Buying a freestanding punch bag

[da_mill]

Hi,

Just looking for some advice really as looking online hasn't seem to have given me much information - I currently do Muay Thai... I would like a freestanding punch bag for use at home. I know the ideal would be to get one with chains, but I cannot install it in my house (no space, living in my parents house) plus over the next couple of years I intend to move out - therefore I can't wait that long to get a proper punch bag, but then again I'd like to buy the best one I can now so hopefully it'll last a while..

So... Any opinion differences between slam man (human body style) or proper punchbag style...

I want to kick it. and if possible kick it often for shini conditioning etc... But also punch it... Lol.

Would a slam man style one be kickable, and would it be any good for my shins.

Do they fall over all the time lol :\ And obviously, can it take a beating. lol. Sorry bout the cross post to here and muay thai forum, trying to get as many ideas as possible... Thanks.

[Ghost]

personally i have tested most of the stand up punch bags out there and none of them are up to scratch.
i wouldnt buy one as youd waste your time and money, youd be better off just doing supplemental conditioning training. imo.

[da_mill]

Thanks for the reply. when you say bags you mean both bag and "man" type ones? lol.

The final option wud b to buy a "stand" as per the bodytec / reebok ones that I've seen, whereby you hang a heavy bag on it.. only problem with this is im not sure itd b ideal for kicking, and also a review i read on a boxing equip site noted a major problem as you cant circle the bag as it has the stands sticking out that also limit the kicking potential...

So unfortunately it seems there is no ideal solution I appreciate your honesty about just not buying one lol, it's as I have no idea when I'll actually be able to move out and get my own place and therefore enable me to hang a bag up.. Thanks again.

[Piston]

I use a BOB, as you can see in my sig , and I have found it to be most useful, the contouring of the body is quite accurate and can really help refine where you're striking. Weighted very simply with sand or water, fairly durable too, I can recommend it.

[Ghost]

Originally Posted by Piston

I use a BOB, as you can see in my sig , and I have found it to be most useful, the contouring of the body is quite accurate and can really help refine where you're striking. Weighted very simply with sand or water, fairly durable too, I can recommend it.

dont you find it flies all over the place though?

if you do get one the best filling is wet sand, fill it with sand and then pour water in. then more sand if you can and more water.

[Blue Wave Gym]

This one is for me I have own both freestanding bags bag stands(and returned many types of both) both move and are not heavy duty enough in my opinion the only one that doesn't move or make so much noise that the floor sound like it's goign to cave in is the b.o.b. the head on b.o.b doesen't offfer much resistance though btu the body can take quite a pounding without moving unlike the other wave masters(I own a waver master xxl and it movesway too much) and other free standing bags my 70# heavy bag is tooo heavy for my stand so I hang a light bag from it about 25#. There really is no good solution and I have been trying to find a solution for years. If there is a heavy duty bag stand that's not that expensive let me know because I've seen all the free standing bags ang bag stands and I'm not impressed. But my b.o.b seems to be the best so far.

[da_mill]

damn jus lost my bloody post... in short:

Thanks for the reply - it seems that the bob styel would be better if it is sturdier, id want to kick the torso but not the head... The wavemaster (supposedly biggest bag blah blah that I read on all the sites) and the other options seem to just not be up to the standard. I belive i've done all th epossible Internet research I can so unfortunately I have nothing new to offer you.

dyou know of anyone who kicks the bob and how that is? (may have answered my own question already with it being a boxing forum) but as I'll be kicking it I gota ask.

Thanks again for the helpful reply though, you're lucky to have tried mor ethan one stand up bag lol! Guess I will check out bobs more closely - which do you use / own out of interest?! I mean there are a few (eg reebok / bob / "sockittohim" or something) but I assume theyre all basically the same - moulded, PU, etc - not including the slam man one with lights, but that doesn't really interest me lol.