What Happened To GloveStix After Shark Tank? (2026 Update)
If you are an athlete, or the parent of an athlete, you know the absolute nightmare of smelly sports gear. Between sweaty hockey gloves, damp soccer cleats, and foul-smelling gym bags, it can feel like you are fighting a never-ending battle against terrible odors.
In 2017, a determined mother named Krista Woods walked onto the set of ABC’s hit show Shark Tank. She presented a simple, chemical-free invention designed to permanently solve this exact problem: GloveStix.
Her passionate pitch and impressive early sales numbers quickly caught the attention of the millionaire investors, leading to an exciting bidding war.
But what happens after the cameras stop rolling? Did the famous handshake deal actually close? Read on for the ultimate 2026 update on GloveStix, the new product lines, and exactly where this multi-million dollar company stands today.
What Is GloveStix?
GloveStix is a portable, incredibly easy-to-use odor management system. It is designed to safely eliminate bad smells from sports equipment, shoes, boots, and helmets.
For years, people tried to fix smelly gear by spraying harsh chemicals or heavy perfumes into their shoes. However, that only covers up the smell for a short time. GloveStix actually attacks the root of the problem: trapped moisture and bacteria.
The product consists of two brilliant parts working perfectly together:
- The Antimicrobial Plastic Sticks: The device features two hollow plastic tubes connected by a durable paracord handle. These tubes are infused with a patented technology called SilverSeal™. Silver is a powerful, natural antimicrobial agent. The plastic actively stops 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria from growing on the surface within 24 hours. Because the silver is built directly into the tough plastic, the sticks themselves are designed to last for an incredible 10 years.
- The Replaceable Inserts: Tucked inside the plastic tubes are small, highly absorbent bags. These inserts act like a sponge, pulling the harmful, sweaty moisture completely out of your gear. They are lightly scented with natural, plant-based essential oils. To keep the system working perfectly, you just need to swap out these little insert bags every three to six months.
Using the product takes zero effort. When you finish your practice or your game, you simply drop the sticks straight into your wet gloves, shoes, or bag. As the company’s famous motto says: “Stix In… Stink Out!”.
Who Is the Founder Of GloveStix?
Krista Woods is the creator and founder of GloveStix. She is a mother of three from Ashburn, Virginia, who built her entire business out of pure frustration.
Krista’s children were highly active in rough sports like lacrosse and football. During a long car ride home from a lacrosse tournament in 2014, the smell of her son’s sweaty gear in the backseat was so terrible that she felt like she was suffocating. She was tired of buying chemical sprays that barely worked and left toxic residues on her kids’ skin.
She began researching how bacteria breeds in dark, damp sports gear. She realized that if she could just dry the equipment out quickly while fighting the germs, the smell would disappear.
Her husband, Chris Woods, is a natural problem solver. He went into their family garage and successfully built the very first physical prototype of GloveStix.
Krista had absolutely no background in manufacturing, logistics, or online sales. However, she believed in her product so deeply that she took a massive leap of faith. She mortgaged her family home and bravely quit her comfortable, six-figure job to launch the business in 2015.
Her hard work paid off faster than anyone expected. In 2016, she entered a “Mom Inventor” contest on NBC’s The Today Show and won the grand prize. That victory earned her a spot to sell her invention live on the QVC shopping network, where she completely sold out her entire inventory in just seven and a half minutes.
GloveStix Shark Tank Pitch
Riding a massive wave of confidence and early success, Krista appeared on Shark Tank in Season 9. She confidently walked into the tank hoping to secure a major investment to help her expand the product into large, big-box retail stores.
She handed out physical samples to the impressed investors, demonstrating how the product easily slid into hockey gloves. She also revealed that she had created a version specifically for footwear, originally called ShoeStix.
The Sharks were blown away by her real-world sales numbers. In just a year and a half of running the business, GloveStix had already generated a staggering $550,000 in lifetime sales. Even better, $440,000 of those sales came from the 12 months immediately before the show was filmed.
The Sharks also loved her smart business model. The main product costs around $30, but customers continuously return to the website to buy the cheap replacement insert bags. This creates a highly profitable stream of recurring, reliable revenue.
Here is a quick breakdown of Krista’s Shark Tank pitch:
| Pitch Detail | Information |
| Founder | Krista Woods |
| Product | GloveStix (Odor-removing device) |
| Original Ask | $150,000 |
| Equity Offered | 10% |
| Company Valuation | $1.5 million |
The Intense Bidding War
Despite the amazing numbers, the tank can be a tough place. Mark Cuban dropped out quickly because he felt Krista was a bit too much of a micro-manager.
Kevin O’Leary also passed, simply because he didn’t agree with the $1.5 million valuation.
Barbara Corcoran dropped out because she personally didn’t understand the product’s appeal.
