So what constitutes the best wooden swing sets?  What might be ideal for you might not work for another family.  The criteria for selection should include:

1. Size and features of the Swing Set – do you want just a quality swing set or do you want a clubhouse, sandbox, slide and more?  And of course, you need a bigger yard for some of the larger swing and gym sets so do some measurements if you have a smallish yard.

2. Is a cheaper swing set the best?  Maybe.  If you are on a tight budget, price is, of course, important.  So look at the price, and be sure to consider taxes and shipping.  Some major retailers include shipping to their stores and some merchants include free shipping to your home.  If you think the cheaper swing sets are adequate for your needs, go for it.  You have to remember that no matter what the wood, a swing set isn’t going to last forever and of course the kids do outgrow it eventually.

3. Set up time. Unfortunately, most of the reviews of swingsets that we find on merchants sites dwell on the set up time.  While that is important, it is a one time issue.  Just be sure that you have the tools and help from a neighbor if you need it.

4. Durability.  Darn, this is the hardest to determine.  You just don’t see many reviews that come in five years later describing the durability of the swing sets and if you do, that swing set probably isn’t still on the market anyway.

Some of the brands you might want to consider:

Backyard Discovery (formerly Adventure Playsets).  These are large, inexpensive wooden swing sets available at a few mass merchants.

Gorilla Playsets. These are the top of the line wooden swing sets.  We did find reviews for a swingset that had been used for 3 year and the parents commented that it still looks almost brand new.

Swing-N-Slide. Another brand with premium lumber and bracket systems. They also have do it yourself kits where you purchase the parts excluding lumber and buy the lumber locally.

Find these brands and more, including where to purchase, on our page of Wooden Swing Sets.

Find the Little Tikes Playhouse and more great Outdoor Toys for Kids!

Find a huge selection of Children’s Bouncers, from small inexpensive bouncers to large bounce houses – great for parties!

Banzai Hydro Blast Water Park – This is one of the largest Banzai water slides and has 3 slides for double lane racing and curved sliding. The common lagoon for all slides has a basketball activity and water cannons. This is a water slide that you can put a few kids on! Fun for parties.  The retail price was $898 but as of this writing has been lowered to $749.

The Banzai Typhoon Twist Water Slide has a giant curved water slide with large pool, basketball activity and water cannon. It’s a little lower in price at $439.  This new water slide resembles the Banzai Sidewinder Falls which was the top selling water slide for the previous 2 years.

The Banzai Drop Zone Water Slide is a two slide option with a large curved slide or drop zone straight slide.  It also has a split level climbing wall, basketball activity and water blasting cannon.  This Banzai water slide is mid-priced at $598.

All of the Banzai water slides show several kids in the pictures. You do need to check the size and weight limits.  Most of them will only hold a few kids at a time. If you’re planning a birthday party, we suggest picking up some slip n slides too or a bouncer for kids who might not want to get wet.  This may help to alleviate fussing about too many kids on the water slide.

Find these Banzai Water Slides and several more with information on where to purchase.

If you’re looking for a smaller basic swing set, the Flexible Flyer First Fun Metal Swing Set is just 103″ long by 92″ wide by 72″ high. It features a wave slide, 2 swings and glider slide. This metal swing set is exculsive to Walmart and is just $129. A great starter swing set and you won’t feel bad if you decide to upgrade by replacing it with a larger swing set in a few years.

The Flexible Flyer Triple Fun Metal Swing Set is also a great price at just $186. It features 3 swings, a see saw and slide. The Tri Copter is one of the largest Flexible Flyer swing sets with a slide, glider, 2 swings and unique tricopter ride. It’s just $268.

If you are wondering what the advantages of a metal swing set over a wooden swing set are, here’s a summary:

• Metal swing sets are generally less expensive than wooden swing sets.
• Set up time is greatly reduced. A metal swing set may take 2 – 4 hours, a wooden swing set may take 8 – 12 hours to set up.
• No splinters.
• Possibly more safe, less climbing and high fall worries.

What are the disadvantages of metal swing sets over wooden swing sets?

• They usually do not include a clubhouse. If you are looking for a clubhouse, we recommend picking up something like a Step2 playhouse for the kids.
• No picnic table, sandbox. If you want those other activities, you will need to purchase them separately.

Your swing set purchase decision will ultimately come down to a combination of what you are looking for, how much space you have in your backyard, and your budget.

Take a look at the complete line of Wooden, Plastic, and Metal Swing Sets, available from major online retailers.  Be sure to check tax and shipping charges to determine your overall cost.

Check out our comprehensive list of new for 2011 inflatable water slides!

