Boxing is a great home workout and can be done with very little equipment and in a small space. Boxing workouts allow you to work your shoulders, back, abs, and legs for a full body workout. “With boxing, people think it’s only for the waist up. But it’s also leg-centric, core-focused, and teaches people how to move, turn, and work in the transverse plane of movement,” says Joel Freeman, NASM-CPT, Beachbody Super Trainer and creator of 10 Rounds, a digital boxing program.

Shadowboxing, which is basically punching air, requires speed, precision, cardio endurance, and little to no gear. Or a more traditional approach, with a heavy bag, helps you build all-over strength. Consider the space you have and the mounting requirements of the product when looking for gear to get your boxing routine started. We selected boxing equipment for home workouts for our list based on comfort, durability of the product, and ease of use.

Reviewed & Approved

The Everlast HydroStrike Water Bag gets filled with water to absorb shock which makes it easier on joints. The Hayabusa S4 Boxing Gloves are contoured and breathable for a comfortable fit and come in extra-small to large sizes.

Here is the best boxing equipment for home workouts that enhance your at-home routine.

The Everlast HydroStrike is a top choice because it’s easy to fill and use and is very durable. Freeman recommends an aqua bag because it absorbs the impact of your punches, unlike other super solid punching bags (often the free-standing ones). The only caveat is that you need a place to mount it to the ceiling.

Best Aqua Bag

Everlast HydroStrike 100 lb Water Bag

  • Portable—weighs under 15 pounds when empty

  • Shock-absorbing

  • Needs to be mounted to the ceiling

This one comes packed without the water, weighing under 15 pounds. Once you fill it up, it’s a lot heavier and stable enough to take on your fight. When filled and mounted, the aqua bag is more than capable of enduring your flurry of uppercuts, jabs, crosses, and hooks, all while protecting your joints.

Price at time of publication: $150

If you want to set up a bag in the middle of your living room or at-home gym, snag this one. Simply fill the base with water or sand and it’ll stay sturdy as you punch and kick.

Best Free-Standing Bag

Century Wavemaster Training Bag

  • Adjustable height—47 to 68 inches

  • Free-standing

  • Firm to the touch

  • Heavy when filled

The entire bag is covered in dense foam, which makes it durable and a worthy opponent to any energetic boxer—although it won’t cushion your blows as much as our aqua bag pick. You can adjust the height to best fit your boxing stance as well—it goes from 47 to 68 inches in sets of three inches. 

Price at time of publication: $200

These foam boxing gloves are favored by Freeman because they protect your hands and wrists as you throw powerful punches. With a pre-curved shape, they also contour to your hand for a more comfortable fit.

Best Gloves

Hayabusa S4 Boxing Gloves

  • Durable

  • Easy to use

  • Breathable

  • Designed for beginner boxers—may not offer enough cushioning for those with more experience

The velcro strap allows for customizable support around the wrist and the mesh palm ensures breathability as things heat up. The gloves come in sizes extra-small to large.

Price at time of publication: $59

Doran Lewis, NASM-CPT, a boxing instructor at Chelsea Piers in Connecticut, often turns to Title for boxing gear, a well-known brand in the business of throwing punches.

Best Hand Wraps

Title Boxing 180" Handwraps

  • Built for comfort

  • Fabric blend ensures durability

  • Colorful options available

  • Affordable

  • Users need to learn proper wrapping technique

These hand wraps come in a range of bright colors and color combos—and they work just as well as they look. The blend of spandex and polyester makes them stretchy yet durable. And thanks to their 180-inch length, they offer plenty of padding under your gloves. 

Price at time of publication: $10

For those new to boxing, it’s smart to start out with a set of quick wraps, and this option from Sanabul will do the trick. You can easily put these on just like a glove (but they’re fingerless). The extra-long wrist wrap securely covers your wrist, adding protection and stability to your arm as you punch.

Best Hand Wraps for Beginners

Sanabul Essential Gel Quick Hand Wraps

  • Easy to slip on

  • Built for safety

  • Affordable

  • Can feel bulky under gloves

The gel padding will keep your knuckles safe, too.

Torch calories without emptying your bank account by adding a jump rope to your boxing workout. This one comes at an affordable price and extends over nine feet at its full length. Adjust the rope to your height by disassembling the handles and cutting the rope—the only drawback is that you can’t go back and forth between longer and shorter lengths if multiple people are using a single rope.

Best Jump Rope

XYLsports Jump Rope

  • Adjustable

  • Affordable

  • One-time length adjustment

If you’re not satisfied with your purchase, the brand offers your money back, along with a lifetime warranty. Lewis suggests turning to the jump rope between boxing rounds to keep your heart rate up.

Price at time of publication: $17

Don’t have room in your space for a full-on punching bag? Grab these hand weights to add a little more load to each jab, cross, or other punch you throw at the air. The soft, neoprene outside and malleable sand on the inside make these comfortable to hold, while the strap keeps them secure around your fingers.

Best Hand Weights

Title Boxing Heavy-Hitters 3lb Hand Weights

  • Affordable

  • Comfortable to hold

  • Multiple weight options

  • Not ideal for strength training workouts outside of boxing

Choose from a one-, three-, or five-pound set—the lighter weights are ideal for a cardio boxing workout. If you do want to use these weights for other strength training workouts, though, you might want to opt for the heavier set.

