Speed, accuracy, and rhythm are your three best friends when it comes to boxing, kickboxing, or any other Mixed Martial Art discipline. While heavy bag works push you to the limits of your strength, speed training with speed bags or reflex balls is just a desert to your boxing routine.
Speed bags are tiny air-filled balls that usually get anchored on a platform parallel to the floor. They not only enhance hand-eye coordination but also secure a sense of timing. The fighter’s hand movement and the sound of the bouncing bag off the platform help the trainer to achieve that sense of rhythm.
But with half the world in lockdown, gyms are no longer an easy option for many. Luckily, you’ll just need a speed bag and a speed bag platform to get started. The speed bag platforms are made to allow the bag to have the perfect recoil to improve your training experience.
As every good build needs a solid base, a squeaky rattling mount will just destroy your speed training experiences. An expensive speedball is not always the answer when you don’t have a good platform to attach it.
Don’t worry! We got you covered with our list of the 5 Best Speed Bag Platforms of 2021. We went through plenty of good products and came up with the best to help you make the best buying decision. So, why not turn your home or office into a gym this time?
Top 5 Best Speed Bag Platforms
Considering all the decisive elements, these speed bag platforms get our best recommendation. So, let’s jump into the nitty-gritty!
1. Everlast Speed Bag Platform (Elite Adjustable)
Everlast is a trusted name when it comes to boxing equipment. This premium speed bag platform is a great choice for any trainer. This affordable eye-catchy platform comes in real handy for your gym or home use.
This speed bag platform comes with dimensions of 25x25x4 inches and weighs approximately 24.25 pounds. The platform comes with a 24-inch diameter board. Thus, it can hold any size of the speed bag. So, if you are fond of heavy bags working like me, switching bags is as easy as a click!
You should always look for the platforms that come with height adjustability. Fortunately, this speed bag platform’s 1-inch thick strike board is adjustable up to 8 inches in height. So, from kids to adults, this platform covers the need for both with precision.
The Everlast Elite Adjustable Speed Bag Platform comes with an industry-standard swivel. It’s a stainless-steel D-ring with a pin. It’s mounted on ball bearings and sits in the center of the platform. It’s well known for its superiority in handling bag movement. An absolute choice for any trainer, I’d say!
Apart from that, this speed bag platform also comes with two brace boards, assembly hardware, and full rubber edge binding to ensure your safety. It’s easy to use and install. Though, you will be needing wall mount hardware and a punching speed bag to get it functional.
In the case of quality, this platform ensures excellent rebound. We checked our 65lbs sandbag with this platform, and the rebound quality was superb. Anything less than that in weight will increase the noise and vibration of the bag when hit.
Though, there are a few setbacks to this product. The instruction manual it comes with is quite hard to get a hang on. Also, one thing you should keep in mind that this platform is speed bag friendly. So, it won’t do good for anything too big.
These aside, the Everlast speed bag platform comes with a 120 days warranty from the day of purchase. This is great insurance for your investment. If anything is wrong with the product without being subjected to user misuse and abuse, it’s Everlast’s liability on your return of the product.
To conclude, let’s look at the overall picture before clicking away to the store!
Pros
- Easy to Install
- Ready for both Heavy and Speed Bags
- It comes with The Best Swivel
- Height Adjustable
- 120 Days Warranty
Cons
- The Instruction Manual is not Explanatory Enough.
2. MaxxMMA Heavy Duty Adjustable Speed Bag Platform Kit 24” with Speed Ball (10”x7”)
The next on our list is the MaxxMMA Heavy Duty Adjustable Speed Bag Platform. Though it mimics the look of the previous one, this top-tier speed bag platform comes with its own interesting functionalities.
The package comes with a dimension of 26.3 x 25.8 x4.6 inches and weighs 32.6 pounds_ a little bigger than our previous one. This platform, too, comes with a diameter of 24-inch having the ability to range from multitudes of speed bags. Also, the board is 1.5-inch thick which gives it good stabilization.
This platform, too, is height adjustable. So, you don’t have to worry about height issues at all. It has a professional-grade design and takes less than 20 minutes to install from scratch. As it doesn’t come with any wall mounting hardware, just 5$ at the hardware store and about 4 to 5 bolts did the trick for me.
Another great aspect of this product is that it comes with all the necessary kits you need. It comes with a speed bag (10” x 7”) and a hand pump with a needle. So, that saves a lot of bucks as you don’t have to go spending for a speedball. Everything is set according to what you picture about the setup.
There are a few issues to look out for a while buying this product. Many find the swivel provided by the company less favorable to continue with. But it’s easily replaceable. Another problem many users face is leveling the board. Having one locking pin makes it a little hard, but you’ll get better with practice.
International buyers should also keep in mind that due to the product’s size, the item cannot be shipped directly to PO Box. So, additional duties, taxes, and charges might apply considering where you are on the globe. It’s always better to make sure with the customs office to determine these additional costs.
This speed bag platform effortlessly provides the sturdiness you’d expect. The wooden design not only adds to the beauty but also to its build quality. Being highly favorable for home and personal use, It’s indeed a good purchase within such a low budget!
