There are many reasons bounce houses have found their way into many homes’ backyards across the country. With their safe designs, plenty of accessories to allow for various games, and endless themes to suit different occasions, investing in a quality bouncer is a convenient way of livening up events at home.
Whether you want to encourage your kids to spend more time outdoors or you are looking to liven up an event, investing in a bounce house is a great idea.
However, you have a decision to make – go for a cheap bounce house, rent one from a local kids center, buy a used one, or save up for a quality one. Many parents prefer to buy a cheap bounce house, a move that often backfires after a short time.
Cheap bouncers often lack the quality and accessories that make these inflatable playgrounds long-lasting and fun for kids.
In this article, we explore the options you have if you would like to have a bounce house in your backyard for your kids.
But before then, let’s discuss why you should avoid investing in a cheap bounce house.
Main Concerns with Cheap Bounce Houses
If you are looking for a bouncer and trying to keep the cost down, there are many options available.
Of course, some cheap bounce houses are better than others, but there are several common problems to be aware of when you spend too little on these inflatables.
Here are some common cheap bounce houses problems.
Durability and Stability
Usually, a cheap bounce house often has cheap materials. These materials will likely lack the toughness an inflatable playground should have to sustain kids’ weight and withstand their roughness.
In other words, they may not have as many layers of materials as high-quality inflatable playgrounds do, which makes them weaker and unstable.
These cheaper materials can cause several problems, including:
- Possibility of kids tearing the materials easily
- Sinking in the spots where kids frequently play on, which can make them unsafe and thus increase chances of causing injuries
In addition, cheaper inflatables may not be solidly built. You may find their seams tearing and material separating after a short time. In many cases, they come from overseas, which means they may lack quality.
Another major problem you might experience with a cheap bounce house is air leakage. Air leakage can be annoying as you have to keep inflating your bounce house to make it safe and enjoyable for kids. The problem is a result of using cheap valves or poorly sewn seams.
Lack of Fun Accessories
Quality bouncing houses come with different accessories that make them fun and enjoyable. Here are standard features/accessories you will find in quality bounce houses:
- Passage/Tunnels: While the main feature of bounce houses is to have an area to jump, some incorporate tunnels where small kids can crawl. These passages are fun for small children who are not big enough to jump with others.
- Slides: Slides are often the second-best point of fascination for kids after the bouncing area. Many expansive bounce houses incorporate a sliding area to diversify the games kids can play.
- Water Features: Some inflatable playgrounds come with hoses for summer fun, with a few models even having little pool zones where kids can play on.
You will find many accessories and features in quality bounce houses, which is why you should not compromise by going for cheap options that only offer a bouncing area.
Kids will enjoy more when there are various games they can play on a bounce house, which is facilitated by going for an inflatable with different features.
Value For Your Money
When you go for a cheap bounce house that will only serve your kids for a short time before it starts to show signs of wear and tear, then you will have wasted your money.
When investing in a bounce house, you want an inflatable that will serve your kids for several years before they outgrow it.
Cheap products rarely give good value for money as they are mostly low quality and not durable, and cheap bouncers are not an exception. Therefore, if you are to invest in a bounce house, make sure to go for a quality one.
Alternatives To Cheap Bounce Houses
If you can’t afford a high-quality bouncer, there are several alternatives you can consider.
Renting a Bounce House
Should I rent a bounce house for my kids’ event, or should I buy a new one? Many people ask this question when considering having an inflatable playground in their backyards.
Superficially, the latter option may seem tempting. However, when you dig deeper, the idea of renting a bounce house makes more sense.
Why?
There is a big difference between a cheap bounce house you can buy online and the one you will rent from a local entertainment spot. The primary difference is durability and quality.
In many cases, you may find the price of quality bounce houses illogical since you are not into commercial usage, and this is why many people opt for cheaper options that end up not serving them as they expected.
Renting a bounce house means you will get a quality inflatable with a wide variety of accessories/features, including slides, tunnels, and much more.
These benefits make renting a quality bounce house a better option than buying a cheap product that won’t last.
Buying a Used Bounce House
If you still want to own a bounce house and don’t have the money to buy a new one, a good option is to find a used bounce house that is still in good shape.
The main benefit you will get from buying a used inflatable playground is cost savings. Make sure that the inflatable you go for is of good quality. You can find a bouncer that’s still comfortable and in pristine condition, as long as you know where to look.
You can easily find people who are disposing of their bouncers, especially those whose businesses didn’t pick up as they expected and now are trying to recoup some of the money they invested.
Before making the purchase, there are several things to keep in mind:
Did the seller purchase a high-quality bouncer, or did they go for a cheaper product?
How often has the bounce house been used? If it is just for a few times, there is a likelihood that the product is still in good condition.
The point here is to go for a quality bouncer that is still in pristine condition.
Saving Up for a More Durable Bounce House
If none of the above options are that appealing to you, consider saving up to invest in a new, durable bounce house.
There are a lot of good options on the market today for about the same cost as renting a bounce house about 4 or 5 times. For more on what to look for in a new bounce house, be sure to read our bounce house buying guide.
Final Comments
It is pretty clear to us that cheap bounce houses are not worth the cost. In addition to lacking plenty of fun accessories, cheap bouncers are also likely to have issues with durability and stability.
There are several alternatives you can consider, including renting a bounce house or buying a used one. Just don’t buy a cheap inflatable playground for the sake of it!
Questions? Drop us a line.
