Gear

The Best Backyard Water Slides for Kids

Save yourself a drive to the water park.

by James Wohr
Updated: 
Originally Published: 

If you want to win summer, you need to spring for a gargantuan backyard kids’ water slide. A great inflatable slide combines all the pizzazz of a bounce house with the cooling power of a water park. Even the good old slick lawn slide transforms a humble, demure lawn and into a magical place of water-park thrills — for a fraction of what you’d pay to hit an actual one. And of course, throw in a quality water blaster and sprinkler for good measure because there’s no such thing as getting too wet.

As any enterprising parent with a tarp and a sprinkler knows, you don’t need a beach, stock tank, or pool built out of a shipping container to keep the kids cool and entertained. You just need a patch of grass and some running water for the aforementioned slides. You want to find water slides that are durable, and easy to inflate, deflate, and store. Make sure you pay attention to weight and size limits, and if possible, opt for ones on the higher end so they last longer. And it goes without saying that young(er) kids need to be supervised while climbing and sliding.

The Best Backyard Water Slides

Triple Blast Outdoor Inflatable Splash Pool Backyard Water Slide by Kahuna

As its name suggests, the Kahuna has a large footprint -- with an 11-by-13-foot space, this is not the toy for small yards. But if you've got the space, it's a ton of fun, with three sprinkler-wetted slides, a splash pool, and two basketball goals. It inflates in about two minutes via an included blower.

$682
Elmo My First Splash Pad for Toddlers by Little Kids Sesame Street
$21.40
Foam Party Slip N Slide Single Lane by Wham-O
$32.99
Water Bug Splash Pad in Green By Step2

No complicated setup or air pump nozzles. Just screw in your hose and turn the spigot to start the stream of water. Adjust the angle of the spray up to 45 degrees for tailored fun.

$55
Foam Party Slip N Slide by Wham-O
$32.99
Sesame Street Elmo My First Splash Pad by Little Kids
$21.40
Water Slide with Air Blower by Bounceland

So this slide is (relatively) small and (relatively) manageable, which is why it tops our list. In other words, It's a great starter slide. Only one kid uses it at a time, and it has a weight limit of 100 pounds. Kids insert their feet into the slots at the back of the slide to climb up, and get sprayed with water on the way down. Easy summer fun.

$229
Made in the Shade Water Slide by Little Tikes

We're partial to Little Tikes, because the brand is known for the quality and durability of its outdoor gear. This particular slide has a climbing wall and a large wading pool area. So your littles climb up the inflatable and then slide right into a cold pool of water. The weight limit is 350 pounds.

$333
Splash n' Spray Indoor Outdoor 2-in-1 Inflatable Bouncer by Little Tikes

A combo of bounce house, water slide, and mini pool, this one has it all. You just attach a garden hose to spray water; the blower is included to inflate the thing, to make things even easier. You can use it with or without water, so it's great to use during the winter or fall as well. The weight limit is 160 pounds.

$257
Inflatable Water Slide with Air Blower by Banzai

Normally, this beast of a slide would set you back $642. And if it's not clear from the photo, this is one hell of a slide. It's got a climbing wall, an overhanging wave and a water-spraying hose, a spacious slide, and a splash pool. The weight limit is 150 pounds.

$315
Slam 'n Curve Inflatable Kids' Water Slide by Little Tikes
$381.99
Giant Backyard Kids' Water Slide by WOW Sports World of Watersports
$169.99
Water Bug Splash Pad by Step2

A sweet way for toddlers to cool off after you attach a standard garden house. Kids run through the gentle water spray, or roll around in it.

$38
Shark Inflatable Kids' Water Slide by ACTION AIR
$399.99
2-in-1 Wet 'n Dry Inflatable Kids' Water Slide by Little Tikes

This is essentially a waterpark in slide form. You can use it as dry bouncer with a basketball hoop and tunnel, but if you add water, it morphs into a giant slippery slide, water spraying tunnel, and a very cool splash pool. The max weight limit is 350 pounds.

$431
Super Slide by Wow World of Watersports

Twenty-five feet long, and 6 feet wide, everything about this backyard water slide is a little amped up — the slide is made of extra-slick, heavy-duty PVC, so you won't feel every errant twig and pebble as you fly. Each slide comes with a connector, so you can keep adding on the feet, till you get to 100.

$180

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