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Last updated: October 10, 2023
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Cornhole, also known as sack toss or bags, is a popular game in which little bags filled with corn kernels are tossed at a board with a hole in the end. It’s a fun game, and having the best cornhole bags really helps to maximize the enjoyment of every player.
We’ve reviewed 33 different cornhole bags in an attempt to find the very best options, discovering that the Play Platoon Cornhole Bags was the best option for most people. Available in a huge range of colors and patterns, these cornhole bags are made in line with American Cornhole Association regulations and feature weather resistant duckcloth exteriors, as well as coming with a lifetime warranty. We also found four more of the best cornhole bags available.
Our review team spent many hours looking through the various cornhole bags on the market, analyzing and evaluating each one based on a range of factors. We looked at the materials used to make each cornhole bag, for example, as the outer material can really make a difference in terms of resistant and suitability for all-weather play. We looked at the filling too, as this also has an impact on how and where the bags can be used. We looked at the color and pattern options, as many people enjoy picking unique cornhole bags with bright designs, and we also considered the size and weight of each bag too. The table below shows the best cornhole bags we found, followed by in-depth reviews and a buying guide.
"These bags are filled up with sand, which makes them weather resistant and all-season suitable, while duck cloth exteriors and some really impressive stitching secures maximum durability."
"This budget-friendly model contains synthetic corn kernels, which feel and act just like classic real corn bags, without any of the issues that come along with classic corn."
"These bags, filled with sand, have smaller size, which means that they can be used more easily by younger players, appealing greatly to children who want to join in the fun with some tabletop cornhole."
"This real corn model is available in more than 25 different colors in total and 221 combinations, including custom color combos you can request from the manufacturer."
Starting off our list of the best cornhole bags are the Play Platoon Cornhole Bags. Made by one of the best brands in the business, these cornhole bags feature duck cloth exteriors for maximum durability and some really impressive stitching too. They can last a lifetime, surviving countless throws and still looking just as good as new.
On the inside, the Play Platoon Cornhole Bags are filled up with sand, which is a popular material with many modern players due to its weather resistance and all-season suitability. In short, these bags can be used in almost any conditions without issues. The Play Platoon Cornhole Bags are easy to clean too, and they even come with a mesh carry bag to be easily transported around to friends’ homes for barbecues and summer fun.
Play Platoon is also so confident in its products that it offers a lifetime replacement warranty for every buyer of Play Platoon Cornhole Bags. On the downside, players who are used to playing with real corn or synthetic corn may need some time to get used to the sand filling.
Moving on, we have our Best Value cornhole bags: the Barcaloo Cornhole Bags. These bags have a lot in common with the Play Platoon bags seen above. They feature a similar exterior, made with strong duck cloth and featuring very high quality stitching. They’re also made to fit in with the regulation size and weight allowances of the ACA, but on the inside, they feature real corn kernels.
This can be an issue in some cases, as corn filled bags are harder to clean and more prone to rain damage, but the Barcaloo Cornhole Bags are really well-made and feel great to play with. They’re available in a range of different color options to suit team play with your friends and family, and they come with a mesh bag for easy transportation.
These Barcaloo Cornhole Bags also come with a lifetime warranty, which provides a lot of peace of mind to the user. Even if issues arise due to the real corn filling, the lifetime warranty ensures that you can get a whole new set of bags for free without any hassle.
If you want a set of cornhole bags that are affordable but still impeccably made, we have to recommend the GoSports Cornhole Bean Bag Sets. These are some of the cheapest cornhole bags out there, but they’re still made with top quality materials from top to bottom, offering very impressive value for money.
The GoSports Cornhole Bean Bag Sets feature a heavy duty duck cloth outer cover, which works wonders at keeping the filling inside and surviving endless throws and non-stop playing action. They also come with double stitching for added strength and security, so you can safely use them again and again without worrying about wear and tear.
On the inside, the GoSports Cornhole Bean Bag Sets contain synthetic corn kernels, which is arguably the best possible fill you can hope to find in terms of cleanliness, feel, and durability. They feel and act just like classic real corn bags, without any of the issues that come along with classic corn. The only real downside with these bags is that some users say the colors aren’t very bright and can appear faded.
If you’re looking for something a little different from your cornhole bags, you might like to consider the Tailgate360 Small Sized Bean Bags. Better-suited for tabletop play and indoor use than classic outdoor cornhole sessions, these bags are actually much smaller than regulation size, meauring up at just 3.5″ by 3.5″.
The smaller size of these Tailgate360 Small Sized Bean Bags means that they can be used more easily by younger players, appealing greatly to children who want to join in the fun with some tabletop cornhole. Their small size and weight will take some getting used to for some players and makes them unsuitable for classic cornhole play, but they’re well made and fun to use.
Available only in red and blue, these cornhole bags are super affordable too and weigh in at just 6 oz. They’re filled up with sand for easy and comfortable throws, and they’re covered with strong duck cloth for maximum resistance.
