Best Speed Bag Reviews 2018

The amount of money you can afford to spend on a product goes a long way in determining the type of product you end up with. The more expensive products usually come with more features and better designs than less expensive ones. Nowadays, there are almost always several varieties of any product with different feature combinations, so you’re likely to get a product with the features you need at a price that’ll suit your budget.

The speed bags reviewed here range from about $20 to $40, which are competitive and affordable prices from renowned brands featured in this review. While conducting our research, we stumbled on some cheap speed bags made from not-so-reliable materials which are likely to fall apart in no time and could lead to injuries. We decided to ignore them and present only trusted products and brands to you.

Choosing and buying a top performing speed bag may not be an easy feat, but once you understand the key features your selection process becomes quite simplified.

Here are some of the important features to look out for:

• Size of the speed bag
• Type of swivel
• Material
• Construction
• Extra features
• Shape

Speed bags are physical fitness tools designed for boxing or other combative sports and activities requiring fast hands. Every speed bag is constructed with three major parts, which are the bladder, the loop, and the shell.

The bladder is found in the interior of the bag and is inflated from time to time to give the speed bag its rigid shape.

The loop is, maybe, the most important part of the speed bag as it serves to connect the bag to the swivel, which then attaches to the support. If the loop frays and cuts, the speed bag is as good as useless.

The last part is the shell, which is the outermost part where all the punches are landed. This part is made with a material that’s tough, and at the same won’t injure the hands and knuckles.

The shell or outer covering of a speed bag is most often made from leather, as a leather-bound speed bag - although more expensive - slows the speed of the bag’s rebound and has a better texture with a slightly softer “give” that’s mild on the hands. All these features are great for a beginner and thus make leather-bound speed bags more preferable than other options.

Other materials for the shell include synthetic materials and polyurethane which are cheaper, but give a harder feel and faster rebounds. So, if you require fast rebounds or reaction from your speed bag, you should go for a speed bag with a synthetic or polyurethane shell.

Speed bags come in different sizes which are oftentimes designed in line with the level of expertise of the users. There are 3 main sizes of speed bags.

We have those in the 11 x 8 inch to 14 x 9 inch range, which are the biggest sizes meant for beginners because of their manageability and reduced speed to help build endurance and speed. The speed bags in the mid-sized range of between 9 x 6 to 10 x 7 inches are for more experienced users, while the smallest sizes ranging from 6.5 x 4, 7 x 4, to 8 x 5 inches are for super-fast professional users who have mastered the proper techniques and styles.

Generally, the smaller the speed bag, the faster the rebounds and the shorter the reaction time. So, needless to say that you should check the size of the speed bag you wish to buy to ensure you’re going for the one that will be most compatible with your skills and level of training.

A typical speed bag is designed in a teardrop shape, with the tapering end bearing the loop and swivel for attachment to an overhead support. Outside the teardrop shape, a speed bag can have a double-end design, which gives added stability to the bag because you get to fasten it from the floor below and to the roof above. Another less common shape is the banana shape which is referred to as the “Mexican shape”, where the speed bag is much narrower than the traditional teardrop-shaped speed bag.

Setting up a speed bag is relatively easy and although it’s something that you can do on your own, you’ll still need some form of instruction or guidance. Most manufacturers include a setup manual in their product package, as well as things like bungee cords, metal O-rings, buckles, and straps for easy and reliable setup and fixing. Once your speed bag is securely fixed to the overhead support, you can then happily punch away as much as you’d like.

A swivel is the joint where the speed bag is hooked and then attached to the roof and it controls the movement and rebound of the bag, and thus the general performance of the bag rests on it. There are different types of swivels and each type plays a big role in the performance of the speed bag attached to it.

The ball hook swivel is popular among beginners and although it jumps, forcing you to hit with the precise trajectory, it slightly slows the bag’s movement and allows hitting or punching from all angles. It also has a special sound that goes rather well with music, which makes the workout much more fulfilling.

The U-hook swivels respond poorly to hits from the sides, but don’t jump. They’re quite easy to adjust and disassemble, although it might require more effort or the use of pliers to remove the pin.

Chain link swivels allow the speed bag to move in all directions with extremely fast rebounds and reactions. It’s best suited for speed work, but doesn’t perform well for precision or accuracy workouts.

A speed bag with a leather-bound shell can be used with bare hands without sustaining injuries because of its softer “give” on impact. On the other hand, a synthetic or polyurethane-bound bag has a hard plastic feel which can injure your hands, and can be used only with gloves or hand wraps.

A great performing speed bag is well-balanced with measured and smooth rebounds for better coordination, improved reflexes, and higher precision. Most speed bags have their bladder inlet at the top of the bag, making it somewhat difficult to access the bladder for changing or refilling.

Others have theirs at the side so you can easily reach the bladder for refilling or changing. Also, the smaller speed bags require less bladder fill-up time, unlike the bigger ones. You may want to go for smaller speed bags if you don’t need the hassle of having to constantly fill up the bladder.

For enhanced durability, most speed bags feature triple-reinforced seams or welted seams which ensure the shell stays together for longer without tearing apart. Some even feature careful, resilient, and top-notch hand stitches. Most of them have either a single or double layer of textile material underneath the shell for increased durability and performance.