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Buy a hanging bag if you have a solid ceiling joist, a beam or a bag stand and want the most realistic resistance for hooks, kicks and combinations. Buy a free-standing bag if you rent, can't drill or need to move the bag after each session; it needs no fixings but rocks and slides more under hard strikes.
In the UK, the Mirafit Hanging Punch Bag (30 kg, 128 cm) is the pick for a joist or rack, and the Mirafit Free Standing Punch Bag is the budget free-standing choice at about 80 kg once the base is filled.
Our picks
- 1Best budget free-standing (UK)
Mirafit Free Standing Punch Bag & Base
156 cm tall with an 88 cm bag and about 80 kg with the base filled. The lowest-priced free-standing bag in our UK picks, and no ceiling fixings needed.
- 2Best hanging punch bag (UK)
Mirafit Hanging Punch Bag
A 30 kg, 128 cm bag with straps, D-rings and a carabiner. Mirafit gives a recommended hanging height of 2.15 to 2.6 m.
- 3Tallest free-standing bag
RDX F6 Kara 6Ft Free Standing Punch Bag With Mitts
A 6 ft (183 cm) free-standing bag with a shock-absorbing connector between bag and base, sold with bag mitts.
- 4Best for kicks and body shots
RDX Full Black Body Punch Bag with Mitts
A long 59 in (150 cm), 18 in (46 cm) diameter hanging bag with chains included, sold filled or unfilled.
| Model | MirafitMirafit Free Standing Punch Bag & Base | MirafitMirafit Hanging Punch Bag | RDXRDX F6 Kara 6Ft Free Standing Punch Bag With Mitts | RDXRDX Full Black Body Punch Bag with Mitts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mounting | Free-standing | Hanging | Free-standing | Hanging |
| Unit weight | 80 kg | 30 kg | — | — |
| Bag height | 88 cm | 128 cm | — | 150 cm |
| Height | 156 cm | — | 183 cm | — |
| Comes filled | — | Yes | — | — |
How to choose a punch bag
Free-standing or hanging
- Free-standing: a foam bag on a plastic base you fill with water or sand. No drilling, easy to roll away, and quieter on the structure of the house. The trade-off is movement: hard hooks and kicks rock it and can walk it across the floor.
- Hanging: hung from a ceiling joist, beam, wall bracket, rack or stand. It swings and absorbs power more like a gym bag, and suits heavy hooks and kicks. It needs a fixing that can take repeated shock loads, plus clear space for the swing.
- Bag stands sit in the middle: you get a hanging bag with no ceiling fixing, but they take more floor space than the bag itself.
Weight
For hanging bags, heavier means less swing and more resistance. As a rough guide, around 30 kg (70 lb) suits boxing fitness for most adults, and 45 kg (100 lb) and up suits heavier hitters and kicks. For free-standing bags, the filled base weight is what keeps it upright. Where makers publish it, our free-standing picks weigh about 80 to 113 kg once the base is filled.
Height and length
Boxing-only training is fine on a 100 to 130 cm bag. Low kicks and knees need a long bag that reaches closer to the floor, such as RDX's 150 cm body bag. On free-standing bags, check the total height and whether it adjusts. Our free-standing picks run from 156 cm to 183 cm tall, and some adjust in height.
Filled or unfilled
Pre-filled bags arrive ready to hang and keep an even density, but they are heavy to deliver and some are final sale. Unfilled bags are cheaper to ship and let you set the weight yourself with cloth offcuts or the maker's filling, but uneven filling leaves hard and soft spots.
Mirafit Free Standing Punch Bag
A PU leather bag with a high-rebound foam layer over cloth filling, on a fillable base. The bag is 88 cm tall and about 28 cm across, with a total height of 156 cm and a 50 cm base. Mirafit says it weighs about 80 kg with the base full and 20.5 kg empty, and recommends sand over water for stability. Optional floor suction cups, sold separately, help stop it sliding. Mirafit rates it for home and light commercial use.
Pros
- No drilling
- About 80 kg with the base filled
- Rated for home and light commercial use
Cons
- 156 cm total height suits punches more than high kicks
- Slides without the optional suction cups
Mirafit Hanging Punch Bag
A 30 kg vinyl bag with soft inner foam walls, nylon straps with metal D-rings and a carabiner. The bag is 128 cm tall and 36 cm across, 147 cm including straps, with an extra D-ring underneath for anchoring. It hangs from a bracket, swivel hook or a Mirafit power rack with the shackle attachment (sold separately). Mirafit recommends a hanging height of 2.15 to 2.6 m, and rates it for full commercial gym use.
Pros
- Rated for commercial gyms
- Hangs from a joist bracket or a Mirafit rack
- Bottom D-ring to cut swing
Cons
- Bracket or shackle sold separately
- Needs 2.15 m or more of hanging height
RDX F6 Kara Free Standing Punch Bag
At 6 ft (183 cm) the Kara is the tallest free-standing bag here, so it suits high kicks. RDX lists a shock-absorbing connector between bag and base, foam padding over shredded textile filling and a synthetic leather cover, and sells it with bag mitts. RDX does not publish the filled base weight.
Pros
- 6 ft tall for kicks
- Mitts included
- Sold by RDX in the UK, US and Canada
Cons
- Filled weight not published
- Pink and black colourway only
RDX Full Black Body Punch Bag
A long hanging bag, 59 in (150 cm) by 18 in (46 cm), with a synthetic leather cover, a foam jacket over shredded textile filling and chains for hanging. RDX says the base shape reduces swing. It is sold with mitts, filled or unfilled in the UK and US; RDX Canada had only the unfilled version in stock when we checked.
Are free-standing punch bags any good?
Yes for fitness boxing, technique and households that can't drill. They need no fixings and roll away after use. They move more than a hanging bag under hard strikes, so heavy hitters and kickers usually prefer a hanging bag.
How do I hang a punch bag from the ceiling?
Use a joist or beam bracket bolted into the centre of a solid timber joist or steel beam with the supplied fixings, never into plasterboard. Hang the bag at the maker's recommended height with a rated swivel or carabiner. If you are unsure about the ceiling, use a bag stand or rack hanger.
What weight punch bag should I get?
For hanging bags, as a rough guide, about 30 kg (70 lb) suits boxing fitness for most adults, and 45 kg (100 lb) or more suits heavier hitters and kicking. For free-standing bags, look at the filled base weight: the heavier the base, the less the bag rocks. Our free-standing picks that publish it weigh about 80 to 113 kg filled.
Sand or water in a free-standing punch bag base?
Sand makes a heavier, more stable base. Water is easier to fill and empty if you need to move the bag. If you use water, Mirafit advises leaving 5 cm below the fill cap.
Can I use a punch bag in a flat?
A free-standing bag avoids ceiling fixings, but the thuds still travel through floors. Stand it on a thick rubber mat and check your lease before drilling into any ceiling.
How we chose
We have not tested these bags. We compared current models on what their makers publish: mounting type, weight, bag and total height, fill and what is included for hanging. We checked each one is sold new in each market by the maker's own country site or a retailer shipping from inside that country. Where a maker does not state a figure, we leave it blank.
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