Are you tired of generic workouts and looking for a sparring partner that’s always ready for action? You might find what you’re looking for in Boxing Buddy, a brand-new piece of technology that’s currently being funded on Indiegogo. The device will turn your heavy punching bag into a smart training partner, enabling you to practise your defence moves and fighting skills whenever and wherever you want.

A punching bag that strikes back!

Boxing Buddy provides a realistic and difficult training experience thanks to its rotating soft-padded arms that simulate opponent strikes at a variety of speeds, paces, and intensities. This makes for a more effective workout. Yes, this is a pushing bag that actually strikes back.

It can be used with any round object, including boxing bags. If you don’t have a proper punching bag, you could tie it to a tree and use that instead. The soft padding on the arms creates the impression of an opponent striking at a variety of speeds and intensities.

All of this connects via Bluetooth-to a smartphone app. The software spits out with multiple personalised programs and progress tracking, ensuring you get the most out of your workouts. You can train on offense, defense, and footwork.

Boxing Buddy also adapts to your current skill level and the goals you’ve set for yourself. To this end it offers four distinct levels of difficulty. Essentially, it simulates the experience of working out with a partner.

Because of its lightweight construction and the fact that its foam arms are adjustable, it is very simple to pack up and transport. This ensures that you can work hard to improve your skills at your own pace and on your own time.

Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

As far as battery life, Boxing Buddy has a built-in rechargeable battery that provides about 10 hours of continuous use on a single charge. Because the time required to recharge is only 1.5 hours, you won’t have to wait very long before your combat partner is ready for action.

Indiegogo funded – delivery in September

These types of workouts help to strengthen your core as well as your coordination and footwork. The rapid and unpredictable arm movements of Boxing Buddy force you to stay mobile and help you build leg strength by forcing you to perform squats as you try to avoid being hit. The device has the potential to sharpen your instincts and improve your reaction time, allowing you to be faster and more agile.

If this sounds appealing, you can support Boxing Buddy on Indiegogo. Assuming everything goes according to plan with manufacturing, a $249 pledge will get you one of these in September. This represents a 50% off the retail price it will eventually sell for.

Price:$249 and up

Funding total:
$41,286 raised, funding goal $10,000

Estimated delivery: September 2023
35 days left in the campaign

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Despite being steeped in tradition, boxing is not immune to technological changes that are happening all around us. Fitness trackers and smartwatches are changing the way we train, and now sensors are also changing the way we approach sports.

Essential reading: Best fitness trackers and health gadgets

Even though the merging of technology and boxing is still in its infancy, a few early contenders attempting to redefine how we approach the sport have emerged. This is our list of the best boxing trackers.

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1. Everlast & PIQ
2. Hykso Punch Tracking sensor
3. Moov Now
4. Strike Tec
5. Corner
6. PunchLab
7. FightCamp
8. LiteBoxer

1. Everlast & PIQ

Everlast and PIQ is designed to be used for shadow boxing, heavy bag work, mitt work and light sparring. The driving force of the system is a nano-computer which houses a set of built-in sensors.

The technology was developed after studying motions of thousands of boxers. The accelerometer, gyroscope, and an altimeter inside the device collect more than 190,000 points of data per minute to dish out a plethora of stats.

Information provided includes the speed of your punches, the force of your punch at impact and the retraction time of your hand. You are also assigned a unique value called PIQSCORE which is based on all three of these metrics. Other stats include the total number of punches, calories, boxing time, punches broken down by type, records, progression displayed via charts and much much more.

Along with tracking results, the app also provides actionable information on how to improve in areas where you may be lacking. To this end it also identifies what the company calls, your “Winning Factors”. These are key aspects where you are particularly strong.

We’ve spent some time with Everlast & PIQ and found that it works as intended. It’s not cumbersome to wear and it goes beyond just displaying data by providing much more meaningful analysis. Regardless of whether you are just shadow boxing for exercise or someone with years of experience, it can be a great addition to your routine.