Last but not least, we come to our final entry, the Tailgating Pros Cornhole Bags. If you care about colors, patterns, and styles in your cornhole bags, you’ll love these sets. They’re available in more than 25 different colors in total, including custom color combos you can request from the manufacturer. There are also camo patterns and a stars and stripes design too.
In short, if you really care about being able to pick your favorite colors, these cornhole bags are definitely a must-buy. Plus, they’re made 100% in the USA and feature top quality materials including real whole kernel corn on the inside and premium heavy duty duck canvas on the outside.
There’s double stitching on the Tailgating Pros Cornhole Bags for added security and durability, allowing these bags to be comfortably used on any surface. They come with a 1-year warranty too, with the manufacturer promising to replace any bags that burst open or break. Overall, they’re excellent cornhole bags that look terrific, but since they contain real corn, you won’t be able to use them in the rain and need to be more careful when cleaning them too.
What are our favorite features?
Lots of colors
Premium materials
Real corn feel
Made in the USA
What could be better?
Not weather resistant
Things to Consider
Cornhole is such a classic and fun game, and it’s always a good idea to have a good set of cornhole bags around the house or out in the backyard, ready to enjoy some fun with family and friends out in the open air. But you should never assume that all cornhole bags are created equal. They can vary greatly in terms of the materials used on the outside, the filling used on the inside, the weight and dimensions of each bag, and even the colors and patterns of the exterior cloth. There are many different types of cornhole bags out there, and this guide will help you find the best possible bags for you.
Features to consider while buying the best cornhole bags
It’s so important to note that cornhole bags may look similar on the outside, but one set of bags might actually be very different to another when you start looking at the sizes, weights, materials used, fillings, and more. All of these different factors need to be taken into account when searching for the best possible cornhole bags. You definitely can tell the difference between low quality bags and well-made bags, and the poorer quality variants can break open and wear down much more quickly. With that in mind, let’s look at some key features for you to consider when shopping for cornhole bags.
Material and stitches
One of the first and most significant factors to think about when shopping for the best cornhole bags is the material and stitching of each bag. This can have a huge impact on the overall durability and lifespan of your cornhole bags, and it’s always worth investing in better materials if you want your cornhole bags to last as long as possible without any rips, tears, or general degradation.
Don’t forget that cornhole bags are going to get tossed around a lot. The average bag might be thrown thousands of times during its lifespan, so they need to be tough and strong. The American Cornhole Association recommends canvas duck cloth or synthetic suede as the best possible materials for cornhole bags used in its official games and tournaments.
Duck cloth is generally considered to be the best possible material you can find due to its high resistant to water, heat, humidity, and breakages.
All of the cornhole bags on our list, including the Barcaloo Cornhole Bags and the Tailgating Pros Cornhole Bags, are made with duck cloth canvas exteriors for maximum durability. The stitching is super important too, as this helps to keep the filling inside and prevents the fabric from opening up.
Filling
It’s no use focusing entirely on the exterior of your cornhole bags. You need to think about the inside too. There are many different fillings that can be used in cornhole bags, and many people have debates and disagreements about the best fill for cornhole bags.
In the past, real corn was the only option, but over the years, we’ve seen other fillings like sand and synthetic corn gain popularity.
If you like cornhole bags made in the traditional way, classic corn kernel bags, like Tailgating Pros Cornhole Bags, are the best option for you. These bags embody the history and essence of the game, appealing to people who have been playing cornhole for years and enjoy the feel of a classic bag. They land perfectly on the board, but they do have some disadvantages, like the fact that they won’t last as long as bags with other fillings. Corn breaks down over time and can attract insects too. Plus these bags are harder to clean.
If you don’t mind opting for a set of cornhole bags that aren’t so traditional, you might like to consider the Play Platoon Cornhole Bags, which feature sand on the inside, or the GoSports Cornhole Bean Bag Sets, which come with synthetic corn. Sand is highly resistant to weather and won’t degrade over time, and the same can be said for synthetic corn, which replicates the feel of real corn, without any of the disadvantages.
Color
The look of your cornhole bags won’t have any impact on how they actually perform in games or stand up to the elements, but many people still care a great deal about the patterns and colors featured on their cornhole bags. This is why a lot of manufacturers take time to offer a great range of color options. The Tailgating Pros Cornhole Bags, for example, come in dozens of different color combos, including camo patterns and flag designs too.
Size and weight
Don’t forget about the size and weight of your cornhole bags too. Most cornhole bags, like the Play Platoon Cornhole Bags, measure up to the official standards of the ACA. They’re usually sized at 6” x 6” and weigh in at around 16 oz. These are the best bags to choose if you want to play the game on a professional level, but if you want to try something different, you can find smaller cornhole bags, like the Tailgate360 Small Sized Bean Bags. These bags are around half the size of regular cornhole bags, so can be used in different ways, ideally for tabletop play indoors.
Warranty
One more factor you must not forget when buying cornhole bags is the warranty policy of the manufacturer. As stated earlier, cornhole bags get tossed around a lot. It’s the whole point of the game, after all, and it’s not uncommon for bags to split or get damaged in various ways over time, especially if they contain real corn kernels or have low quality stitching. If that ever happens, it helps to have a strong warranty policy in place, as the manufacturer will be able to cover the costs of repairs or replacements for you. The Play Platoon Cornhole Bags come with a lifetime warranty, with the manufacturer giving you a full free set if you have any issues.
