The best place to purchase a heavy-duty outdoor punching bag is a sports equipment store or online brand websites. You need to know your requirements based on your area and the method of correctly installing it.
Hanging your boxing bag outside gives you a variety of exercises to work on and gives you more space to move around while keeping you cool and comfortable in humid or hot weather conditions.
In the busy world we live in, taking the time to hit the gym is not a luxury everyone can afford. A simple solution for you, if you want to work out but don’t find the time to go to the gym, is to get a punching bag for your home.
Every boxer or workout enthusiast has at least one punching bag in their home for quick workouts. I’ve had some rainy days in my boxing career when I couldn’t go to my boxing gym. The punching bag was handy back then, and I could get all my practice sessions done without having to leave my house.
In this article, I will write about the punching bags that are the best ones in the market, along with some tips and tricks for hanging the punching bag to get maximum utility from it in the following order:
- How to Hang a Punching bag Outside
- Pros and Cons of Hanging a Bag Outdoors.
- How to prevent a punching bag from getting wet
- What to do if your punching bag gets wet
- Tips for buying an outdoor punching bag
- 5 Best outdoor punching bags.
Table of Contents
How to Hang a Punching Bag Outside?
To hang a punching bag outside, you need to look for an appropriate place to serve as your hanging post. Make sure that the post you choose is sturdy and has room around it for the bag to swing.
The ground beneath should also be leveled to provide good traction, which allows you to perfect your footwork. The best place to hang your punching bag outside is underneath a covered patio.
Once you’ve decided your location, follow the steps below to hang your punching bag securely:
- Wrap your hanging strap around a horizontal beam or branch. Make sure you measure your strap to lift the bag at least 2 feet off the ground.
- Use an S hook to connect the two ends of the chain. The two ends of the chain should be in the top part of the S hook. You can also use a sturdy carabiner for this process.
- Hang your punching bag from the bottom part of the S hook. Lift the bag above the hook.
- Attach the chain and hook to the bag
- Gently lower the bag.
- Cover your chain with a thin plastic sheet to prevent rusting and corrosion
For further elaboration, here is a short video on hanging a punching bag outside:
An Alternative Method to Hang a Boxing Bag
An alternative to this method is to purchase a dual-purpose boxing bag hanger. This device allows you to hang your punching bag from different points on the hanger, increasing your workout flexibility.
The dual-purpose hanger provides you with mobility. The device is modular and can be disassembled and moved whenever required.
You can also use a climbing frame if you decide to mount your punching bag to a wall outside your house.
You can attach our bag to the frame using straps and carabiners and can control the height of your punching bag with it, allowing you to work on your balance and footwork.
If you’re looking for an outdoor workout that doesn’t require any special equipment, you can use a punching bag hanging system.
Pros & Cons Of Keeping Punching Bag Outdoor
You can leave your punching bag outside after a workout; however, it is not recommended for uncovered places as leave your bag prone to harsh weather conditions that may damage it.
Here is a list of pros and cons of keeping your punching bag outdoors:
Pros:
- Enjoy the weather while getting a workout.
- Increased space to practice footwork.
- You can practice with a partner too.
- Indoor space saved.
- Reduced stress.
Cons:
- The ground can get muddy in the rain.
- Decreased bag durability.
- Not usable in extreme weather conditions.
- Risk of theft.
- Risk of injuries.
How to Prevent Punching Bag from Getting Wet
To prevent punching bags from getting wet, you can cover your bag with water-proof fabric or vinyl cover, which will keep any moisture from getting in the bag and protect it from other elements like the scorching sun or wild winds.
You can also keep this cover on while you work out, which will additionally give you noise silencing, allowing you to focus more on your workouts.
Another way of keeping your punching bag dry is to remove it from the hook and store it in a cool, dry place after workout sessions. Removing and reattaching the bag from its hooks is a simple process and can be quickly done before and after each workout for the sake of your bag’s well-being.
You can also hang your bag in a covered outdoor environment like a covered patio or a garage. This will ensure that your punching bag is out of the sun and the rain and allow you to work out in any weather conditions.
If you want to hang your punching bag outdoors, the best option for you is to purchase a water-proof punching bag. They are a bit more expensive than regular bags but are the most durable and immune to water damage.