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Amazon*

2. Hykso Punch Tracking sensor

Hykso’s punch trackers track your hands’ movement 1,000 times per second to detect the number, the type, and the velocity of all your punches. Install the trackers on the top of your wrists, underneath 2 or more wraps of your wrist wraps and you’re good to go!

The Hykso app allows you to view your punch output in real time and measure your daily, weekly, and monthly progression. The App tracks punch count and punch speed. You also get an intensity score, which is a measure of your physical output so you know how combat fit you are. Hykso says its trackers record over 6,000 data points for every single punch, giving you great insight into your technique.

Amazon*

3. Moov Now

Moov Now is a one of a kind wearable fitness coach that actively monitors your activity and advises you in real time how to get the most from your workout. Similar to many other fitness trackers, Moov tracks your daily activity and sleep — but rather than steps, Moov measures movement within 3D space.

The device pairs with an app to train users on five sports — running, cycling, swimming, cardio boxing, and a seven-minute bodyweight workout. The wearable’s modular design allows the gizmo to be worn where it is most beneficial for each sport it tracks. For example, you can wear it on your ankle or shoe for running, or on your wrist while kickboxing or swimming.

The Cardio Boxing workout supports two Moov Nows, one on each wrist for a more complete workout experience. The sensor will tell the smartphone app if you’re not punching correctly, making sure you get a full workout. Are your feet in the correct position? Are you keeping your hands up and striking as prompted?

All in all, this fitness tracker aims to teach you the concepts of a healthy life. It provides a fun way to work out and will appeal both to the average person and hard-core fitness enthusiast.

Amazon*

4. Strike Tec

An Indiegogo funded project, StrikeTec is a wearable for boxing and MMA fighting that seeks to eliminate guesswork and optimize training. Whether in the ring, the gym, working out with a partner or solo you’ll get real-time feedback via your mobile app on your training session.

To use the wearable, you’ll need to secure the sensor under your wrist wrap or glove velcro. Once paired with the smartphone app, the little gadget automatically measures your strike data, including your speed, power, count, type or combination, as it happens. At the end of your session, you’ll get more stats such as your average speed, average power, most/least popular strike combinations, round by round performance, endurance, fatigue and more.

StrikeTec is aimed for those who want to use boxing or martial arts for exercise. It can help you, your family and friends get out of the chair, off the couch and competing against each other with safe and easy to execute exercises. You’ll also have access to StrikeTec’s growing community of coaches, athletes and fans.

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StrikeTec*

5. Corner

Corner is another new kid on the block. It comes in the form of two small wireless trackers which you need to attach to your hand wraps. Download the accompanying iOS or Android smartphone app and you’re set to go.

Every punch, block or combination is displayed in real time on your smartphone allowing you insight into your performance as you box. You’ll get detailed info on your punch rate, speed and power. The system also finds trends in the punches and combinations you throw, and at the end of the session Corner will provide you with a fight fatigue score.

Amazon*

6. PunchLab

This one is a bit different from other boxing trackers on this page. It’s also the least expensive. This is because it doesn’t add any new hardware. Instead, it converts your smartphone into a punch tracker.

To use, stick your smartphone into the enclosure of the belt (which is included in the premium plan). Alternatively, you can use a running armband as long as it’s long enough to stretch around the punching bag. The video below will give you a clearer idea how it attaches.

The gizmo uses existing motion sensors in your smartphone to track your strikes and follow your overall progress. Statistics such as total hits, force percentage and an overall workout score will be at your disposal.

There are also guided workouts which aim to improve your fighting style and technique. Put a headset on and simply follow the audio instruction.

The design of the gear has inherent limitations. It only tracks bag work and not your hand motion. Nevertheless, this is a simple and inexpensive way to make bag work more interesting.

PunchLab*

7. FightCamp

Maybe you don’t want to be bothered to head out to your local boxing gym. Well, now you can unlash your inner fighter in the comfort of your home. FightCamp is a smart training system for boxers that consists of a punching bag, gloves, hand wraps and an exercise mat.

The whole thing is pretty compact and mobile. It takes up just 8’ x 4’ of living space and can be adjusted to 6’ x 4’ to accommodate smaller rooms. The techy bit are the sensors which slip into your gloves to keep tabs on punch volume, speed and output. All this is displayed on a smartphone or tablet, allowing you to know how hard you are hitting and working out in real-time.

