If you are looking to have a Muay Thai home gym set up and looking to purchase some fight equipment, your search ends here with this article. In this article, I review which are the Best Muay Thai Heavy Bags that are available in the market.
(This is the first in a 3-part Home Training Special series, where I look at equipment that used in Muay Thai and most stand-up combat training.)
What are the Best Muay Thai Heavy Bags?
TL;DR The Best Muay Thai heavy bags should be made using high-quality leather for long-lasting durability. If you are looking to get your first heavy bag for home training, the banana bag (5 to 6-ft) will be the best one to start with.
This is the most versatile and ideal equipment for training Muay Thai at home. It allows you to drill all of Muay Thai weapons including the low kicks which you generally can’t with a standard bag (4-ft).
My pick for the best Muay Thai heavy bags brands are namely Fairtex and Outslayer.
In a hurry? Check my top 5 picks straight away (but I recommend scrolling down to read my detailed reviews to see which bag suits your needs best):
Introduction
Along with shadow boxing, pad work, clinching and sparring, bag work is an important aspect of Muay Thai training. It is an invaluable tool to improve striking skills -if properly utilized.
It is important to note that there are health risks involved due to the impact and hardness of heavy bags, especially for beginners. It is thus important to exercise due diligence and take precautionary steps to avoid injuries, such as hand-wrapping and using gloves with adequate protection for bag work.
When it comes to picking the best Muay Thai heavy bag, there are quite a few different variables that you must consider. However, arguably the most important variable is the type of training bag that you pick.
Different Types of Muay Thai Heavy Bags
One of the main differentiating factors between Muay Thai heavy bags is the different types that are available on the market. These bags have several different features that help set them apart from one another.
Individuals have the options of choosing between the Banana bag, Tear Drop Bag, Traditional Muay Thai heavy bag, among other options.
Each type of training bag serves a specific purpose. Some are more effective for practicing kicking techniques, while others excel at punching. Their positioning also makes a significant difference to the type of training you can perform.
Here’s breakdown of the advantages and disadvantages of each different type of Muay Thai bag that’s available in the market. After that you’ll be able to easily pick the best Muay Thai heavy bag that meets all your needs.
Traditional Muay Thai Heavy Bag
If you’re looking for a heavy bag that can help you cover all the different aspects of training, then a traditional Muay Thai heavy bag is ideal. Their design helps ensure that you can practice your kicking techniques and punching techniques.
The diverse nature of the bag helps ensure that you can practice generating power, while still focusing on your flow and rhythm. There’s no skill requirement for using a traditional Muay Thai heavy bag. Regardless of whether, you’re just starting out with your Muay Thai training or are a seasoned expert, this is the ideal type of heavy bag for all!
Generally, these bags tend to range between 5-6 feet in length and weigh between 60 – 180 pounds. It’s a good idea to go with heavier bags if you’re an advanced Muay Thai fighter. The heavier bag will allow you to develop stronger kicks and punches.
On the other hand, lighter bags are better for beginners because they provide more swing. That’ll help beginners develop the basics of combat movement. For all-round Muay Thai training, there’s no better choice than a traditional Muay Thai heavy bag.
Tear Drop Training Bag
The Tear Drop training bag moves a bit away from the all round training that the traditional heavy bag offers. By using a tear drop training bag, Muay Thai fighters can shift their focus towards throwing knees and uppercuts.
One of the main reasons why the tear drop training bag is so effective is that it’s easily movable. You can shift it around anywhere you require because these types of bags aren’t as heavy as others.
The one main issue with these bags is that they’re not very good for practicing kicks. You can still throw a body kick, but you’ll have to focus more on the overall technique, rather than the power you can generate.
It’s a great option for fighters that want to focus on their knees, uppercuts, and hooks!
Banana Heavy Bag
If you haven’t experienced training in Asia, then there’s a high chance that you’ve never seen this type of heavy bag, Banana heavy bags are exclusively designed for Muay Thai style techniques. These bags are typically 6 feet tall and are slightly heavier than the traditional Muay Thai Heavy bags.
The main reason behind why people choose to go with a banana bags is their length. These bags tend to hang low enough to allow you to throw low kicks. Not only will you be able to throw low kicks, you can use the Banana heavy bag to effectively condition your shins.
However, they don’t offer the same level of versatility as a traditional Muay Thai bag!
