When looking for boxing equipment, you will come across different punching equipment built for other goals. Some popular punching equipment includes cobra bags, speed bags, spinning bars, and double-end bags.
Most boxers just starting out don’t know which punching bag they should invest their hard-earned money in. They end up buying something that won’t help them much.
Punching bags come in many shapes and sizes, but do they all provide a good workout? In this post, we’ll compare the five punching bags that hit back the most and discuss their pros, cons, and price.
Table of Contents
1. Cobra Bag (Reflex Bag)
Cobra bags consist of a heavy bag with a metal frame covered in leather or vinyl. When the bag is hit, it rebounds and pushes against the user’s hands and arms, giving them an intense workout.
The Cobra punching bag is one of the market’s best-rated punching bags. It’s durable and has a lot of punch, which is perfect for hardcore workouts. However, it’s not cheap, so consider your budget before purchasing.
It is generally recommended that beginners practice with a smaller bag that does not hit back as hard as more advanced boxers may be used to. This will help develop proper punching techniques and reduce the risk of injury.
As one progresses in their boxing skills, they can move up to using a harder-hitting cobra bag or even an opponent.
Is It Dangerous: Cobra Bags
There is no harm in hitting a reflex bag as long as you know the risks associated with punching something that returns punches. Make sure to wear gloves and protective gear when hitting the bag the same way you would when sparring in real life.
This is a question that has many answers. As with anything else in life, there are pros and cons to each type of punching bag. One pro of the cobra bag is that it can hit back with some force, which can help discipline a student or keep them on their toes. On the other hand, some people find the power of the punches to be too much for their own safety.
Use Cases: Cobra Bags
This bag is perfect for boxers, fighters of all skill levels, and martial artists. With a quick recoil spring, the Cobra Bag trains your reflexes and helps in the growth of punch speed, defensive movement, and accuracy.
Ultimately, it depends on what you want in a punching bag. A cobra bag will be an ideal option if you want something that will hit back hard. However, if you are more concerned about your safety and would like something less forceful, then a standard punching bag may be better suited for you.
Pros and Cons: Cobra Bag
| Pros | Cons |
| It is beginner friendly | Can be quite expensive |
| Simpler to use and assemble | Can cause harm to the boxer. |
| More durable than other types of bags | |
| Portable as it is a freestanding bag. |
My Recommendation: Hayabusa Cobra Bag ($269)
Hayabusa Cobra Bag
Hayabusa Cobra Bag is perfect for combat sports training, and its creative design helps the user to create an addictive rhythm for fighters of different skill levels. This bag comes with a price tag of $269.00.
Training with this bag helps you develop eye coordination and reflexes like speed, timing, and accuracy. It enables you to develop your head movement and defensive footwork because of its high-tension spring, swinging, and recoiling at a fast speed.
After installing a cobra bag, the bag will not move from its place, no matter how hard you try. The rebound ball provides maximum resistance, distinct feedback, and a pleasant pop on impact, making it the ideal density for training with or without gloves.
2. Speed Bag
A speed bag is a small, teardrop punching bag that the user hits back and forth. It is positioned with the bottom of the bag just under the user’s chin and is designed to be rapidly hit as the bag rebounds.
They are also called speedball bags or speedballs.
The speed bag aims to work on timing, stamina, reflexes, and hand-eye coordination. Additionally, it is a great cardiovascular workout that can enhance circulatory health and lower your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and other conditions. Your daily activities might be made more accessible by your better coordination.
However, these bags are not made for hard punches. They are not as stable as other bags. It is harder to install these bags, and they are not portable.
Suitable Use Case: Speed Bag
The speed bag is an essential piece of boxing equipment you should use in your workouts to increase your speed and endurance while working up a good sweat. Any boxer who wants to improve their hand-eye coordination, arm speed, and defensive abilities must use the speed bag.
If you’re looking to improve the timing of your punches, using a speed bag is the way to go. This will not only help you improve your timing, but it will also help you set the rhythm needed for boxing properly, allowing you to anticipate your opponent’s next moves.
