How To Choose An Inflatable Obstacle Course

An inflatable obstacle course is a colorful entertainment center that is enjoyed by people of all ages. These fun play areas are often used to provide hours of outdoor entertainment for children. They are also a popular fixture at corporate events and other types of celebrations where adults have fun overcoming the soft obstacles during friendly and sometimes silly competitions. Several options are available when considering an inflatable obstacle course. Each available option should be carefully examined to ensure that the play set is appropriate for everyone at the event.

Open Areas

An inflatable obstacle course that will be used by young children should be examined to ensure that there are some open areas between the obstacles. Some children enjoy long enclosed tunnels while others might not be comfortable crawling down a ten-foot tube with no windows. Many courses include openings and windows covered in nets so that children are able to play in an enclosed area without feeling cramped or trapped. Alternately, older children often enjoy having a variety of alcoves, enclosed spaces and narrow openings that make navigating the obstacles more fun.

Size Of Obstacles

The size of the individual obstacles should be considered so that small children will be able to play without becoming frustrated. An inflatable obstacle course that has a tall wall or slide in the middle should have handgrips or another way to climb up the structure easily. Columns, walls and archways should not be so large that they present a challenge small children will be unable to overcome. Courses that will be used by adults should be checked to ensure that the inflated obstacles present a fun test without being too easy to traverse.

Length Of The Course

An inflatable obstacle course could be a small self-contained unit or it could be a track that stretches on for 60 feet or more. The length of the play area should be appropriate for the abilities of the people who will be using it. Very small children might become confused if the obstacles stretch on for a long time. It is not always obvious exactly how long the entire path is because some courses actually twist and bend back creating a long route through a very small amount of space.

Difficulty

The overall difficulty of the inflatable obstacle course should be considered. Some manufacturers intentionally create challenges that are very difficult to overcome. Other inflatable centers are created to be a fun distraction that everyone will be able to use without much trouble. The type of course that is selected should be appropriate for the type of event that is being held and for the people who will be playing in the structure.