Wrecking Ball Training Bag
The main purpose of the wrecking ball training bag is to help individuals improve their boxing ability. While it might not after the same level of versatility as some of the other heavy bags on the list, boxing is a major part of Muay Thai.
If you can fine tune your hands and punching techniques, it can greatly upgrade your overall fighting ability. The wrecking ball training bag is specifically designed to help you upgrade your punching power.
The bag is a great option for Muay Thai fighters that are looking to transition from their sport to MMA or boxing. For fighters that want to transition from Muay Thai to pure boxing or MMA, the wrecking ball training bag is a great idea.
Free Standing Heavy Bag
Lastly, another alternative to all these different types of heavy bags are the free standing heavy bags. Free standing heavy bags don’t require you to mount the heavy bags like all the other options. It’s much easier to move them around and they work well for beginners.
However, if you’re an advanced martial artist, going with a mounted heavy bag option is the best option.
Without much further ado, here are the best Muay Thai heavy bags for home training!
Fairtex Muay Thai Heavy Bag
Over the years, I’ve used many products that belong to the Fairtex brand. If you’re unfamiliar with Fairtex, they’re a combat sports brand that originates from Thailand. They’ve been making world class gear from 1971!
The H6 banana bag is a great option for both beginner and advanced Muay Thai practitioners. You can put the bag through as much punishment as you want without worrying about it tearing. It’s made from a super durable synthetic leather that will ensure it lasts for months.
Additionally, you won’t have to worry about the heavy bag falling off after you mount it properly. The industrial strength nylon web straps will effectively help ensure that there’s no chance of the heavy bag flying out of place.
You can engage in training sessions as rigorous as you want without worrying about the condition of the heavy bag. The straps feature reinforced stitching and there are multiple rivets at different contact points.
The bag itself is supremely comfortable and doesn’t do any damage to your hands or legs. What filling you choose for the bag will also have an impact on the pain that you encounter. If you want to focus on the conditioning, you should fill your heavy bag accordingly.
Overall, the durability and versatility of the HB6 make it one of the best muay thai heavy bags for at home training!
Outslayer Filled Punching Bag
- ⍟ OUTSLAYER ORIGINALS: Train like a pro with the Outslayer Punching Bag for Boxing and MMA. See why our heavy punching bags have been extensively used by pros, boxing and mma gyms, fight camps, as...
- ⍟ QUALITY YOU CAN TRUST: When it comes to kicking and punching practice sessions you want to have the perfect resistance, fill, and comfortable hitting surface. You get all that with this 100 pound...
- ⍟ DURABILITY YOU CAN DEPEND ON: Outslayer heavy bags are recognized worldwide for outstanding quality and durability. If anything happens to your 100 pound heavy bag within 10 years, just shoot us a...
Western combat sports will be more familiar with the Outslayer brand. They’re well known for making some of the best fighting gear on the market. Their 100lb filled punching bag is a great option for anyone that needs a Muay Thai heavy bag for at home training.
The heavy bag is made from high quality vinyl that’s supremely durable and will last a long time. You can trust in the ten year guarantee that Outslayer provides. Regardless of how rigorous your training sessions are, you won’t end up damaging the heavy bag.
One of the main reasons why I quite enjoy the Outslayer heavy bag is that there’s no need to very about sinking. Thanks to the use of vinyl material and the use of fabric filling, you get the ideal density.
You won’t encounter any issues with the bottom of the bag collecting weight and making low kicks more difficult. The professional grade bag is definitely one of the best for your home training.
Ringside Muay Thai Heavy Bag
- Measures: 13-inch x 72-inch | Punching bag is filled to 100 pounds.
- This solid bag made of resilient powerhide construction will hold up to your most powerful assault in your home or commercial gym
- This long full length heavy bag is top quality and highly rated for professional and amateur boxers
The Ringside Muay Thai heavy bag is super resilient and features a powerhide construction. Thanks to the focus on quality you can really let loose during your training sessions. Not even your most powerful assault could do any significant damage to the heavy bag.
One feature which makes the heavy bag ideal for Muay Thai is the length. It’s 6 foot in length and will give you the perfect chance to practice all your skills. Regardless, of whether you wanna focus primarily on your clinch work, or just pure striking, you can do it all on this bag.
The bag is a little harder on the outside than some of the other options on the list. While that may be off-putting for beginners, advanced fighters will prefer to go with a heavy bag that can help improve their conditioning as well as their technique and overall strength!
