The 10 Best Horseshoe Sets

For a backyard court that plays like a league pit, the St. Pierre American Professional Series is the safe bet. Its four forged steel shoes are approved by the National Horseshoe Pitching Association, and two solid steel stakes, a rulebook and a hard plastic tote come along. Weighted tips and a tapered front edge help the shoes slide onto the stake. Set at rule-book height, the stakes keep little length underground, so soft soil can let them lean.

Pitchers who plan to join a league get tournament shoes and stakes in one box with the Thoroughbred Challenger. The universal shape suits flip and turn throws alike, which helps while a new player settles on a style. WD Horseshoe makes the iron alloy shoes in Pennsylvania and backs them with a two-year breakage warranty. They're approved for sanctioned play. The price is steep for casual cookouts, and few owners have weighed in so far.

The Baden Champions set packs four forged steel shoes and two long steel stakes into a heavy, weatherproof nylon bag with a zippered lid. The shoes are approved for sanctioned play, though they sit on the light side of the legal range. Gray and black finishes replace the usual red and blue. Pitchers used to heavier shoes may find them floaty at first, and the white bag shows dirt from the yard.

Families who want a full backyard game for little money should look at the GoSports Steel Horseshoes set. It pairs four cast iron shoes with long solid steel stakes that grip firm ground well, plus a canvas carry bag. Red and blue or gold and silver finishes are offered. Cast iron costs less but is more brittle than forged steel, so a shoe can crack after a hard hit on a rock or the stake.

Anyone who leaves the game out on the patio will like the hammered gold and silver powder coat on the Triumph Forged and Steel set, which hides scuffs and, the maker says, won't fade. Four cast shoes and two matching stakes come in a retail box. The stakes are short, though. Set to the height the rules call for, they barely bite into the ground, so many owners sink them lower or buy a longer pair.

The Franklin Sports Recreational set is a low-cost way to try the game at a cookout or the beach. It brings four shoes and two steel stakes with tapered points, plus a hammered finish the maker says resists chips and rust. Franklin calls the shoes steel, but its own photos label them cast iron, so go easy on rocky ground. There's no carry bag, and the stakes run short for hard soil.

Serious pitchers often buy shoes by the pair, and the Gordon Professional is a classic choice that's approved for sanctioned play. Each shoe is drop-forged carbon steel with hardened hooks, and the two are matched closely by weight so both throws feel alike. Omega, the maker, adds a limited lifetime warranty against breakage. This box holds only one pair and no stakes, so a full game needs a second pair and stakes.

Flip pitchers, who send the shoe end over end, are the audience for the Thoroughbred Double-Barrel. A ramp and notch on the back center the thumb for a steady release, and heavy tips and inner hooks help a shoe that lands open still catch the stake. Two matched pairs come in red and blue, made in Pennsylvania from an iron alloy that resists burrs. Stakes aren't included, and turn pitchers may find the grip awkward.

Rubber shoes and flat mats let the Champion Sports Indoor/Outdoor set go where steel can't: a basement, a deck or a kids' party, where metal shoes would chip floors and bruise shins. Each mat holds a plastic peg, and two plastic dowels push into grass for outdoor games. The shoes are soft and light, so the toss feels nothing like a real pitch, and the pegs can tip over when hit.

A wooden box with a carry handle and the maker's crest turns the St. Pierre Presidential Edition into a gift. Inside are four solid steel shoes with a baked-on finish that resists chips and weather, two long solid steel stakes and a rulebook, all made in the U.S. The box is the weak spot: it can feel flimsy and work loose at the joints, and the gold finish can wear off.