How to Make Speed Bags

Using a speed bag is a great way to relieve the stress of the day or to exercise your hands and body. Adding the use of a speed bad to your current workout is a great way to increase both speed and strength. The use of speed bags was actually one of the original ways used for working out. The oldest versions were made from animal skins, but the version listed here uses vinyl or canvas. The canvas bag will probably last longer, but could potentially be harder on your hands. Wearing boxing gloves or some other kind of hand protection is recommended. Here's how to make a speed bag.

Things You'll Need

  • Canvas or vinyl
  • Scissors
  • Tracing paper
  • Pencil
  • Heavy-duty thread
  • Sewing machine
  • Sand or wood clippings for filling
  • Vinyl or canvas tab
  • A metal ring for the top of the bag
  • Speed bag board
  • Pins
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Instructions

    • 1

      Using the tracing paper, draw a rounded triangle shape on the paper. The size will depend on how large you want your final speed bag to be. Remember that you will be sewing the edges together, so you will want the pattern to be larger than the size that you want it to be. You will need about four to six pieces, but you only need to make one pattern. After you have the pattern that you want, pin it to the cloth.

    • 2

      Use the scissors to cut the shape from the cloth. Pin the pattern to the cloth and repeat for every piece of the bag that you decide to cut out. Put the pieces together.

    • 3

      Sew the sides of each piece together with the heavy thread and sewing machine. After a few pieces, this can get a little tricky. The last seam might have to be sewn by hand, or you can turn the whole thing inside out and sew it.

    • 4

      Turn the bag right side out and fill with your desired stuffing. The wood chips will make for a softer bag, but the sand will give you a better workout. Fill up almost to the top, but don’t fill it up all the way, as you will need to sew up the top of the bag.

    • 5

      Insert the tab of fabric inside the bag, leaving the top of the tab hanging out. Stick the metal ring inside the tab, so that it sticks out along with the top of the tab. Sew the top of the bag closed (you will most likely have to do this by hand), sewing the tab together along with it. The bag should be taut and not hanging loose anywhere. You should be left with a tab hanging out of the top and the metal ring attached to it. Hang the bag from any speed bag board, and you are done!