Tailgating Ideas

Cornhole at a tailgate party is a staple. You’d be hard pressed to take a walk through any tailgating parking lot and not see someone tossing bags at a cornhole board. The problem with standard cornhole boards is they can be big, bulky, heavy and take up too much room in your car. If you are willing to sacrifice “authentic” cornhole play for something more lightweight and takes up less space, MyKornhole might be for you. (Click on images to see full size.)

As you can see in the photos, MyKornhole boards are made of heavy duty corrugated cardboard with slots and flaps to fold into a cornhole game board. The boards, when fully assembled, measure 4′ x 2′ just like a regulation competition cornhole board. The design on the top comes in three choices, Blue & Orange, Black & Gold and Blue & Red.

Now the folks at MyKornhole are quick to point out that these cornhole boards are not a replacement for your regulation cornhole boards that are made with wood, glue and screws. MyKornhole boards are merely a fast and convenient option for easy set-up and take down. They can easily be recycled making them one less thing you have to pack and haul home after the tailgate is over. Also, since the boards are shipped unassembled and flat, the box of two MyKornhole boards take up about half the width inside your vehicle compared to two wooden cornhole boards. Take a look at this video of the boards being assembled and some game play.

I had a chance to sample a pair of MyKornhole game boards and I was quite surprised at how well they performed. After all, think about it. You are essentially playing cornhole on a folded box.

The first thing that I noticed is that when the cornhole bag lands on the MyKornhole board, it tends to bounce. It doesn’t bounce high, but there was a definite bounce. Also, I tested the MyKornhole boards on both a hard surface (asphalt) and a softer surface (grass). Seeing how asphalt and grass are the two most common surfaces you will find people tailgating on I figured this would be an adequate test.

On the hard surface, the MyKornhole board tends to “scoot” as a result of the bag impact. So if you are a stickler for having the distance between the two boards remain consistent, this will drive you nuts. After all eight bags were thrown, I would estimate the board probably moved back about six inches. So you may want to use a piece of chalk and mark the ground along the front end of the board and replace it after each round of bags. The MyKornhole boards performed much better on grass. There was noticeably less bounce upon impact and there was very little scooting of the board on grass. Here’s an additional video to see the MyKornhole boards fully assembled.

A set of two MyKornhole Game Boards will cost you $19.95. A set of bags are not included in that price but can be added to your order during the checkout process. Eights bags will cost you $9.95 and bag colors correspond to the available board color options, Blue & Orange, Black & Gold and Blue & Red.

The folks at MyKornhole want their product to get in the hands of real tailgaters so they gave me a set to give away to one of my readers. So if you would like one of your own MyKornhole boards for free, all you need to do is pay for the shipping. (Because of the size of the box, shipping will be around $19 to go UPS or FedEx.) Leave a comment below telling me you would like the MyKornhole game boards for free (comes with black and gold bags) and we’ll send you either a Google Checkout or PayPal invoice to pay for the shipping. Indicate whether you prefer PayPal or paying via credit card in your comment. Good luck.

To learn more about MyKornhole game boards or to buy a set of your own, visit mykornhole.com

Popularity: 58%

Just because February is the shortest month of the year does mean there was a shortage of tailgating gear and games to discover this month. So let’s get right to it and let you know what you may have missed.

GoPong Beer Pong Table -- Just when you thought you have seen every type of beer pong table out there on the market, along comes the GoPong beer pong table. So what’s so special about the GoPong beer pong table? It’s the same quality as the other major beer pong tables but nearly half the price.

This a regulation 8′x 2′ hard top, aluminum framed beer pong table that folds up into a 2′ x 2′ briefcase for easy storage and transport. The GoPong beer pong table comes in one design, the black and white design you see pictured above. If that is the only thing holding you back from getting one,  we suggest you use Skinit.com Tailgate Packs to customize these tables to your team’s colors and logos. (See our demonstration video on the GoPong product page.)

So what’s the price? How does $74.95 plus shipping sound? Compare that to other beer pong table manufacturers who price their tables in the $129.99 range. And trust me, the GoPong table is made in the same factories as those other tables so you know the quality is the same. You can buy your own GoPong beer pong table from TailgatingIdeas.com for $74.95 +$25 shipping. That’s less than $100 delivered right to your door.

Cooler Coozies -- You wouldn’t bring beer to a tailgate without bringing along a can coozie supporting your favorite team, would you? So why would you bring a cooler to that same tailgate party in the color the manufacturer picked out for you? Now you can wrap your cooler in a Cooler Coozie. It’s a stretchable wrap screened with your favorite team’s colors and official logo that you wrap around your cooler. With different sizes to fit all sorts of coolers, they are bound to have one that will fit your old ice chest. No need to buy a new cooler for next season. Just wrap it in a Cooler Coozie. Here is a video we did out in Las Vegas for the Sports Licencing & Tailgate Show.

