July 5, 2017 0:00
// Boxing and martial arts
Many athletes when buying a boxing bag face the following questions: “Which option is better?”, “What are the differences between home and gym models?”, “How to determine the desired weight?” and so on. They are quite justified, since the effectiveness of training depends on the smallest details. In this article we will reveal the secrets of choosing a bag for boxing.
Weight
Let’s start with the weight. It is considered that a heavy sports equipment is better. This is not quite true. Of course, weight is an important criterion, it is interrelated with the athlete’s body weight. However, with the development of the sports industry, this indicator gradually faded into the background. The main thing in modern models is stuffing.
High-quality filler, even with a small bag weight, perfectly absorbs shocks and contributes to the stability of the target in one place. That is, after the blow, she does not fly around the room. This effect has been achieved for many years by combining rubber crumbs and sand. At the same time, the big disadvantage was excessive rigidity, which increased the risk of injury. Now other technologies are used in the production of sports equipment.
When we talk about home workouts, the first thing you should pay attention to is the limited space. Most likely, the projectile will sometimes need to be removed, so the heavy option in this case is not entirely appropriate. Too light a bag from blows will sway, which will not allow you to work out the necessary blows qualitatively. Plus, it can damage surrounding objects. It is better to choose the “golden mean”. The optimal weight is considered to be equal to the weight of a person.
For a gym, this recommendation is not entirely correct, since several athletes will train. In this case, a heavy bag is the most acceptable option. Models weighing 90-100 kg are designed for testing power equipment by experienced boxers. Beginners are at risk of getting hand injuries.
Filler
The stuffing of the bag ensures its rigidity. Previously, sand was mainly used as a filler. Now manufacturers prefer softer elastic structures: thyrsa, gel, textiles, rags, foam crumb. There are combined options — textiles + gel, foam + gel and others. Sand can be used as a weighting agent.
Amateur models, however, as well as professional ones, can be filled with any of the listed materials of different quality. If we talk about such well-known brands as V’NOCKS and RDX, then in their lines of boxing bags there are very decent options for home corner equipment for training. As for the model range for experienced athletes, it is impossible to pass by the copies from Firetex, Cleto Reyes and BenLee. This is the perfect combination of quality, shock-absorbing properties and practicality.
Case
Another important point is the material from which the bag cover is made. For the home, it is most often leatherette, PVC fabric. They are cheaper, and at the same time they are quite resistant to working out blows. In terms of wear resistance, they are, of course, inferior to natural leather, belt leather and leather vinyl. The latter are used in the manufacture of bags of professional level, they are distinguished by a long service life even in the case of the most intensive operation.
Mounting system
There are several different sets for attaching a boxing bag on sale: rope, chain, sling tapes. The first option is designed for light models up to 40 kg. All bags that weigh more are attached to a chain structure made of steel rings with a hook at the end or sling tapes. Bags for professionals are fixed precisely through such systems. They are reliable and withstand any loads.
Height
In the gym, this criterion does not play a special role. The most suitable is a projectile with a height of 1.2 m. But at home, in the absence of high ceilings, you will have to be content with reduced models. Fortunately, there are options on sale, starting from 60 cm.