The most popular water slides for the backyard are the Banzai water slides. However, you might also want to look at the Little Tikes water slide, known for durability and waterslides from Blast Zone and Kidwise which have some great prices. We counted 8 new Banzai waterslides for 2010. Along with these new slides, there are also 8 Banzai water slides from previous years available.  To see them all, visit our page with the complete list: Banzai Water Slide. Some of the new slides for 2010 include:

Banzai Aqua Blast Lagoon Water Slide – This is a large curved single water slide with climbing wal and lagoon pool. It also comes with a basketball activity center.  The picture shows about 5 kids on the slide or in the pool but the manufacturers suggested weight limit is 150 pounds.  So use your judgement. If you’re having a party, you might want to pick up some inexpensive Slip n Slides to help keep the kids entertained and not all on the waterslide at once! You can have some great racing games with prizes with the water slides.

The Banzai Double Cannon Blast Waterslide and Banzai Double Drop Falls are popular slides for parties. The cannon activity is fun and the double racer allows pairs to slide down at once. Both have been around for a couple of years, have great customer reviews, and are also less expensive than the newer slides.

The Banzai Hydro Blast Water Park is the top of the line Banzai water slide with 3 slides – a double lane for racing and a third curved water slide. They all end in a large lagoon and there are water cannons on the edge of the lagoon for added fun.  The picture shows many large kids around the slide and the manufacturers recommendation is up to 400 pounds so you can entertain a fair amount of kids at once.

The Banzai Typhoon Twist Water Slide or Banzai Big Curve Plunge Water Slide are the newest versions of the popular Banzai Sidewinder Falls (which is also still available for purchase). They feature a large curved water slide with spray on the top and cannons below.  The combined weight limit for this water slide is 200 pounds so again, you’ll have to be mindful of how many kids can play at once.

Banzai is not the only water slide in town. Little Tikes has 2 water slides, the Little Tikes Rocky Mountain River Race and the Little Tikes Slam N Curve Water Slide.  The Rocky Mountain River Race has two curved water slides with climbing wall in between and pool at the bottom. The Little Tikes water slides have always been highly rated by parents and kids.

Find where to get the best deals on these water slides and many more at our Inflatable Water Slide sale! We have links to every waterslide on the market!

Find  the best deals on Adventure Play Sets Swing Sets at major retailers!

We’ve been reviewing the Adventure Play Sets Swing Sets at Walmart. The Adventure Play Sets Columbia Wooden Swing Set is new for 2010 and available for $499. Shipping is free if you select site to store shipping.

The Columbia swing set has a covered play deck above a clubhouse.  Your child can climb the ladder to the platform and slide down the slide over and over again.  It also comes with 2 swings, a 2 person glider, picnic or activity table, rock climbing wall, and sand box.  The assembled swing set is 18′ 3.5″ L x 8′ 8″ W x 10′ 6″ H. You’ll want to leave about 12 feet around it for safety.

It takes 2 people to assemble the Walmart wooden swing sets. Assembly time is estimated at 8 to 12 hours. Several tools are required, a list can be found on the Walmart site.  Parents say that it is best to organize the wood and read the directions thoroughly before starting construction.

Find the complete set of Adventure Play Sets Swing Sets and where to obtain the best deals! We also have information on the Blue Ridge Play Sets, Flexible Flyer metal swing sets,  and Little Tikes plastic swing sets.

The Atlantis Swing Set has a covered play deck above a clubhouse, a sun deck, slide, swings, and rock climbing wall. It also has a couple of unique features. The 2 person glider has a ships wheel for the kids to hold onto.  An “imagination station” is built into the lower level. It’s a counter that can be used as a lunch counter, lemonade stand or puppet theater.

The Atlantis Swing Set is 18′ 1″ L x 7′ 9.5″ W x 9′ H. You need to allow another 12 feet around it for safe play. Manufacturers recommended age is 3 to 10 years.

Parents who have reviewed their new swingset all agree that it is quality construction and the kids love it!

Take a look at all of the Adventure Play Sets Wooden Swing Sets and where to find the best deals.

Find where to pick up the Adventure Play Sets Pathfinder Wooden Swing Set at a great price!

Adventure Play Sets designs wooden swing sets for home backyard use. The Meridian swing set is just $549 and constructed from sustainable wood.  This combination of eco friendly and a great price is hard to beat.  The playset includes a covered play deck with slide, two swings, glider, monkey bars, clubhouse with windows and activity bench. It measures 18′ 4″ L x 12’8″ W x 10′ H.  You’ll want an overall play area of at least 30′ x 24′.  You will need to assemble yourself and it does requires 2 – 4 persons and is definitely an all day project. It’s worth it for the value of this set.

The Adventure Play Sets Meridian Swing Set has been available at Walmart for all of 2009-2010, and receives high marks from parents with average 4 to 5 stars in reviews.  Most reviews discuss the importance of labeling the wood and following the instructions for assembly.

This wooden swing set is recommended for ages 3 to 11. It will make a great activity center for spring break and summer fun and should provide years of enjoyment for your child. 

Find where to purchase the Meridian and other quality Wooden Swing Sets!