Incorporating a punching bag into your workout routine can greatly improve your upper body strength. Not to mention, well-executed punching bag workouts are an excellent way to burn extra calories and shed fat.
There are many different types of punching bags available on the market. Many types must be suspended onto solid furniture or ceilings, which is not always convenient. Plus, good quality punching bags can weigh anywhere from 50 to 150 lbs, so this can be quite heavy to hang.
Freestanding punching bags are a great alternative, since they do not need to be installed and can therefore easily be moved around. Keep reading to learn more about freestanding punching bags and the best models you can buy in Canada.
What is a Freestanding Punching Bag?
A punching bag is a piece of sporting equipment that is designed to simulate boxing. A freestanding punching bag is basically a punching bag that’s suspended on a stand instead of the ceiling.
There are many advantages to opting for a freestanding punching bag instead of a floor-to-ceiling bag. For example, they’re easier to setup, more portable, and are great for practicing lower body strikes.
The Best Freestanding Punching Bags For Beginners in Canada in 2025
Here are the best beginner freestanding punching bags available in Canada in 2025.
Century Wavemaster XXL Freestanding Punching Bag
The Century Wavemaster XXL bag is durable and great for heavy bag workouts. Its solid build is designed to withstand consistent punches and kicks without getting damaged. Its thick padding is suitable for powerful strikes and at a high speed.
In terms of size, the bag is almost 6 feet in height, comparable to a large adult. It’s easy to assemble and you won’t need any tools to set it up. The bag can be filled with water or sand in order to give it a general base weight of around 270 pounds. Sand is always recommended.
Another great feature of the Wavemaster XXL bag is its lightweight and round base that makes it easy to move around. Once the bottom of the bag is filled with sand, it won’t move around much when striked. The bag is available in blue, red, or black.
Dripex Heavy Freestanding Punching Bag
The Dripex Freestanding Punching Bag is an affordable yet highly durable bag. The bag has a sturdy base that is suctioned to the ground with the help of twelve suction cups. The base can be filled with sand or water for extra stability.
Another great feature of the Dripex bag is its stainless steel stand that’s covered in thick PU leather, a fabric buffer, and dense EPE foam. It also has a unique shock absorbing system that allows it to recoil after an impact and minimizes noise.
The bag is almost 6 feet tall, making it a great choice for people up to 6-foot tall. While it’s a highly stable bag, we would not recommend this bag for someone on the heavier side delivering powerful punches and kicks.
RDX Freestanding Punching Bag
The RDX Freestanding Punching Bag is another affordable punching bag. The bag is made from multi-layered Maya hide, one of the toughest synthetic leathers available. Similar to the Dripex bag above, the base is suctioned to the floor with 17 suction cups. For added stability, the base can be filled with sand or water, but sand is always recommended. A benefit of the RDX bag is that its base legs can be extended outwards for extra stability if needed.
To help you practice specific strikes and techniques, the bag has enumerated target zones. The bag’s high-density foam padding and shock-absorbing base connector allows it to withstand even the most powerful strikes.
Overall, RDX’s punching bag is a great value. With its enumerated training blueprint, it’s suitable for a mix of more experienced boxers and amateurs. Since its XXL model is 6-feet tall, you won’t have to worry about being too tall or short for the bag.
Protocol Heavy-Duty Punching Ball With Stand
The Protocol Punching Ball is heavy-duty and the most budget-friendly option on this list. It’s an excellent option if you’re looking for a punching bag for practicing a mix of punches and uppercuts. Since it’s only a punching ball, you obviously cannot practice strikes to the body with this type of bag.
The ball is made from solid and durable EVA foam which allows it to withstand powerful strikes without getting damaged. The base can be filled with either sand or water to help maintain stability. The punching ball’s stand is easily height-adjustable and it comes with a pair of adjustable Protocol boxing gloves. As a heavy-duty model, this ball is firmer than their beginner punching ball.
A benefit of this punching ball is that it’s lightweight and easier to move around your home compared to other free-standing punching bags.
Century Fitness XL Body Opponent Bag (BOB)
The Century Fitness BOB is an excellent choice if you’re looking to practice more precise punches and kicks. Compared to practicing with a standard freestanding punching bag, the experience is much more realistic and engaging. The bag’s height can easily be adjusted up to almost 7 feet.
Similar to most free-standing bags, it can be filled with either sand or water and can be set up pretty much anywhere in your home. When not in use, the bag can be emptied and rolled up for compact storage.
