We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
Climbing walls, water sprayers, and more fun features for kids. Double Bed Blow Up Mattresses
Inflatable water slides take hot days from boring to a blast. They’re portable and storable and offer special features that make the most sense for your space and your family. I invested in an inflatable water slide for my own five children when they ranged in age from toddler to tween, and I can confidently assure you that it was, by far, one of the best investments I’ve ever made as a parent. It’s been a hit at multiple parties and play dates for years.
When purchasing an inflatable water slide, look for a high-quality, durable material and a weight limit that is appropriate for your kids’ ages and sizes. To find the best options for kids of all ages, I spoke with several medical professionals, parents, and other experts to learn more about other features to look for while keeping water safety in mind. This list includes inflatable water slides of various sizes, so everyone can join the fun, whether you live in a city with limited green space or have a large backyard.
This double water slide by Sunny & Fun is my top recommendation because I’ve personally tested, used, and loved it for two years. I purchased the slide in 2022 with very little expectation of how it would hold up in our yard—most things don’t tend to last long with five kids, but it’s been a wonderful investment.
My favorite parts are the double slides—crucial for multiple kids using it at once—and the padded bottom of the climbing wall, which creates a soft landing for falls. It has plenty of features for all ages, like an ample splash pool my preschooler loves to hang out in while aiming the water sprayer at her siblings.
The setup is a breeze. It’s ready right out of the box, comes with a powerful blower, and inflates and deflates in minutes. You only need to hook it up to a garden hose. It’s also light enough that my kids can drag it out of the way when playtime is over. As for storage, I’ve done nothing special other than shove it in the garage in a corner, and it’s held up great.
"All five of my children, ages 3 to 13, have used this water slide, testing the 350-pound weight limit multiple times. It has withstood even the most chaotic birthday party afternoons, showing no signs of wear or tear." —Chaunie Brusie, mom of 5
If you keep the slide in one spot, it will quickly ruin your grass. (Some parents use a tarp under the slide for this reason.) The climbing wall can be challenging for young kids. The company says the slide is for ages 3 and up, but my preschooler had some trouble getting used to climbing up the wall.
I chose the Honey Joy inflatable water park as the best for kids under age 10 because it has a smaller, more manageable climbing wall than most other slides. Water slides are fun, but if your child can’t climb the wall to reach the slide, the fun is a bit of a moot point.
The ample buffer platform at the bottom of the climbing wall is a blessing in disguise for the inevitable spills that will happen. I love the long slide with a sprayer and the very generous splash pool (which is a highlight all on its own). Although the slide handles up to 350 pounds, the manufacturer recommends that only kids up to age 10 use it and that each child should be under 5 feet tall and 116 pounds or less.
Since the slide is for kids under age 10, it has a smaller footprint, making it less ideal for families with multiple-age children.
The Costway Inflatable Slide is one of the more affordable large water slides on our list and doesn’t sacrifice features. It has two slides, a climbing wall, sprayers, a generous splash pool, and a castle-themed area at the top complete with mesh sides (so no one falls off). Kids can use the slide while wet or dry if you prefer a bounce house without the splash. The slide holds up to 200 pounds at a time and comes with a repair kit, just in case.
The big con is that while the slide is affordable, it doesn’t come with a blower, which you need to operate it. So, if you don't already own one, you’ll have to buy one separately.
This Intex inflatable slide is ideal for the younger crowd. It has a small slide and ladder for more adventurous toddlers and two pool areas for those who prefer splishing and splashing. There’s also plenty of extra fun to keep toddlers busy, including a built-in ring toss game, a ball rolling feature, and water sprayers.
I appreciate that the sprayer function sits strategically to the side of the slide, keeping the slide wet without spraying directly into a toddler’s face.
Unlike larger water slides, this one does not have a blower feature, so you’ll need to manually inflate it first and then attach a garden hose.
Not only does this slide pull double duty as a water slide or dry bounce house, but it also handles a hefty weight limit of 400 pounds, the highest of any slide on our list. A higher weight limit means it can hold kids of various sizes as a water slide. Unfortunately, the company recommends that only one child use the bounce house at a time.
This bounce house-slide combo offers plenty to enjoy: a water sprayer gun, the 8.5-foot-long slide, a splash pool, a climbing wall, and a tunnel underneath the slide. Another handy feature is the removable Velcro sunroof that attaches to the bounce house to provide shade. To increase the bounce, just take it off.
As with any bounce house, there is a risk of slipping and injury if the bouncing area is wet, so keep that in mind for any dual-purpose fun you have in mind.
I quickly found that dual slides are a must if you have more than one kid playing outside. In addition to two slides, this Little Tikes inflatable slide boasts other great features: top sprayers, an inflation bumper at the bottom of the climbing wall, a 350-pound weight limit, and a large splash pool. Plus, a bucket at the top fills and dumps when full, surprising kids when they least expect it while climbing up to the slides.