However, Lori Greiner, the legendary “Queen of QVC”, absolutely loved the product and understood the recurring revenue model perfectly. Because it was an athletic product, she invited guest Shark and baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod) to team up with her.
Lori and A-Rod offered Krista the $150,000 she needed, but they wanted a massive 20% stake in the company. Krista stood her ground and bravely countered, stating she did not want to give up more than 15%. A-Rod smiled and suggested they compromise in the middle at 17.5%.
Krista agreed, and they shook hands on what looked like a massive, life-changing deal.
Did The GloveStix Deal Actually Close?
It is the most common question fans ask after watching a successful Shark Tank pitch: Did the deal actually go through in real life?
No, the deal between GloveStix, Lori Greiner, and Alex Rodriguez did not close..
While millions of fans cheered for the exciting handshake on television, the reality of business is often much more complicated. After a Shark Tank episode is filmed, the businesses enter a long “due diligence” phase. This is where lawyers and accountants carefully review all the financial paperwork before any actual money changes hands. During this long period, negotiations broke down between the two sides, and the final deal fell through.
Today, Lori Greiner does not list the company in her portfolio of successful investments, and Alex Rodriguez never became a formal partner.
What Happened To GloveStix After Shark Tank?
Even without the official backing of the billionaire Sharks, simply appearing on the television show provided a massive boost in brand awareness. This is commonly known as the “Shark Tank Effect.”
Krista bought $80,000 worth of extra inventory right before the episode aired, and the company experienced a massive surge in demand as desperate parents rushed to buy the odor-eliminating sticks.
To keep up with the explosive scale of thousands of new orders, Krista made a brilliant business move. She partnered with DA International Group, a professional manufacturing firm. They helped her transition the product from a basic prototype into a highly polished, retail-ready product that could be mass-produced smoothly.
Over the years, the company made several smart updates to grow the brand:
- Rebranding to StankStix: The original footwear product known as “ShoeStix” was officially rebranded to StankStix. It uses the exact same SilverSeal™ technology as GloveStix, but the connecting handle can be completely removed. This allows the two sticks to drop deeply into the toes of tall cowboy boots, tight soccer cleats, and ice skates.
- Retail Expansion: In her original pitch, Krista practically begged the Sharks to help her get her product onto the shelves of physical retail stores. In the end, she managed to do it all on her own. By 2023, the product was available in over 100 brick-and-mortar sporting goods stores, including the massive specialty chain Pure Hockey.
- The Stink Club: To make buying replacement inserts easier and cheaper for loyal customers, the company launched a smart subscription program called the “Stink Club.” Customers can subscribe to receive fresh refill bags automatically and receive a permanent 30% discount.
GloveStix Product Line in 2026
As of 2026, the company offers several different variations of the product to fit the specific needs of different athletes and age groups. The brand boasts thousands of verified five-star reviews online, proving that the natural, chemical-free technology truly works over the long haul.
Here is a look at the core products available today:
| Product Name | 2026 Price | Best Used For | Key Features |
| GloveStix | $29.99 | Lacrosse, hockey, boxing, and baseball gloves. | Features a paracord handle and a removable clip to attach directly to the outside of a gym bag or wrist guards. |
| StankStix | $29.99 | Shoes, tall boots, cleats, and skates. | Features extra end caps and a removable handle so the sticks can be separated for long boots. |
| StankStix SOLOS | $19.99 | Smaller kid’s shoes (Size 1 and up), tight footwear. | A streamlined version with no handle or extra accessories for maximum convenience in small spaces. |
| Insert Refill Bags | $9.99 | Replacing the inside of the plastic sticks. | Lightly scented with plant-based essential oils. Designed to be swapped every 3 to 6 months. |
Note: The company also offers bulk bundles (like a 4-pack of StankStix) and Combo Deals at deeply discounted rates directly on their official website.
While they do not natively offer direct international shipping to places like Nepal from their main website, global fans easily purchase the products using international package forwarding services via Amazon.
Is GloveStix Still In Business Today?
Yes, GloveStix is still completely in business in 2026 and is thriving.
What started as a frustrated mother trying to get the terrible stink out of her family car has turned into a highly successful, multi-million dollar brand.
As of recent 2026 updates, the company operates with an estimated net worth of around $1.5 million to $2 million. Even better, the brand consistently generates over $1 million in annual revenue year after year.
Krista Woods proudly continues to run the business alongside her husband, Chris. Beyond just selling products, she has become a highly respected voice in the modern entrepreneurial space.
She frequently appears on business podcasts and gives lectures to university students about taking massive leaps of faith, overcoming the terrifying fear of failure, and the absolute importance of listening directly to your customers.
By sticking to her core mission of providing a safe, non-toxic, and highly effective product, Krista proved an amazing point. You do not always need a billionaire Shark’s money to build a winning business. You just need a great idea, a whole lot of hard work, and the sheer determination to see it through.
