with small rocks. If, on the other hand, you hit very hard, and don’t need to move your punching bag all that often, then you should definitely consider going for a base with sand, or even one with sand and water.
3.3. Materials
The most durable punching bags are usually made of genuine leather. Made by a good brand, a leather punching bag can last for decades. The only downside to leather punching bags is their high price. But if you’re really serious about training, or you have a gym, then investing in one could save you money in the long run.
If you don’t have the budget for genuine leather, the next best thing is synthetic leather. While not as durable as real leather, it’ll usually last longer than PVC or vinyl (which are among the most common materials for punching bags).
If you can, avoid punching bags made of canvas. Not only does canvas tear more easily, but it’s a lot harder to clean compared to other materials.
3.4. Price
Punching bags tend to be on the high end, in terms of price. But the benefits they can provide your workout definitely can’t be understated. Even if you can’t afford one, you should at least go to a gym so you can practice your striking on a punching bag.
In terms of actual pricing, like many other things, higher prices usually mean higher quality. Still, you should always consider whether a product has a high price just because it has an overhyped brand attached to it. So always pay attention to what you’re paying for – if a punching bag is made of genuine leather and comes with heavy-duty, stainless steel chains and hook, then it makes sense for it to have a higher asking price. Otherwise, you may be overpaying for an inferior product.
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