Meg Tibayan, co-founder and home educator at Bright Sprouts, used the Little Tikes Rocky Mountain River Race with her children when they were 5 and 7 years old and dubs the slide a “game-changer for backyard fun.” She also adds that the slide's durability was impressive, lasting three summer seasons before showing any wear. “It felt like a worthy investment for the amount of use we got out of it,” Tibayan says.
"The climbing wall and splash pool at the bottom is a feature that provided endless entertainment and a fantastic way to cool down during the hot summer months." —Meg Tibayan, mom of two
The slide's colors will most likely fade if you leave it out in the sun between uses, and according to Tibayan, setup and deflation can take some time.
For smaller yards, families, or budgets, this pick is a single slide that packs plenty of fun. You still get a full water slide, sprayer, and climbing wall, but the slide measures just 6 feet across and 7 feet long, so it takes up less space than many other slides on the list. This compact water slide is also the same brand as the option we chose for our best overall slide, so we can attest that it’s high quality and durable.
Because the slide is compact, larger or taller kids may sometimes risk sliding out of the splash pool.
Even if you don’t have the space or funds for a full pool slide, providing an instant slide takes any above or in-ground pool up a fun level. I purchased this slide for our above-ground pool, and it worked perfectly.
After manually inflating the slide, we placed it over the side of the pool with the climbing wall on the deck. The best part was how much my kids loved it. It has a spot for attaching a garden hose for a sprayer, but with pool use and a bucket, it stayed sufficiently wet to keep the sliding action going.
We did get a hole in our slide pretty quickly, so pay attention to the weight limit and pick up some extra repair patches. Also, note the size of this slide—it’s large, and you’ll need extra room for climbing and storage when not in use.
Journalist and mom of four Meg St-Esprit says that during the pandemic, she “podded” with a fellow mother, Kara Manion of Pittsburg, so their kids could enjoy this water slide together. At the time, St-Esprit’s children were ages 2, 5, 5, and 7, and she says the slide was “so much fun.”
Manion says the slide is adorable and ideal for a smaller yard. Her kids played on it when it was wet and as a dry bounce house. Despite several years of use, it was still in good enough condition for Manion to pass along to another family when her kids outgrew it around the age of 9.
"Our yard is not huge. This was one that we could find that could fit.” —Kara Manion, parent
Unfortunately, Manion warns parents that the slide creates a mud pit and is difficult to dry.
Writer and TV journalist Stacey Skrysak, a mom of two daughters from Springfield, Illinois, owned this Banzai Slide 'N Soak for nearly seven years. Skrysak notes that one of the best features of this slide is that it inflates in a matter of minutes. Plus, she's never had issues with holes or leaks.
With kids seven years apart, Skrysak appreciates how the different features of the slide allowed her two children to play on the slide together but separately. For instance, her younger daughter enjoyed the generous splash pool when she was too little to slide. Still, Skrysak dubs the Banzai water slide as “the best summer purchase we've made as parents.”
“We purchased it for our daughter's 4th birthday with the mindset that it was cheaper than doing a big birthday party. If it lasted a couple of years, then great! It was worth the money. Little did we think it would be a hit for so many years.” —Stacey Skrysak, mom of two
The slide's maximum weight capacity is 150 pounds, which is lower than many other slides we recommend.
Whether you have access to a pool or not, inflatable water slides are a great way to keep cool during the hot summer months. To find the best options for families, I spoke with several medical professionals and parents, and I considered my own experience with inflatable water slides. I asked parents what features they look for in inflatable water slides for kids and how their children used them. I also carefully considered key factors for water slides, including dimensions, maximum weight capacity, age recommendations, features, and more.
I interviewed experts on water safety and parents who use inflatable water slides for their families to find the most accurate information. The experts I spoke with are:
Katchmarchi explains that water slide safety starts with following all manufacturer guidelines for weight and use. Ensure your kids know and enforce all rules, like don’t climb on non-climbing walls and don't slide down head first.
Here are some other safety tips to keep in mind when using inflatable water slides:
Chaunie Brusie, BSN, RN, is an OB nurse turned health and parenting writer. She has over a decade of experience researching and writing about the information parents need to make informed choices for their families, from the “big” things like weaning and feeding to the smaller things, like choosing the best outdoor toys. On a personal note, she and her husband purchased an inflatable water slide for their five children several years ago, and it stands as one of her top favorite parenting purchases of all time.
Prevent unsupervised access to water - Water Safety USA national message. National Drowning Prevention Alliance.
Double Bed Blow Up Mattresses Water safety. American Red Cross.