10 fun inflatable water slides kids will love
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From built-in water cannons to bouncy houses, there are tons of ways to up the ante on outdoor play by bringing the water park to your own backyard.
Water toys are a blast. Whether kids are running through sprinklers, dousing each other with Super Soakers, or doing underwater explorations in their backyard blowup pool, they'll love getting in some good water play during the summer months. This summer, we say it’s time to go big.
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Easier to set up than an above-ground pool, and basically invented for burning off energy and roughhousing, we truly feel like you can’t do better than an inflatable water slide. They are like a mini water park right in your backyard, whether it's a sprawling suburban lawn or a compact city patio.
Whether you’ve got a little one and want to keep it simple, or you want to go over the top, here are some top picks for serious summer fun.
1. A tiny slide that’s just right for young kids
Best for ages: 3 to 5
This adorable slide is the perfect entry-level water slide toy. It comes with a little wading pool, a tiny slide, and a ring-toss game. It even has a fun little sprayer on top, for a bit of extra fun.
Get the Intex Rainbow Slide at Target for $54.99
2. A dynamite dinosaur slide
Best for ages: 3 to 7
For little ones with a predisposition for all things prehistoric, we love this small slide that delivers big summer fun. The dinosaur-inspired theme has a volcanic “fireball” roller game, a ring toss, a slide, and a wading pool—all flanked by friendly prehistoric friends.
Get the Intex Dinoland Play Center at Target for $53.99
3. A slide for the shark-obsessed
Best for ages: 3 to 10
There’s so much fun to be had on this inflatable water slide. It’s a climbing wall, a shark fin-infested wading pool, and it has its own water cannon. It’s basically a kid-themed action-packed adventure in an inflatable toy.
Get the Action Air Inflatable Water Playground at Amazon for $429.99
4. A slim slide for smaller spaces
Best for ages: 3 to 10
Climb, slide, repeat: This smaller space-friendly number features a slide, a fun climbing feature in back, a cannon to spray their friends, and a relaxing wading pool for when they just want to kick back and take in some sweet summer rays.
Get the Honey Joy inflatable slide and bouncer at Amazon for $219.99
5. A super durable slide that our editors love
Best for ages: 3 to 10
A great size, great quality, and a whole lot of fun, this Little Tikes inflatable water slide comes highly recommended by Home editor Leigh Harrington, who has tested all sorts of inflatable pools and slides for durability.
“This splash place is as killer as it looks,” she says, citing the two generous slides that drop into the large wading pool, as well as its durability. “We're still using ours well into our second summer with it. ... I don't know that Little Tikes would necessarily condone this, but both my husband and I have put on our suits and taken the occasional ride, too, truly testing its 350-pound weight capacity.” Why should a backyard water park be for the kids alone?
Get the Little Tikes L.O.L. Surprise Inflatable River Race Water Slide at Walmart for $549
6. A 6-in-1 water slide spectacular
Best for ages: 3 to 10
Another activity-packed inflatable play center, this has six different play features, including an extra-tall slide. Reviewers love the quality of this one, and say it’s simple to set up and built to last. As for the kids, we’re pretty sure they like it because they can jump, slide, and spray all day.
Get the Bountech Inflatable Bounce House, 6-in-1 Water Slide at Amazon for $339.99
7. An affordable water slide that screams “party”
Best for ages: 4 to adult
Filled with oodles of fun features, this bouncer and water slide combo can accommodate up to four kids at a time—for full family fun where no one feels left out. With the sprinkler, slide hoops, and the double water canons, this is an economical choice that’s perfect for parties and larger groups.
The age range on this says it’s best for kids 4 to 12, but plenty of adult reviewers say it’s just as fun for a kiddie play date as it is for the parent-focused after parties.
Get the for Bountech Long Slide Bouncer Park at Amazon for $489.99
8. A cool castle that’s built for water play
Best for ages: 3 to 10
The moat surrounding this bounce castle probably isn’t going to keep the wildlings out, but it will give them lots of fun, and will add a little bit of imaginative play to the mix. This has a mini-sports net as well as toss targets—so it’s just as good for the sporty kids as it is for those that see themselves as backyard royalty.
Get the Bountech Inflatable Castle Water Slide and Bounce House at Amazon for $459
9. A super slide with serious splash action
Best for ages: 5 and up
A steep climbing wall and soakers galore make this a perfect cool-down play structure. There's a separate wading pool that’s sectioned off from a water-filled bumper that allows active kids and those looking for more chill relaxation time can play together.
Get the Banzai Slide ‘N Soak Splash Park at Kohl’s for $399.99
10. A compact slide that’s great for small yards
Best for ages: 6 and up
Maybe you don’t have a sprawling yard and oodles of space to turn into a water theme park. This small-sized inflatable slide is only requires a slim 15 feet of space and can even transform a patio or a driveway into a playtime waterway. The fun shark theme and the inflatable “surf boards” help turn any space into a surfing safari.
Get the Intex Surf ‘N Slide Shark Water Slide at Target for $89.99
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.