if you are willing to part with money for some serious Summer entertainment, you need to do a bit of thinking about what you want. Here’s a few things you should look out for:

Climbing Wall Position
Some slides have the climbing wall positioned in the splash pool, and others have the wall at the back of the inflatable. If your kids have to jump out the pool and run on the grass each time they want to use the slide, you have two problems: Firstly that they might trip over the edge of the wall; secondly that they will be getting grass and dirt on their feet, which will then be going in your pool water – yuck. However, if the climbing wall is positioned in the splash pool, this will really eat into the pool’s space – allowing room for kids to queue for the climb wall will leave little room to play in the pool.

Size Of Splash Pool
When you look at the pool size, remember that not all that pool space will be available for play. Some of it will be taken up with kids queuing to climb the wall and you will need to leave a good clearance area for kids coming down the slide. You may decide to go for a slide with a simple run-off area instead of a pool.

Water Cannon And Sprinklers
Take a look at where these are positioned and pointing. Make sure that they aren’t blasting in the faces of kids coming down the slide as lots of children won’t like this.

Capacity
How many kids are going to play with this? Is it for every kid in the neighborhoods or just yours? As a general rule the bigger the inflatable, the more activities on it and the more kids it can accommodate. Be sure to check the maximum weight limit before making your purchase though.

Age range
You may be tempted to go for a 5 years+ inflatable, even if you have younger kids. Take a look at the climbing wall and think about how realistic it will be for your kids to climb it. The last thing they want to do is watch everyone else having fun while they struggle to get to the top.

Size
Always, always, always check the dimensions of the product before you buy. Then go outside and mark it out on your lawn in the position you would like to use it. It needs to fit comfortably, and not be squeezed against any hard surfaces, fences, or anything that can damage the inflatable. You should also have a generous space all around the inflatable so any tripping or falling kids will have a soft landing. Also check you will have adequate access to a power supply to plug the blower in.

Customer Reviews
If there are customer reviews available for a product, take the time to read them. A photo and product description can only tell you so much, the real truths are in the experience of other parents who have purchased the slide.