Customer Reviews

Back Door Sports WG100 Ultimate Washer Game

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In the era of video games and movies, a good old-fashioned game that doesn't require a power outlet or batteries is a rarity. Washers is a really fun game, similar to horseshoes, but you don't need stakes or a sand pit to play. You basically just need a 10 foot space ... yes, with enough room, you can even play washers indoors! But it is best played outdoors, with either an ice cream (or beer) in hand, with friends and loved ones - the perfect summer game that is safe and has virtually no learning curve.

Most washer games I have seen were hand made, because it is relatively easy to make. But to have a lightweight, quality unit that is inexpensive is a great thing - sure, you could cut boards and carpet custom-made boxes, but this is much quicker, plus this gives you a little more variety to play with.

The product advertises three games in one. Traditional washers will probably be what you play the most, but by just turning the boxes upside-down yields a "bucket-like" experience that is a little easier than trying to land washers on the standard surface. The third variation uses small "stilts" to angle the playfield; honestly, I don't think I will ever even try that variation, but it is a nice little ad-on that could help even the odds if you have players with various skill levels (by forcing them all to adapt to this slightly different variation).

The construction of this set is nice. The boxes are plastic, but it is a very thick and durable plastic, with a nice rubberized surface for the washers to land on. The carry-bag is nice and easily holds everything for storage and portability. And the actual washers have a nice heavy feel, but are coated to where they will not damage anything (I would feel safe playing this on carpet or tile indoors, but still might be a bit wary of a brand new wood floor).

So why only 4 stars for this nice product? Well, the set comes with 6 washers. The game is called washers. If there is ONE thing that you would think would be perfect, it would be the washers. My set has 5 perfect washers, and one that is defective. It is missing part of one of the edges, almost as if it was ground off (if the washer looks like a tire, the defect looks like a tire that isn't completely flat, but really needs some air!). It is still usable, but if you really take the game seriously, no doubt it would break concentration to be feeling the edge of your washer and feel a flat spot. Now for myself, I will just break out the set for the rare family or friend visits, no "washer Olympics" are in my future. But I do see a future with some fun afternoons out in the sun, enjoying my washers set.

In summary, I DO recommend the product (despite the slightly defective washer which I am sure is a freak occurrence) - enjoy!



UPDATE 7/9/2010 - NO CUSTOMER SERVICE RESPONSE!

I attempted to contact the customer service for the manufacturer to request a new washer to replace my defective one. I even mentioned that I was reviewing the product for Amazon, so I threw them a real "softball" for their customer service to hit. Well, I submitted a request via their online form, AND sent an email to their customer service address. And I haven't heard a darned peep back from them. Not a word in over two weeks. Should that deter you from buying the product? For the price, maybe not, but realize that if you happen to have a defect, don't expect the manufacturer to stand behind their product.

This is a fun little game that can be enjoyed by almost the entire family. The instructions teach you how to play a few different games with this kit. Since the kit is so light, it makes it very convienent to take with you to picnics, camping, outdoor parties, etc.

The basic game is played by trying to get the washers in the hole. Points can also be scored by getting on the board. While this is not as fun as playing with the beanbag version, the lighter weight of the washers does make it easier for younger children to play. Although the downside is if one of the kids gets a little too zelous as they "toss" the washer, the game can turn into a rousing game of "Washer, Washer, where the heck is the washer".

The components are pretty well made and it comes with a nice carrying bag. If portability is important this is a good game, otherwise, stick to the beanbags.

For the amount of money that this product costs, I expected more. The premise seemed neat, and it looked like a very entertaining yard game. The object is to throw a metal washer into a hole --which then gets you 3 points... However, if you get the washer slightly over the hole (but it doesn't fall in), you got two points... AND, if you at least got it near the hole (and on the playing surface) you got one point.

I thought that because of the scoring variety that this game would be challenging and fun. Well, I was a little disappointed. In three games we were never able to score 1 or 2 points, only 3 points --EVERY... SINGLE... TIME... We found it impossible to get the washer to stay on the game, unless it went directly in the hole, and we had 4 players trying. We finally gave up and played what we thought to be the "lesser" game -where you flip the game over, and try to throw the washers into the concave area (for 1 point) or in the hole (for 3 points). Well, this way it was much easier, but there was only the possibility of 1 or 3 point scores (and no 2 point scores). It was entertaining, as it was so simple for people to pick up and play, but this version had a lot less variety and required much less skill.

Overall I guess I'd say if I received this as a gift I'd play it outside (using the upside down "easy" method only), but I wouldn't consider buying it with my own money -I'd rather have a beanbag throwing game, instead.

This is similar to Horseshoes, except the washers and targets wont tear up your yard. The targets are made of sturdy plastic and can be placed upside down as a tub with a hole or right-side up and flat or tilted for 3 variations. You have 6 sturdy huge washers split into 2 colors and score 1-3 points if they land on the target, half over the hole or in the hole. The game was surprisingly fun and the parts seem like they will last a very long time. I don't know if Washers is a real game, but my friends and I think it resembles a less destructive game of horseshoes. Very fun.

I may be one of the few reviewers to not only have never played washers, but to have never heard of it. But I'm a fan of most "chuck things at other things" games, so I was willing to give it a shot.

For those that don't know, it's incredibly straight forward. Set up the two plastic boxes 10 feet apart and throw colored washers at the opposite one. You get a point for landing it on the deck, two for hanging one over the hole, and three for dropping it into the hole. You can play with the targets flat or pitched slightly towards you by using the included legs. You can also turn the targets upside down and playing a "tub" style game, which eliminates the whole "oops, my washer slid off the deck" thing and makes it easier to score.

