Tire Punching Bag Build – Building a Tire Heavy Bag
If push comes to shove, can you stand your ground or defend yourself? The fact that you haven’t been there doesn’t mean you can’t.
And while you never know when trouble might show up on your doorstep, dedicating a few hours a week to heavy bag training is sure to prepare you for any face-offs, and you get to lose weight and get in shape, too.
Whether you want to be ready for any bare-knuckle street brawls that might come your way, or you are just working hard to keep fit, a tire punching bag is a worthy addition to your workout arsenal.
In this article, I will go into details about these punching bags; the good, the bad, and the ugly, as well as how to build one at home. Besides, you will find the links to the articles and other sources of the information shared herein for further in-depth understanding of this awesome workout gear.
Before we Dive into our Tire Punching Bag Build…
So, why spend a fortune on those costly punching bags on the market if I could build a homemade tire heavy bag for dirt cheap?
Here’s the thing, such punching bags as the Wavemaster XXL or the 2XL Pro will seem too over-hyped when you think of how cheap you can come up with a tire DIY punching bag.
But before you dwell on that though, think of it this way. These high-end punching bags on the market are built with safety, performance, and durability in mind - while still ensuring they're easy on your knuckles - if you decide to punch a bag without gloves.
For a wannabe boxer who’s just starting out (or someone who has the time, materials & handyman skills) and needs a low-cost heavy bag, a tire heavy bag would be the way to go. Now, if you're a pro boxer looking to get the best boxing bag workout from a heavy bag, such a DIY build would be a far cry from the quality you need, right?
That’s perhaps why you won’t find this sort of heavy bags in commercial gyms.
It’s true that a tire heavy bag can easily blow these bags right out of the water when it comes to withstanding the elements. It can withstand scorching sun, frigid winters and relentless downpours in the outdoors and stand there for years – the same can’t be said for a heavy bag or an aqua punching bag, or a canvas one.
However, when it comes to it, tire heavy bags just won’t give you the experience you will get with a leather bag like my all time favorite Wavemaster XXL punching bag ...
… or a canvas bag like this Everlast 100lb poly canvas punching bag.
And if you are looking for a portable punching bag that you can use at home and on the road, then you’ll be better off with the easily pack-able and portable aqua bag than with a huge pile of tires chained together.
Turns out, a tire bag isn’t a waste of time after all. If you don’t have the budget for a top-end bag, or you just want to put a few tires (that have been gathering dust in the garage) to good use, then sure, you can build one.
With that out of the way, let’s jump right in!
DIY Punching Bag
Having a great heavy bag will take your boxing training to the next level, but if you’re on a tight budget, affording the high-end punching bags out there might not be within reach.
Not to worry, if you’re a handyman, a DIY bag can still fit the bill just fine. It only needs to be well-built, strong enough to help achieve the desired results with your workout sessions, and most importantly, built with safety in mind.
This is where DIY tire punching bags come in. Do note, however, if you'e measured your fitness level and your strength is in the league of using those insanely big, heavy 300-pound punching bags, this might not be the most practical one for you, unless you're ready to build a mammoth one.
The good thing about this type of DIY build is that it’s easy, safe, and above all, a low-cost one. Seriously, you can easily get free used car tires in most parts of the world, and the rest of the components (be it eye bolts, screw, rope, hook...) don't cost much either.
DIY Freestanding Heavy Bag
Building this kind of punching bag shouldn’t be difficult or costly. But safety is of the essence here; whatever you do, make sure it's a robust one. First, and one of the most important things to do is to ensure a solid connection between the several tires. Then bolt it secure to a solid base to keep it from toppling over with every hit, and ta-da! you have yourself a great heavy bag.
Here are a few perks that make this DIY option worth the effort;
One great advantage of a DIY freestanding punching bag is that it’s easy to build (much easier than a DIY dumbbell rack that I built), especially when building it with tires. Unlike a hanging one, all you need to do is attach the tires together and get a good base to keep them stout even in the wake of your blows and both high and low kicks.
And yes, you won’t need to drill holes through the ceiling or on walls for the setup. You could also design it for easy movement, so you can store it away after use, leaving your workout space free for other sessions or when not in use.
This model is also easy to punch and kick, especially for a beginner, thus helping work both your lower and upper body— great for people who are more into cardio workouts than those training for professional boxing or martial arts. However, for some martial arts like kung fu or Krav Maga, I would suggest using something like the century bob as it very much resembles a human body.
And it's also great if you want to box outside, you won't have to buy a heavy bag which would need an outdoor heavy bag stand or buy a free standing bag (also known as floor punching bags) which might be damaged during a cold or a windy weather. Just remember to wear gloves, or wraps to cover your hands especially if you're a beginner, this bag could feel rock hard for a beginner's knucles.
Muay Thai Tire Heavy Bag
If a free-standing tire bag doesn’t sound like the best idea for you, then this one should. These tire bags are also easy to build, with a few tires bolted together and suspended on a hanger, a tree, or suspended from your ceiling in your backyard home gym. And the cheap construction makes them a perfect resort if money isn’t on your side.
Just play it safe and get some serious chains to hang the tires and guarantee a secure connection on top to avoid any accidents during a workout.
Are Tire Punching Bags Good?
Besides being cost-effective and easy to put together, tire punching bags also pack in several other benefits that make them a practical addition to your workout gear.
For one, since they’re made of rubber, tires are one hell of a toughie, lasting for years even when exposed to the elements, and thus giving you a lasting service, and no matter how hard you go at it, no amount of force is going to tear this kind of a bag.
