How to Make Your Own Punching Bag at Home

Punching bags are widely used in martial arts and combat training by which, designed to be punched repeatedly.  Basically, it is used by boxers to enhance their striking skills, physical endurance and aerobics conditioning.  But nowadays, there are wide varieties of contact sports that has using punching bags as their basic training famously, Jujitsu, Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwando, and Kick boxing.

There are different kinds and shapes available out there in the market but will cost you a lot of cash and ending up with a duct tape.  The largely used type is the heavy bag which can be a round or cylindrically shaped bag filled with play sand or grains of you don’t have one.  So basically, we will tackle on how to create your own cheap punching bag at home made up of durable materials.

First thing you should do is to gather all the material that you’ll need:

1.   Casing/Shell – The cheapest and durable material that you can find is an army sacks.  These can hold up to 50 kilograms of mass.  You can also use canvass or leather, it is up to you what materials you are going to use but our goal here is to make a “cheap” and somehow durable kind that can withstand any amount of force. 

2.   Fabric protector – Scotchgard by 3M is widely used to protect carpets, furniture, and fabrics from any destructive stains.  Since the casing is made up of fabric, scotchgard plays a significant role for the durability of the punching bag.

3.   Garbage bag – This will keep the moisture out from the sand that may harden the insides of the bag.

4.   Padding/Foam/Rags – To prevent injury when your knuckles will come in contact with outer layer of the punching bag.

5.   Sand/Filling – Play sand is the most commonly used as fillings.  Even the commercialized manufacturers use sand.  Make sure the sand that you are using is dry because moisture can add weight as you fill up your bag.

6.   Karabiner – It is a loop made up of metal with a sprung.  It is used in sports, industry or in climbing that requires ropework.

7.   Rope/Rubber band – Is used to tie up the bag when you are done filling up the bag in order to secure the insides and to prevent spillage. 

8.   Chains – This is to connect the bag to the ceiling or any where want it to be.

9.   Heavy gauge hooks – Used to hang up the chains/rope from the bag to the ceiling.

Here are some steps that will guide in making your own punching bag:

1.   Buy an army sack that can be found in any army surplus store.  With a cylindrical shape with metal holes for ropes to fit in it. 

2.   Buy playsand and let it dry if it is wet, while roll some of it like ball and wrap it with garbage bag as many layers as you can to prevent it from spilling and set aside.  This will serve as the base of the punching bag.

3.   Scotchgard the army sack that you have just purchased.

4.   Put some pieces of rags or foam on the inside of the bag.

5.   Using trash bags, layer these after the pads enough to line the inside.

6.   Put the rolled sand ball into the bag first and successively put the dried sand.  Make sure that the bag is in an upright position when you’re filling up the bag.  Pack the fillings tight so that it doesn’t get scores or dents when it is used.

7.   Make sure that the filling has been secured.  You can put trash bags at the top of the bag.

8.   Tie the bag with a durable rope tightly.  It is advised to tie the top of the bag with a thick rubber band first then followed by the rope.

9.   Mount the heavy duty chains into the metal holes of the bag.  Make sure the holes are evenly apart.

10.        Attach the chain on to the karabiners or you can directly hang the punching bag on the ceiling using heavy gauge hooks.  Just make sure that the ceiling is strong enough to hold such great amount of mass.

11.        Ask some help from anyone in hanging the bag since it is heavy to prevent your body from straining.

12.        Now there you have it.  Your new but not so expensive punching bag is hanging and it’s ready to be punched. 

Extra Tips:

• Just keep in mind that in time, the materials that you filled inside the bag will settle in the bottom therefore, you will continue filling the inside with the same material from time to time.
• In hanging the bag, it should have enough height in order to get the exact hit.