Best Free Standing Punching Bags Rated – 2024
Richard Haberkost
AnaThere’s no better way to build muscle and work through frustrations than with a freestanding punching bag. What we love most about freestanding models is that they don’t require complicated mounting methods that demand that you bust out the power tools. Simply fill the base with sand or water, and you are ready to get to work! We made sure to select sturdy designs that are composed of quality materials such as leather or Nevatear and come from trusted brands such as Everlast or Century. It was also important to select designs that boast a rounded base that makes it a little easier to move when needed.
In this guide, we have selected some of the best free standing punching bags to help your work through frustrations and build muscle.
In a Hurry? The test winner after 21 hrs of research
Made from Nevatear
Great for small spaces
Trusted brand
Best Freestanding Punching Bags
1. Everlast New Omniflex
Made from Nevatear
Great for small spaces
Trusted brand
Difficult to fill
Everlast is one of the most trusted names in the boxing world, which makes this updated version of the Omniflex an excellent choice. What we love most about this design is that it is composed of premium materials that can stand up to whatever you can throw at it, and it is a cinch to set up. The smaller frame also makes this design come in at an affordable price point.
Read moreWhat we love most about this punching bag is that it is composed of Nevatear. Nevatear is a proprietary material from Everlast that uses a blend of different synthetic materials that work to increase durability and promote shock absorption. The synthetic filler is incredibly durable and holds its shape after years of continued blows.
If you are working with limited space in your home gym, this is a great choice. The base is made from rounded ABS plastic that weighs in at 130 pounds when filled with water or sand. It is slightly shorter than other designs out there on the market, which will help save room without limiting your striking zone.
If you are in the market for something that has a slightly smaller profile with a smaller price tag while still coming from a trusted brand, this design from Everlast is a great choice. It is composed of quality materials that hold up well over the years, and utilize Nevatear for extended durability.
2. WaveMaster XXL
Large striking surface
High-density foam filler
Choice of colors
Not very portable
The Century Wavemaster XXL is a free standing bag that stands at 69 inches in height and has an 18-inch diameter.
Read moreLiving up to its name, its size makes this bag the one with the largest surface striking area of any free standing punching bag on the current market - a key factor in our ranking it as #1. This bag is filled with high-density foam filler which is excellent at absorbing impact and has a very good bounce back. The difference in responsiveness can be felt.
In addition, this material will not sink the way that cloth filler tends to do. The exterior cover of the bag is made from hardy tear-resistant vinyl for a durable and strong synthetic surface. This bag makes a great companion to other strength training exercises< too. You have the option of choosing your Century Wavemaster XXL in either red, black or blue. The black base is very heavy, giving you confidence that it won’t budge.
3. Dripex
ABS rounded base
Easy to set up
EPE foam interior
Leather exterior shell
Expensive
What we love most about this design is that it is packed with advanced features to help you get the most out of your workouts. It boasts a design that works in most spaces with a base that will not damage your floor. Setting it up is quick and easy, and it is made from premium materials that hold up well over time.
Read moreOne of the things that we loved most about this design is that it boasts dual TPU absorbers that help to protect your joints with each and every blow to the surface. It is also made from a 2mm PU leather exterior shell that is resistant to ripping and tearing over years of continued use.
Inside the leather shell is high-density EPE foam that protects your joints with continued blows. It also has a rounded plastic tank that makes it easy to roll to a different location as needed. Users also found that this design is super simple to set up as well as fill the tank with water or sand for a strong and stable foundation.
While this design from Driplex may cost a little bit more than some of the other designs out there on the market, the advanced design and protective features make this design an excellent value. Plus, it is a cinch to set up and get to work!
4. Wavemaster OG
High-density foam
Height adjustable
Color options
Makes a lot of noise
The original Century Wavemaster is a pared-down version of the XXL version, however, it still provides you with a decent striking area.
Read moreJust like the XXL, it is filled with high-density foam which is very reflexive and impact absorbing. It feels much better against the hands than other filler materials. You get the ability to adjust the height on this unit, ranging from 47 to 68 inches. This makes it customizable to your specific height requirement as well as being adjustable for different class needs.
The Century Wavemaster Original also gives you the three color options of red, blue or black. The vinyl cover is strong and durable, but pretty tough on the skin. For this reason, you should wear gloves and footwear when training on this bag.
There is not as much padding in this bag as many others on the market, so you really don’t want to be hitting it with a cocked wrist, which you should never do anyway. So this bag is great for improving your form and technique.
This bag is not as big as others and is most ideal for shorter adults and children.
