Are you fond of boxing? Planning to buy a good affordable boxing bag but are indecisive to choose between a standing punching bag and a hanging punching bag. No need to worry about that because we will do a complete comparison regarding standing punching bag vs hanging and will make you choose the best to make your boxing game strong.
Before proceeding to discuss the different benefits and drawbacks of both standing and hanging punching bags, let us first define both.
We will also compare the prices of both bags. So bear with us till the end, so that you can have a clear view of what to buy.
What is a Hanging Punching Bag?
As the name suggests, the hanging punching bag gets the support of the ceiling or a wall and some can be hung with the doors as well.
Some heavy bags come with a specialized stand on which they can be hung freely.
The weight of most hanging bags is on a heavier side so some people also refer to it as a Hanging Heavy Bag.
These heavy bags come in different sizes and shapes for different types of contact sports.
What is a Standing Punching Bag?
Standing punching bag refers to both Free Standing Punching Bag and Floor Stand Punching Bag.
Unlike a hanging bag, the standing bag needs a specific space on the floor. The floor must be smooth to make a stronger grip on the floor.
Both hanging and standing bags have their own pros and cons. We will be explaining in detail so that you can decide what suits you best.
Pros of the Hanging Heavy Bags
Rigid Striking Surface:
The heavy bags includes both a long boxing bag and a short boxing bag depending on the nature of the sports you opt for.
Both types have a bigger striking surface than the freestanding punching bags and are always ready to take extra hard punches and kicks due to the best foams used.
The extra-thick stitching ensures the long-lasting life of these hanging heavy bags.
Swinging To and Fro:
The swinging motion of these heavy bags is not so volatile due to the proper weight of the material.
The chains linked with the bag offer smooth swinging so that it won’t come quickly after punches and kicks.
Hitting a heavy bag requires strength and agility so beginners should first use lightweight bags before proceeding to heavy bags.
Requires Lesser Space:
Even these bags have big striking surfaces, they still require less space as they can be hung anywhere from the living room to balconies with chains with ceilings or wall-mounted hangers.
Multiple Contact Sports Usability:
These are traditional punching bags and are used for more than one type of sport. Usually, they are used for Boxing, Karate, Muay Thai, and even for cardio workouts.
Affordable Price:
As compared to other standing punching manual and digital bags, these bags are so inexpensive that the adult, as well as teens, can easily purchase them.
Cons of Hanging Heavy Bags
Hanging Problems:
You need a strong lintel beam or a ceiling to support your heavy bag. The drilling requires in the wall to make holes for hanging it with a wall-mounted hanger. These holes can sometimes reduce the strength of the walls.
Some doorway punch bags also falls in the category of hanging bags as they require a separate door to be hung with.
Dedicated Space Required:
Although they required lesser space it may cause a headache for you to give it a dedicated space in your apartment or home.
Once it is hung with the wall or ceiling then it won’t be easy to bring it down again and again after use. So you must have to spare some separate space for your hanging punching bag.
The Unease of Installation:
It should be kept in mind while purchasing a bag how easy or difficult it is to install a punching bag.
These heavy punching bags are not easy to install especially when you are trying to hang them alone yourself.
You also need a lot of additional tools which don’t come with the punching bag package like a hammer, pliers, drill machines, and a ladder which are essential for hanging a heavy bag.
Now we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a Freestanding Punching Bag.
Pros of Freestanding Punching Bag
Easy to Set Up:
These types of punching bags are very convenient to install. The big and strong base is usually filled with water or sand and in some models with the air as well helps to support the bag stands firmly on the ground.
Some packages come with the bag and base and with all necessary accessories but some sellers do not offer these. Don’t need to worry about that because you can always buy those accessories separately.
For assembling the bag and base you just have to put the bag compartment on the base and press it with your foot.
Lesser Space Required:
Unlike hanging bags, these bags have a thinner striking surface. Some models have a larger base and some other bases are small. But it cannot be a problem to place it because most of them require lesser areas.
Aesthetic Design:
They are beautifully designed and tend to be softer as compared to hanging bags. The aesthetically thinner design is very beneficial for hand-eye coordination and improves your punches and kicks speed.
Noise Absorbing Quality:
Although these bags are lightweight some heavyweight models tend to produce large noises which can be a trouble for your family and neighbors.
Thanks to the shock absorbers which mitigate these noises and vibrations so that you can perform more workouts without any thought of disturbance.
Ease of Dissembling:
If you are a travel person and also passionate about your boxing game and don’t want to miss your workout then these freestanding punching bags are definitely for you.
They can be dissembled easily. The base and bag can be easily dismantled and can be stored in the back seat of your car. Can be taken anywhere while traveling or shifting to another place.
Perfect for Beginners:
Unlike a traditional heavy bag, the standing punching bags are lighter in weight and are perfect for beginners.
Those who are new to boxing should not buy the heavy hanging bag because it is hard to punch and kick it and beginners don’t know the right techniques of boxing.
So it’s better to first buy the freestanding lightweight bag and build some skills and techniques on it.
Cons of Free Standing Punching Bag
Contrary to all benefits of using a standing bag, there are also some limitations in using it.
Not Sturdy Enough:
If your focus is speed and agility then this bag is definitely for you but if you are a hard hitter and trying to build your muscles and strength then this won’t help you in the long run because they are not very durable as compared to heavy bags.
Bounce Back Action:
The manufacturers claim to have a smooth bounce back in their punching bags. But the customers are not very well satisfied with it.
After extensive research, we have found that these freestanding bags perform poorly when it comes to bouncing back of the equipment.
Some bags bounce back on you abruptly leaving an inconsistent workout while others tend to be slower in response to a punch or a kick. So this can be a bottleneck in purchasing these floor punching bags.
Hard to Move:
One of the disadvantages of these floor punching bags is that they are difficult to move from one place to another when they are filled with sand or water. You have to roll over it from side to side in order to relocate it.
One easy way to move it is by emptying the punching bag base first and then doing it. And this also needs a lot of time to completely empty it.
Standing punching bag vs hanging which one is better?
| Hanging Heavy Bag | Standing Punching Bag |
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Now after reading all the pros and cons of both models, it’s time to reveal which one is better and the answer is that “ there is no such right or wrong answer” because it all depends on your you whether you need to like a freestanding or a hanging bag.
After going through all these pros and cons you have made up your mind whether the space for the bag will be an issue for you or not, whether you want to build muscles or just want to improve your speed and stamina, whether you are a travel person who does not want to miss his/her workout or you are a home fellow.
Final Words:
After ab extensive research both standing and hanging punching bags are good in their own way.
We suggest you do your own research too before finalizing any product.
About Author
Chris Bent
Chris Bent is a professional MMA Trainer who has expertise in both Martial Arts and Karate and he loves to teach Men, Women and Kids.