Before wrapping our thoughts and moving along the list of the best speed bag platforms, let’s take a sneak-peak of the action above.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Speed Bag Included
- Height Adjustable
- Easy Setup
- Great Stabilization
Cons
- The Swivel needs Improvement
- Little Difficult to level
3. XMark XM-2811 Hi-Impact Adjustable Speed Bag Platform
So far, the XMark XM-2811 Speed Bag Platform bears the most minimalist look with a quality build. It still performs as well as any of the high-tier speed bag platforms out there. XMark is a trusted US-based small brand providing MMA gear for both home and gym use. Let’s see why this makes to our top pick.
Along with its simple and minimalist look, this speed bag platform comes with the dimension of 31.5 x 24 x 23.5 inches and weighs about 54 pounds. The drum platform is 24-inch in diameter and made of 1.5-inch hardwood. The furniture finish of the platform is just a treat to the eyes!
This product comes with a rock-solid foundation. It uses 11-gauge steel for its mainframe construction, giving it a good deal of sturdiness and stability. Now, you can work on your stamina, speed, and endurance with aerobic exercises in great recoil with lesser noise and vibration.
This platform is also height adjustable like the rest. You can adjust the height up to 15-inch. Giving the most flexible height control, this product accommodates trainers of various height ranges. A bonus for any beginner who had just finished watching the Karate Kid and can’t wait to start!
The way this product comes packed from the store to the doorstep is highly appreciable. All internal components are grouped by function and come all protected in several boxes within the package. So, there’s unlikely any chance for the parts to be damaged. A great assurance for frequent movers.
There are a few glitches you should keep in mind with this product. Many find it difficult to adjust the frame with the base properly. Thus, the platform tilts and loses a bit of stability. A balanced drum will provide a smoother experience. Also, we’d like to see the provided swivel improved.
Let’s recap the XMark XM-2811 Speed Bag Platform in our pros and cons section.
Pros
- Furniture Finished Modern Look
- Height Adjustable
- Easy to Set Up
- Solid 11-Gauge Steel Mainframe Construction
Cons
- Needs Better Swivel
- Balancing the Drum is a Little Hard
4. XMark XM-4441 Adjustable Speed Bag Platform
This pick in our list also comes from the XMark company. Though it’s almost the same as the one before, this product has a few upsizing of its own that will come in real handy for you.
This speed bag platform comes in the dimension of 27.01 x 25 x 7.99 inches and weighs 53 pounds. So, it’s a bit small in size and has less weight than the model before. This way, the product ensures mobility without compromising any quality.
That’s one minor change. But the real change between these two products is in their build. While the XM-2811 uses solid 11-gauge steel mainframe construction, the XM-4441 uses a lighter 12-gauge heavy steel mainframe. This makes the product weigh much less than the one before.
This, too, comes with a 24-inch drum platform of a 1.5-inch wooden platform. But, compared to the XM-2811 model, the furniture finish is much less glossy in this model. Never fancied too much glossiness anyway!
This platform also comes with the option of a 15-inch height adjustment. This option being available in a slightly lower tier like this one makes the product appreciable and popular. The platform also comes with a professional-grade ball-bearing swivel. But no speed bags are included with the order.
The best thing about this product is that it costs much less than the previous XMark speed bag platform. For about a hundred bucks, you will find no speed bag platform other than the XM-4441 that can mimic the performance of any of the higher range this efficiently. Best value within budget for sure!
Though being less in weight makes the platform prone to much more noise and vibration, this product remains extremely sturdy. The rebound speed with this platform is also encouraging. Many complaints of the swivel, but the instruction manual is the one bewildering to go through.
These aside, the XM-4441 speed bag platform is a great purchase within a tight budget. Now, the highlights will cover anything that you might have missed.
Pros
- Best Value within Friendly Budget
- Good Rebounds
- Height Adjustable
- Lighter, yet Super Sturdy
- 12-Gauge Heavy Steel Mainframe Construction
Cons
- The Swivel needs an Upgrade
- The User Manual is Hard to Comprehend
5. Valor Fitness CA-50 Plus Speed Bag Platform
Last but not least, the Valor Fitness CA-50 Plus Speed Bag Platform is another great pick on the list. This DIY gear allows you to enjoy the pleasure and leverage of easy setup within home comfort. The product comes straightforward as it looks and inexpensive compared to the rest.
This product comes in a diameter of 24 inches. That allows the platform to transfer striking energy to the speed bag easily to ensure a faster return. Also, a diameter of this size allows the platform to use diverse speed bags and reflex balls.
The platform is made with 2 inches thick Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF), making it the thickest one on our list. MDF is an artificial wood product made by tearing hardwood and softwood residuals in high temperatures and pressure into wood fibers. Works pretty the same as plywood too!
Though this is not as good as actual wood, it is much firmer and denser than particle boards. This keeps the board robust. We realized that the recoil from this platform is quite better compared to the ones within the same price range. No wonder it fits as one of the best speed bag platforms on our list!
We hung over with the build for quite a while. But the thing that sets this product apart is its customizability. This kit will allow you to make your own punching kit from scratch and instead of buying a ready-made wall mount. So, save that extra cost and give yourself a treat when you are done.