Pong University Customized Beer Pong Balls -- February 2010 was not the month we discovered Pong University Beer Pong Balls. We originally learned about Pong University back in June 2008. So why are they part of the 2010 gear in review series? Because they have undergone a change in ownership/management since then and have revamped the company and the quality of their products. Here is a sample they sent me to demonstrate the high quality and attention to detail they now employ.

As you can see the detail on these custom printed beer pong balls is of a high standard. Pong University has a newly redesigned website and offers custom printed and blank beer pong balls. They also require no minimum quantities, colored balls are available and they only use high quality 40mm seamless balls.

The Fan Can Hand -- Have you ever wanted to have a can coozie show your team spirit from yards away? Those regular coozies just don’t show off you level of fan support unless you are right next to another person. The Fan Can Hand accomplishes that goal while being functional and keeping your drink cold.

The Fan Can Hand is a molded drink coozie that is in the shape of an oversized human hand. Think the Incredible Hulk’s hand holding a beer. And since the Fan Can Hand comes in a number of color combinations, you’re sure to find a style that supports your team’s colors. Check out the video we shot while out in Las Vegas for the Sports Licencing & Tailgate Show.

Popularity: 14%

I’ll admit it. I have seen more than my fair share of beer pong tables. I’ve tested and played on a number of different brands of beer pong tables to know what is good quality and what deserves no attention. I was recently introduced to a new beer pong table on the market from GoPong. So what is so special about a GoPong Beer Pong Table that sets it apart from all the other brands of portable beer pong tables? Simply stated, it is the exact same as those other guys but about half the price.

So how is it that those other beer pong table manufacturers are selling comparable aluminum, portable and folding beer pong tables for $129.99 and GoPong can sell them for almost half of that? I’m not 100% sure and you probably need to go ask those other guys why their prices are so high.

The fact is that almost all portable beer pong tables on the market are manufactured in China. The makers of GoPong have made it a point to have their beer pong tables manufactured in the same facilities as those other tables. In some cases, you can only tell the difference between the tables at the end when the final design and brand name go on the tables. By offering the GoPong portable beer pong table for significantly less, the makers are banking on they will still be a profitable business by selling in volume rather than charging the consumer high prices for high margins. I have my very own GoPong beer pong table and before I received it, I will admit I was a bit skeptical it would be of the same quality of other tables I have seen. In short, it was of the same quality and passed with flying colors.

As consumers we have been trained to think that a lower price means lower quality. After all, you get what you pay for is a motto many people subscribe to. When I broke it out of the box, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the GoPong table was a high quality, sturdy yet lightweight and portable beer pong table. Honestly, had someone placed a different brand name of beer pong table on the GoPong table I would have never questioned its integrity or quality of craftsmanship.

Another cost saving maneuver for the GoPong beer pong table is it is only available in one design; black with white lettering design. Sure, other beer pong table companies offer multiple designs but that only drives up their costs of having to warehouse and hold inventory in hopes someone buys their specific design. So if you are one of those discriminating beer pong players that needs a more spiffy design, I’ve discovered a way customize your GoPong beer pong table by using skins from Skinit.com. Check out the video demonstration of how I customized my own GoPong beer pong table using Skinit.com Tailgate Packs.

If you chose to skip the video and prefer to read, simply put, the Skinit.com Tailgate Packs are perfect for turning the GoPong beer pong table into a beer pong table of your favorite team. So if you prefer a design that is not so “Plain Jane”, spruce it up using these Tailgate Packs from Skinit.com.

The specs on the GoPong tables are:
• Size Unfolded: 8′ x 2′ x 27.5″ high (Regulation Size)
• Size Folded: 2′ x 2′ x 5″
• Weight: 21 lbs
• High strength aluminum frame
• Waterproof melamine surface
• Ergonomic carrying handles

So all this time we’ve been telling you how affordable they are. Now its your opportunity to buy one for less than $100. These tables sell for $74.95 +$25 shipping. That’s less than $100 delivered right to your door. Compare that to other beer pong tables that cost $129.99 and you haven’t even added in the shipping costs.

Why pay more for a beer pong table when you can get a GoPong table for much less and customize it any way you like? It’s a no brainer. You can get your own GoPong portable beer pong tables right here from TailgatingIdeas.com for $99.95 including shipping.

Popularity: 19%

2010 opened with a bang not just because it is the start of a new decade but because a lot of cool tailgating gear was introduced to us all. I spent the last month digging up some cool gear on my own but attending the Sports Licencing & Tailgate Show really opened my eyes. And there are more products from that show soon to be revealed right here on TailgatingIdeas.com next month. There was just too much good stuff to overwhelm you all with gear in January. So without further delay here are some of the coolest gadgets and gear from January.