Price at time of publication: $15

Turn your boxing workouts into a lower body burner with exercises like squats and glute bridges, and make those exercises even more intense with the help of these mini resistance bands.

Best Resistance Bands

Perform Better Mini Resistance Bands

  • Portable resistance

  • Affordable

  • Different resistance levels offered

  • Can roll up or down during certain exercises

  • May break when overstretched

Choose your ideal resistance, from light to extra heavy, and you’ll feel your muscles working throughout each exercise. You can easily take these on the road with you, too, as they’re light and small enough to slip into your bag without taking up room or adding weight.

Price at time of publication: $19

Designed to give you more feedback from your feet, these Mizuno training shoes work well for boxing workouts. They help you stay steady and balanced while adding power to each punch and making it easier for you to rotate through your lower half. The shoes are stable yet flexible, so they won’t hold you back when you’re doing more dynamic movements.

Best Shoes

Mizuno TC-11 Women’s Shoe

  • Lightweight

  • Flexible

  • Breathable

  • Stable but not restrictive

  • Best for training, not running

Lewis says it’s key to skip running shoes for boxing workouts, as the padded bottoms can keep you from feeling where you’re shifting your weight and can hold you back from unlocking your full potential at the bag.

Price at time of publication: $145

A mat will come in handy for ab work and stretching during your boxing routine. The polyurethane top layer of this mat is meant to stop you from slipping, even if the mat gets wet or sweaty. It also has an antimicrobial finish to keep mold away, plus it feels nice and soft underfoot.

Best Mat

Lululemon The Reversible Mat

  • Soft

  • Supportive

  • Anti-slip side

  • Expensive

  • Color may fade over time

To keep the color from fading, don’t stash this in direct sunlight, and make sure it’s dry before you put it away, too.

Price at time of publication: $88

If you’re looking to add weight training to your boxing routine, these sandbags will certainly do the trick. They also add an extra core challenge, as the sand moves around within the bag and creates instability for each movement.

Best Sandbag

Hyperwear Sandbell Fitness Sandbag

  • Multiple weight options available

  • Soft grip

  • Durable

  • Stackable

  • Hard to move around

These bags come in multiple sizes and weights, and you can use them for throws, slams, or even hold them at your chest for squats and lunges.

Price at time of publication: $50

What to Look for in Boxing Gear for Home Workouts  

Durability

You will be punching and kicking this equipment, so you want to make sure your gear stands up to your rough-housing. Look for gear made with durable materials, whether it’s foam and leather for your bag and gloves or a blend of materials for your hand wraps. 

Final Verdict

Both boxing experts say you don’t technically need any gear to get in a great boxing workout—that’s the beauty of this type of exercise. But if you’re looking to intensify your at-home boxing routine, opt for the free-standing Century Wavemaster Training Bag, the Hayabusa S4 Boxing Gloves, and a set of the Sanabul Essential Gel Quick Hand Wraps.

Comfort

A feature that’s always key to workout equipment is comfort. You want gear that boosts your performance instead of holding you back and also feels good to wear. From your gloves and mitts to your shoes, buy equipment that fits just right.

Why Trust Verywell Fit 

Mallory Creveling has covered the fitness industry for more than a decade, often writing about workout equipment. She’s also a personal trainer who’s tried tons of at-home workouts, including boxing. She knows what to look for to get the most out of your gear.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What muscles does boxing build?
  • Boxing builds muscles in your entire body. As you throw punches, kick the bag, and pivot you’re getting a true full-body workout, targeting your calves, glutes, hamstrings, quads, core, shoulders, upper back, and arms all at once.
  • How do I do a boxing workout at home?
  • “Your best bet is to sign up for a virtual class or session with a boxing instructor to learn some techniques, like boxing stance and how to throw punches,” says Freeman. “You want something that’s safe and effective,” he says. He suggests trying his 10Rounds program on Beachbody, as it’ll teach these skills.Once you know what program you want to go with, determine if you need equipment and stock up on the gear you need to follow along from home.
  • Is boxing a good cardio workout?
  • Yes. Boxing is set up like a high-intensity interval training workout. You’ll usually work in rounds, for three to four minutes each, often with higher levels of intensity mixed throughout and quick rest breaks too. The entire workout is basically nonstop, so it keeps your heart pumping. This increases your cardio capacity and endurance over time.

Boxing builds muscles in your entire body. As you throw punches, kick the bag, and pivot you’re getting a true full-body workout, targeting your calves, glutes, hamstrings, quads, core, shoulders, upper back, and arms all at once.  

“Your best bet is to sign up for a virtual class or session with a boxing instructor to learn some techniques, like boxing stance and how to throw punches,” says Freeman. “You want something that’s safe and effective,” he says. He suggests trying his 10Rounds program on Beachbody, as it’ll teach these skills.

Yes. Boxing is set up like a high-intensity interval training workout. You’ll usually work in rounds, for three to four minutes each, often with higher levels of intensity mixed throughout and quick rest breaks too. The entire workout is basically nonstop, so it keeps your heart pumping. This increases your cardio capacity and endurance over time.