Here at freedom footbags, we have a very different philosophy, stressing quality over quantity. Our top recommendations, based on what you are looking for in the best footbag are as follows:

• Best Hard Core Freestyle Bag: Fearless 55 or Hania Footbag.
• Best intermediate shredder footbag: Richard Abshire 32 or Fourkast 14 (for the economically frugal).
• Best beginner freestyle footbag: Mr. Sandbag Footbag.
• Best bag for basic kicks: Anything in our shred shop, with the exception of the Boota Bag, Sipa Sipa, Hempster, Night hack or Chain Mail bags… They’re all decent for basic kicks, but nothing to be going for records with.

1. That footbag looks small!
2. Is that legal for competition?

My answers are always the same. In short, “Yes, and, yes.” Now for the long answers:

1. In general, the footbags that are used by seasoned freestylers are significantly smaller than they were ten years ago. That’s because there has been more and more focus on moves with multiple dexterities (circling the footbag with the leg/foot). The upper echelon of players today can consistently land tricks with four dexes (e.g. nemesis, arch-nemesis, blurriest swirl, pixie paradon swirl…)! Getting around the bag four times with a big floppy sack is unnecessarily challenging, hence the shift toward smaller diameter bags.
2. The International Footbag Committee, specifically the Rules Committee, lists the specific characteristics of a legal footbag as follows:
   

   107.01. Footbag Specifications

   To be used in competition, footbags must:

   A. Be approximately spherical in shape;

   B. Have a soft, pliable covering; they cannot be rigid balls;

   C. Contain loose filling of any material; and

   D. Be subject to the following size and weight restrictions:

         1. Diameter of footbag: Minimum: 2.54cm (1.0 inches); Maximum: 6.35cm (2.5 inches)

         2. Weight of footbag: Minimum: 20g (0.71 ounces); Maximum: 70g (2.47 ounces)

All of the footbags sold on Freedom Footbags (with the exception of the Nighthack) would be considered legal for competition. See our footbag comparison table for size and weight data.

The following photos show a SandMaster (a good intermediate footbag, representative of how large footbags used to be – though maybe a bit larger) and a Fearless 55 (a top level professional bag – the typical size for a pro bag today – though maybe a tad smaller) with standard golf ball for comparison. My how things have changed!

• SandMaster:
  

• Fearless 55:
  

Of course it is. Those that would argue have either never seen modern freestyle being played, or have a skewed (and incorrect) definition of “sport”.

Wikipedia defines “sport” as follows:

Sport is an activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. Sports commonly refer to activities where the physical capabilities of the competitor are the sole or primary determiner of the outcome (winning or losing), but the term is also used to include activities such as mind sports and motor sports where mental acuity or equipment quality are major factors.

Wikipedia

So, yeah. There ya go. We obviously fill that definition readily.

You might be asking: why is Allan stating the obvious? Well, I just watched a great little trailer clip from malcohol86 over at YouTube. It’s about Barrett Neimeth’s journey to organize New York’s first footbag tournament in 10 years, and it’s titled: Is That a Sport? I liked the editing and the atmosphere it created, and there are a lot of little clips from “people in the street” in the area answering the above question; the results are depressing and funny at the same time

Check it out:

Here’s a video of the event in two parts, brought to you by dhsfootbag:

• Part 1
• Part 2

This support program does not require any special software downloads to run.

Get help with:

• Order status questions
• Product availability
• General product questions
• Security questions and concerns
• Special color choices
• Footbag terminology
• Trick advice (limit, one trick per day)

Simply go to the support page to speak with a live representative (this may not be available at all times, but we will make every effort to keep our status current).

The first footbag ever invented was the original Hacky Sack: A stiff, fully packed, 2-panel footbag. The fact that the bag was only two panels was among the factors that made it particularly challenging to control. This is because it’s difficult to approximate a perfect sphere with using only two panels. The less spherical a bag is, the more likely the chance of having a kick that is untrue. Thus came the evolution of the 2-panel Hacky Sacks into a myriad of different materials and numbers of panels.

