One of my fondest memories as a kid in elementary school was the annual Field Day. It was a day for us kids to take a break from classes and spend that time outside and active. Every class participated against each other in different activities, such as tug-of-war and a relay race, hoping to win the coveted title of Field Day Champion.
Hands down, one of the best activities of this day was the potato sack race. It was the perfect activity to get participants up and moving, and I dare anyone to not have a smile on his or her face while quickly jumping, constrained inside a cloth to a finish line. But, there was always something that didn’t quite settle well with me as an 8-year-old: We raced in actual potato sacks. They were itchy, uncomfortable, and dirty. What I wish was around for us to use back then were Jumping Sacks, from Pacific Play Tents.
Kids these days don’t know how great they have it. Straight out of the packaging, you can tell how high-quality the sacks are. The cotton canvas material is strong and durable, while the stitching is tough and kid-proof. The bottom is flat, so it’s easy to step in and out of the sack.
The set comes with two sacks, one red and one blue. Each comes with a large kangaroo pouch in the front to store items and a smaller clear pocket for kids to label with their names. The thoughtful design also includes long handles, so kids (and most adults!) of various heights can comfortably jump and play. The sacks are about 26 inches tall, so it went up to my upper thigh, and would go up to the mid-torso of a kid or knees of a taller adult.
When I first saw Jumping Sacks, I immediately ripped it out of the packaging and hopped in. Then, Senior Editor Ali and I started racing around the office. But then, our production manager, Bill, decided he also wanted in on the fun and totally schooled us. I said something like, “Dang, Bill, I didn’t know you could jump so far.” He won.*
Perfect for on-the-go play, the sacks themselves can also double up as storage for a car ride, so they’re easy to take along on any trip. The design of the pockets on the front also leaves room for kids to think up more games, such as having to catch balls in the pocket.
Jumping Sacks are also available in a set of four, with additional colors (yellow and green) available so everyone can have his or her own colored sack. These Jumping Sacks definitely get kids active, and are perfect to get kids moving inside or outdoors.
*Editor’s note: Bill is taller than both of Ali and Maddie, so this is the reason why he was able to out-jump them. They were excellent competitors.
