Anyone use a Bulgarian Bag?

[davidI]

Since it seems using the gym is still at least a few months off because of COVID, I wanted to buy a kettle bell, only to discover that reasonably priced options are sold out everywhere.

Further research led me to discovering Bulgarian Bags which look like perhaps an even better alternative to kettle bells. I'm even thinking I could sew one myself give my interest in leather work.

Does anyone have one or have experience using them? Thoughts?

If anyone has one, I'd love to know the general measurements!

96770

[killramos]

See I always figured a Bulgarian bag was something similar to a prison purse.

[davidI]

See I always figured a Bulgarian bag was something similar to a prison purse.

It's actually basically a sheep... but keeping one in my apartment would be a pain in the arse.

96771

[ExtraSlow]

I misread the OP and though you were looking for a gym bag, like to carry your clothes. Thought this was a weird choice, but was trying not to be judgemental and failing.

[ThePenIsMightier]

That picture of Bulgarian Cletus isn't a ringing endorsement. That looks pretty awkward and that stitching is in the worst possible place. I didn't realize the thing was that big.

Why has no one said "which end do you insert?" yet?!

[Manhattan]

Kettlebell isn't that hard to find at least in Canada. Walmart has had a 35lb in stock each time I visited. About $2/lb.

[taemo]

use your wife/gf as bulgarian bag? :rofl:
I've used my daughter as weight but she's only 11kg lol

would be interested on something like this as I need to do more squats and only have a 35 lbs kettlebell at home

edit: there's some on amazon but it seems easy to make a DIY with tractor tire tube, zip ties and weights(wood pellets or rubber mulch)
https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/minimalist-training-how-to-make-and-use-a-bulgarian-training-bag/

f7HFGW6tb98
i'll see if I can make one

[adidas]

Buddy, buy a sack of onions. These traditionally weigh around 25lbs.

You also gotta make sure to buy it from a superstore in the NE, that way you don't look out of place.

96772

[SJW]

Buddy, buy a sack of onions. These traditionally weigh around 25lbs.

You also gotta make sure to buy it from a superstore in the NE, that way you don't look out of place.

96772

Plus you can wear an onion on your belt as it's the style these days.

[davidI]

The Bulgarian Bag was developed for wrestling/Judo/MMA and offers a lot more variations than a kettlebell or sack weight for functional strength (especially grip strength) and conditioning.

I could easily fill a dry bag with water/sand and use it like a kettlebell but I like the idea of having something with more flexibility.

96774

[ThePenIsMightier]

Plus you can wear an onion on your belt as it's the style these days.

Wins internet for January 12, 2021!

[mr2mike]

Figured this was to strengthen your cow milking grip?!

You learn something new.
If I wore this while WFH, my curved spine lean at the PC would increase tenfold.

[taemo]

davidI I caved in and ordered this, should be arriving on Thursday.
what measurement do you need?
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00KCUQN2C

[riander5]

Kettlebells are literally the one thing that is still in stock all over the country

[davidI]

@davidI (https://forums.beyond.ca/member.php?u=588) I caved in and ordered this, should be arriving on Thursday.
what measurement do you need?
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00KCUQN2C

You're a legend!!!

Honestly, the more measurements the better. I'm trying to reverse engineer it off the photos but it's hard to do without scale.

The most useful measurements would be the total width at the widest point, total height (imaginary line from middle grip at top to in between the bottom of the main handles), and circumference of the bag.

If you're able to grab the other measurements in this image (width of top grips, height of bottom grips, and distance between top grips and between top grip and bottom of main handle) it would really help me mock it up!

I tried to draw them out on this image:

96894

[taemo]

You're a legend!!!

Honestly, the more measurements the better. I'm trying to reverse engineer it off the photos but it's hard to do without scale.

The most useful measurements would be the total width at the widest point, total height (imaginary line from middle grip at top to in between the bottom of the main handles), and circumference of the bag.

If you're able to grab the other measurements in this image (width of top grips, height of bottom grips, and distance between top grips and between top grip and bottom of main handle) it would really help me mock it up!

I tried to draw them out on this image:

96894
davidI here you go man, looking forward using this for workouts later today
dimensions in cm
https://i.postimg.cc/kXcmPYb1/bulg.jpg

forgot to measure the depth of the bag, ~20cm in the middle and ~14cm at the end of the camo stitching

[davidI]

@davidI (https://forums.beyond.ca/member.php?u=588) here you go man, looking forward using this for workouts later today
dimensions in cm

forgot to measure the depth of the bag, ~20cm in the middle and ~14cm at the end of the camo stitching

You're an absolute rock star!! Even better than I expected - thanks man!!!