Today, I’ve seen anywhere from 1 to 300+ custom paneled bags. At this point, however, another key factor comes into play, particularly for the freestyle aspect of the game. I think this point is best revealed by relatiing my own personal experience…

I’ll never forget the day I ordered my first 92-panel freestyle footbag… I spent top dollar on the bag expecting to get the best freestyle footbag I’d ever received. When the day came that I finally got it in the mail I was somewhat disappointed: I’d gotten exactly what I’d ordered, but it’s performance wasn’t at all what I was hoping for. First off, the bag was very, very large: Back in the day – this was probably about 12-15 years ago – larger bags were in, but this thing was huge. Overall the bag was fine for kicks – it had a decent amount of fill and was made of facile – but when it came to doing freestyle tricks, the bag just didn’t perform: It had a tendency to roll right off the foot.

The moral of the story is that multi-paneled bags are just fine when you are only considering kickablity. This is why most footbag net players use 32-, 42-, or 62-panel bags. However, when it comes to freestyle and stalling tricks, we don’t recommend anything over 32 panels. 32-panel bags seem to be at about the limit for the best level of roundness without compromising softness for stallability. As you go over this 32-panel limit, there tends to be so much material on the inside of the footbag (where the stitching to hold all these panels together is) that the bags lose the flexibility required for top notch freestyle performance. Lesser paneled bags will stall at least as well as 32’s but may tend to be slightly more difficult to control for kicking and setting, as they are not quite as round.

So yes, to a certain extent, more is better. But just like just about everything else, you can overdo it with too much. Happy shredding.

1. Why Freedom Footbags
2. Shipping & Handling
3. Payment Methods
4. Coupons/Gift Certificates
5. Contact Info (If the answer to your question isn’t on this page, we’ll answer it in person)
6. Guarantee/Return Policy
7. Care and Washing
8. Hacky Sack Tricks
9. Hacky Sack, Dirtbag, Sipa, Footbag
10. VHS: PAL or NTSC

Why Freedom Footbags:

Q: Why buy from Freedom Footbags when I can easily find other footbags for much cheaper?

A: Put very simply: You get what you pay for. There are tons of bags out there that look nearly identical to the footbags on this website. Most of our top of the line footbags are made of genuine facile (a pricey synthetic leather) and contain proprietary mixes of dense non-toxic metals, glass beads, or dense plastic beads. Cheaper bags found elsewhere will typically have materials that are too stiff, and fill that is too light. We sell footbags that serious players actually use. We know this because we actually attend and sponsor footbag events like the World Championships.

Also, we don’t sell products made with slave or child labor. We guarantee our products as well.

But don’t just take our word for it, see what our customers have to say. Our honest and open company policy prohibits removal of valid customer reviews, bad or good. We reserve the right to remove customer reviews that don’t actually have anything to do with reviewing the product. If you have a question about the product, contact us! If you do decide to become a Freedom Footbags customer, you can rest assured that you will be satisfied with your purchase.

Questions About Shipping And Checkout:

Q: How much is your shipping?

A: Shipping – for any sized order – is $4.00 to anywhere in the world (where the USPS ships) with the following exceptions which may cost extra shipping:

• Our VHS Box Set costs $20 extra to foreign locations (The extra shipping cost is accounted for in the cost of the item, not the postage itself – see the product description for details).
• Our Quantum footbag Shoes have additional shipping costs dependent on shipping location.

Q: How long will it take for my products to arrive?

A: As long as it takes. Generally speaking, US orders arrive in 3-5 business days (longer during the holiday rush), and international orders arrive in 5-10 business days, however, international orders are sometimes held up in customs for unusually long periods of time (up to 3-4 weeks to Canada, and 6-8 weeks outside of North America).

Q: Can I track my order?

A: In order to save on shipping expenses (which we would have to pass on to the customer), we do not offer tracking information with the exception of footbag shoe purchases.

Payment Methods, CVV#:

Q: What payment methods do you accept?

