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Best Backyard Playsets
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Materials
Speaking of durability, it is, of course, important to choose products that can withstand outdoor weather. As they say, make sure that the equipment is built to last. According to experts, a well-maintained set (plus made with durable materials) can last for up to 10 years.
Outdoor play sets vary in materials used to build it. Some are made of wood, while some are made from steel, metal, PVC, or other durable materials. Regardless of the make, it is wise to ensure that your outdoor play set can withstand outdoor weather, rotting or any kind of environmental damage.
If you choose a wooden playset, make sure that the wood material is properly-treated to be resistant against insects, rot, and decay. Wooden play sets are also customizable. On the other hand, metal play sets should have powder coating as a protection against rust and other environmental damages. Meanwhile, plastic play sets offer a variety of colors your kids will love. Plus, it’s also a safe play set material for your kid’s use.
Ease of Use
Another important aspect of choosing a backyard play set is its ease of installation. Whether playsets may require some tools or additional manpower to install, what’s important is that the equipment should have clear instructions for a less stressful setup.
It may also come as a surprise that installation cost can be as high as the play set’s cost itself. While it can be time-consuming and costly, it is better to have it taken care of by a professional installer. Aside from years of experience, they are more equipped with the necessary tools to install the playset properly. Doing so can also ensure your children’s safety while playing in the playset.
Apart from ease of installation, an ideal outdoor play set should also be easy to maintain. This is why the quality of the material used to make the equipment is crucial as well. The more high-quality and durable the materials are, the more it can last for years’ usage.
Safety Hazards
Here comes the most critical part of choosing an outdoor play set – safety. A Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) report revealed that more than 50,000 children get injured while playing in a backyard playground. It was also found that most of the said injuries are due to accidental falls.
First of all, it is important to practice safety first when it comes to installing an outdoor play set. Make sure it is set up over a safe and protective surface such as rubber mats. More so, the playset should also have safety features to prevent accidents from happening.
For example, each swing should have a reasonable distance from each other. Likewise, it should have a safety railing and platforms for your kids’ safety. Check for other safety hazards in your playset that can potentially endanger your child and ruin their playing experience. These are some of the instances where you should consider your children’s safety when it comes to choosing an outdoor playground.
Style
Outdoor playsets have long gone from simple swing sets, a slide, and perhaps a monkey bar on the side. Manufacturers nowadays have since made playsets packed with different features, with kids’ total enjoyment in mind.
Some playsets still offer the basics – a swing set and a slide in one. On the other hand, some playsets are packed with several features for a more enjoyable play. These include climbing walls, forts, seesaws, mini-clubhouses, ladders, and many more – apart from the all-time favorite slide and swing. Basically, the more activities you can do in one amazing playset, the more your children will enjoy playing with it. At the same time, you can be sure that you get your money’s worth even if the equipment comes quite expensive on your budget.
Top 10 Picks
1. Summerstone Cedar Summit
This may be the best thing your family can have. It comes with several play activities your kids will enjoy a lot. Swinging, climbing, sliding, creative games – all of these and more are available with this product.
Read moreProduct Specifications
This measures 18.1 feet in length, 10.9 feet in width, and 10.1 feet in height. Overall, it would require at least 30 feet x 26 feet of backyard space as per ASTM standards.
Age Range
This is suitable for kids, age 3 to 10 years old. Even so, it is best to have a parent or an older adult supervise young kids while playing to prevent accidents and injuries.
Material
It is made from Chinese cedarwood material. It is a rather soft wood material that is also insect, fungus, and rot-resistant. The wood material is also kiln-dried to remove extra moisture. On the other hand, the non-wood parts are made of durable plastic material.
Activities
It features a spiral wave slide, a rock climbing wall with access ladder, two belt swings with soft-grip rope, a glider that can fit up to two kids, a shaded snack table with built-in bench, a two-level clubhouse with a door, a railed balcony, a wooden shiplap roof, and flower boxes.
Ease of Installation
The playset has pre-cut and pre-drilled parts, as well as a detailed assembly instruction for easier installation. The lumber material used is also pre-stained that is also kid-safe and adds protection to the entire playset.
Safety Features
As mentioned earlier, the swings have a soft-grip rope which prevents little hands from chafing or scratching. The second-level balcony also has a railing to prevent accidental falls. Generally, this set is kid-safe.
Warranty
This carries a five-year limited warranty for its wooden components.
