The regulation-size wood set that Reviewed tested with a family and gave a full recommendation, and that Wirecutter names as its cheaper alternative to a pro board. Reviewed found the boards smooth, well-lacquered and sturdy, and Wirecutter reports its set held up through a year of use. The trade-offs the two outlets describe are light boards with a single crossbeam and basic single-sided bags.
Full review
What Reviewed found in family testing
Reviewed's Janelle Randazza tested the regulation-size set with her family. She describes the boards as smooth around the edges, well-lacquered and durable, and found no areas where a bag might snag or catch on close inspection.
The boards took some abuse in that test. Reviewed reports that a 40-pound child jumped on them and the board did not scuff, let alone buckle or warp. The boards were also left out overnight under timed sprinklers, and the lacquer caused the water to bead right off. Wet bags left sitting on the boards for a couple of hours did leave water marks.
Lighter than regulation, with one crossbeam
Reviewed weighed the boards at 15 pounds each against a 25-pound regulation figure. It says the weight did not seem to be an issue for sturdiness and that the lighter boards made setup and moving them around the yard easy.
Wirecutter raises the same point from the other side. Its guide says the boards weigh less than 25 pounds and have only one crossbeam where its top pick has two, a shortcoming that can cause a bit of wiggle on more energetic, arcing throws. It adds that the boards are made from 0.5-inch pine and are regulation size.
Bags, case and wear over a year
The set comes with basic resin pellet-filled bags that Reviewed found regulation in weight and size but single-sided, so they offer no separate stick and slide faces. Reviewed was initially frustrated by how slippery they were and expects to upgrade eventually. Wirecutter's test panel rated the bags in the middle of the pack.
The two outlets differ on the carrying case. Reviewed calls it a pretty flimsy nylon and worries about its longevity with constant use, though it carried both boards and the bags. Wirecutter says that after a year of use the case has been surprisingly durable, and that the set held up to being shipped cross-country, two moves and several backyard games.
Strengths
- +Reviewed found the boards smooth around the edges, well-lacquered and durable, with no areas where a bag might snag
- +Water beaded off the lacquer after Reviewed left the boards out under sprinklers overnight
- +Wirecutter reports that after a year of use its set held up to cross-country shipping, two moves and several backyard games
Watch-outs
- −Wirecutter notes the boards weigh less than 25 pounds and have one crossbeam, which can cause a bit of wiggle on energetic, arcing throws
- −The included bags are single-sided; Reviewed says the pros it spoke to recommend dual-sided bags, and Wirecutter's test panel rated these in the middle of the pack
- −Reviewed calls the carrying bag a pretty flimsy nylon and worries about its longevity
How it compares
It costs $139.99 against $299.99 for the AllCornhole ACL Comp boards, which Wirecutter prefers for their two crossbeams and heavier build, and unlike those boards this set's listing includes eight bags and a carrying case. Slick Woody's All Weather boards, $399.00 with bags, are the option for leaving a set outdoors; Reviewed found wet bags left water marks on this set's lacquer.
Rating sources
“If you want the real-deal regulation size, this GoSports one comes with a full recommendation.”
“After a year of use, the GoSports set has held up to being shipped cross-country, going through two moves, and several backyard games.”
Our 4.2 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
