Buyer’s Guide

HOW TO CHOOSE A FOOTBAG

Don’t be discouraged by the local footbag junkies and their arsenal of
mind-bending delay tricks, you may just have the wrong footbag. Rest
assured, they’re not kicking the taut, leather, pellet-filled footbags of
yesteryear.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Today’s footbag manufacturers have brought freestyle play to the everyday, recreational kicker by producing a variety of footbags with soft, user-friendly cover materials and stall-friendly fillers. These pliable fabrics are washable, come in a variety of colors and, most importantly, dramatically accelerate the learning process. The vast majority of footbags are made with synthetic (man-made) materials and come in a variety of names, grades, and colors. The thicker and consequently most durable grades of synthetic suede’s are ultra suede and poly-fleece. If the outer cover material of a footbag is listed as “synthetic suede” it is most likely a medium grade material, which is a nice balance of softness and durability. Crushed Panne fabric makes for a super soft outer cover and is growing quite popular with freestylers. Facile, generally considered to be the softest of all cover materials, has an almost “buttery” feel to it and is a common choice of elite-level freestylers. Although most of today’s footbags are made from one of these materials, there are still a few made of pigskin and cowhide, which provide excellent durability and “bounce.” Specialty footbags for net play use a resilient vinyl cover that provides the advantages of cowhide in all weather conditions. Readily available and inexpensive crocheted footbags are made of rayon or cotton and can vary considerably in their size and density.

Another variable in footbag manufacturing is panel design. In recent years,
multi-panel footbags have become increasingly common as innovation and
craftsmanship advance. In general, multi-paneled designs improve roundness.
The more panels used, the rounder the footbag, resulting in a truer and more
predictable kick. However, these beautiful designs usually require increased
labor to produce, which in turn increases consumer cost. But there’s more to
consider than price when choosing a quality footbag. For beginners, the
softer the footbag, the more control you’ll have with the least amount of
effort. Softer footbags are forgiving, slower and more predictable, allowing
you to link a rally of kicks together more easily.

SAND VERSUS PELLET-FILLED?

In the late 1990’s sand-filled footbags emerged as
the most popular footbags on the market. Why? Because a sand-filled footbag
is easier to “stall” or “delay” on your shoe. Most sand-filled footbags are
filled about one third full of sand, are heavier and “deader” than a
pellet-filled footbag. A general rule of thumb is that a sand-filled footbag
will be easier to stall and do tricks with and a plastic pellet-filled
footbag will kick “truer” off your shoe with less effort. Most synthetic
suede plastic pellet-filled footbags will soften over time to make for a
good all-around footbag for delays and consecutive kicking. Many freestylers
will own a sand-filled footbag for skoolin’ their new delay tricks and a
nice worn in pellet-filled footbag to use once they’ve honed they’re delay
skills. Unfortunately hand-made, sand-filled footbags will have a tendency
to loose sand over time. The good news is sand can easily be added in
minutes (see weight adjustments below). The newest filler on the scene is
steel BB’s. Steel filler allows for a “best of both worlds” scenario,
where it not only kicks true and consistent (like a plastic pellet filled
footbag) but the extra weight allows for great stalls (like a sand filled
footbag).

THE BREAK-IN

Not only are today’s higher-tech footbags easier to use, they’re
considerably easier to break in than some of their stiff predecessors. In
other words, gone are the days of backing over your footbag with the car,
stomping it into the pavement, and saturating it with an assortment of
mysterious oils and lotions. Now the best way to get them ready for play is
to simply roll them vigorously between your hands to help soften the cover
material and stretch the seams flat. Often within minutes, your new footbag
is ready to go and will continue to break in with repeated use. Sand-filled
footbags may require no break in procedures.

SPECIALIZED USES

Although there have been countless footbag games created over the years, the
four mentioned below have emerged as the most widely played and
standardized. [For complete, official rules, consult the International
Footbag Committee rule book, online at http://www.footbag.org/rules, or on sale
through our on-line ordering system. Naturally, along with these specialized
games, there has been an evolution of specialized footbags to accommodate
them. Most players will naturally gravitate toward footbag freestyle as
their game of choice since the type of footbag used is apt to be quite
similar to the one they learned with. Just as soft, pliable footbags enable
easy control and the development of fundamental skills, they’re also
perfectly suited for the innumerable delay tricks and graceful movements of
freestyle play. For footbag net, you’ll require a firmer footbag with a
little more “pop” and durability to carry it distances of up to forty feet
at high speeds. Roundness, accurate response, and highly visible colors are
also factors in choosing the right net footbag. The cover materials
typically used in producing high-performance net footbags are cowhide and
vinyl. In the most basic of games, footbag consecutive, there is some
discrepancy over what makes a footbag ideal. Some kickers prefer a softer
footbag for added control, while others lean towards a firmer model,
requiring less effort to keep it aloft during long rallies. Whatever camp
you’re in, you’ll probably want to choose a multi-paneled footbag for the
added roundness and predictability. Finally, footbag golf requires several
different types of footbags. In fact, golfers will often walk a course
equipped with a half dozen or more at their disposal. You’ll usually use a
tight, hard footbag (like a net footbag) for driving long distances off the
tee. As you approach the hole, you can use a footbag of either soft or
medium consistency to chip it in or near the hole. To putt, you’ll typically
use your softest footbag. Considering all of the different kicking
situations golfers find themselves in, it’s a good idea to have a wide
assortment of footbags from which to choose.

