Those dog days of summer can make it hard to get kids away from their screens and into the great outdoors. A backyard water slide could lure them away from their devices. Inflatable slides amp up the standard backyard kiddie pool or slip and slide to create a backyard water park complete with 5-foot slides, integrated water guns, bounce houses, and splash pools.
The massive inflatables can cover a 15-foot by 20-foot space, reach heights of up to 10 feet, and accommodate up to five kids at a time. Large electric blowers and durable PVC material ensure these playscapes stay inflated and withstand the punishment doled out by kids.
With this guide, you’ll slide into the world of backyard inflatable water slides and identify what features you should consider when shopping for one. Then you’ll get a look at some of the best inflatable water slide options on the market.
Make sure you purchase a water slide that’s suitable for the children who’ll be using it. That means you must consider both the size of the water slide and the quality of its construction. Ahead, learn more about these and other crucial attributes of inflatable water slides for kids.
Inflatable water slides leave a sizable footprint in the backyard, so buyers must consider the size and available space when shopping for one. Larger water slides may create a footprint as big as 250 square feet. Even a smaller pool slide for toddlers takes up a fair amount of real estate. Most measure around 10 feet long by 6 feet wide. Buyers must also consider the slide’s dimensions when broken down, as the slide will need a home in a basement, garage, or shed when not in use. Many slides include handy carrying bags for storage and transport.
Inflatable water slides come in a variety of materials, including PVC, synthetic rubber, neoprene, laminated polyester, and chemical-grade nylon. PVC makes for the best option; durable and elastic, it resists punctures. Chemical-grade nylon offers a similar quality in a lighter weight. In addition to choice of material, specific construction methods may also make the slide more durable. For example, look for additional stitching and double layers of material.
Since they’re much larger than average pool floats, inflatable water slides require a fair amount of time for setup. Lung power won’t inflate these behemoths; they come with blowers that fully inflate the slides in about 5 to 7 minutes. These powerful blowers continue to run while the kids play in order to keep the slide properly inflated throughout its operation.
Blowers play a critical role as many slides elevate kids up 5 feet or more off the ground. The slide must maintain proper pressure to avoid a dangerous collapse under the weight of its users. Make sure the slide includes its own blower, or purchase a compatible one if it does not.
All inflatable water slide specs include weight capacities for their inflated parts as well as a maximum number of occupants that can use the slide at one time. It’s important to adhere to these guidelines for safe use of the slide and to prevent damage such as punctures and tears. Medium-size slides typically have a weight capacity of around 350 pounds with a maximum occupancy of four children. Larger models support around five children and up to 500 pounds.
In addition to the slide itself, most inflatable water parks come with other attractions, including climbing walls, bounce houses, water cannons, soaking pools, and basketball hoops. These add-ons engage multiple children at once.
In the list below, we’ve narrowed the field to some of the top inflatable water slides on the market. These slides range from small models designed for young children to large water parks that cover nearly 250 square feet of space.
1
Little Tikes Rocky Mountain River Race inflatable slide safely entertains multiple kids all at once thanks to its smart design. The slides plunge into the pool from opposite sides, allowing two kids to slide at once without the risk of collision. A climbing wall and a large wading pool in the center of the park provide additional recreation for kids waiting their turn for the slide.
Dual sprayers on each slide of this Little Tikes water slide ensure the sliding surface stays slick. A waterfall above the climbing wall makes the ascent a challenge. A large inflatable cushion at the wall’s base serves as a soft landing for kids who fall off.
Product Specs
Pros
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Get the Little Tikes Rocky Mountain River Race Slide on Amazon or at Walmart.
2
An inflatable kids water slide can cost well over $500, making it a considerable investment for backyard summertime entertainment. But inflatable slides don’t have to cost that much. Bountech’s inflatable water slide offers an impressive number of attractions to keep the kiddies entertained at a reasonable price.
The slide’s main features include a climbing wall that leads to two slides, both of which empty into a large wading pool. Two sprayers keep a steady stream of water on each slide. Enclosures protected by netting at the top of the park ensure kids don’t fall as they prepare to slide down. Other attractions include a basketball net and a water cannon.
Product Specs
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Get the BOUNTECH Inflatable Water Slide on Amazon.
3
Blast Zone’s massive pirate-themed inflatable water park provides enough space for a kids’ water slide, an ample pool area, and a bounce house complete with basketball net. A climbing wall leads to the top of the slide while a tunnel underneath leads to the bounce house. Bear in mind that kids must exit the park to access both the tunnel and the climbing wall, which means they may track dirt and grass into the pool.
With the two water cannons, kids can blast sliders and bathers from the park’s opposing corners. An additional sprayer at the top of the park keeps the slide slick. This is also one of the best-looking water parks, and Pirate Bay flags give the whole thing a theme-park feel.
Product Specs
Pros
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Get the Blast Zone Pirate Bay Water Slide at Walmart or on Amazon.
4
Inflatable water parks should pack in as many attractions as possible, and few do this as well as Wellfuntime. This inflatable kids’ water slide, which measures some 16 feet by 13 feet, includes two slides, a separate deeper bathing pool, and a climbing wall. The park also comes equipped with an impressive number of sprayers that include a bucket-style waterfall and giant arch.
Wellfuntime also throws in numerous accessories with the park, including four water guns and three inflatable balls. With a max capacity of 464 pounds, this park supports plenty of kids on its attractions.
Product Specs
Pros
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Get the WELLFUNTIME Inflatable Water Slide Park with Splash Pool on Amazon.
