For those seeking a dynamic and engaging home workout, FightCamp emerges as an interactive home gym centered around kickboxing-inspired workouts that’s great for small spaces. But is it the right fit for you? This review dives deep into the features, benefits, and potential drawbacks of the FightCamp punching bag system to help you make an informed decision.
Smart home gym equipment is increasingly becoming the future of the fitness industry. While there are still a few kinks that need to be worked out with some of them, there will come a time when devices like FightCamp will be in more home gyms than not. I have been using barbells, dumbbells, and other typical strength training equipment for most of my life because that’s the way I personally like to train. That’s why I was so excited to do this FightCamp review.
The first rule of FightCamp is you can absolutely talk about FightCamp, and that’s what we’re here to do today. For those who don’t know, FightCamp is a kickboxing-inspired smart home gym system that trains you to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.
What is FightCamp?
FightCamp combines cardio and bodyweight exercise to generate a calorie-burning fitness regimen. FightCamp’s boxing and kickboxing bundle offers a unique workout discipline for home gym enthusiasts. While not as versatile as other home gym staples - like free weights, functional trainers, or other profiles - the connected training modules and affordable price point make it a great pick for those that find more traditional at-home workouts somewhat dull.
As you can expect, FightCamp’s focus is on home boxing and kickboxing workouts, but the online workout program also features strength-, core-, and recovery-based sessions with more modules added weekly.
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Here's what a FightCamp package typically includes:
- Punching bag
- Non-slip bag ring
- Heart rate monitor
- Punch trackers
- Quick wraps
- Premium boxing gloves (sized to your needs)
In previous iterations of the service, you needed to connect the included punch trackers via Bluetooth to a smart device such as your phone or tablet, subsequently streaming the connected workouts through that device. The all-new FightCamp console, on the other hand, essentially works like an Apple TV docking station, giving you a more streamlined pathway to follow workouts through your television screen.
First Impressions and Setup
My first impressions of FightCamp were positive, largely since the initial setup was quick and easy. The FightCamp package was easy to order, and everything arrived in great shape. Assembling the FightCamp bundle is as simple as connecting the padded bag to its base and filling the bottom reservoir with water or sand. Per FightCamp, you’ll need roughly 250 pounds of water or 350 pounds of sand to fill the vessel.
The bag took no time at all to assemble, with the exception of loading it up with more than 250 pounds of sand to make it heavy. The punch trackers need to be connected to the app via Bluetooth, but that was actually pretty easy. Before the first session, you plug the console into an outlet and the HDMI port of your TV and download the FightCamp app on a smart device. From there, you create an account, sign up for a membership, and answer a few questions about your goals/boxing experience to get personalized recommendations. If you don't want to use a TV, you can also view the workouts on your smart device instead. I found the process pretty easy and straightforward - and I'm no tech whiz.
Workout Experience
Once you're set up, you can filter the workouts on the app by duration, type, and difficulty level (beginner, intermediate, or open). After you set up FightCamp you get to choose from more than 1,000 different on-demand workout classes, which you can access through the FightCamp app, with more added to the library each week. I tried each type but focused on boxing and kickboxing, since that's what FightCamp is best known for. Each workout included a warm-up and some basic combos.
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I appreciated that the warm-ups were effective at gradually limbering me up and increasing my heart rate before the actual workout (something not every boutique studio class makes time for). The workouts themselves were also challenging, but incorporated enough rest where I didn't feel like I was winded.
The quality and production value of the workout classes are top-tier, and it’s clear the instructors know what they’re talking about.
The Best Home Boxing Workout in 2022!
Tracking and Accuracy
One of the aspects of FightCamp that I really liked was the accuracy of the tracking compared to other interactive workouts I've tried. The Bluetooth-enabled punch tracker sensors are what turn FightCamp into its own connected boxing gym. The sensors allow you to track your punch counts through each session as they tally up across your screen.
During boxing and kickboxing, the number of punches/kicks you throw and the power you put behind your movements is reflected in a score at the corner of the screen. Both numbers seemed accurate and popped up without delay.
Plus, we like how FightCamp has given these combos a sense of competition in live workouts. One cool feature is the FightCamp leaderboard, which, just like Peloton, shows how far ahead different users are in their categories. If you have an Apple device, you can also stream your favorite playlists during the FightCamp workouts. Since you need to hear what the instructor is saying, wearing headphones isn’t always realistic, so I think this is a great feature that just makes it that much more enjoyable.