Combat Sports Muay Thai Punching Bag
- This long full length heavy bag is top quality and highly rated for professional and amateur boxers
- Solid bag made of durable synthetic leather construction is easy to clean and will hold up to your most powerful assault in your home or commercial gym
- Punching bag is filled to 100 pounds and measures 13-inch x 72-inch with heavy duty chain included
The Combat Sports Muay Thai punching heavy bag is a great option for both professional and amateur fighters. It features a very durable leather construction, that ensures that it’s easy to clean and will be able to hold its own against any damage that your throw
It’s a super accessible bag and you can easily hang it up inside the gym or at home. Wherever you perform your training, the combat sports Muay Thai punching bag will help you get through even the most intense training sessions.
You won’t have to worry about any sort of filling as the punching bag comes in pre-filled. It weighs in about 100 pounds and has an effective length of 6 feet tall. The length means that you can easily focus on practicing all different kinds of techniques. However, you can easily open up the zip and adjust the filling accordingly.
The heavy bag has a certain amount of weight to it so it’ll not only help you develop great techniques, but it’s also really good for building strength and conditioning your muscles properly.
PROLAST Wrecking Ball Heavy Bag
- Heavy-duty weatherproof punching bag with a triple backstitched reinforced exterior that can handle a beating at home or the gym
- Perfect for different angles of punches such as hooks and uppercuts, as well as for practicing head movement, slipping, and footwork
- Filled with high quality shredded cotton fabric; Remove filling to adjust the stiffness of the bag as needed, ideal for beginners to experts
The traditional Muay Thai heavy bag isn’t the only option that’s available to fighters. If you want more boxing focused training, then the Prolast wrecking ball heavy bag is a good option. It’s a teardrop heavy bag that’s ideal if you want to switch to more focused training.
Just because it’s smaller in size, that doesn’t mean that you’ll just punch through this bag no problem. It features a heavy-duty weatherproof faux leather exterior. All the filling is kept inside securely, thanks too the triple backstitched exterior. It can effectively handle even the most vicious beating that you can manage.
You don’t even have to worry about any sort of filling with this heavy bag. It comes pre-filled with a high quality shredded cotton fabric. If you feel like the bag’s too stiff for you in the start, then you can easily solve the issue by removing excess fabric.
It may not be the best for practicing kicks and other Muay Thai techniques, but for pure punching. The Prolast wrecking ball heavy bag is a great option.
Everlast 70-Pound Canvas Heavy Bag
- Shell constructed from super tough and rugged poly canvas. Perfect size for the Mixed Martial Artist looking to work on their punching and kicking
- Specially blended filler provides resilient shock absorbency
- Double End attachment for greater resistance
Muay Thai isn’t just for adults to practice. Kids and teenagers alike can also engage in Muay Thai training. The outer shell is made from a really rugged and durable poly canvas. It’s the ideal size to allow juniors to practice both punching and kicking.
The filling inside contains special blend of different fabrics that play an effective role in shock absorption. Once you start throwing combos on the bag, you’ll realize that the feedback is great. It’ll help you with both your technique and overall conditioning as well.
It features an adjustable chain that allows you to set the heavy bag to your preferred height. You won’t have to worry much about the bag falling off because it also comes with a very secure mounting mechanism!
Conclusion
On days when you have to skip training due to work, school or other commitments, having a heavy bag to return to at the end of the day is simply a savior. Just 15-20 minutes of intense bag work may be all you need to keep you .
Being able to practise the new moves at home that you picked up from your instructors can really help sink them in. As they say, practice makes perfect.
With the COVID-19 situation resulting in gym closures and lockdown around the world, home training is now more important than ever. Now may be the time to consider getting that home gym set up.
More than any other gear, the Muay Thai heavy bag is the best to start with since training can be performed in solitude.
Chok dee!
Really good article with lots of detail and honest recommendations. Thank you.
Thank you Calco! Glad you found it useful. 🙂
Are there any freestanding bags worth their weight? Or are hanging bags the only way to go?
Hi Jason. Thank you for your query and I added my opinion comparing the two different set-ups in the article. Freestanding bags cost a lot more than heavy bags but you end up paying for an inferior training experience. Freestanding bags may be easier to set up but overall, there are too many advantages of training with hanging bags that it makes very little sense to get a freestanding one. Hope that helps you in making your decision.