The purchase comes with eight bracket installation nuts and four swivel installation bolts. All of these include washers as well. These attachments require regular oiling and attendance to limit the chances of rusting and wrecking. You can unscrew the platform from the mount easily, so that’s no issue.
The product lacks in a few aspects, which many find unhelpful. The product doesn’t include a speed bag or a swivel. So, you have to buy and assemble them separately. You can visit the Valor Amazon Store and order all three at the same time, but I prefer the liberty of mixing things up with other brands.
Although this product is highly customizable, you must buy all the accessories from Valor to get the optimal result. Again, many find installing and mounting the platform quite difficult and the chain links might get bent.
Nonetheless, the Valor Fitness CA-50 Plus is a brilliant, cost-efficient, sturdy speed bag platform that has better user feedback than the rest at the same price range. TLDR? Let’s jump right into the pros and cons section.
Pros
- Budget-Friendly
- Decent Rebounds
- Customizable DIY Kit
- Made 2-inch Heavy-Duty MDF
Cons
- No Speed Bag or Swivel Included
- Installing and Mounting the Product is Quite Difficult
Essential Buying Guide for the Best Speed Bag Platform
We know the right speed bag platform might not always mean the one with the highest price or rating. That’s why we ranged across multitudes of products, user reviews, and hours of testing to bring you, our pick.
A good platform ensures a good speed training session. Speed bag works are undoubtedly an integral part of the gym routine. But now, from boxers to commoners, people use these bags for warming up, stamina and endurance building, etc. Thanks to their ease of use, you can turn home into your gym.
The ideal speed bag platform should be well-built. It should be able to retain your momentum as you hit the bag and allow a good rebound from the punching bag. The necessary components like the nuts/ bolts, mount, swivel, and user-manual should also come with the product for convenience.
In this buying guide, we tried to cover all the decisive aspects which compelled us to make your pick. Hopefully, this will help you pick not only the right one but the best speed bag platform out in the market.
Platform Material
The platform or the drum is the circular-looking base that holds the speed bag. Usually, they come in wood, MDF, plastic, etc. The ideal material of your platform should be wood though they are the most expensive ones.
The next best thing is MDF which comes at a reasonably moderate price. They might not be as good as wood in terms of durability, but they really offer good rebounds. They are much better than the cheap plastic constructions. If money isn’t an issue, I’d go for the wooden ones.
Swivel and Attachments
Many speed bag comes with a built-in swivel. Attachments like additional nuts/bolts, user manuals, mounting tools, or even speedbags might also come with the same package. They will make your overall preparation much fast and easier.
Though the built-in swivels are not usually of the top grade, they save a lot of money if you are on a budget.
Frame
A good, strong, sturdy frame is a must to support the punching bag attached to the platform. The design and the materials used in the frame can alter the amount of vibration it can absorb. I’d go with a metal frame and, a design that supports the platform aptly with strong brackets.
One thing to keep in mind, the speed bag must ensure the exact amount of recoil every time. Or else, the rhythm of your training will be lost. So, look out for quality builds that can support the platform adequately.
Height Adjustment
This is another cool option that allows you to adjust the height of the speed bag according to your need. A platform with a height adjustment facility will ensure troubles with differing speed bags. Also, this means people of different heights will have much less trouble setting the platform up.
Wanna train your kids along? This might be one of the decisive elements for you while buying.
Budget and Brands
There’s no need to say that budget is the ultimate factor while buying anything. But the most priced ones might not always be the best ones for you. Again, we would like to encourage you to put in a little more cash in case of any of these decisive factors. They’ll save a lot in the long run.
Also, we appreciate buying from the brands that are serving in the field of boxing and MMA gear. They are reputed for being reliable on the market for the longest possible time.
Warranty
Last but not least, a warranty on these products will take you the extra mile. No doubt, this is quite an investment, and you should look forward to anything that will back this investment up. Usually, they don’t have a long warranty. But something is better than nothing!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Does the thickness of the platform enhance the durability of speed bag platforms?
- Surprisingly, it does. Ideally, the thickness of the platform should be between 1.5 to 2 inches. Otherwise, it’ll get too much or less heavy.
- What kind of speedbag do I need to buy for my platforms?
- The smaller the bag is, the better your hand coordination and focus are going to be. The larger ones will extract more effort and develop your shoulders. So, there’s no easy answer with this one. Choose according to your need.
- Can a sheetrock wall support my speed bag platform?
- It only works if your anchors are directly into the wall stud behind the sheetrock. You have to attach it to the studs.
- Which swivel is the best one in the market?
- If you have to buy additional swivels, I’d put my money on the Everlast Pro Swivel. They are great for bag movement and better in build than most.
Wrapping it up
Hey champ, thank you for sticking up till the end. Throughout the writing, we tried to present to you the most decisive factors which will, undoubtedly, help you make the best decision. Please feel free to recheck our recommendations.
I hope our top 5 picks will help you choose the best Speed Bag Platform. All things considered, stay hydrated, wear face masks outdoors and stay healthy. Goodbye for now!
Last update on 2023-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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