Cornhole vs. Horseshoes: Which is Really Better?

It is no secret that we are huge cornhole fanatics around here. We love the game and when comparing it to similar games, tend to default and say cornhole is the best – obviously. What we haven’t done is actually take the time to compare it to its close cousin horseshoes.

This post is not intended to turn the horseshoe lovers against the cornhole lovers – we can all live in harmony together and play both games at family reunions, BBQs, and backyard parties.

We have mentioned horseshoes in posts before when discussing outdoor games but never really thought about why someone would choose horseshoes over cornhole or vice versa. Well, now we have and we are creating a post about it so saddle up for a wild ride.

The Pros of Cornhole and Horseshoes

Let’s start off on a positive note and look at the pros of cornhole and horseshoes.

Cornhole

• You aren’t throwing heavy metal objects
• It is more common in bars
• Perfect for tailgating
• Minimal labor for set up
• Custom boards
• Easy to come up with funny team names

Both

• Fun to play (debatable)
• Easy to understand rules
• Minimal athleticism required
• Can be played one-handed leaving the other hand free for drinks or snacks

Horseshoes

• Equipment is extremely easy to carry around
• More traditional (debatable)
• Often played in quaint, country settings
• You get an idea of how big horse hooves really are

As you can see, cornhole does have more pros than horseshoes but getting an idea of how big a horse’s hooves are is a very strong pro. Let’s take a look at the cons of both so that we can decide on a winner.

Note: finding things wrong with cornhole goes against everything we believe in.

The Cons of Horseshoes and Cornhole

Are there really cons when it comes to playing fun outdoor games? Not really but for the sake of comparison, we have drummed up a few reasons why people would choose one game over the other.

Cornhole

• The boards are naturally a bit bulky (ugh, we hate doing this)
• Homemade boards can give you splinters

Both

• Not very action-packed
• Hard to play with things around the house
• Cannot/should not be played inside of a home

Horseshoes

• The stakes can be hard to see (tripping hazard)
• You are throwing heavy objects towards other people
• You have to hammer in the stakes
• The stakes have mud on them when pulled out
• Points can be hard to determine
• Cannot be played in stadium parking lots

We think it is pretty clear who the winner here is when you compare cornhole and horseshoes side-by-side. As expected, it is cornhole!

We aren’t telling you to never play horseshoes again or snub those who are die-hard horseshoe fans. This was just a fun little comparison of two extremely popular, classic outdoor games.

So, are you team cornhole or team horseshoes? Let us know in the comments below!