2. Fitness Reality Kids 7
This will surely make your kids’ time worthwhile. Unlike the other sets featured here, this one comes with a basketball hoop and backboard and soccer net. Now that’s a new level of outdoor playing experience – right in your backyard!
Read moreProduct Specifications
The item measures 13.1 feet in length, 8.9 feet in width, 6.7 feet in height, and it weighs 80.5 lbs.
Age Range
This is suitable for kids ages 3 to 8 years old. Even so, it is best to have a parent or an older adult supervise young kids while playing to prevent accidents and injuries.
Material
The product features tubular steel construction that is also powder-coated for rust protection.
Activities
This set features seven fun activity stations that will keep your kid physically-active and pre-occupied. These include 2 swings, a fitness slide, a glider, and a monkey bar. Meanwhile, young boys will surely love this set because it also features a basketball hoop with a backboard, a soccer goal net, and basketball and soccer ball to top it off.
Ease of Installation
It includes an assembly manual and the necessary tools needed for set-up. It should also be installed in a level-ground surface. It would take around 1 to 2 hours to set it up by two adults.
Safety Features
This ultimate playset meets both ASTM and CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) safety standards, so you will be assured that your kids will only enjoy playing without worrying about injuries and accidents.
Warranty
This offers a two-year warranty for the steel frame and a six-month warranty on other parts.
3. Sportspower My First Metal Swing
Unlike the other featured sets, this one is simpler. However, it can still provide a total fun playing experience for your kids.
Read moreProduct Specifications
This simple outdoor playground measures 89 inches in length and width, 74 inches in height, and weighs around 60 lbs. It can accommodate a total of up to 400 lbs of body weight.
Age Range
This is suitable for kids ages 3 to 11 years old. Even so, it is best to have a parent or an older adult supervise young kids while playing to prevent accidents and injuries.
Material
It is made of heavy-duty, weather-resistant, powder-coated steel tube construction. The tubes will surely last for years due to added protection and finish.
Activities
Kids can enjoy playing with two swing seats, 1 trapeze, and 1 slide. The playset can accommodate up to 4 children at once.
Ease of Installation
This simple backyard playset can be assembled in only 150 minutes (around 2.5 hours). All the sections are already pre-drilled, so you won’t spend many hours assembling this piece.
Safety Features
This is made with safety in mind and meets the ASTM safety standards. This also has foam-padded legs for kids’ safety, as well as adjustable chain swings to accommodate small and larger children.
Warranty
This has a 90-day warranty for any material and manufacturing defect, as well as damage due to normal use.
4. Creative Playthings Spring Hill
This outdoor playset is proudly 100 percent US-made. It features several play activities your kids can choose and enjoy playing. Plus, it is made from durable materials, which is why you can expect it to last for years.
Read moreProduct Specifications
This measures 10 feet in height by 15 feet in width and 14 feet in diameter and weighs around 587 lbs.
Age Range
This is suitable for kids at least 2 years old and above. Even so, it is best to have a parent or an older adult supervise young kids while playing to prevent accidents and injuries.
Material
This is made with durable yellow pine wood construction. Aside from that, it has factory-applied Sherwin Williams premium stain, which provides additional resistance to wood rot and insect decay.
Activities
Your kids and their friends can enjoy playing in the swings, trapeze bar, slide, and the climbing wall with a safety rope. They can also play at the upper play deck with a roof for protection against the heat. It also features a sandbox below the play deck.
Ease of Installation
This is generally easy to install. The parts are pre-drilled and ready to put together. The package also comes with the needed hardware, stakes and instruction paper. It can take at least five hours to assemble the set.
Safety Features
The swing’s chains are plasticol-coated for added safety for your children. In addition, the swings are tested multiple times so you will be assured of lower risk of accidents during playtime. The ladder also has powder-coated steel for more stabilized grip. More importantly, it complies with ASTM and CPSC standards.
Warranty
This outdoor playground carries a 10-year warranty for any damages occurred during normal use or any manufacturing defects.
5. Lifetime Big Stuff Adventure
This guarantees an overall fun and memorable outdoor experience for your kids. It features several activities your kids can play on.
Read moreProduct Specifications
This measures a total area of 13.11 ft x 15.9 ft. The entire set weighs around 660 lbs. To install this, you will need an area of about 14 feet x 16 feet or more.