A: We accept the following forms of payment:

1. Major credit cards: Visa, Master Card, American Express, and Discover.
2. Personal Checks & Money Orders: We do not ship orders until payments have been received (In the case of personal checks, we do not ship until the checks have cleared – so please allow a few extra days for checks).
3. PayPal: PayPal offers eCheck Payments – We do not ship PayPal eCheck Payments until they clear (USA: 3-5 days, Internationally: 7-9 days). Note that you can fund your PayPal account via credit card as well.
4. Gift Certificates and Coupons. Gift Certificates are available for purchase in the in the Shred Shop. Gift certificates may be applied towards an entire order (including shipping) but must be used in full: Unused portions of gift certificates are void.

Q: How do I pay with a check or money order?

A: Make your check or money order payable to Freedom Footbags. Be sure to include your order number with your payment. The address is shown in our Contact Info section. The payment must be in US Dollars. You can get an international money order from your local post office in USD Dollars for small fee.

Q: What is the CVV or CVS number?

A: The CVV (Card Validation/Verification Value) or CCV (Credit Card Validation/Verification), whatever you want to call it is simply an anti-fraud device designed to protect cardholders. This code is an added level of security that is intended to verify that the physical card is actually in the person’s possession. Get help with locating the CVV or CCV code in this diagram.

Coupons/Gift Certificates:

Q: I have a coupon code or gift certificate: How do I use it?

A: Once you’ve selected your items and added them to your shopping cart, you will be able start a new account (returning customers can simply log in) and upon selecting “Checkout“, you will be taken to the “Delivery Information Page”. After selecting your delivery method, you will be taken to the “Payment Information Page”. On the “Payment information Page”, you can select your payment type, enter your credit card info (if applicable), select your Mr. Sandbag Colors, or color preferences for other bags or and finally enter your coupon code. Important: Do not press “Redeem” until you have completed all of the information on this page.

Contact Information:

Freedom Footbags

Owner, Daryl Genz

By Mail:

Freedom Footbags

1506 E. Nebraska Ave.

Nampa, ID 83686

Via email:

sales at freedomfootbags.com

Via Telephone:

Toll free in the U.S.: 1-866-542-5373 (That’s 1-866-KICK-FREE, don’t have to dial the last “E”)

International: 1 (208) 461-6022

NOTICE: We do not have a physical retail store, however, feel free to call and make an appointment to come by and the Freedom Shredquarter’s and play with us (no matter what your skill level): Map

Guarantee/Return Policy:

Q: How does Freedom Footbags guarantee it’s products?

A: We offer a no risk, 30-day money-back guarantee on all products with the exception of our footbag shoes. See below for our footbag shoe return policy. If your are not completely satisfied with your footbag purchase we can repair (or replace at our discretion) it up to 30 days from the date of purchase. We must receive the defective or unwanted product in order process or honor refunds. See our contact info for return address. Please be aware that many of the footbags sold on our site are not designed for aggressive use, unless specifically noted. We sell professional sports equipment that is intended to be used with mindfulness. Using your hands to pick up the footbag will greatly increase its lifespan.

Q: What is your return policy for Shoes?

A: Shoes without any visible signs of wear or modification may be returned for a for a full refund, less a 5% restocking fee and shipping charges (Note that shipping charges for shoes vary based on shipping location per item description). Please be sure that your shoe fits before you decide to use them! Refunds will not be given on used shoes!

Unused shoes that are the wrong size may be exchanged for a 5% restocking fee. The customer is also responsible for the cost of shipping the replacement shoes per shipping costs on the item description plus the base shipping cost ($4.00).

Q: What is your Specno® Insole return policy?

A: Please see the by the Speoco® website for complete guarantee details.

Care and Washing Instructions:

Q: What can I do to get the most play out of my bag?

A: There are three simple things to keep in mind:

1. Proper break in.
2. Proper use.
3. Proper maintenance.

Q: How do I break in a footbag?

A: Richie Abshire has provided us with specific instructions for his bags that are applicable to all of our freestyle bags:

Most Abshire bags come in a 40 gram filler mix. Weight will change the life and performance of your footbag. The weight allows the bag to break-in and have a long life. Breaking in an Abshire is easy. Roll between your fingers for a few minutes until you feel the bag is over all looser than when you purchased it. Now, go play with it. Rushing the material [break in] will cause your bag to fall apart.