Ref You Suck T-Shirts -- As sports fans we tend to disagree with anyone that supports the opposing team. As tailgaters we typically can disagree on the preferred doneness of a grilled steak. One thing was can all agree on is that we can’t stand it when the ref screws up a call that costs our team the game. That’s why Ref You Suck! T-shirts and the perfect way to express how you really feel in the tailgate parking lot.

Ref You Suck! shirts are a high quality, 6.1 oz., pre-shrunk 100% cotton shirts that come in different options. All four of the major sports have their own Ref You Suck! image. The football ref is wearing the ref’s ball cap, the hockey ref is wearing a helmet and the basketball ref has no head gear. The baseball umpire has the behind home plate protective mask on and that shirt says “Ump you Suck!”. All shirts with the images of officials are printed on a black shirt and the image and lettering is in white. They do offer one in bright orange (so that the ref can spot you in the stands) and just says “Ref You Suck!” across the chest with no image of a referee. Simple, yes, but effectively gets your point across.

Trunk Sports -- We all like playing tailgating games like cornhole, washers, ladder golf, etc. The problem is if you like to play them all, bringing them all can take up too much space in your car. While out in Las Vegas at the Sports Licencing & Tailgate Show I discovered Trunk Sports. It is a complete tailgate game system that combines all the tossing tailgating games on one frame with interchangeable target covers. You’ll notice that Playboy Playmate Laura Croft is in the booth demonstrating how Trunk Sports works.

Frigidaire Portable Induction Cooker -- While tailgating unless you can place it on a grill, more than likely it is going to stay cold. Tailgating is outdoor cooking at it best and that means that sometimes the comforts of home have to stay there. But that is not 100% true. If you want to boil water or fry an egg or even make a stir fry, you’ll need to get a Portable Induction Cooker by Frigidaire.

Induction cooking is different than the regular cooking styles you are most familiar with in that there is no transfer of heat. The brief science lesson for today is that induction is the process of heating an electrically conducting object (usually a metal) by electromagnetic induction. So a powerful magnet inside the cooker makes the pot or pan heat up which is then transferred to the food. There is no heat transferred and the actual cooking vessel is the part that gets hot. The key here is that whatever cooking vessel you use, whether it is a pot, pan or skillet, it needs to be iron based and able to hold a magnet.

All you’ll need is a power source, either a generator or a powerful inverter and you can cook using the Frigidaire Portable Induction Cooker. The beauty of this product is that the unit is small and easily transportable and for safety reasons, never gets hot. The only drawback is you need electricity and metal pots or pans that can hold a magnet.

The Fan Basket -- Although this product is not currently on the market it is truly the one piece of tailgating gear you need in time for next season’s football kick-off. The Fan Basket is a trash can/recycling bin that is shaped like a football on the bottom and has a helmet on top. The cool part is that the facemask shield opens and closes with a motion sensor and the entire unit can be customized complete with logos of your favorite college or pro football team. I had a chance to discover this tailgating product out in Las Vegas while at the Sports Licencing & Tailgate Show. Take a look at the video:

The Snack Palette -- Seating and table space at a tailgate party can be scarce. Many tailgaters will choose to stand and walk around with their food while visiting with friends or their tailgating neighbors. This “eat, drink and be mobile” lifestyle inhibits the ability of tailgaters to truly enjoy their food and drink. Having to balance a plate on your lap or putting down your drink to shake a hand is a royal pain in the ass. The Snack Palette allows you to hold a plate of food, a drink, a condiment dipping cup and your fork with one hand while leaving your other hand free.

What you can’t see in the photo is the ergonomic design of the Snack Palette. The plate is designed with two separate thumb holes for right or left handed eaters. The other hole not used by your thumb fits a small condiment dipping cup perfect for ketchup for fries or extra BBQ sauce for those fall off the bone smoked ribs. The ridges of the back of the plate nearest your hand has curves that allow your index finger to rest and support the Snack Palette whether your extend your finger or prefer to tuck it backwards. And the sturdy plastic design will hold quite a bit of food allowing you to load up on “heavy foods” like potato salad or that turkey leg.

The Snack Palette comes in a variety of different colors and you can choose from medium or large sized plates. The medium package runs $14.50 while the set of large Snack Palette’s costs $16.25.

Instant Tailgate -- Here is yet another product I discovered while out at the Sports Licensing & Tailgate Show in Las Vegas. It’s called the Instant Tailgate and it is an inflatable tailgating space that includes four captains chairs complete with drink holders. The entire unit unfolds from a size that a large cooler would occupy and inflates in about five minutes. Also, there is no need to have constant running air. Once it is inflated you pop in the stopper plug and it stays inflated until you decide to take it down. I had a chance to speak with the inventor and brainchild of this tailgating invention and he describes how the idea came about.

