How to pick out the correct heavy bag?

[VirusDoctor]

Hey SaddoBoxing,

I'm new to these forums and relatively new to the sport, so bare with me.

I'm looking into buying a heavy bag to work on at home, I went to a free bootcamp boxing class my local gym offered but due to school starting I won't be able to go anymore. I'm self taught for now.

How do I pick out a heavy bag that would best suit my needs?

[Jun Chang]

Since you are new to the sport, I suggest a bag that has some "give" to it. You will get as much
power-building from a bag with some "give" as with a bag that is much firmer. Boxing gyms usually have bags of various firmness ranging from some that have "give" to some that are packed so tight that they are almost like pounding concrete.
Your hands and tendons are going to need some time to adapt to impact from heavy bag work, so I would start gradually for the first 5 or 6 workouts.

A bag with equal density throughout the surface, about 100 pounds, is perfectly fine. A lot of pros have worked with 100 pound bags their entire career. You can get much heavier ones , however they won't necessarily give you better results.

[SugarBoxing]

Since you are new to the sport, I suggest a bag that has some "give" to it. You will get as much
power-building from a bag with some "give" as with a bag that is much firmer.

I second that. Second hand bag is a smart movie. You may quit as the other guy after sometime, who knows...

[0james0]

I inherited a kick boxing bag and it's far too heavy and solid for me. If I don't land a punch correctly it hurts.

Fortunately, the higher area is slightly less full now, so has more give, but it has been a painful learning process.

I can't stress enough, don't get a bag too solid while you are learning as you will break your wrist, hand, thumb/ what ever else you hit it with while you are throwing bad punches!

[donnydarkoIRL]

The bag is a fitness tool rather than a boxing aid unless you use it properly.

No need to go spending money on a bag if its technique you want to develop.

[VirusDoctor]

Thanks for the feedback guys, I'll be purchasing a 100-lb heavy bag. I'm using the bag mainly as a fitness tool since it's a crazy cardio.