5
With its small size, this water park makes an ideal choice for toddlers who need to stay within arm’s reach of Mom or Dad. Despite measuring just 6 feet wide by 10 feet long, Intex’s Rainbow Ring packs in a lot of activities. The park includes smaller and larger pools connected by a short slide that drops onto a soft landing mat. An inflatable rainbow arch holds a water sprayer that keeps the slide slick.
Other attractions include a ring toss and ball roller games. Better suited for young children, this blow-up pool comes at a reasonable price, which makes it a great choice for those looking to get their tots outdoors in the heat of summer.
Product Specs
Pros
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Get the Intex Rainbow Ring Inflatable Play Center at Walmart, on Amazon, or at Target.
6
Banzai’s long, narrow design provides a faster and steeper slide that kids up to age 12 will enjoy. Lacking the variety of attractions of other water parks, it uses nearly all of its 17-foot length to house a water slide that drops from 6 feet to ground level.
High-pressure water sprayers that shoot from the top of the slide keep it slick and give each rider a good soaking as they pass. A climbing wall leads to the top of the slide, and the slide ends in a large splash pool.
Product Specs
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Get the Banzai Big Blast Water Park at Overstock, on Amazon, or at Walmart.
7
Costzon’s inflatable water slide makes the most of its 14-foot by 16-foot size with multiple attractions spaced far enough apart to accommodate multiple kids. With a small slide that stands 2 feet high and a large one that stands 5 feet, this water park makes a place for both older and younger kids. Other attractions include a cushy lounge chair with an overhead sprayer, a climbing wall that ascends to the tall slide, a water cannon on one wall for blasting slide occupants, and a basketball rim. Sprayers distributed throughout the play area ensure the slides and occupants stay wet. Unlike with other backyard water parks, users can access the attractions from inside the park’s boundaries, which keeps the water clean and lawn intact.
Product Specs
Pros
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Get the Costzon Inflatable Water Park Slide on Amazon.
8
Bounceland gives kids the best of both worlds with a full-size bounce house and a water slide. Keep in mind, at just under 5 feet wide and long, the bounce house only holds two kids at a time at most. Both the slide and bounce house open to a 6.5-foot by 5-foot wading pool. A climbing wall inside the bounce house leads to the slide. A sprayer mounted above the slide ensures the surface stays slick.
Kids can also shoot hoops inside the bounce house. Protective netting around the bounce house and at the top of the slide keeps kids safely inside the play area, making Bounceland a great choice for younger kids.
Product Specs
Pros
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Get the Bounceland Jump and Splash Adventure Slide on Amazon, at Target, or at Walmart.
9
At 19 feet long by 17 feet wide, this massive water park provides enough space to house two large slides. Kids climb to the top of the slides on a climbing wall that bisects the two. They then slide through the open maw of a giant crocodile or down its scaly back. Since the slides empty onto opposite ends of the water park, kids can fly down simultaneously without the risk of collision.
Other cool features include a tunnel that runs under one slide, a basketball goal, and a water cannon. A large swimming area provides a place for kids to splash while others slide.
Product Specs
Pros
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Get the Costzon Inflatable Crocodile Water Park Double Slides on Amazon.
10
Sunny & Fun’s giant backyard water park eschews most secondary attractions to include three giant water slides. Two steep slides sit side by side in the park’s center, and a third curvy slide wraps around the side.
Three sprayers keep all slides adequately slick while a water cannon allows kids to spray riders as they come down the slide. High walls ensure kids stay within the confines of each slide while fabric and mesh walls at the top of the slide prevent kids from falling off while they wait their turn. Kids access all three slides from a single climbing wall.
Product Specs
Pros
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Get the SUNNY & FUN Deluxe Inflatable Water Triple Slide Park on Amazon, at Target, or at Walmart.
A thoughtful design that places two slides on the outside with a center climbing wall and large splash pool make the Little Tikes Rocky Mountain River Race Slide one of the best all-around inflatable water slides on the market. Those with a bigger budget and more space in their backyards should consider the Blast Zone Pirate Bay Water Slide with its massive 20- by 12-foot size.
We reviewed more than two dozen options, and a variety of criteria figured into our choices for the best inflatable water slides. Since a blow-up pool with a slide should support multiple children at once, we chose models that could occupy four to five kids with multiple play stations. Safety was also key, so we only considered models with safeguards to prevent falls and injury. Although the water slide is the main attraction, we favored those that offered a variety of attractions, including climbing walls, soaking pools, water cannons, basketball hoops, and bounce houses.
Although inflatable water slides are somewhat of an investment, many advantages make them worth their sometimes steep price tags. First and foremost, a backyard water slide helps get kids outside in the heat of the summer. It eliminates the need for trips to crowded neighborhood pools and trumps backyard kiddie pools or vinyl slip-and-slides by a long shot. Larger inflatable water slides make a great activity for a backyard kids party. For this use, they practically pay for themselves by eliminating the need to reserve space at a local bouncy gym or water park.
To recap, backyard inflatable water parks are:
Inflatable slides provide hours of backyard entertainment. To get the most out of yours, make sure you adhere to the following guidelines to prevent damage to your slide and injury to its users.
Wondering how long inflatable water slides last or whether Dad can use it, too? Read on for answers to these and other commonly asked questions about backyard water parks.
An inflatable water slide lasts about 5 years, depending on how well you maintain it.
A child’s water slide typically uses about 4 liters of water per minute.
Most inflatable water slides come with age and weight limits that restrict adults from using them. However, some inflatable water slides are designed for adults.
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