The bag has a human-like design that enables you to target your strikes to specific areas of the head or torso. This makes it great for both amateur and experienced boxers who want to train from home in a more realistic setting. The BOB essentially simulates a real-life boxing opponent or training partner.
Benefits Freestanding Punching Bags
Punching bags with stands or freestanding punching bags are convenient since they don’t have to be installed onto your ceiling or mounted onto furniture. For that reason, the punching bag can be set up and moved around your space more conveniently.
Since the punching bag stand’s base is solid and weighted, the bag will not fall over, no matter how powerful your punch or kick is. Overall, freestanding punching bags are convenient and provide a realistic boxing experience due to the bag’s rebound when you strike it.
The Different Types of Punching Bags
There are many types of punching bags on the market in Canada today. Your choice of punching bag will largely depend on what you plan on using it for.
Punching bags differ in size, weight, shape, material, and many other factors. Some of the basic punching bag types include:
Freestanding Punching Bags
Freestanding punching bags are known for their lack of installation required and portability. Instead of being suspended from the ceiling, freestanding punching bags remain stable thanks to their heavy base. Since they are not installed onto a ceiling, they can easily be moved around and or stored in a closet when not in use.
A freestanding bag is known for its heavy center of gravity, which allows it to remain in its position regardless of how powerful your punch or kick is.
Standard Heavy Hanging Bags
Hanging punching bags are designed to be suspended from a ceiling or a solid fixture. These types of punching bags are perfect for smaller workout spaces since they don’t take up as much space.
Hanging punching bags are more suitable for punches, jabs, hooks, and crosses.
Speed Punching Bags
Speed punching bags are mostly used for intense, fast punching workout sessions. They are filled with air and are a bit lighter. It helps if you have a short spring to mount it on, that way it returns to you quickly when you hit it, hence the name speed bag.
As opposed to building strength, the speed punching bag is used to develop speed and stamina.
Wall punching bags
Wall-mounted punching bags are useful for those with limited space in their workout area. These bags are typically square-shaped and much lighter. Since they’re designed to be mounted on a wall, they won’t rebound.
Wall bags are great for practicing uppercuts, since they have a thick upper section.
Water Punching Bags
Instead of material or air, water punching bags are filled with gallons of water. Water punching bags are designed to make you feel like you’re hitting a real person. They don’t require any maintenance, and you can fill them up with water easily.
Body Opponent Bags (a.k.a BOB)
A body opponent punching bag is similar to a standing bag, however, it’s shaped like a man’s upper body. Since it’s mounted on the floor, the bag rebounds when you strike it, making it a more realistic experience.
A BOB is a great punching bag for practicing kicks and punches.
What to Consider When Buying a Freestanding Punching Bag?
The Bag’s Weight
The first thing you need to consider when buying a punching bag is the weight of the bag. To get the perfect sized bag for your body type, simply divide your weight by two. The resulting weight is what you should look for in a punching bag.
For example, if you weigh 175 lbs, it means you’ll need a 87 lbs bag. If you weigh 100 lbs, you’ll need a 50 lbs bag.
Your Workout Goals
Why are you buying a punching bag? What workout goals do you want to achieve? Are you looking to workout with it or are you practicing boxing techniques?
Since there are many different types of punching bags on the market, it’s important to have an idea of how you’ll be using the bag in order to make the best choice.
If your aim is to develop more speed, you should opt for a light punching bag. If you hope to build muscle strength and power, you should opt for a heavy bag that’s over 40 pounds.
Your Experience Level
Are you new to boxing or have you fought in the ring before? Your experience level with boxing is important as you determine the type of punching bag to buy.
If you’re just starting off and lack the strength to throw powerful punches, you’ll be better off with a lighter bag.
If you have experience with striking and have the strength for it, a heavier punching bag could be suitable for you.
Filled or Unfilled Bags
Before you choose a punching bag, you’ll have to choose between the filled and unfilled bags. Filled bags are already pre-filled with material from the factory. Once you buy them, you can start using them immediately.
Whereas for the unfilled bags, you can decide what to fill them with. You can choose to put rice, sand, sawdust, and many other types of materials.
What Are Freestanding Punching Bags Used For?
Freestanding punching bags are convenient for practicing boxing or kick boxing techniques without needing a partner. Since you’re punching a bag, you don’t have to worry about hurting anyone either. Punching bags are also useful for building strength and imporving cardio. When used safely on a regular basis, punching bags can enhance your overall health and fitness level.
Whenever you hit a punching bag, you’re directly testing your strength and stamina levels. The heavier the bag, the greater the resistance. A greater resistance when punching will help you build muscle and strengthen your core.