Am I correct in assuming that the 5-6cm in the handle are the diameter (i.e. flat measurement across) so the circumference would be more like 15-16cm?

Let me know how the workout goes!

[taemo]

You're an absolute rock star!! Even better than I expected - thanks man!!!

Am I correct in assuming that the 5-6cm in the handle are the diameter (i.e. flat measurement across) so the circumference would be more like 15-16cm?

Let me know how the workout goes!

Yup those measurements are just the diameters, has the same grip feel as 2" battle rope.

Workout with this is great, glad I went with the medium 26lbs size as it is quite a workout to swing it over your head, I can only do about 5-6 before I need a rest for now.
It's definitely more versatile than the 30lbs kettlebell, can be used as weights and my plan is to wear this plus the kettlebell for squats.

I'm using it in our living room where I only have about 8x8 of movement space and as our TV is right in front I use the straps and grip while swinging it.

Will update this thread how it fares, I'm planning on working out almost everyday with this and see how progress goes.

Due to christmas eating and WFH I've gained some weight so I'm planning on getting back down to under 180lbs from 195lbs before spring/summer

[davidI]

Awesome. Happy to hear you're liking it so far.

I'm happy you mentioned you're happy with the 26 lb. size as well as I'll probably start around there and then have the option to scale up with sand packets or whatever in the future.

It's going to be quite the challenge to design and sew up still so we'll see if what I have in my head works out in reality.

I decided I'm going to name my bag once I'm done. I'll call it силен or "Silen" which means strong in Bulgarian - both in muscle and in character. Figure it suits it pretty well.

[davidI]

taemo - thanks again for those measurements. I finally finished my bag and it came in at around 25 Euros in materials and 25 pounds.

It's all saddle stitched by hand with goat and pig leather and a wood pellet filling. I'll probably put in another pound of wood pellets to bring the weight up to 26 pounds as things settle into place and can insert sand to increase the weight as I get used to the movements.

97553

- - - Updated - - -

I named the bag "силен" or "silen" which means strength in Bulgarian (both strength of muscle and character). I don't have Cyrillic leather stamps so I just did the best I could with what I had haha.

97554

[SJW]

taemo - thanks again for those measurements. I finally finished my bag and it came in at around 25 Euros in materials and 25 pounds.

It's all saddle stitched by hand with goat and pig leather and a wood pellet filling. I'll probably put in another pound of wood pellets to bring the weight up to 26 pounds as things settle into place and can insert sand to increase the weight as I get used to the movements.

97553

- - - Updated - - -

I named the bag "силен" or "silen" which means strength in Bulgarian (both strength of muscle and character). I don't have Cyrillic leather stamps so I just did the best I could with what I had haha.

97554
Should I be figuring out how to have sex with it?

[taemo]

taemo - thanks again for those measurements. I finally finished my bag and it came in at around 25 Euros in materials and 25 pounds.

It's all saddle stitched by hand with goat and pig leather and a wood pellet filling. I'll probably put in another pound of wood pellets to bring the weight up to 26 pounds as things settle into place and can insert sand to increase the weight as I get used to the movements.

I named the bag "силен" or "silen" which means strength in Bulgarian (both strength of muscle and character). I don't have Cyrillic leather stamps so I just did the best I could with what I had haha.


looks great man, was wondering how your project was doing.
noticed you didn't put the straps? I use them all the time in case my hand slips and allows you to wear it as a bag for some workouts.

I'm still using mine 3-4x a week and named mine Bulg lol. I'm able to do 10 reps of over the head swings now too.


Should I be figuring out how to have sex with it?

now I can't unsee it :rofl:

[JRSC00LUDE]

Should I be figuring out how to have sex with it?

I assume this is a rhetorical question.

[davidI]

looks great man, was wondering how your project was doing.
noticed you didn't put the straps? I use them all the time in case my hand slips and allows you to wear it as a bag for some workouts.

I'm still using mine 3-4x a week and named mine Bulg lol. I'm able to do 10 reps of over the head swings now too.


Yea, it took a lot longer than I expected but all that hand stitching and trying to come up with the design took time.

Happy to hear you're keeping it up.

I was originally planning to add the straps but figure I can sew in D-loops later and use straps on carabiners if I see the need for handles in the future. The only thing I can imagine so far is bicep curls with one hand but we'll see how it goes. As long as I don't accidentally throw it through a window all should be good.

[ThePenIsMightier]

That's really cool that you made one!


You others are plagiarizing! I said "which end do you insert" way back in January!