Age Range
This is suitable for kids at least 3 years old and above. Even so, it is best to have a parent or an older adult supervise young kids while playing to prevent accidents and injuries.
Material
This is made from durable and weather-resistant material combination of high-density polyethylene and powder-coated steel. This type of material will not easily distort, rot, or crack. Plus, it won’t splinter, unlike other wooden sets. Meanwhile, the swing chains are also made with rust-resistant zinc coating with rubberized grips.
Activities
This features a 9-foot wave slide, two swings, a trapeze bar with gym swings, a cargo net, an activity board, and a propeller swing. The covered clubhouse also has a heavy-duty roof and marine-quality decking.
Ease of Installation
This is generally easy to install. It does not require any cement to anchor the playset on the ground and additional painting job during and after set up. It can take more or less 9 hours to set up.
Safety Features
This comes with a lot of safety features. It comes with hard, rounded and covered edges, as well as soft rubber grips on the swing chains to protect kids’ fingers while gripping the swing chains. Plus, the heavy-duty molded swings are lead-free, making it toxic-free and safe for everyone’s health.
Warranty
This is covered with a 5-year limited manufacturer’s warranty. It also passes all safety standards due to its safe and strong steel construction.
6. Playstar Great Bronze Escape
This can accommodate up to 10 children at once. With that said, why not invite the other kids in your neighborhood so they can enjoy playing on this playset? All of these fun experience, you, your kids, and the other kids in the block can have in your backyard.
Read moreProduct Specifications
It measures 15.5 ft in width, 25 feet in diameter, and 11 feet in height. The entire playset weighs a hefty 701 lbs.
Age Range
This is suitable for kids at least 2 years old and above. Even so, it is best to have a parent or an older adult supervise young kids while playing to prevent accidents and injuries.
Material
This outdoor playground is made from damage-resistant premium pine wood that can last for many years.
Activities
This playset has a wave slide, a tunnel, steps, and toddler swing. It also has monkey bars, a rock climbing wall, and a clubhouse with a roof so the kids will be protected against the outdoor weather. There’s also a play telescope and play rings as added play accessories. With this, kids can enjoy a fun playground experience in your own backyard.
Ease of Installation
This has pre-cut parts that are ready to assemble. You can also avail an additional 2x6x8” board for climbing steps, although it should be purchased separately.
It can take at least 6 hours for it to be set up by at least 2 people.
Safety Features
This is made from high-quality materials that meet safety standards. It also exceeds the government’s standard safety requirements. Hence, parents will be totally assured of their kids’ safety while playing.
Warranty
This carries a ten-year warranty for normal product usage or manufacturing defects.
7. Magnolia by Big Backyard
This offers a lovely and affordable play area your kids will surely love. It has a colorful façade and includes several play activities which provide a whole new level of fun and learning for children.
Read moreProduct Specifications
This measures 20.7 feet in length, 8.2 feet in width, and 10.2 feet in height. In total, the entire playset weighs 247 lbs. According to ASTM standards, it should be set up in an area with at least 32.7 feet in length and 28 feet in width as its safety zone.
Age Range
This is suitable for kids at least 3 years old and above. Even so, it is best to have a parent or an older adult supervise young kids while playing to prevent accidents and injuries.
Material
This is made from insect, rot, and decay-resistant, 100 percent premium cedar wood that can last for many years.
Activities
This can provide ultimate fun for up to 8 children playing at once. It features an upper clubhouse covered with a wooden roof and a rock wall for some physical challenge. It also has swings and a slide.
Your kids can also practice their creativity with the chalk wall, as well as flower boxes, a play phone, and a sandbox. They can even have some snack in the snack area with seats as a resting spot.
Ease of Installation
It has pre-cut parts that are ready to assemble. However, it may take at least 2 persons to assemble this item and can take around 8 to 10 hours to assemble. No worries though – it comes with a detailed instruction manual for a less hassling setup.
Safety Features
This is primarily designed with safety in mind. Its frame is designed to sturdily support different parts of the set, including a clubhouse, swings, slide, trapeze bar, and many more. It also has a wooden roof to protect the kids from outdoor weather.
Warranty
It offers up to a warranty of 5 years for environmental damage. On the other hand, all other accessories and parts carry a 1-year warranty for any damage occurred.
8. Swing-N-Slide Trekker
For under $1,000, you can have an amazing playset for your kids at home. It has several play activities your kids will surely enjoy.