Popularity: 11%

We all like playing tailgating games like cornhole, washers, ladder golf, etc. The problem is if you like to play them all, bringing them all can take up too much space in your car. While out in Las Vegas at the Sports Licencing & Tailgate Show I discovered Trunk Sports. It is a complete tailgate game system that combines all the tossing tailgating games on one frame with interchangeable target covers. You’ll notice that Playboy Playmate Laura Croft is in the booth demonstrating how Trunk Sports works.

Popularity: 6%

Remember back in April we discovered a cool new tailgating game called BecoBall? It combines the tossing motions of two popular tailgating games like cornhole and horseshoes with the scoring system of the old arcade favorite, skeeball. Now you can get your very own BecoBall game right here, directly through TailgatingIdeas.com.

If you would like a more detailed description on the game, the quality craftsmanship and how the game is played, head on over to our original post about it. But honestly taking a look at the video is plenty of information you’ll need to know about BecoBall.

When purchasing a BecoBall game system, here is what you will get:

• 2 Complete Game Frames (main section, front leg, back leg)
• 2 Official BecoBall Game Pouches
• 2 Abacus-Style Scorekeepers
• 6 BecoBalls (3 of one pattern & 3 of a contrasting pattern)
• 1 Carrying Case with Shoulder Strap
• 1 Official Rules & Instruction Manual

Choose from two different color schemes including Beach Ball color or standard silver and black with a red center color. Both color schemes are priced the same, $79.95 + $12 flat rate shipping to the continental United States.

Popularity: 6%

This new tailgating game is called BearPong. It is an over-sized game of beer pong that uses buckets and large bouncy balls instead of a table, cups and ping pong balls. Also, BearPong does not necessarily require drinking. If you want to incorporate drinking all you do is just drink from the beverage in your hand. That way there is no way for parking lot authorities to crack down on the game because it is not directly tied to the consumption of alcohol. Take a look at their video they put together.

As you can see in the video, it is easy to play because about 95% of tailgaters already know the rules to beer pong. Bear Pong closely follows those rules with several key changes. The most important being that you no longer need a table to play. Also you don’t have to drink beer out of cups after a bunch of other people already have.

A regular Bear Pong kit will run you $59.95 and that includes 12 BearPong Buckets, 2 Bearpong Balls and 1 Carrying Case. The Deluxe BearPong kit will cost you $64.95 and includes everything that the regular kit has but also includes a third BearPong Ball and a ball inflation pump.

For more information and to buy your own, visit bearpong.com

Popularity: 5%

We’re getting down to the nitty gritty when it comes to gift giving this holiday season. But there is still time to get the tailgater on your gift list a cool tailgating game. Might we suggest:

Pub Washers – Pub Washers is a portable table top game made for indoor or outdoor play. Ideally suited for a tailgate party, Pub Washers is small enough to travel easily and is attractive enough for the home game room when your team is playing on the road. Unlike traditional washer toss games, Pub Washers is meant to be played on an elevated surface like a folding table or even the bed/tailgate of your truck. The carpeted scoring surface is encompassed by an attractive box with a trough to catch errant tosses which means there is no more bending down and picking up washers off of a filthy tailgating parking lot. When you purchase Pub Washers you’ll receive: One (1) Pub Washers game board, Six (6) steel washers, One (1) six inch (6″) wooden magnet, five (5) Pub Washer Golf score cards and complete rules for Pub Washers, Pub Washers Golf and the Skins game. Total price for the basic Pub Washers set is $125 plus $35 flat rate shipping to the 48 continental United States. (Alaska and Hawaii resident need to make special shipping arrangements.) The handmade wood scoring tower is optional and is an additional $15. You also can get powder coated washers in gloss black and white, three in each color, for an additional $9. If you would like the game board plus the powder coated washers and scoring tower, just select the Pub Washers “The Works” option below.

Washeroos – Looking for a little more bounce and play while playing washer toss? Washeroos is the answer. Washeroos is different than any other type of washers tailgate game in that it incorporates a suspended, bouncing rubber mat in it’s design. That means a washer that lands on the top of the mat can potentially be bounced in by the following washer. Very fun and provides for unpredictable games, comebacks and fantastic finishes.

Lumipic lighted cornhole overlays: Just because the sun goes down and it is dark outside does not mean you have to stop playing cornhole. Using Electroluminescent technology, Lumipic lighted board overlays make your Cornhole sets glow after dark. Two (2) white colored overlays (one for each cornhole board) just $149.99 with shipping included.

Sholf: How do you combine shuffleboard and golf at your next tailgate party? The simple answer is Sholf. You can buy your own Sholf game directly from us. All Sholf games include a left/right handed putter and you can buy Sholf for $85.00 + $14.00 flat rate shipping and handling.

Popularity: 4%