5. Wavemaster Powerline
More internal padding than Original Wavemaster
Adjustable height
Large diameter
No wheels for portability
The Wavemaster Powerline is very similar to the original Wavemaster. The big difference is that the Powerline features a greater degree of the internal padding.
Read moreThe powerline has a bigger diameter, which is 17.5 inches, compared to just 13 inches for the Original. Just like the original, the Powerline is adjustable, with a range of between 47 and 68 inches.
It comes with a durable vinyl cover and high-density foam inner padding as well. This bag is ideal for people with strong kicks and punches, in order to take that force with more bounce back and less resistance.
The added padding makes it a little easier on those new to boxing as well. Overall it makes a great addition to your at-home gym equipment.
6. Everlast Power Core
Great for all levels
Compact base
Easily portable
Heavy bag
The Everlast Power Core is a heavier bag but designed to be easily moved around thanks to its nice compact base.
Read moreThis Everlast punching bag is great for all levels of skill. The slim size of the base increases its portability, making it a good choice to use in gyms for fitness classes like kickboxing. This also makes it great for at-home use, so users can roll it away and out of sight after working out.
The Power Core is filled with a tri-disc foam that offers boxers an increased dispersion of energy. The collars are power transfer rings, and they provide maximum hit absorption. So even the heaviest hitters can feel the recoil.
This is also a durable bag, thanks to the Everlast steel plate technology.
7. Bob Body Opponent
Human torso form
Height adjustable
Very durable
The base can get loose
The Century Bob Body Opponent is a unique human upper body form free standing punching bag. It is made from very durable plastisol and filled with high-density urethane foam.
Read moreYou get a male torso and head so that you can pin-point your punches and kicks against a realistic target. This provides for more accurate hit placement and real-life boxing training. It also gives the user the benefit of having a human form target is that you are able to focus on the body’s soft spots and pressure points.
This unit stands at a max height of 79 inches, making it one of the tallest, and weighs in at 270 pounds. The height settings are adjustable so you customize to your requirements. The base can be filled with either sand or water.
The body screws onto a plastic sleeve that fits over the base post.
8. Ringside Tornado
Great for opponent training
Easily portable
Smaller size
Not a lot of surface area
The Tornado is a smaller sized bag from Ringside. The result is a faster bag in the free standing genre and a staple for any at home boxing gym.
Read moreThe sheer size and design provide for a very real feel when it comes to more realistic opponent practice. And the unique coiled base gives it enough recoil to even feel more realistic for a real opponent bounceback.
It is created out of a solid core of foam covered in a durable synthetic case. The combination of solid foam and the outer fabric offers a great balance between shock absorption and resistance.
The base conveniently fills with water or sand for excellent stability.
9. FITVEN
Gloves included
Suction cup base
5 mm ABS base
Difficult to fill
What we like most about this design from FITVEN is that it comes with all of the tools that you need to get to work quickly and efficiently. This set not only comes with a quality bag, but it also includes a set of gloves as well. It also boasts advanced features to manage shock, and a sturdy base that stays put so you don’t need to hold anything back.
Read moreOne of the things that makes this design unique is that it boasts advanced shock absorbers to protect your joints. It is equipped with dual TPU absorbers as well as 4 springs on the base for 360 degrees of support. One of the things that users also love about these shock absorbers is that they also cut down on the noise as well.
The base is composed of 5 mm thick ABS plastic that is super easy to fill with water or sand. The rounded base also makes it a cinch to move from location to location. It comes equipped with suction cups on the base to promote stability, and the base weighs in at an impressive 205 pounds when filled.
If you are in the market for something that is incredibly strong and stable and packed with features to keep your hands protected, this is a great choice. It may cost a little bit more than other options out there on the market, but the added stability features and solid design are well worth the extra cost.
10. Ringside Elite
Great for tall users
Solid base
Large surface area
Difficult to move
The Ringside Elite free standing punching bag is a taller bag that is not adjustable. It's great for taller users and martial arts fighters with exceptionally high kick ranges.
Read moreThis bag stands at 6’ 4” in height, making it the highest. The outer layer is made of high-quality synthetic leather that will withstand the punishment of heavy training
The base is very solid and can be filled with up to 270 pounds of water or sand. This ensures that the bag will remain stable during your boxing workout.
This is an affordable, versatile bag that can be used for all boxing and MMA training purposes. However, its sheer size and weight make it the least friendly for portability.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Adjustability
Adjustability provides the user with customizable training.
Freestanding punching bags are often set sizes, weights, and heights. But free standing punching bags should be set to a similar proportional height to the user. This allows for more accurate precision and a variation in technique with boxing practice.
Some are fixed and not adjustable but have longer surface areas so users have a surface area suitable for their various heights. But many come adjustable for height, and some even offer adjustability with bag fill density weight.
