01 Sep Comparison of various types of thundersticks (thunderstix)

So what are thundersticks anyway?  Sometimes people refer to them as bam bams, thunderstix, thunder sticks, boom sticks, fan-ta-sticks, among other names.  These are all similar products.  They are football noise makers for the stadium.  They consist of two inflatable sticks that are banged together to make a loud noise.  When in combination with other thunderstix, the noise is very loud.  However, all thundersticks are not created equal.  Thunder sticks can be broken down into 2 main categories: Reusable and Non-Reusable.

Reusable Thundersticks

1. These types of thundersticks have an inflation valve exactly like a pool raft or a beach ball and can be inflated and deflated as many times as desired.  If they need more air during use, you simply open the valve and add more air.
2. They are made from a vinyl material (PVC) and are slightly thicker than all other types of thunderstix and therefore, are more durable.
3. Because these thundersticks are made of a thicker material, they have a lower pitch boom when banged together.
4. This type of thunder stick can be slightly more expensive, but the fact that they are reusable makes up for the small difference in cost.
5. Because these are manufactured first and then printed, the custom imprint cannot be printed over the entire area of the thundersticks, unlike on the non-reusable types.
6. The production time for this type is typically much shorter than that of the non-reusable type, as the sticks themselves are already manufactured.

Non-Reusable Thundersticks

1. These types of thundersticks, also known as bam bams, don’t have a valve to inflate, but rather an end similar to a standard mylar balloon, which requires a little more effort to inflate.  Some brands, such as Bam Bams, actually have a straw that is used for inflation that makes the process more cumbersome.
2. These are made of polyethylene, which feels similar to PVC; however, most are slightly thinner but more rigid.
3. Most non-reusable types have a higher-pitched sound, but they are still very loud.
4. These can be lower priced if you choose a longer production time.
5. These can be custom printed on a much larger area on the sticks since the material is printed first then manufactured.
6. Production time can be anywhere from 2 weeks to 9 weeks as most of these are produced overseas. If you plan ahead, you can save a lot of money with the longer production time.

Whichever type of thundersticks you choose, they all work well and get the job done.  Making noise is an important part of any sports arena.  Showing team spirit helps to pump up the athletes and actually help them play better if they have the excitement of the crowd.