bulgarian bags

[evo4a]

Hi,
Can someone tell me where is a good place to buy a bulgarian bag and what size you reckon I should be using.
Currently all home gym, I weigh 75kg, 5' 10".
Do lots of dips, pull ups, core exercises, bodylastics, bench about 65kg. Cardio is rowing.

[Lost_BMW]

I've posted quite a few things about it on various threads about sandbag training, body weight training etc. and on the What Training Thread. Tere's lots of good videos on You Tube including from the maker, Suples.

I think I bought mine from Wolverson -

http://www.wolverson-fitness.co.uk/TEAMSPORT-BULGA...

but the photo on their site has a different label on it. Weird as the weights etc. are the same? Look the same too. Their are some new, even more expensive versions from Suples with additional weight packs for versatility, the Suples Strong -

http://www.suples.com/bulgarian-bag/

Amazon advertise them but out of stock. So do the Gym Company but at more than Wolverson (which must be a first!)

I love it and use it for circuits and shoulder presses (various grips and hand spacings), oh throws, snatches, cleans, squats, lunges, jumps, upright rows, tethered throws (using the long nylon straps), round the worlds, trunk rotations etc.

I went for the silver strap 17kg version having had a 20Kg Jordan Powerbag and 12kg kettlebell which were both way too light. This is much, much harder to manipulate due to the shape/balance but also far more versatile. The grips offer a lot of changes to difficulty and efefct and really work the grip. I'm over 20 stone and not really weak but mine is heavy enough for most things after any time and to be honest too heavy to do some things easily for any serious duration, like round he worlds and chops.

It sounds very little but watch some of the Team USA Wrestling Team training camp videos and see how even some of these bigger and elite level athletes struggle after a while with the heavier ones and it makes the point that the numbers are deceptive. I did a 20 minute non-stop circuit last week with it never leaving my hands and it nearly killed me!

If I had the money I'd add a couple of others too and have even wondered lately about selling the rest of my weights and my Grappler (which I do love too) to fund a range and concentrate on mastering them.

Their recommendations are:

Size Weight

XS ---- 5kg - Yellow handles Recommended for individuals with a body weight of 27-40 kg

S ---- 8kg - Green handles Recommended for individuals with a body weight of 40-65 kg

M ---- 12kg - Red handles Recommended for individuals with a body weight of 40-65 kg

L ---- 17kg - Silver handles Recommended for individuals with a body weight of 68-86 kg

XL ---- 22kg - Brown handles Recommended for individuals with a superior training history.

[Lost_BMW]

Found another video/article about them that you might be interested in as it makes the point about weight. He's a big lad, experienced lifter and user of kettlebells but even the 26lb version seems enough to make him work quite hard, so suggesting again that there'd be no need to rush into a heavy one if you hadn't used them before:

http://www.machinemuscle.com/bulgarian-bag-trainin...

[evo4a]

Thanks for all the links and advice.
I was going to get a big 22kg one, but thank god you posted the videos, those guys are puffing hard. I think I'll go with a 12kg one and then get a 17kg later if I like them.

[Lost_BMW]

evo4a said:

Thanks for all the links and advice.
I was going to get a big 22kg one, but thank god you posted the videos, those guys are puffing hard. I think I'll go with a 12kg one and then get a 17kg later if I like them.

No problem - lots of gimmicks around and obviously loads of different ways to get similar results but I reckon this deserves credit. I've had so much equipment over the years and trained in decent gyms but I reckon this would be now my number 1 favourite single 'desert island discs' type tool.

I'm crap at diy but there are also loads of clips of people making/using their own.

If you are thinking of getting another later, and I think 12kg would be a good start looking at how even the inventor uses and has to work at it with one, maybe - if you can stretch to it - go for one of the newer adjustable versions? Then you can change weight for different exercises/circuits or move up as you get used to it.

[roboxm3]

Looks very similar in principle to an X-Bag, which I've used a few times with a mate of mine (he's the one in the pics section of the below link):-

http://www.exf-fitness.com/en/products/30/398/X_Ba...

I can't see that there's much you could do with the Bulgarian Bag that you couldn't do with the X-Bag, plus with the latter you've got the added benefit of being able to throw / slam it and I think they work out cheaper.

Might be worth considering!?

[Lost_BMW]

roboxm3 said:

Looks very similar in principle to an X-Bag, which I've used a few times with a mate of mine (he's the one in the pics section of the below link):-

http://www.exf-fitness.com/en/products/30/398/X_Ba...

I can't see that there's much you could do with the Bulgarian Bag that you couldn't do with the X-Bag, plus with the latter you've got the added benefit of being able to throw / slam it and I think they work out cheaper.

Might be worth considering!?

Just had a look at the site but can't get the images to upload/enlarge using either Safari or Camino but did download the training chart.

Looks like a good idea for the money and with the ability to a adjust weight etc. but from the pics I can see looks more like a Power Bag, without the curve and multiple handle grips of a Bulgarian one?

BTW - the Bulgarian ones can be thrown and slammed too - mine has had lots of punishment in tat regard and hasn't even as much as scuffed. It really is very well made but to be fair very expensive (over priced?)

[roboxm3]

Lost_BMW said:

Just had a look at the site but can't get the images to upload/enlarge using either Safari or Camino but did download the training chart.

Looks like a good idea for the money and with the ability to a adjust weight etc. but from the pics I can see looks more like a Power Bag, without the curve and multiple handle grips of a Bulgarian one?

BTW - the Bulgarian ones can be thrown and slammed too - mine has had lots of punishment in tat regard and hasn't even as much as scuffed. It really is very well made but to be fair very expensive (over priced?)

You're right, it's not got the curved shape of the Bulgarian Bag I suppose it's more like a sand bag in shape but it does have multiple handles on the sides and ends.

If a Bulgarian Bag is what's required then it may not work but as you say, being adjustable for weight and reasonably priced it might be worth a look...

[LostBMW]

roboxm3 said:

You're right, it's not got the curved shape of the Bulgarian Bag I suppose it's more like a sand bag in shape but it does have multiple handles on the sides and ends.

If a Bulgarian Bag is what's required then it may not work but as you say, being adjustable for weight and reasonably priced it might be worth a look...

Having looked at the model you linked and then for other similar types (as the max weight seems v. close to my Bulgarian Bag) I came across two more - a Bison Bag (£80) from Wolverson which also has a decent intro video clip embedded:

http://www.wolverson-fitness.co.uk/Bison-Bag_A16H7...


and then this, a SAP Sandbag that comes in 3 sizes:

http://www.pro-xsports.com/product/sap-commercial-...

Handle wise and exercise variety possible looks nigh on exactly the same as the Bison Bag.


I've decided to go for a medium, to add to the Bulgarian Bag as I can more than double the weight for cleans, presses etc. and it's £20 less than the Bison Bag and way lower in price than the Bulgarian ones.