How to Stuff an Unfilled Heavy Bag for Boxing
(Don't miss the step-by-step video at the bottom of this post!)
There are many benefits of buying an unfilled bag and doing it yourself. An unfilled bag is cheaper, you pay less in shipping and you can also customize the bag to your own personal preference. If you want it harder, you fill it more. If you want it lighter for more movement, you use less stuffing. If you want it heavier, add more sandbags to the center. There are tons of options when you choose an unfilled heavy bag. The best part is that you get to personalize it to you and your specific boxing style.
There are many approaches to stuffing an unfilled heavy bag, but to keep it simple, here is the most basic way.
First, gather as many old clothes as you can. Clean out your closet, ask your friends or get your fighters to donate. Get a decent amount, because you will need more than you think.
Next, create a base and top piece out of cardboard or foam. Put about 6-8 pieces together and secure them with duct tape. Each one should measure approximately 1” thick. This can make a big difference in the look and feel of your heavy bag, because it helps maintain the bags’ shape and form, from the top and bottom.
After adding your bottom base, start by stuffing about 6” of clothes for your first layer. Pack them down with a broom handle, a walking stick or pole. Focus on the edges and work the fabric into the gaps or “pockets” that form to fill the space.
After the first 6”, add a sandbag to the center. You can use a storage sized zip-lock bag, filled 3/4 of the way full and secure it with packing tape, so it won’t leak. Every gallon-sized zip-lock bag, filled over halfway with sand will weigh about 5-6lbs. Try to keep the sandbags cylinder-shaped so they fit right in the center of the bag and then pack the cloth filling firmly around it. That way, the sandbags are less prone to shift to the edge and make any hard spots on the bag.
From there, just keep filling and packing the bag every 10-12”. Add in as many sandbags as you want as you create layers of sandbags and cloth, until you achieve the desired weight.
Finally, top your bag off with your second, pre-cut cardboard piece and close it up. Even though, over time, the contents of the bag will settle and will have a smoother look, you can turn the bag on its side after its complete and pound down some of the lumpy spots to make the bag shape, more uniform.
While buying an un-filled bag may take a little more work, it can help you achieve the most desirable results for less cost. Plus, it puts you in control and allows you to build a heavy bag that suits YOU perfectly.