Forum: lifehacks.stackexchange.com
Tags: <home><substitute-tool>
Title: What can I punch?
Question: I'd like to punch something like this to destress:   I don't have one though. What general household items can I put together to allow me to do the same?   Moderator note:  "Mind hacks" are off-topic here. This question is about a  substitute-tool  for a punching dummy, not about reducing stress. Please answer accordingly.  Thank you!

Answers:
sents: text: A 50 lb bag of dog food inside a sleeping bag or large laundry bag may provide a satisfying impact without significant risk of hand injury.
text: Failing that, a well-stuffed bag of laundry can also sub for a heavy bag.
text: Either one can be upgraded with a printed photo or drawing of a face taped on.
answer_details: author: lifehacks.stackexchange.com/users/9830/Zeiss Ikon
score: 10
sents: text: Following are two different types of punching bags .
text: To mount them onto a base, you could use a similar method as mentioned before, with a PVC pipe and an old parasol stand, or maybe you even have a small (but bigger than a gallon) water tank and could fill that one up with sand.
text: Probably simplest punching bag Get a rice bag.
text: Fill it with rice if it isn't already.
text: Do not punch without gloves.
text: You could still wrap it with duct tape to make it even more durable.
text: Using old clothes or grocery bags Get a laundry bag or (at least) two garbage bags.
text: Fill it with (shredded) old clothes (hoodies, jeans, etc.) or stuff it with a lot of crumpled up plastic grocery bags.
text: If you use garbage bags I recommend covering the bag with one or two layers of duct tape.
text: To be sure, you can also wrap the laundry bag with duct tape.
text: To protect your wrists, also use gloves when punching this bag.
text: Be creative!
text: Use this as inspiration.
text: You can basically use any type of bag or stuffing.
text: It's just a matter of how hard you like your punching bag, or in this case, punching dummy.
answer_details: author: lifehacks.stackexchange.com/users/1238/Alex
score: 7
sents: text: If it does not have to be human-shaped, you can just prop up your mattress against a wall.
text: Since it's soft, you can punch it out to your heart's content.
text: A wall also does nicely, I've found the pain of your fist crashing into hard concrete quickly relieves any frustration.
answer_details: author: lifehacks.stackexchange.com/users/10207/Yawakusi
score: 4
sents: text: Roll up a carpet onto a PVC pipe (or onto a tall wooden cylinder, if you like hard center) and secure it with some duct tape.
text: Take a lot of duct tape and cover the whole thing with duct tape to make it tighter and more durable As a base, use a big bag of sand or an old parasol stand if you have one around.
text: Whatever you use, make sure it is well joined.
text: As a reference, see this YouTube Video .
answer_details: author: lifehacks.stackexchange.com/users/1238/Alex
score: 3
sents: text: I used to know a martial arts expert.
text: He turned the newel post at the bottom of his stairs into a target by padding it heavily.
text: He used it both for kicking and punching.
text: He would attack it every time he went past.
answer_details: author: lifehacks.stackexchange.com/users/9368/chasly - reinstate Monica
score: 3
sents: text: A large pile of dough is perfect for this activity.
text: Satisfying smack, safe soft material, and then the opportunity to enjoy a meal afterwards; pizza dough would be preferable for the post-workup meal.
answer_details: author: lifehacks.stackexchange.com/users/2431/Minnow
score: 3
sents: text: Most commercial punching bags are simply canvas cases containing a large amount of tightly packed rags, sometimes with a bit of something heavy packed in the middle for added weight.
text: you could achieve something similar using old clothes, towels etc for filling, and a large bag/sack (e.g. hessian sack, sleeping bag) to hold them.
answer_details: author: lifehacks.stackexchange.com/users/8207/Adam
score: 2
sents: text: You could get an old camping tarp and fill it with bags of flour, or even some dirt.
text: It will have a good weight to it, but won't be overly solid, and if you don't have the tarp, looks like you can pick one up at Wal-mart for $10 - $15 (in the US anyway).
text: If you go the dirt route, you would have the added benefit of the manual labor which could potentially help to de-stress as well, if you're that kind of person.
text: The problem with dirt, however, is if you end up getting rocks in it.
text: Might hurt to punch
answer_details: author: lifehacks.stackexchange.com/users/4266/Coder-guy
score: 1
sents: text: Also, you can punch two pillows combined.
text: However , it may not be useful for training.
text: Maybe just for reducing the stress level.
answer_details: author: lifehacks.stackexchange.com/users/10212/ardahdmi
score: 0

Summary of the answers:
There are many, many ways to put together a punching dummy, but a 50lb of dog food inside a sleeping back could work well. Additionally, a laundry bag full of old clothes would also be an effective solution. You could also try a mattress propped against a wall, a rolled up carpet or even heavily pad the newel at the bottom of your stairs. Other potentially solutions include tarp filled with dirt or flour, or even pizza dough!
The options include a 50 lb bag of dog food wrapped in a sleeping bag, a parasol stand with a rice bag or 2 garbage bags stuffed with clothes on top, a mattress propped against the wall, a roll of carpet, pile of dough, padded newel post or camping tarp filled with dirt or sacks of flour.