Buyer's Guides

Bounce houses are a safe and fun way to let your kids get their energy out.  However, if you live in a colder climate, or just prefer having an entertainment option indoors, it can be hard to find the right unit.

In this post I'll go over a list of some of the best bounce houses for your basement

A lot of people ask me for my opinion on the best bounce house brands. Heck, most people would even be happy to have a complete list of bounce house brands, period!

But first, a quick note: Since I just mentioned it, I'll cut to the chase — do yourself a favor and buy something from Blast Zone or Bounceland, or if you have smaller kids pick up something from Little Tikes.

And the truth is that, today, the bounce house market is exploding. Brick and mortar stores are carrying them more often, and online retailers like Amazon are now booming with off-brand models that leave you feeling uncertain.

If you have to convince yourself that buying one of the cheaper knock-off brands is a good idea, then you probably know deep down that it really isn't. Trust your gut, and always be sure to read the latest reviews.

Here's my overall list, in order of reputation based on available information on the net.  There are a few clear standouts and a few average brands, and one or two to  watch out for.

Here they are:

Brand	Rank	Popular Models
Blast Zone	1	Little Bopper Inflatable Bouncer Big Ol Bouncer
Bounceland	2	Bounceland Pop Star Inflatable Bounce House Bouncer Bounceland Dream Castle with Ball Pit Bounce House Bouncer
Little Tikes	3	Little Tikes Inflatable Jump 'n Slide Bounce House w/heavy duty blower Little Tikes Dunk N Toss Bouncer
Cloud 9	4	Cloud 9 Princess Bounce House - Inflatable Pink Castle Without Blower Cloud 9 Mighty Bounce House - Mini Crayon - Inflatable Kids Jumper with Blower

Most people don't buy bounce houses very often.  Am I right?

When you first start to look for one, it can be overwhelming to assess the situation and determine which brands are worth the money and which ones are junk.

And it gets worse.

Finding the best bounce house manufacturer isn't easy -- you've probably never heard of half of the brands.  These days it's become very easy to find a generic bounce house from a site like Ali Express, slap a brand name on it and list it on Amazon.

There is good news!

We've gone through a few bounce houses for our kids, and I know the disappointment of getting one that doesn't last very long.  I can also tell you, buying a bounce house was one of the best decisions my wife and I ever made as parents.  There's nothing like it when it comes to having a source of worry-free, safe entertainment for your kids.  With this guide I'll give my opinion on the best bounce house for toddlers.

Buying a bounce house can be an intimidating ordeal.  There are so many options these days, it can be stressful, confusing and frustrating.  I've done my best to break down your decision here.  I'll outline the major brands, features and common complaints so you can make the best decision and start enjoying a new bouncer.

2019 UPDATE: Each time I do one of these updates I come across more and more cheap, knock-off brands. I'm also seeing a lot more cases of bounce houses being returned, in most cases off brands that I don't typically promote. Keep an eye on the reviews, and remember that in the end you absolutely get what you pay for.

First off, if you want a bounce house with a slide, there are a lot of factors to consider.  I'll break it down from as many angles as I can to help you find the best one for your family.  I'll give you my overall list of the best bounce houses with a slide, and then I'll go into specific areas.

Are you looking for a unit for older kids, or younger ones?  That's the primary deciding factor that you'll want to consider.  Other things to consider are the overall number of jumpers (at once, anyway) and the frequency of use.

Other questions include where to buy a bounce house with a slide, whether that be in-person at a store nearby or online, and how much they actually cost.  I'll cover all these things below.  If you have other questions or if you think I've missed anything, leave a comment below and let me know what you think.

First, my top bounce houses with a slide

A water slide bounce house is one of the best sources of warm-weather entertainment your family will ever own.  They're affordable, convenient, and offer literally endless fun for your kids from young to old. 

But first, a quick note:  There are a lot of bounce houses on the market, with many online offerings coming out in the last year or two.  In my opinion, you can't go wrong with Blast Zone or Bounceland, and for smaller kids Little Tikes may have a lot to offer.

The Best Bounce House Water Slide:

I've reviewed plenty of water slide bounce houses.  Based on what I've read, I can easily say that the seems to be the consensus favorite on the internet.  It's quality, features and price make it an option that is hard to beat when you're looking for a bounce house water slide combo.

From my perspective, the best water slide bounce houses are:

1.		Blast Zone Shark Park Inflatable Water Park Bouncer	-
2.		Blast Zone Pirate Bay Inflatable Combo Bounce and Slide Water Park	$548.37
3.		Little Tikes Slam 'n Curve Slide	$219.99
4.		Little Tikes Rocky Mountain River Race Inflatable Slide Bouncer	$229.88

Finding the best one can be a challenge, and I'm here to try and help.  Our family only owns one of these slides, and we've only used one other model, but I've done my best to provide a decent round up of the available water slide bounce houses that are available at most locations throughout the US.

Bounce houses are becoming SO popular these days.  They've been a staple at carnivals and other local festivals for years, but they've grown so much in popularity that moms and dads all over are finding more reasons to rent commercial bounce houses from local rental centers.

For the first brand in my Brand Review series, I'll be taking a look at Bounceland.  In this series in general I'll be taking a look at a variety of brands that make bounce houses and other similar products.  I'll be focusing most of my attention on what I consider to be some of the bigger players in the market, but I'll also try to include some of the lesser-known and up-and-coming brands that I've seen emerge lately.  If you're in the market for a bounce house, trampoline, or inflatable water slide, then you can breathe easy knowing that you've never had more choice than you do now.  New companies are springing up left and right to try to get in on the action in this very hot, fast-growing market.

New parents and parents with younger children are constantly asking me about trampolines for their kids.  Now, I usually tell parents to go with a bounce house or bouncy slide rather than a trampoline, but these Little Tikes trampolines are so popular that I decided to look into them.

Both models offer the quality that you’ve probably come to expect with the Little Tikes brand.  Each model is designed to be used by only one kid at a time and, unlike with a bounce house, this is a strict limit with a trampoline.

People always ask, "what's the best trampoline for my kids?"  Like most things, it comes down to a few key questions.  First, how many kids do you have?  Second, how old are your kids?  Third, how do you plan on using your trampoline?  Finally, what features do you want?  By answering these questions you can find a solid trampoline that will last your family for years to come.

My oldest son was about three years old when we got our first trampoline, and our family hasn't looked back since!  With two boys now, we've spent many hours in our basement jumping on the trampoline.  It's something that has helped my wife and I maintain some sanity during the long days, and it's always a great way for the kids to get out some energy.