Best Speed Bags for Apartment (Including Doorway bags)

There is something interesting in the sound and rhythm a speed bag makes when being struck by a professional striker. It becomes almost like a chant. Such a fundamental piece of equipment, yet you can achieve amazing results with it. 

Maybe it’s time to pump a little air into your daily routine with a new piece of equipment. If you want to start your journey into the world of martial arts, what better place than the comfort of your own home? And if you are living in an apartment a speed bag is a perfect choice to work on your agility. 

Here are the best speed bags for apartment living.

The Top 5 speed bags for apartment

Cleto Reyes stands as one of the best manufacturers of boxing equipment out there, and with this bag, they yet again prove why they are at the top. This Cleto Reyes bag is the overall best pick because of the build quality and the fact it is hand-made, with only a somewhat higher price. The best doorway bag for apartment use.

The build quality and consistency of this bag allow for it to deliver a highly balanced and smooth response when rebounding. It behaves in the way that you’d expect when hitting it from different angles. The bag is made from genuine leather and you can feel with every stitch and welting on the bag that the craftsman that built the bag had durability and reliability in mind. Unlike some other bags, it is more durable because of its tight build.

The bladder of this bag is made of latex. Choosing latex as the material for the bladder allows the bag to be lightweight and quicker, but a little less durable than rubber.

Cleto Reyes includes a spare bladder with their bag, so when your bag deflates, and that is going to happen if you are using it regularly, you can just replace it with the spare bladder. Easy to install, this bag comes in 4 sizes and three colors; the stand out color is the Mexican flag.

Anyone with the least interest in boxing or any other category of martial arts should definitely consider getting this bag for their apartment. If you have the money to afford a high-quality bag, then Cleto Reyes may be the best for you. It delivers excellent durability, quality, and performance.

The RDX speed bag lands in second place on this list because of its quality and unlike some other products on the market, or on this list, it comes with a patented high-quality swivel which is perfect for apartment use and small space. It has all of the components to be hung, for a very affordable price.  

The bag comes with a high-quality stainless steel swivel that is constructed to hold the bag and to last as long as possible.

The bag’s outer material is made of quality cowhide leather and it has four layers of poly cotton fabrics around the bladder that extend the lifespan of the bag. The combination of the two materials makes the bag light and prevents the bag from tearing when absorbing a huge amount of strikes. The bag has a great rebound.

The bladder maintains its original shape and form for a long time. Being made out of rubber the shock absorption is greatly increased. A double-lined hanging strap is a great feature that alongside riveted attachment provides amazing durability. 

This bag is not just for boxers, it can be utilized by different striking practitioners. No matter if you are a beginner or a professional athlete this bag is a great choice for your apartment. It is great as an MMA punching bag. 

Pro Impact speed bag deserves the number 3 on this list with the simple fact that it managed to combine genuine leather with an affordable price, something you don’t see very often when buying professional striking equipment. This bag is affordable, of solid build, yet simple and effective, perfect for apartment use. 

As the bag is made out of leather, which is highly preferred, it is soft when striking it but not slippery at the same time. This allows you to work out for hours without the chance of injuring your skin. Additionally, the bag has triple reinforced seams that are welted to increase the bag’s integrity and durability. 

The stand out feature is the pear-shaped design. This design is great for rapid recoiling. It helps with your hand-eye coordination as the pear-shaped design provides easy targeting with an amazing rebound, that way you can fire your combinations without messing up your rhythm.  

Still, on the subject of construction, the Pro Impact is fitted with a heavy-duty tough latex bladder so you can make countless hits without having to inflate it mid-session. 

The affordability, size, and quality of this Pro Impact bag make it a good recommendation for beginners who are serious about training martial arts and improving their reflexes and hand to eye coordination. Great piece of equipment for an apartment.  

One of the bigger bags on this list, the Hunter bag comes as the best choice for beginners with several features it contains. One thing to notice is that this bag comes with its own swivel. That saves you the fuss of buying accessories needed to hang the bag in your apartment. 

The HUNTER bag is manufactured using solid genuine leather material which provides long-lasting durability. The leather is durable and can resist tears even after long periods of use. The stitching and lacing all throughout also make sure the lifespan of the ball is not cut short. The resilient stitching increases the overall performance of the product. The seams provide solidity, firmness, and strength.

The insides of the ball contain a latex bladder that provides for lighter and faster performance than traditional rubber bladders. HUNTER bags are hand-made, a feature worth mentioning. Also, a good feature that increases the durability of the bag is the double-lined hanging strap.

