When The Dangler from ParWalker Golf came in for review, I admittedly had a mixed bag of emotions. While I had seen the product here and there via golf social media, it just seemed a bit on the extreme side of quirky to me. With that said, after getting it in hand, I would say that it is absolutely quirky, and that is one reason that it pretty well won me over.
What is the other reason you ask? Well, the story behind it, and the ParWalker brand itself.
An Origin in Resilience
The family that golfs together thrives together, something that Trent and Grace Bailey have truly embraced. Though its name may be funny, the roots for The Dangler and ParWalker as a whole are a mixture of both trauma and perseverance.
On the same day that the initial innovation for the product began to bloom, the discovery of a lump by Grace turned everything upside down. A cancer diagnosis brought forth all of the hardships and exhaustion possible, but within all that, ParWalker became an outlet for everyone.
The walk itself, the one that so many of us love on whatever course we are able to set foot on, that was the basis for resilience. The ability to slow down, absorb your surroundings, and let the walk lighten your load became a ritual for the Baileys as they navigated treatment and beyond.
In that navigation, The Dangler became a focus once more. The idea was that, for those who enjoy the walk, there might be a better solution for the canned beverages so many of us also like to enjoy out on the course. While better might be in the eye of the beholder, perhaps fun is a more appropriate descriptor, and with a name like The Dangler, it had better be fun.
What is The Dangler?
Funny name? Absolutely, and the humor adds to the intrigue.
The Dangler is a solution to a problem for walkers, specifically a place to put your open containers. While some of you might be wondering why that is problematic at all thanks to the fancy water bottles and built in holders within your carry bag or pushcart, those things don’t necessarily help those of us who like to enjoy an icy cold canned beverage of our choice.
For a walker, the only answer to an open can is typically just to carry it or put it into a rigid pushcart cupholder. Physically, that isn’t an issue for most of us, but ParWalker wanted to see if they could free up everyone’s hands without letting the precious canned hydration get tossed about while traversing the undulating golf course terrain.
More Engineering Than You Might Expect
When designing The Dangler, the company went through six different full prototypes, overcoming failures and spills along the way. Eventually however, the right combination of elements was found by way of a collapsable basket with dynamic bungee design that is attached to a ball pivot joint, threaded collar, and a spring loaded clamp.
Upon opening the handy storage bag that ParWalker includes with The Dangler, the initial curiosity that this reviewer held was also met with high-end positivity in how intentional and purposeful the entire package really is. The company likes to tout that this is a piece of gear, and not a gadget, which is probably the most apt description the product possible.
Our Take
Despite the jokes about the name as well as the initial reactions of just what in the world was attached to my golf bag at my course, The Dangler is a hilariously cool design, and it works fantastically.
ParWalker states that The Dangler will hold up to 16 ounce cans, and I made sure to put that to the test with all sorts of options from the adult variety to various morning energy drinks for the kick in the pants I needed to survive rounds in the unyielding Oklahoma heat. The versatility in size without needing any sliding parts thanks to the bungee system is a nice touch, and it means effortless ease of use.
Speaking of ease, the spring loaded clamp has a unique shape that lets you put it just about anywhere, and it is heavy duty enough to be durable. That combined with the ball pivot joint makes The Dangler work shockingly well, to the point that even freshly open cans avoided heartbreaking spillage as it just adapts to whatever angle you throw at it regardless of if it is on the bag while your back, deployed on the course, or secured to a pushcart.
The bottom line is that it is clever. Does it remedy some age old issue that golfers have battled for generations? Of course not, and it isn’t trying to. This isn’t some pretentious product and ParWalker is not telling anyone that they cannot live without it. However, if you enjoy the walk, be it carrying or pushing, and also your canned beverages on the course, then it sure is a pretty cool addition not to mention conversation starter.
Parwalker The Dangler Pricing and Availability
Coming in at a price of just $39.99, The Dangler brings a lot of overengineered bang for the buck to the table. The device is a one-size fits all situation, and it is currently offered only in a black finish.
For more information on The Dangler, as well as the ParWalker brand and its direction, be sure to check out their website at parwalker.com.