Price
One of the first things to think about when buying almost anything in life is the price. Budget matters a lot for many people, and it’s always important to avoid spending more than you really need to. You might think that cornhole bags are all more or less the same price, but they can vary quite a lot.
You can find some really affordable sets of cornhole bags for around $10, like the GoSports Cornhole Bean Bag Sets, for example, and then there are other, more expensive cornhole bags that start getting closer to the $20 mark. The more expensive options are often made with stronger materials, but this isn’t always the case and you can find some terrific and affordable options out there.
The key for finding the best possible cornhole bags is to think about your personal needs and situation. If you aren’t going to be playing cornhole too often and don’t plan on playing in the rain or other difficult weather conditions, you probably don’t need to worry about investing in the more expensive options. If you love to play cornhole very regularly with friends and family, the pricier sets might be better-suited for you.
Extra features
If you’re struggling to decide between two sets of top quality cornhole bags and just can’t quite choose which one is right for you, take a look at the extra features or added accessories included with each option. Sometimes, manufacturers go the extra mile with their cornhole bags, adding in little bonuses that help to make their sets even more appealing to customers.
The Play Platoon Cornhole Bags, for example, come with a mesh carry bag that can be really useful if you plan on taking your cornhole bags along on camping trips or visiting friends’ houses with them, or if you just want to keep them all neatly together and organized in one simple bag. The Barcaloo Cornhole Bags come with a mesh carry bag too.
The GoSports Cornhole Bean Bag Sets, meanwhile, are made from a weather-proof material that makes them highly suited to outdoor use in rainy conditions, as well as being two sided cornhole bags with lots of different color options to choose from.
Cornhole bag maintenance
If you want your cornhole bags to last a long time, ready to be played with again and again without any issues or severe wear or tear, you have to be ready to look after them properly and put in some effort for a little cornhole bags DIY maintenance and cleaning.
Fortunately, the act of cleaning your cornhole bags shouldn’t be too difficult, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re working with Slide Rite cornhole bags or Play Platoon Cornhole Bags. As long as your bags don’t contain real corn, the maintenance process is always usually the same, regardless of the brand name.
To begin, prepare a soapy solution with warm water and regular dish soap, and then place the cornhole bags inside. Leave them there to soak for a few hours, before removing them from the water and then using a brush to scrub the sides.
Scrub hard enough to remove any incrusted dirt or grime, but don’t get too rough with the bags as you could cause unnecessary damage. Next, be sure to rinse the cornhole bags off with clean, cool water to remove all traces of soap, and then let the cornhole bags dry out in the fresh air, but try to avoid keeping them in direct sunlight for too long as this can affect the color and the filling of your bags.
If you’re using bags that are filled with real corn, like the Barcaloo Cornhole Bags or Tailgating Pros Cornhole Bags, then you need to be a little more careful and can’t risk leaving the bags to soak for hours on end. Instead, you should use a soft brush and a little dish soap to lightly brush the outside of the bags. Then use a damp cloth to wipe away any traces of soap and let the bags dry off.
Cornhole is a game with a lot of history behind it, dating all the way back to the 19th century, but it was only really in the 1970s and 80s that it started to gain widespread appeal all across America, with the American Cornhole Association, American Cornhole League, and American Cornhole Organization being set up in the 21st century. Essentially, to play the game, players take turns throwing the cornhole bags at the raised board. The idea is to get the bags into the hole at the far end of the board, or at least to get the bags onto the board. Any bag that goes through the hole earns 3 points, while any bag on the board earns 1 point. Play goes on until one team or player reaches a score of 21.
It is possible to refill some cornhole bags. However, most models don’t allow for refilling. This is because, if you want to buy refillable cornhole bags, they need to have some way of opening. This is usually provided in the form of a zipper, which can interfere with play and potentially even open up during a game. Usually, most of the best cornhole bags do not feature zippers and are fully sealed all over to keep all corn or other fillings inside at all times. If you do want to try out refillable cornhole bags, these can be found and purchased, but in general, the best options have no need to be refilled.
Our Verdict
Overall, the top rated cornhole bags in our list are the Play Platoon Cornhole Bags. These are professional cornhole bags, made in line with ACA regulations, measuring up perfectly at 6″ x 6″ and weighing in at 15-16 oz each. They’re available in various colors and styles and even come with a carry bag and lifetime warranty.
The next best cornhole bags are the Barcaloo Cornhole Bags. Filled up with 100% real corn for premium performance and made from durable, strong duckcloth and resistant stitching, these cornhole bags are highly resistant and sure to last for years of playtime in any conditions.
Our third favorite cornhole bags are the highly affordable GoSports Cornhole Bean Bag Sets. Available in 16 different colors, ranging from bold blues and greens to subtle blacks and grays, these cornhole bags are filled with an all-weather, synthetic corn, perfect for rainy conditions, coated with a duckcloth exterior and strong double stitching.
