Punchbag advice please!

[AngeloftheNorth]

My 17 year old son is dropping fairly heavy hints that he'd like a punchbag for Christmas and he has pointed out which one he'd prefer in the Argos catalogue. Does anybody know if they come ready-to-use or do they need filling with something? The catalogue doesn't give me any clues.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[FraserLFA]

The water filled ones will need filling, the rest should come ready filled. Just make sure it comes with hanging equipment so he's not left disappointed

[Lost_BMW]

I have had very many over the years starting with my dad's evil old thing so compressed that I'm amazed we didn't break our hands as small kids.

I don't know the Argos range but would urge caution and suggest visiting or at least looking at the catalogues of reputable boxing suppliers as there are so many factors to take account of.

For example what is his experience, the intended use, his size/weight, how it will be mounted etc. Getting the wrong one might be frustrating if it swings wildly all over the place (too light, chains too long etc.), could wear out quickly if poorly specced and used seriously or a danger to hands and wrists, particularly, if too hard (poor quality material and filling or too heavy for his experience level)

I've tried 3 different water filled one, for me and for my young kids and non lasted the proverbial 5 minutes. A great idea in principle for relative safety and 'feel' but the only one I'd now consider is the Everlast H2O or Hydro Strike model but I've only ever seen one place that supplies these in the UK.

http://www.sport-tiedje.co.uk/everlast/boxsport/bo...

Ultimately as with most things you get what you pay for. I really rate my Ampro bag (an 'uppercut bag' with some shaping) and the Everlast, Protech and TKO bags I have or have used.

I'd also buy him some hand wraps as well as bag gloves to reduce the risk of hand problems,often overlooked - I was often too lazy to bother in my home gym, for 'quickie' workouts, and had bad knuckle problems for a while

You might want to look at the following websites, I've used all as suppliers with no problems.

http://www.boxfituk.com/

http://www.sugarrays.co.uk/shop/

http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/punch_bags/100...

http://www.bbe-boxing.com/index.asp

Good luck!

[Halb]

I know some of those sites
I fancy buying one next year and have sort of decided on this one.
http://www.boxfituk.com/punch-bags/lonsdale-39-col...
Anyone got any news on it? I wanted the heaviest I could find. Does anyone know of a tougher/heavier one?

[ShadownINja]

Just fill it with gravel and it'll be heavy. And you'll be a man.

ETA: this was obviously written with tongue in cheek. If you end up with a broken wrist, don't blame me.

Edited by ShadownINja on Friday 4th December 12:13

[Devilstreak]

ShadownINja said:

Just fill it with gravel and it'll be heavy. And you'll be a man.

Funny you should say that, the one in our garage is part filled with sand and old jeans, hence why I have just 1 long flat knuckle these days instead of 4..

[Halb]

ShadownINja said:

Just fill it with gravel and it'll be heavy. And you'll be a man.

ETA: this was obviously written with tongue in cheek. If you end up with a broken wrist, don't blame me.

Edited by ShadownINja on Friday 4th December 12:13

Hmm gravel you say...
Do you have a bag? Can you slip some weights in there?
I have some addidas wraps, these and some 18oz and 22oz sparring gloves. So my wrists are usually well looked after.

[Lost_BMW]

Halb said:

I know some of those sites
I fancy buying one next year and have sort of decided on this one.
http://www.boxfituk.com/punch-bags/lonsdale-39-col...
Anyone got any news on it? I wanted the heaviest I could find. Does anyone know of a tougher/heavier one?

Looks like it would be plenty heavy enough!

I had a TaoSport Monster bag until recently - around 55 Kg and very wide (the widest circumference on offer allegedly - ultimately its undoing as it took up too much space). It wasn't too hard and no more likely to cause injury tan most bags I've sued but the problems might be how you'd mount it.

My bags are all mounted in a garage gym and all done by a pro builder but they (the bolts/brackets/fixing supplied with long threaded screws/bolts and nylon rawl plugs) still used to come loose even though I tightened them regularly and in the summer my uppercut bag fell on my head, bracket and all during one session.

He's now mounted them on blocks of wood using more fixings and rawl/coach bolts rather than plugs. No problems now!

Edited by Lost_BMW on Saturday 5th December 09:00

[XitUp]

Boxing or kickboxing/muay thai?

If the later get a fairtex banana bag.

[Halb]

TaoSport sounds interesting.
Also looked at the fairtex, but do you fill it yourself?

[Lost_BMW]

Halb said:

TaoSport sounds interesting.
Also looked at the fairtex, but do you fill it yourself?

Not the Tao Sport one, if that's one you meant. The Tao Sport bag was very, very well made and stood up to all sorts whereas my Ampro Uppercut bag (which I do like and still use) split along seams after about 3 weeks of hooks/uppercuts.

[AngeloftheNorth]

Thanks for all the advice. Much appreciated....