There has been a great discussion in the cornhole community on the best method to break in new bags. We have all been there where new bags come in and we want to get them into competition condition as soon as possible! We are going to look at the most popular methods and discuss why bag break-in serums are the best way to achieve the results you are looking for! Almost half the bags on the market today are stiff out of the box and need some way get them loose and ready to go.
Bag Break-in Serums vs “Just Throw Them”
So, you get home from work and you are pumped because the bags you ordered finally came in!!! Now what? You still must break those bags in. Breaking in your bags by just throwing them may not be the best method to break in new bags but it definitely is the longest. Not only that, but whether you realize it or not, you are wearing out the bag faster because of all the impact and friction your bags take from hitting the boards.
It is simple: more throws equal more wear and tear which leads to shorter bag life. Using a Bag Break-in Serum vs this way, is clearly the best method to break in new bags faster and you could be extending the life of your bags.
Bag Break-in Serums vs Boiling
I will admit that when I first saw that people were putting their new bags in a big pot and boiling them, I said to myself “Oh, that can’t be good!”. Turns out, I was right. It is not good for your bags at all and here is why we say that. Have you ever shrunk clothes in the dryer or had the colors fade from using the wrong temperature water when washing them? I do it all the time! Well, it just so happens that when you boil your bags, hot water can cause bright colors to run and fade. And, it can shrink certain types of fabric. Hot water can also damage certain synthetic fabrics.
The heat breaks down the fibers and can ruin the fabric. So, by boiling your bags, you are actually doing more harm than good. And when they bust open, lets see if the manufacturer replaces them when they see your boiling post on Facebook. I do not think that boiling is the best method to break in new bags due to the damage you could be doing to them.
With a Bag Break-in Serum, you are not subjecting your bags to high heat. You will notice in the instructions for the Relax product, after applying it they recommend to soak the bags in cold water for a couple hours before drying with low heat or air dry. Therefore, your bags keep their color and you are not breaking down the fibers at an accelerated rate, again giving your bags a longer life. DO DAMAGE ON THE BOARDS WITH THEM, NOT TO THEM! Where is that emoji with the guy slapping his head when you need it???!!!
Bag Break-in Serum vs Washing and Drying with Fabric Softener
Though both processes are relatively the same, there is one major difference between the two. Using fabric softener leaves a film on your bags. I have felt it myself. If you were to hold a bag that had fabric softener used on it and then hold another set of the same bags that did not, you can feel a difference. Sac Relax is a specially formulated serum that does not leave a film or residue on your bags.
I have a set of blue Reynolds Pro Advantage that are a year old and have been thrown I cannot tell you how many times. I never used any fabric softener on them. When I received my new black Reynolds Pro Advantages that had been treated with a Bag Break-in Serum, the texture of the materials felt the same as the others! We all know that the feel of the bag in your hand is one of the most important things to consider when choosing a bag that is right for you, so why would you want to sacrifice that feel?
Bag Break-in Serum vs Hair Conditioner
We have also seen talk about hair conditioner. Hair conditioner works by coating the hair to trap moisture and reduce friction. It uses waxes, silicones, and polymers much like fabric softener. Most Bag Break-in Serums are made from organic plant based ingredients.
In conclusion, a Bag Break-in Serum is by far the best method to break in new bags without sacrificing bag life, time, and feel so you can be ready to go out and do some work while also getting the most life out of your bags! One of the serums we recommend is Sac Relax. So, what are you waiting for? Grab a new set of bags from our Pro Shop along with some Bag Break-in Serum (instructions on how to use it are on the product page) today! These Bag Break-in Serums are safe to use on bags thrown in the ACL because they do not leave residue on the bags