To get maximum utility from the weather and elements, make sure you take good care of your boxing bag and especially prevent it from getting wet. This will increase your punching bag’s life and allow you to invest in other gear for your workouts.
What to do if Your Punching Bag Gets Wet?
Follow below steps to dry a wet punching bag:
- Remove all inner stuffing and set out to dry
- Rinse the bag with cold water and remove all moisture
- Dry the bag thoroughly in an adequately ventilated space away from direct sunlight
- Refill the inner stuffing once fully dry.
Although the aforementioned method works for most cases, in some cases where the bag has been left out for several days or is significantly damaged, you may need to replace your bag.
If your bag is not damaged from the outside, you can also consider replacing the inner stuffing, which will cost you significantly less money than replacing the whole bag.
Punching or heavy bags are made to last, but they will most likely harden or mold if they do get wet, rendering them useless. While cleaning, a little sweat or water is fine, but excess moisture will damage your bag.
You should try to keep your bag dry at all times by storing it in a dry place etc. a tiny amount of sweat or water is fine, but an excess amount of it will lead to damage to your bag.
5 Tips to Buying an Outdoor Punching Bag
It is essential to purchase a punching bag in an outdoor environment after careful scrutiny of the market. Before buying a punching bag, you need to consider your local weather, the amount of moisture in the air, etc.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind while purchasing a punching bag:
1. Choose a Bag at Least 2 Feet Wide and 2 Feet Deep
The dimensions of a punching bag are important to consider when purchasing. For beginners, a two-by-two punching bag is ideal. However, if you are an experienced boxer, you may want to invest in a broader bag to throw more combinations and harder punches.
It would be best if you also went for a bag at least two feet high so you can practice high, low punches and kicks and perfect your techniques.
2. Choose a Punching Bag That Is Made of Durable, Heavy-Duty Materials
A punching bag is made to last and is a one-time investment for most people. Choose a bag that is durable and can endure the stress that you put it under while training.
The materials you choose should depend on the area you live in. Your punching bag should be made out of strong and effective materials against your local weather.
For example, a thicker material would be more suitable for cold areas to prevent the bag from freezing. In warmer climates, a thinner material would be adequate as it will need to stay cool under the heat.
3. Choose a Punching Bag That Has Good Padding
To keep your hands and knuckles safe from injuries, choose a bag that has the right amount of padding. Insufficient amounts of padding in a punching bag will lead to hand injuries and joint pains in the long run.
4. Choose a Punching Bag That Is Easy to Clean
Cleaning your bag properly is an essential aspect of making your punching bag last as long as possible. Choose a bag that can be maintained with ease so that you can regularly carry out maintenance and make your bag last longer.
Leather bags are the most difficult to clean and maintain and last the longest. Synthetic bags are easier to clean but don’t last as long.
5 Best Outdoor Punching Bags
The market nowadays is flooded with boxing gear from different brands and qualities. You need to make a decision based on your location, intensity of training, and nature of the workout. Buying an optimal bag keeping in mind all of these aspects can be tricky. Here’s how you identify the right bag for you.
There are three main types: leather, synthetic, and canvas. Leather bags are the most durable and typically cost more than synthetic or canvas bags, but they can be challenging to maintain. Synthetic bags are a cheaper alternative and easier to keep but don’t last as long as leather bags.
Canvas bags are generally less expensive than either leather or synthetic bags, but they don’t last as long as either type of bag. Canvas bags are recommended for casual training and low-intensity workouts.
You can also opt for free-standing punching bags; you don’t have to hang them in a specific spot and move them around with ease, making free-standing bags the best alternative for outdoor sparring and training.
Here is a list of 5 of the best outdoor punching bags in the market:
- Everlast 70-Pound MMA Heavy-Bag Kit
- RDX Punching Bag Set
- RORALA Free Standing Punching Bag
- Outslayer Punching Bag
- Everlast Omniflex Freestanding Heavy Bag
Conclusion
The decision to purchase a punching bag suitable to your own unique needs depends on a multitude of factors. You need to carefully analyze each one of them and then purchase your punching bag so that it fulfills your requirements and lasts you a long time.
Always keep in mind the location where you want to set up the bag, local weather conditions, durability, build quality/material of the bag, and the nature of your training before buying one.
Read and follow the maintenance instructions carefully to get maximum utility out of the bag and to make it last for years to come.