As adults, we have a tendency to try and relive our childhoods. There’s no shame in that. It’s just that jamming the GameCube controller through another Sudden Death in Super Smash Brothers can only get one so far. Sometimes, we want to relive juvenile moments in the great outdoors. To have a little fun in the sun. All it takes is a jump through the sprinklers. A cannonball in the swimming pool. A zoom down an inflatable waterslide.
Seriously — inflatable water slides aren’t just built for children. However, although they’re available to buy, renting one might be the easier option. Cool cop (insert sunglasses emoji here) Ilinca Ene from Nutley, New Jersey, rents one yearly for a block party she throws with her neighbors. “They are a lot of fun for kids and adults,” Ene tells us. “I think adults have even more fun on them than kids do, sometimes.”
New York-based editor and content strategist Leslie Horn Peterson has the same MO: she typically rents water slides for her kids’ birthday parties (her favorite is Fiesta Bounce in White Plains). The Westchester mom admits she enjoys the ease of renting because she can pick a new slide every time. “I wouldn’t have gotten a slide when my son was littler, but now that he’s almost five, I can get something more, dare I say, dangerous.” (Translation: Horn Peterson just wants a little more fun for the adults.)
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Ultimately, the decision to rent an inflatable water slide versus buying comes down to one main issue: storage. “I don’t want to be stuck with one after [a party],” says Ene. Water slides take up a lot of space, and improper storage can damage them easily. Though buying will save frequent renters money in the long run, buyers will simply need to pay attention and take proper care of the slide year-round.
If buying sounds like the preferable option, see below for SPY’s top picks that are sure to make a splash this summer.
The Best Inflatable Water Slides: At a Glance
WOW Sports Super Slide
Here’s the cold, hard truth: water slides for adults are expensive. This is why the majority of people rent. That said, we’re starting off with a relatively affordable blow-up run-and-jump option. Laid out at 25 feet by 6 feet, this slide can hold a maximum of 250 pounds in total, so the majority of adults can easily glide down the lawn. It’s made of heavy-duty PVC to minimize ripping, and it has built-in sprinkler spouts to disperse water throughout (so not even an inch will go dry). Don’t want to throw your body on the cold, hard ground? Understandable. Each slide also comes with a mega sled to soften the ride.
JumpOrange Commercial Grade Inflatable Water Slide
Fun has no age limit. Our runner-up pick, the JumpOrange inflatable water slide, is intended for anyone six years and up — meaning, yes, adults can ride it effortlessly. Standing at 15 feet tall, this slide is intended for one person at a time. It connects to a hose so that water can shoot down it and keep it slippery, and each one is designed with a tiny pool at the bottom so users don’t fly onto the nearby concrete or grass. Throw this up at the next block party to satisfy every thrill-seeking attendee.
TentandTable Marble Wave Double Inflatable Water Slide
Bigger, better slides tend to be more expensive — but some are worth the hefty price tag. This one is similar to an option that Horn Peterson can rent in White Plains, but it has double the capacity (two full-grown adults can ride it at the same time!). Made from powerful puncture- and flame-resistant material, each slide is built to last a lifetime. This slide isn’t a short guy, either. It stands 19 feet tall, towering over anyone waiting in line. Wondering how the slide stays wet? It’s built with a connector that attaches to any backyard hose. From there, water shoots down it until the party’s over.
RESILIA Super Slip Lawn Water Slide Giant
Not all great water slides for adults have to be inflatable. Sometimes, water slides can exist as a reimagined XXXXXXXL tarp from Home Depot. This 75-footer is a backyard staple for those who have slanted or hilly lawns. Sure, it works on flat surfaces, as well, but nothing can match that declined slide. Get ready to have the best backyard on the block.