5 Fun Obstacle Course Bounce Houses

Before you start comparing bounce houses, it is important to determine how much room you have in your backyard.  If you intend on keeping the bounce house inflated for long periods, you will need enough room to walk around the bounce house and perform tasks like mowing or trimming the hedges.  Be aware that some obstacle course bounce houses can be quite tall, so think about the height as well — are there trees that may get in the way?

Obstacle course bounce houses are separated into two categories — residential units and commercial units.  A residential bounce house is designed for home use and will typically have a maximum capacity of between 4-6 children who weigh less than 100 pounds each.  A commercial unit is designed to be much tougher and is suitable for use by adults.

If you only expect children to use the bounce house, a residential unit is usually fine.  However, if you want a large bounce house that you can take to special events and is usable by adults, consider purchasing a commercial bounce house.  There is a significant price difference, but a commercial unit is very durable and quite useful if you have a lot of children’s parties or special events.

It is important to be diligent when comparing the sizes of bounce houses.  Some manufacturers will misrepresent the height or width of their product to make it seem larger than it is.  For example, they may place ornaments on top of the bounce house so they can list the bounce house as being higher than it really is.  If you are unsure, contact the manufacturer or retailer for specific details on the height and width of the product.

If you intend on regularly moving the bounce house, double check its weight.  Some manufacturers don’t mention the weight of the bounce house accurately in an attempt to make consumers think it is lighter.  They will often separate the weight of components in the bounce house.

Make sure you understand the warranty before purchasing a bounce house.  Many residential bounce houses have restrictions on how you can use the product — using it at a commercial event may void the warranty.  Also make sure the blower has a good warranty, because they can be prone to breakage.

If the bounce house has a slide, check the length of the slide stoppage area.  It is the component at the bottom of the slide, where children stop after their feet hit the ground.  Some manufacturers make this section quite short to save money on materials.  The problem with having a short slide stoppage area is that passengers come to a very abrupt stop — increasing the risk of an accident.

The durability and build quality of an obstacle course bounce house is important.  After all, it will have many screaming kids frantically bouncing on it — it needs to be tough!  While some Chinese companies are producing quality bounce houses, there are also many dud products being made in China.  Consider buying from an American company to make sure the product is of a high standard.

Also, take a look at the craftsmanship that the manufacturers have put into the bounce house.  Does it use a high-quality material like PVC tarpaulin or woven oxford cloth?  Does it feature double or triple stitching?  Does the blower continuously add air to the house (allowing it to stay inflated as long as necessary)?

It is important to buy an obstacle course bounce house that offers the kinds of activities that your children enjoy. Do they like singing and dancing?  Consider buying an obstacle bounce house that doubles as a stage.  Do they like boxing?  Buy a bounce house with pillars to punch.  Is the weather warm where you live?  Buy a bounce house with a splash pool!

Some of the features that are available include:

Bounce houses are safe environments for children to play in. However, if you have very young children, avoid purchasing a bounce house with a high bounce floor or tall slide.  You can also consider purchasing a bounce house that has strong mesh or vinyl walls to reduce the risk of a little one toppling over the edge.