A heavy bag is an beneficial piece of exercise equipment. If you're an aspiring boxer or martial artist, it is a must. Heavy bag workouts have become popular because they are an effective way to burn calories, increase cardiovascular endurance and develop strength. Heavy bags typically range in weight from 40 to 100 pounds. They usually are a worthwhile investment for anyone serious about fitness, but hanging one can sometimes be a challenge.
Ceiling
The most common way to hang a heavy bag is from your ceiling. This is the way it's done in almost all gyms. Most heavy bags come with a chain assembly and all the components you need to hang it from a ceiling. The beam you hang it from must be load-bearing and it's recommended that the beam support at least four times the weight of the bag. You'll also need some basic tools, such as a power drill and a wrench. If your bag did not come with parts to hang it from the ceiling, you can purchase a kit online for about $20, as of May 2011.
Tree
If you have a yard, hanging your bag from a tree is another simple option. You won't need any tools or special equipment, just your bag and the chains. Before you hang your bag, test the branch to ensure it's strong enough. A simple test is to grab the branch and hang from it. If it bends under your weight, it won't be able to support your bag, unless you're using a bag that is 60 pounds or lighter.
Stand
Hanging your bag from a stand is an option when you want the bag indoors but don't want to bolt it to the ceiling or risk damaging your home. If you're a renter, your landlord probably won't be very happy if you drill holes in the ceiling, so a stand might be your only option. A typical stand sells for about $100 to $200, as of May 2011. You'll also have to buy extra weight plates to hold down the base.
Pullup Bar
You can hang some heavy bags from a sturdy pullup bar. A bag that weighs between 40 and 60 pounds can safely be supported by a pullup bar. Any bag heavier than that might damage your door frame or snap your bar, especially if it's a bar that is not one solid piece of metal. While most pullup bars are designed to support up to 250 pounds, when you punch the bag and it begins swaying, the load will be increased exponentially. Do not try to hang an 80- or 100-pound bag from a removable pullup bar. It will eventually break your bar and/or door frame.
Wall
You can purchase a wall mount to hang your heavy bag. This isn't the best option because your bag won't have much room to sway and you can easily damage your wall.
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