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App Integration
Another smart home gym device, another app. The app is primarily designed to help you access the classes, and connect the Bluetooth punch trackers to the app to count your punch count-some workouts have punch goals, where you have to get a certain number of jabs in during the class. The app is also how you get the classes onto your TV using AirPlay for Apple devices, or the Google Home app for Android users.
Considerations Before Buying
While FightCamp offers numerous benefits, there are a few potential downsides to consider:
- Lack of Personal Form Correction: One of the most obvious downsides of at-home boxing is that you miss out on the personal form critiques you'd get from in-person instruction.
- Space Requirements: Just make sure you have enough room in your house before purchasing. FightCamp is better for people with extra office space or a more spacious home gym. If you live in a quaint studio apartment like I do, a punching bag occupies a lot of precious real estate.
- Monthly Subscription Fee: My main issue is with the monthly subscription fee, which is standard with most smart home gym equipment.
- Dependence on Technology: You may be wondering why the positive notes expressed above generated a mid-range rating. Well, that’s due to the punch trackers not necessarily picking up every jab and strike during our full-body workouts. According to our tester, there were a few hits that failed to register with the service.
- Limited Versatility: While FightCamp can be a fun, intriguing way to get your heart pumping, and the entire bundle is some of the best compact exercise equipment for athletes in small spaces, admittedly, it’s far more niche than other training staples. After all, your pace and intensity are directly related to the sessions you take, and there are few alterations you can make to your workout outside of choosing a non-boxing session from the library.
Pricing and Packages
FightCamp bundles - which include the bag, trackers, heart rate monitor, and boxing gloves - start at $999. Depending on your space and personal training preference, FightCamp comes in two options: Trackers and Trackers + Bag. The Trackers package comes with one pair of hang wraps and punch trackers, which record your jabs through a smartphone app, and the Trackers + Bag comes with that and a free-standing punching bag.
If you have your own punching bag and gloves, FightCamp starts at just under $99 for just the hand wraps and trackers and is $499 for the trackers and punching bag.
Upfront cost aside, you'll also need to pay $39 per month for the membership in order to access the workouts. For most people, I think the main dilemma is whether they find the $39 monthly subscription fee to be worth it.
FightCamp used to offer a package that included boxing gloves, but that is now a separate accessory that you can purchase for $150 ($50 for kids gloves). The boxing gloves aren’t necessary but if you’re training for boxing or want to protect your hands as you hit the bag, they might be a worthy investment.
Who Is FightCamp Best For?
While FightCamp has beginner workouts and tutorials, I still think it's best reserved for people who have taken at least a few boxing classes. It's quite an investment, so it's worth confirming that you even like boxing before buying the system.
Some people prefer to work out with the encouragement of a trainer or instructor; others favor self-motivated workouts. FightCamp is best suited to the latter group. It does have an element of gamification - you can compete against a bot during workouts - but you have to hold yourself accountable. That said, if you're a self-motivated queen and prefer home workouts, FightCamp provides a great workout, detailed instruction, and just as much fun as some in-person classes.
In my opinion, FightCamp is a great way to get a home workout in for those looking for compact equipment, or anyone living in apartments.
Warranty and Returns
FightCamp does offer a 30-day return policy for all its products but it must be approved by the company before you’re issued a refund (minus any shipping fees). Additionally, FightCamp offers a 1-year warranty for any defects in workmanship and materials. There’s a one-year warranty on all its products, which only covers manufacturing defects.
Alternatives to FightCamp
Okay, so comparing FightCamp to other home gym silhouettes can be a little tricky - there aren’t multiple combat-related products to choose from. So, to give you something to compare the product to, we’ve taken the different principles of the package and stacked them side-by-side to relative profiles.
Here's a quick comparison:
- Tonal: For the connected fitness aspect, we’ve compared FightCamp to Tonal. In terms of versatility, Tonal can be a great option for athletes looking to bring their workouts home. The plethora of accessories and multiple resistance-training sessions make it a go-to for calorie-burning sessions.
- Century Wavemaster: When it comes to free-standing punching bags, I cannot recommend Century’s Wavemaster lineup more. The 52-inch pad height is tall enough to support kickboxing endeavors, and I’ve yet to see a Wavemaster topple over after a hard hit or connection. However, you do need to have some sort of game plan together when training with this profile. There are no connected features like an on-screen instructor with this pick.
I absolutely loved the FightCamp experience, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a way to change up their home fitness routine.