The company operates a monthly rental package which starts at $39. There are also financing options which allow you to buy now and pay later.

FightCamp*

8. LiteBoxer

This one is sometimes called the Peloton of boxing. Therefore it is no surprise that it will set you back a hefty $1,500! You’ll need to create a bit of space, though, in your home or garage. The thing takes the form of a 6 foot tall, stationary platform.

If you imagined something with a traditional punching bag attached, think again. Instead you get a target with 6 LED lights. The goal is to hit the one that is shining green. The lights tell you when and where you’re meant to punch.

The sensors inside LiteBoxer track your power and accuracy in real-time and show them on your smartphone or tablet. There are also guided challenges and workouts. All of this is accompanied by LiteBoxers patented technology which matches your punch combinations with dance and pop music.

Liteboxer*

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Hitting a reflex bag at home or in the office can be used for everything from toning your body to self-defense training. This type of exercise helps improve reflexes, hand-eye coordination and works out a multitude of muscles. It’s also one of the best workouts for weight loss.

Essential reading: Connected tech for boxing

But what if you could train smarter? A new kind of reflex bag has just launched on Indiegogo. One that adds computer intelligence to your workouts.

Move It Speed looks and feels like a traditional free-standing reflex bag. It has adjustable height and rebound speed and is mounted onto a round base filled with a ballast material. This makes it very portable and ideal for small indoor environments.

The novel element, however, is the sensor technology. Move It Speed can work out and provide real-time info on the direction, strength and speed of your punches  The reflex bag uses this data to constantly adjust reaction increment time, shown with an LED light signal.

In addition to recording total punches, average strike speed, fastest jab speed and calorie consumption, the accompanying app has courses to help you perfect your form. There are various game modes to choose from as well as fitness programs. The app also compares your stats with others so can be a motivator to stay on top of your game.

Finally, if your boss is annoying you, upload his picture into the app and punch away. Not a bad option for releasing stress! If you’re doing this in the office, just make sure he’s not standing behind you whilst you are doing this.

The Hong Kong-based team is now working on turning their prototype into a retail product. Just a few days into the campaign, they are more than 10 times above their rather modest goal. Early bird pricing is around $100, with delivery to backers expected in September. As always, warnings about crowdfunded projects apply.

Price: $95 and up

Funding open:

$32,905 raised out of $3,842 goal
26 days left

Estimated delivery: September 2019

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Essential reading: Connected tech for boxing

Despite being steeped in tradition, boxing is not immune to technological changes that are happening all around us. Fitness trackers and smartwatches are changing the way we train, and now sensors are changing the way we approach the noble art of boxing.

BotBoxer employs high-speed computer vision and motion recognition to track your every move and spot any oncoming hook or jab from you. The three-motor drive enables it to mimic a live opponent and move away from your fists to escape your punches. It doesn’t get much better when it comes to getting an epic upper body cardio workout! And no, the bag does not punch back.

The sensors inside the bag also read force, velocity and direction of your every shot providing you with blow-by-blow statistics. All this information is uploaded and stored on the Cloud.

The robotic boxing opponent allows you to choose a session for every kind of fighter, from beginner to pro. Use drills to advance your technique or select a program with punching combinations you want to improve. It even allows for customising your own session.

Now to the bad news. Unless you’ve got very deep pockets or are determined to become world champion, its unlikely you’ll decide to spring for one of these. Set for delivery in the Fall it costs a hefty $19,900. Look for it, though, in one of the gyms near you.

“It’s time for gyms to up their game, and BotBoxer is the solution,” said Alex Golunov, BotBoxer’s project leader.

“More than a cutting-edge training machine, BotBoxer is a new-era approach to fitness. No other equipment can assess the speed and power of a boxer’s punch at the same time, and it’s the first gym machine to include upper-body cardio, not just power training.”

While you’re waiting, its worth checking out other, more affordable boxing tech on offer. This is mostly in the form of sensors for your gloves.

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