World Footbag staff carefully selects and tests all of the footbags we carry for
workmanship, durability, and performance. In addition, all footbags meet the
International Footbag Committee (IFC) standards for use in competition. Due
to the delicate qualities of our footbags, only limited guarantees are
available.

FOOTBAG MAINTENANCE

The best way to save synthetic footbags from a premature retirement is to
keep them clean. Dirt acts as an abrasive on the cover material causing
excessive wear during routine use. To wash synthetic footbags run cool tap
water over the footbag and massage in some dish soap. Be sure to rinse your
footbag free of soap and lightly squeeze out any excess water. Roll the
footbag round again and let it dry at room temperature. Avoid kicking your
footbag when it is wet as this can cause damage with some footbag models.
This kind of preventive maintenance is not necessary with your cowhide or
pigskin leather footbag, but if they do happen to get wet it’s usually not a
big deal. Roll it round again and let it dry at room temperature. When it
dries completely, apply a small amount of oil (mink oil, snow seal or any
good leather dressing) before using. This will help prevent the leather from
drying out and cracking.

WEIGHT ADJUSTMENTS

Over the years, many players have developed special preferences for
particular footbag weights. As a result, there’s a temptation to pop open
some stitches and modify the amount of filler inside. However, more often
than not this kind of amateur surgery results in a severely deformed or
irreparably mutilated footbag. Not good. If you’ve done this, you might be
able to cut your losses by applying some Freesole® repair adhesive

as described in the footbag repair section below. Alternatively, if you want a little more or
less weight to your footbag or you simply want to replenish some lost sand,
try the following: Take a “scratch awl” (e.g., blunt, tapered instrument
used for piercing wood or leather) or an ordinary freshly sharpened pencil,
and carefully ease the awl (or pencil) into a seam, gently rotate it as you
push it deeper between the stitches creating a small opening. You’ll
discover that the seams will start to spread apart quite easily, opening a
hole through which you can add sand or shake out or insert filler pellets.
When you’ve reached your desired weight, simply roll the footbag in your
hands to again pull the stitches uniformly throughout the entire footbag.
All it takes is a gentle touch and a little patience.

To add a lot of weight without increasing the footbag’s density too much,
try inserting small ball bearings or BB’s rather than plastic pellets. They
work great and, like plastic pellets, won’t break down with extended use.

FOOTBAG REPAIR

Cleanliness will prolong the life of your footbag, but not
indefinitely. Even so, don’t abandon your old favorites as soon as you see
pellets or sand start flying. A while back we experimented with a variety of
different repair adhesives and discovered a particular brand that was
perfect for closing up footbag injuries.
Freesole® is ideal for seam repairs and damaged cover materials of all kinds. A single tube of Freesole® (one ounce) should last you a lifetime if used exclusively for footbag repairs.
(However, it’s awesome for a range of other fix-it projects including shoes,
car seats, watch bands, toys, and younger brothers.) Before applying
Freesole® to synthetic footbags, be sure to wash and dry them thoroughly.
Gently squeeze out a small dab onto a piece of paper and use a tooth pick or
paper clip to lightly apply a thin layer over the damaged area. Remember
that a little goes a long way and “less is best” for you and your footbags.
You can always apply more if needed. Let your repaired footbag rest at room
temperature for at least 24 hours before playing with it. Once dried,
Freesole® is washable, flexible and permanent. The manufacturer recommends
storing your opened tube in the freezer to keep it fresh and prolong its
life. Freesole® is available through our online ordering system.

IN CLOSING

World Footbag offers over 60 different kinds of footbags. The wide
variety can make selecting a footbag difficult, even for the most
experienced players. If you’re still unsure of which one is right for you, you can
either buy all sixty-something or call our toll-free number (800) 878-8797
to speak with a member of our all-knowing staff. Happy Kicking!