Durability
Durability extends the lifetime of a product.
Punching bags literally take a beating. So it is especially important for these pieces of equipment to be well made since they take so much constant stress. When researching these products for their level of durability, we looked at the strength of materials, quality of construction, and how well and long it holds up with wear and tear.
Materials
Materials improve product quality.
We investigated the quality of materials for each product in-depth. The strength of the bag fabric, how well it deals with moisture, and how the fabric feels for the user when they hit it, are equally important for punching bags. The quality of the material being used to fill the bag is also important for both durability and how well it absorbs shock.
And finally, the base of the punching bag should be made out of thick heavy-duty material to withstand the intensity of impact.
Stability
Stability enhances the overall performance of a freestanding punching bag.
The best freestanding punching bags must have a high level of stability in order to be effective for their training purpose. They need to be stable to keep from falling over and stable enough not to move around on the floor with each hit. The initial base weight will have an effect, the weight of the bag itself, and also how much sand or water can be added to the base to keep it weighed down from moving.
Value
Value helps consumers save money.
As with most at-home gym products, expensive doesn't always equal product quality. So a higher price tag doesn't mean it is the best.
When considering the overall value of the punching bags researched, we looked at the price of the product and how long the product is expected to last and hold up. With that information, we were able to arrive at a general expectation of how much use the consumer would get out of the product before it began to wear. And that's how we determined the value of each bag on the list.
You need to get a good balance between the weight of the bag and the base. If one of them is too light, the whole thing may fall over, which will be very annoying when you are trying to get a fluidity going in your workout. On the other hand, if it is too heavy, the bag will not provide you with the reflex and bounce back that you need.
Your bag should weigh about half of your body weight. So, if you weigh 180 pounds, you should look for a bag that weighs 90 pounds.
A great advantage of the freestanding punching bag is that it can be moved around. It can be moved into place for use, and then moved back into a corner or closet for storage so as not to be in the way of space. For that reason, you should look for a freestanding bag that allows for ease of movement. That means that it should have transport wheels so that you can easily move it out of the way when you are finished with your workout.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: Is there a benefit to a freestanding bag compared to a hanging bag?
A major advantage of the freestanding punching bag is that you do not have to go to the trouble of setting it up. No need to put up a chain and hook up the bag to it. No need to find a good ceiling and the heavy-duty hardware wall to install it. You simply roll it into place, fill the base with sand or water and you’re ready to go. A lot of people do not have access to an overhead beam to hang a bag from. Others are in rented accommodation and are not permitted to make holes in the ceiling. For these situations, the freestanding punching bag is the answer.
The freestanding punching bag has space benefits over the hanging bag, largely because of its ability to be moved. A hanging bag is there for the duration, whereas a freestanding one can be used and then stored away. That being said, there is quite a space requirement for this bag. You will need an area of around 6-7 feet to operate effectively.
You will also save money in the long run if you opt for a freestanding punching bag because you will not have to pay for mounting hardware.
q: What are the best materials for punching bags?
The ideal exterior material for a punching bag is leather, but this is cost-prohibitive for most people. The next best option is synthetic leather or durable vinyl. The least favored material type is canvas which tends to sweat and is the roughest on your hands and feet. Canvas can also tend to punch up and produce soft and heavy spots on the bag, which you do not want.
There is all manner of interior fillings for punching bags, ranging from clothes to cotton and high-density foam. High-density foam is preferred as it will have the best shock absorbency. You will also want to look for a bag that has a zipper on the top that allows you to add or take away filling to suit your requirements.
q: What is a freestanding bag used for?
The freestanding punching bag is a longer bag than the traditional chain-hung bag. This allows for more versatile training. It's great to use while training for Muay Thai, JiuJitsu, and other martial arts disciplines. It's also an excellent choice to use for traditional boxing training, by yourself or with others. These are also great to use in kickboxing classes.
The freestanding punching bag is also a more versatile cardio training tool because you can make better use of your legs.
q: What is the ideal height for a freestanding punching bag?
Ideally, you will want it to be adjustable in terms of height. This will allow you to customize it for your specific requirements. Beyond that, it will allow the bag to be used by all of the members of your family. If it's not adjustable, it's suggested to make sure the bag is no more than head high for traditional boxing practice.
q: How do freestanding punching bags stay in place?
Some bags come pre-filled but others need to be filled when you get them. That means that you will need to put either sand or water into the base before you can use the punching bag. The weight of the water or sand keeps the punching bag base secure. Even with the most intense impact, they are designed to literally take a beating without moving. They will have a small opening at some point on the base to accommodate the fill. Check reviews to see how easy this fill process is.