To this we would add that the hand break-in process must be a gentle one! Basic kicks are always a good way to evenly and slowly break in a bag.

Q: What’s the best way to use or treat a footbag in order to get the most life out of it?

Above all else, there is one critically important thing to remember when using your footbag: Only use your hands to pick it up! This is especially important information to impart to the casual hacker who is not familiar with circle etiquette (particularly if they are wearing something like combat boots) as one misguided toe scrape can immediately end the life of your footbag. Also, we don’t recommend “sky hack” (booting the bags as high as possible): Our freestyle line of bags is intended for use as professional sports equipment. Using it discerningly can greatly increase its lifetime. Keeping your footbag clean will also improve it’s lifespan. Even with the best of care, your footbag is eventually going to develop holes. We recommend our Supertacker repair glue for this (available for shipment only within the United States).

Q: How do I wash a footbag?

A: The following is adapted based Richard Abshire’s suggestions:

Use cold water and mild hand soap. Gently ring out until all the dirt is washed out (this can take a few soapings if it’s been a while since the last wash). Be careful because it’s easy to have a tendency to twist the bag vigorously: When the bag is wet, these harsh actions can destroy a bag instantly. Next dry with a towel, cloth or paper and let the remaining moisture dry on its own.

Hacky Sack Tricks

Q: How can I learn Hacky Sack tricks?

A: After seeing the YouTube videos from the blog many new players are inspired to learn Hacky Sack tricks or “Hack” Tricks. To this we say: “Awesome!” You are already on your way, and unlike some people (who say, “I could never do that”), you’ve started with a positive, optimistic attitude. Keep in mind that nearly all of the players from our blog videos including Vasek Klouda, Jim Penkse, Allan Haggett, and Freedom Footbags’ owner Daryl Genz have spent literally thousands of hours practicing, but the joy is in the journey.

We are pontificating here because really this is a question that has no simple answer, save the obvious, “Practice, practice, practice.” Yet there is far more to the answer than merely practicing. Unless you are practicing with the proper form, equipment, and attitude you are probably wasting your time and will likely get severely discouraged and possibly injured in the process. Our first recommendation would be to learn the language: The sport is actually called “Footbag” and, not Hacky Sack, and while there are many different “street names” for various tricks, for consistency we use those that have been officially adopted by the International Footbag Player’s Association (IFPA, a non-profit organization to whom we donate a percentage of our profits from this site). So, if you’re really ready to learn footbag tricks, we recommend you start by reading the online version of our Freedom Footbags’ Freestyle Footbag Fundamentals Flyer (FFFFFF). It contains a comprehensive overview of footbag trick notation, all of the basic kicks and stalls, and a few of the basic sets and concepts involved in more complicated tricks with both still frame examples and slow-motion videos.

Hacky Sack, Dirtbag, Sipa, Footbag

Q: Aren’t Hacky Sacks, Dirtbags, Sipas, and Footbags all just hacks?

A: Simply put: No. Coke, Pepsi, 7-Up, and Fanta are brand names of soft drinks. Similarly, Hacky Sack, Dirtbag, and Sipa are all brand names of footbags. It’s interesting to note that many places on the internet claiming to sell Hacky Sacks don’t even sell that brand name! We don’t sell Hacky Sacks on this site. “Hack” is simply a slang term used by the general public when referring to footbags or playing footbag.

VHS: PAL or NTSC

Q: When buying a VHS or DVD, what is the difference between PAL and NTSC?

A: This question is particularly important when buying VHS tapes. If you live in North America or Japan, your VCR is (most likely) set up to only play NTSC VHS tapes. If you live in Europe or Australia, your VCR is (most likely) set up to only play PAL VHS tapes. There is also another Region Code Called SECAM that is used in parts of Africa and Russia, but these are not carried by Freedom Footbags.

If you are purchasing a DVD, it turns out that most of the DVD’s that we sell are viewable on any DVD player (We have yet to have this be an issue – Please inform us if you do happen to have this problem).