The bag is only available in one size and it weighs about 1 pound which is much more than other bags on this list. It’s a big speed bag that doesn’t recoil extremely fast, and that makes it perfect for beginners. It is slower so you can focus more on your technique and movement. Excellent for practice in small apartment spaces.

If you’re looking for an affordable yet reliable bag that will help you evolve your training in the comfort of your apartment, this bag from Meister is the one you should get. 

The bag is made of genuine cowhide leather, a material that is durable and easy to maintain at the same time. It is made to last as the leather resists against tearing, and it won’t crack or break so easily, even if you tee off on it regularly. Such a strong construction allows you to inflate the bag to a relatively high pressure, which makes the ball faster and swifter. 

It features a lightweight inner bladder made of latex that offers faster performance. It is perfectly balanced and centered to provide predictability, accuracy, and consistent rebounds, lowering your risk of getting injured by not hitting it properly. 

This ball is also available in three sizes, ranging from small to large, so you’ll get to pick the perfect one according to your needs and the size of your apartment. It features a loop made of the same quality leather that allows you to easily hang it on the wall. 

As it is a budget pick on this list, the Meister SpeedKills is the best choice for beginner strikers that don’t have a lot of money to invest in their first bag. This bag can be the jumping stone for you to practice and sharpen your skills in your apartment, before purchasing a more expensive one.

How to Choose the best speed bag for a small area

It is clear that having a heavy bag in your apartment is not such a good idea, so getting a small bag is a perfect choice. The first thing when getting a punching bag for your apartment is to know how you are going to use it and what martial art you are going to practice. If you are training in boxing, kickboxing, Karate, or Muay Thai, you probably know that all of these martial arts incorporate different ways of striking (1).

Next are the materials. Speed bags are most commonly made of outer materials such as plastic, PVC, vinyl, cloth, canvas, or leather. The most expensive and the best quality bags are made out of leather, but if you are looking for something more affordable synthetic leather is your choice. 

Most punching bags come with filled shredded fabric. The bag should be light and filled with a bladder that is inflated. The bladder is most commonly made from rubber or latex. These materials work best with providing shock absorption. The bladder is replaced after long periods of use.

Types of punching bags for small spaces

There are different types of punching bags, with various sizes and weights. A heavy bag is good for developing muscles and power, while a lighter bag will help develop speed. Also, there are polyvalent sacks, polyvalent are ideal when training in places where it is not possible to hang the sack.

As heavy bags are usually big and weigh a lot, a speed bag should be your choice when training in small spaces such as a small apartment. It is smaller, takes less space, and it is less noisy than a heavy bag. 

How to get the most from your speedbag

A bag can be punched in a variety of different ways. The best way, if you are a beginner, is to simply start out by hitting it from the fronts and sides of your fists. The more you get the feel of it, the more you should start to incorporate different angles on the bag. Not only that you can hit it with your fists, but you can also start playing around with your elbows also. 

Start slow, get a rhythm going, and control your breathing (2). This way you can slowly build up your punching coordination and body mechanics of your upper body. Listening to music can be a good thing to pass the time but it is not recommended, it is better to focus on what you are doing. 

Besides the bag you also need other gear to train properly.

Hand wraps – wraps are important to protect the hands, they cushion the skin and bones in your hand, especially when hitting the bag repeatedly. 

Timer – the timer is good to keep you in check with tracking the rounds and to provide you with a basic beat.

The benefits of a good speed bag

Incorporating a punching bag in your workout routine can do wonders for your striking skills, cardio, and strength of your shoulders. All of that in your apartment. 

When training with a punching bag you are developing several key skills that are needed in striking. Whether you are using it for training, competition, or just to win a street fight, using a bag correctly can provide some beneficial edges that other pieces of equipment don’t. 

The first thing you develop besides eye-hand coordination, is timing and a sense of rhythm. Repeatedly striking the bag, hearing the bag rebounding, and maintaining movement all at the same time helps the fighter get a better sense of rhythm.

The second advantage is that it makes you keep your hands up, therefore that helps you remember that lowering your hands during sparring or competition is not such a good idea. Working daily on the bag you become accustomed to a high volume of punches, alternating your striking hands, and pushing the pace.

The third and maybe the most valuable thing you get from the bag is the ability to not flinch when an object is coming close to your face. This makes a big difference when striking. Seeing punches coming your way without closing your eyes and keeping focus makes you much more effective when dodging and countering.  

The bag helps you develop all of those skills mentioned above, but it also has a physical benefit for the body. It also develops your shoulder fast-twitch muscles, explosiveness, and hones your reflexes (3).