Read moreProduct Specifications
This measures 18 feet in width, 14.9 feet in length, and 10 feet in height. The entire set weighs around 474 lbs. The ideal area to set up this should be at least 29 feet x 30 feet.
Age Range
This is suitable for kids at least 3 years old and above. Even so, it is best to have a parent or an older adult supervise young kids while playing to prevent accidents and injuries.
Material
The set is made from Southern Yellow Pine wood material that is high-quality and decay-resistant.
Activities
It features different play activities your kids can enjoy. These include a play deck, slide, Pirate’s Ladder, monkey bars, swing seats, a rock climbing wall, and a Wind Rider Glider Swing for memorable fun playing experience.
Ease of Installation
This wooden set includes premium wood and other accessories needed for installation. It may take around 5 to 6 hours to assemble. It also comes with detailed instructions for a less-hassle setup. A separate 4x4 uprights can also be purchased for added stability.
Safety Features
This backyard set is ASTM-compliant, hence assuring that its parts and materials are tested according to standards. It also has four ground anchors for added stability. It has a weight capacity of up to 945 lbs.
Warranty
The 2-piece slide carries a lifetime warranty and a 5-year limited warranty for wood damage.
9. Prestige Cedar
The Prestige Cedar Playset by Backyard Discovery is smaller and compact than the first one. Hence, it can fit any backyard size, providing kids a safe place to play. Despite its size, it is also packed with multiple play activities kids can enjoy playing at.
Read moreProduct Specifications
This has a dimension of 10.8 feet in length, 10.4 feet in width, and 9.3 feet in height. It weighs around 176.4 lbs. Its deck size measures 30x30 inches where kids can safely play.
Age Range
This compact product is suitable for kids 3 years old and above. Even so, it is best to have a parent or an older adult supervise young kids while playing to prevent accidents and injuries.
Material
This is made from 100 percent cedar wood. This material is high-quality, and mold- and decay-resistant. Plus, these are also UV-resistant. Its durable, powder-coated steel brackets offer maximum protection against environmental elements.
Activities
This compact features an upper play deck, sandbox (3 cubic feet of sand required), 8-foot Speedy Slide with safety feature tall walls, rock wall ladder, two belt swings, trapeze bar, a covered play fort, and even a snack bar where kids can rest before their next play. The product can fit up to 7 kids and can play at once.
Ease of Installation
It includes easy-to-assemble parts and may take around 2 to 3 hours to assemble.
Safety Features
Its materials are chemical-free, hence safe for kids and even animals. This also has a “Safe-T-Hardware” that resists nut loosening and won’t catch on clothing or cause injuries. This is also ASTM-compliant (American Society For Testing and Materials).
Warranty
This offers a 5-year warranty for the wood construction and 1-year warranty for the accessories.
10. Gorilla Mountaineer
This will make you jealous of why it didn’t exist during your childhood days. It is packed with lots of play activities kids will surely enjoy. It may come as quite expensive, but with that many activities your kids can try; this can be worth the price.
Read moreProduct Specifications
It measures 20 ft. in width, 11 ft in H, and 14.6 ft in diameter. The platform has a measurement of 4x6 feet and stands 5 feet in height. All in all, it weighs a whopping 879 lbs.
Age Range
This gigantic playset is suitable for kids 3 years old and above. Even so, it is best to have a parent or an older adult supervise young kids while playing to prevent accidents and injuries.
Material
This has a premium cedar wood construction that is rot, decay, and insect-resistant. It also has an exclusive maintenance-free Timber Shield to lessen time maintaining or cleaning it.
Activities
There are so many activities kids can do on this toy. It has two slides, a rock climbing wall, two sets of swings, a trapeze swing, and sandbox. It also has a picnic table for those who want to have snacks in between play, as well as a tic-tac-toe game area for some mental-stimulating games. You can also add a treehouse with shutters for added fun and play for your kids. There is also a play telescope and flag kit as part of play accessories.
Ease of Installation
This is already pre-cut, pre-sanded, pre-stained, and pre-drilled beams. It may take around 6 to 8 hours to assemble this.
Safety Features
This also features safety handles every time your kids will climb up the ladders, swings, slides, etc. It is also easy to care and recommended to be applied with wood sealant. It is also ASTM and CPSC-compliant.
Warranty
This offers a 10-year warranty for the wood construction and 1-year warranty for the accessories. In other words, this offers the best warranties around.
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