This set comes with the two targets topped with a felt-like material, 6 washers (3 each in white and black), the prop legs I mentioned, a bit of sandpaper to rough-up the washers so they slide slower when the hit the deck, and a large carry bag to store the set in (which is a VERY welcome feature).

At the price they're asking for 2 molded plastic buckets and 6 washers, you'd expect everything to at least be well made - unfortunately, that wasn't true for me (and at least one other reviewer). One of my decks is a bit concave, which means washers tend to slide in a slight curve towards the hole. It actually doesn't make that much of a difference considering weight/speed etc of a toss, but I still think if you're laying down this kind of money for what amounts to a high end version of what I'm told is traditionally made with leftover bits of stuff in a shop, well, they need to get the pieces right, that's all.

Overall though, a pretty fun little outdoor game (they say you can play indoors, which you can, but honestly I think it just fits better at an outdoor barbecue, at the beach, or at a picnic) that's easy to play and great for the kind of half-concentrating games I like to play while grilling something or talking with friends and family.

If the price were a bit lower and my deck was flat, it could have copped another star. But at this price for something so simple that still has a manufacturing defect, it's just three.

I've been active in the RV community for years and have seen all sorts of variations on the classic Washers game. I've never taken the time to build my own--probably because there's almost always someone around who I can meet up with (i.e. I'm too lazy). So along comes this version of the Washers game. It's the best build quality I've ever seen.

The tubs are built out of rigid plastic with a non-slip surface on the top. The washers themselves are nice and heavy and throw well. They're also painted nicely, although the paint will wear off if you play on pavement. There are two angled stands to prop up the tubs if you want a slightly easier goal.

The whole package comes with a tidy nylon carrying bag, which is perfect for storage in our RV. The pieces stack together well and don't take much room for storage.

So now instead of inviting myself to play with other folk's games, I'll finally be able to pay it back and host others in our camp. It's really a great activity with your kids and a fun way to meet other neighbors in camp. It's good cheap fun entertainment.

The first thing I thought when looking at this game is "wow, I could totally build that myself for a lot cheaper." But this package has a number of features that make it worth the cost.

For one, the bins/targets are made from flexible molded plastic that's tough and durable. It has a felt top one one side to soften the blow of the washers. It comes with 6 color-coated washers and 4 rubber-coated legs to prop up the bins. And it also comes with a nylon bag for storage. The bins are stackable so you can safely secure the washers and legs within them for convenience and protection. It would be tough to replicate this with wood.

The game itself is fun. It's like horseshoes. The bins offer a number of configuration options for varying levels of difficulty.

I am pleased with the quality and simplicity of this product, and I enjoy it as a great backyard summertime game that's easy to setup and takes little room. My only concern is the black washers getting lost in the grass. I'd prefer a different color such as red to contrast with the grass and dirt. A little rustoleum will fix that though. And these washers are easily replaced with a visit to the local hardware store.

My family is always looking for good games that can be enjoyed by the whole family. The Ultimate Washer Game is a welcome addition to our repertoire. Setup is a breeze: place the two boxes 10-15 feet apart, either facing up or down or on a slant, and then teams of two or more players try to toss metal washers into the round openings (named the "glory hole") in the tubs.

In other words, it's basically a cross between corn hole, pitching quarters, and ring toss. An instruction sheet offers three variations of game play and scoring but stresses that you basically make up any rules and scoring variation you want. While the box states that the game is intended for players age 12 and up, I think it is appropriate for children much younger than that (especially if you move the boxes closer together to make it a bit easier).

My husband, kids, and in-laws gave the game a thorough working out this past weekend. Because it was a sweltering 95 degrees, we opted to set up the game and play inside. It's billed as an indoors/outdoors game, and I suppose it is, but if your family has as bad aim as we do, you will want to be judicious in your choice of setting if you play indoors. Those washer are pretty heavy and can take a mean bounce; there is a potential for breakage if you're playing in a room full of fragile knick-knacks.

The game play is fairly challenging. We tried all three variations (tub up, tub down, and slant), and there was universal agreement that the slant version was the most difficult. One of the things I like best about the game is that it's challenging enough to keep good players interested but adaptable enough to give handicaps to small children to keep them in the game, too.

To sum up, here's what I see as the game's biggest strengths and weaknesses:

PROS

1.) Much more portable than cornhole. The tubs fit inside each other, and a drawstring bag is included for easy storage and transportability. We will be much more likely to bring this along to parks or camping trips than we would a bulky cornhole set.

2.) Can be played indoors, which makes it a good choice as an activity during playdates or birthday parties for the kids.

3.) Practically endless variations possible in gameplay or scoring to make it more or less challenging.

4.) A lot less expensive than a standard cornhole set.

CONS

1.) Washers tended to slide off the box in the "slant" variation, despite our buffing them with the provided sandpaper.

2.) Washers that don't hit their mark (which, in our case, was a big proportion of all tossed!) may be hard to find in tall, thick grass if played outside.

3.) Washers are heavy enough that they could potentially damage/break objects if played inside. I'd recommend sticking to a play room or basement without fragile objects.

For a backyard game, this is really sturdy. The goal things are sturdy, and cool. You could use washers from the hardware store, but these are painted and so have a nice feel. If you lose them oro want more, you can get more at hardware store.

Younger kids, with lower skill levels, can still have a lot of fun. They can get closer, or drop differnt things in there - little cars or whatever. Or stand on the goals like stages. No big deal to set this up - easier than horseshoes, volleyball, that game wit the mallets and colored balls, and so on.

This is a pretty sturdy and robust game of tossing things through the small holes in the box. It's not very fancy and we thought it was okay.