Pros and Cons: Speed Bag
| Pros | Cons |
| It builds shoulder endurance. | It’s harder to install. |
| It improves punch timing. | Not portable. |
| It helps you improve your punching technique. | Challenging to learn. |
| It helps build the habit of keeping your hands up. | It can’t be used to build strong punches. |
| It doesn’t take up much space. | |
| Cheaper than other bags. |
My Recommendation: RDX Speed Ball Bag ($35.99)
RDX Speed Bag
The RDX speed bag comes with a price tag of $35.99. This bag has a multi-layered panel of Maya Hide leather, which is hand stitched to make the bag more durable and stylish. It is more durable and can handle hard punches for a long time.
The RDX Speed Bag includes an extra bladder that can be easily added if necessary, as well as a metal swivel that can be used to hang the speed bag from any platform while still allowing it to turn 360 degrees.
The nylon inner and Maya Hide exterior material of the 4CM looped strap make it highly durable, and the 4 rivets guarantee that the strap is firmly attached in place. When using the quick punching speed bag, athletes and boxers can practice with more precision and speed.
3. Double-End Bag
The double-end bag is a punching bag that has two ends connected by the middle frame. This design allows the user to punch and kick the bag in different directions, which makes it more challenging to defend against.
The double-end bag is also popular for training as it forces users to use all of their muscles in order to hit the target.
The double-end bag is a great way to improve your punching technique and stamina. By working on different combinations and punches, you’ll be able to train your body to react more quickly and accurately.
Additionally, the double-end bag will help you build muscle memory. After practicing on the bag for a while, you’ll be able to hit the same punch with less effort.
Suitable Use Case for Double-End Bag
These bags are the middle ground between speed bags and cobra bags. They provide the knockback effect of cobra bags alongside the range of motion of a speed bag.
These are better suited for boxers who want to achieve a similar experience to using both cobra bags and a speed bag at the same time.
These bags are better suited for boxers who want to move upwards from a speed bag, where they may wish to learn new moves after building a specific level of accuracy and strength with a speed bag.
Double-End Bag Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Helps improve hand speed | Much more challenging to install |
| Trains you for missed punches | Harder to practice with |
| The height is adjustable | Requires more space |
| Helps increase accuracy | Not portable |
My Recommendation: MaxxMMa Double-End Bag ($54.99)
MaxxMMa Double-End Bag
The MaxxMMA Double-End Bag comes with a price tag of $54.99. It includes the essentials out of the box, and it has a durable build with a heavy-duty spring, making it an excellent choice for boxers looking to develop speed and accuracy.
This bag is recommended as it comes with a complete kit, meaning you won’t have to buy anything separately. It includes a base, one pair of boxing gloves, a door frame fixer, and a pump.
This bag is ideal for punching, slipping, reflexes, and counter-punching. It has a heavy-duty spring that bounces back on each punch or kick, which makes it easier for you to train.
This is an ideal bag for beginners and pro boxers as it develops speed, timing, and accuracy.
4. Spinning Bar
A spar bar, or a spinning bar, is a device used in boxing that is typically made of metal and has a series of holes punched in it. This allows you to train sparring without the need for a human opponent. It helps you train your defenses as well as your timing and accuracy.
A spinning bar is used to simulate the feel of a human opponent by allowing boxers to hit it with their fists. The spar bar is also used as part of warm-ups and training exercises.
Suitable Use Case: Spinning Bar
It’s primarily used to develop your head movement, like bobbing and weaving, which are some of the most important defensive skills in boxing. This helps you practice these movements without the need for a sparring partner.
Although it is a valuable piece of boxing equipment, it is best used if you complement the spinning bar with other boxing training equipment.
Spinning Bar Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Helps you practice for head dodges | Needs additional equipment to keep the base stable |
| Adjustable in height | Not as stable as other bags |
| Includes multiple punching targets | |
| It is extremely portable | |
| Easy installation (No drilling required) |
My Recommendation: InnoLife Spinning Bar ($349.89)
InnoLife Spinning Bar
The InnoLife Spinning Bar comes with a Dual Punch Head, and it is made of faux leather. This bag comes with a price tag of $349.89.
The dimensions of this bag are 39.9″W x 13″H. It has a scientific design that improves your hand and eye coordination, reflexes, footwork, and timing.
This bag is recommended as it has a height adjustable from 5’1 to 7’8 inches and comes with a warranty of 30 days. This spinning bar is durable and perfect for boxers or fitness enthusiasts.
Conclusion
You won’t be able to find a single bag that will serve as the ultimate boxing training equipment as every punching bag is built to serve a different purpose. I hope this article helped you better understand the role of each punching bag and helped you select one that may serve as a perfect training tool for you.