You can also adjust them as desired to fit your varying exercise needs. All you have to do is undo a few bolts here and there, decide how many tires to use, set the other tires aside and just chain everything together and hang it. And just like that, you have the same bag in a different size. It might not seem like much, and sure, you will need to have holes drilled here and there, and bolt the tires together.
But this flexibility is quite something and only unique to tire bags. If only I could get such flexibility with my expensive garage gym punching bag.
You get just the right consistency as well as weight, allowing you to meet considerable resistance with every punch, or kick, making them ideal for positive results. You need to consider going at it with gloves though, the uneven surface on tires might not be so friendly to your knuckles and feet especially if you're a beginner.
Is It Ok to Hit the Punching Bag Every Day?
As enticing as it might prove to be, working out on your bag every day isn’t a wise idea. I know, the urge to give it a punch or two as you move around the gym might be too tempting to resist, but don’t go all out on your punching bag daily.
Why? Well, this could lead to overuse injury, which isn’t good for your overall health in the long term. According to Mayo Clinic, overuse injury is muscle or joint injuries such as a stretch fracture or tendinitis resulting from repetitive trauma due to too much rapid physical activity within a short time.
To give your body a break, try working out on an uppercut bag, grappling dummies, and speed bag or even do some calisthenics or resistance training before cycling back to your heavy bag exercise.
And if you insist try using appropriate gloves like amateur boxing gloves or others that are ideal for beginners.
Is Hitting a Punching Bag a Good Workout?
The good news is, for the time you will spend on your punching bag, you can reap lots of awesome benefits.
Keep Fit
Keeping fit is one of the main reasons behind a workout session, and with a punching bag, a 180-pound person can burn almost 500 calories in 60 minutes. Even spending way fewer minutes on this exercise still pays off with helping increase your metabolism with great health benefits.
Quite remarkable, right? But there’s a catch, you shouldn’t go for a 60-minute-straight session, take breaks after every couple of minutes.
Work Your Muscles
Build your brawns with every punch, kick, knee or elbow. It’s the ideal way to work the primary muscles in both the upper and lower body while honing your self-defense or professional techniques.
Reducing Stress
Stress relief from workout makes the effort worthwhile. With the modern society keeping us under constant pressure from heaps of workload, traffic jams, endless streams of information to process, and much more, letting off steam is always a welcome relief for both body and mind.
Improve Your Mood
You can lighten up your mood through the release of endorphins, which occurs during exercise and counteracts such feelings as depression, stress, eases body aches, and most importantly, gives you a sense of self-satisfaction.
How Do You Make a Punching Bag Out of Old Tires?
Now that you know everything to do with tire heavy bags, it’s time to build yourself one for your home gym.
What You Need
About three or four tires. Can be as many as six, your choice, but should be of equal size and similar (preferably still in good) condition.
3 or 4 chains, enough length to suspend the tires and be in perfect position for punching.
A similar number of carabiners/rope with a threaded or safety locking closure
Between 15 and 30 threaded bolts and their nuts; the length should be about 5 to 10cm depending on the width of your tires.
30 to 60 washers; two for each bolt
A rotating bracket for support (for rotation of the bag to reduce stress on the chains)
Working tools
A drill with a drill bit wider than the bolts for punching holes through the tires
A wrench for tightening the bolts
Tape measure for measuring size and distance on tires, chains, wall, e.t.c
A lubricant for your rotating bracket
Assembly
Create 3 or 4 holes on the first tire, keeping them not too close to the border.
Place small adhesive tape squares over each hole and to the smooth side
Place the next tire right on top of the first one; the tapes should pass exactly where you need to drill
Repeat the holds symmetrically on all the tires following this procedure.
Next, bring in the bolts and washers; make sure to have a washer on each side of the hole and the nut to the upper side. Tighten the nuts firmly at first, and with everything in synch, you can tighten them fully.
On the top tire, put in the ring nuts, leaving space for the chains to go through.
Now, fix the carabiners and chains, then place the rotating bracket support (after applying the lubricant) on the tires, and suspend the punching bag right where you want it.
Cheapest Punching Bag that Still Gets the Job Done
If DIY isn’t up your alley, and you don’t have the money for a top-of-the-line punching bag, you don’t have to give up on your quest for some serious punching bag sessions.
For as little as $32, you can get this Last Punch punching bag, this is a punching bag made of canvas which you can fill with readily available stuff like laundry or grain, sand, or anything that gives you the desired effect.
In the package are 3 chains and a swivel ring for mounting, but you can always pick up any other gear you need for this purpose from your local store and get it going. Besides, at 48 inches long with the chains and 18 inches wide, it's just the right size for a basic punching bag.
Related Readings:
- Best Martial Arts For Big & Tall Guys
- Freestanding Vs. Heavy Bags
- Apartment Punching Bag
- Best low Top Boxing Shoes
- 5 Essential Fitness Exercises To Transform Yourself at Home
- How To Get Abs in 2 Weeks for Guys
References:
- https://healthyliving.azcentral.com/punch-harder-punching-bag-1069.html
- https://www.6dragonskungfu.com/how-to-make-a-punching-bag-with-tires/
- https://musclerig.com/punching-bag-alternatives
- https://www.criticalcactus.com/benefits-punching-bag-at-home-or-office/
- https://dojomart.com/is-it-ok-to-hit-the-punching-bag-everyday/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/overuse-injury/art-20045875
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfph3UbLp74
