Playset Product Reviews

Helpful Playset and Swingset Product Reviews

Redwood Challenger Swingset from Jack's Backyard

Our playset product reviews are based on hands on experience. Due to space limitations, we have opted to review the manufacturer rather than each model. Our thought process is if the manufacturer has a quality product, it should relate to their model line. If it's not listed here, we either have not touched it or it's of such poor quality, we decided, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything". If you would like us to review your playset or swingset brand, please contact us.

Remember these are our opinions based on actual experience. If you don't like our review, improve your product. For the purposes of these reviews we will offer 1-5 ratings, five being the best, based on :

Quality of Design and Manufacturing : Engineering and Usability
Lifetime Durability: Expected Usable Life
Maintenance: Ease of Maintenance
Ease of Installation: Ability to DIY
Customer Service:
Ease of Warranty Claims:

New Moms

Hi Moms,
My name is Valerie and I am a new mom of a beautiful 1.5 year old little boy. I am probably like your typical mom and want to have the most safe and entertaining outdoor adventure possible so I have a few recommendations from my own purchases (some purchases are a bit early) and some of the things I am looking to buy for him. I am going to assume that some or most of you momma's are like me and are a huge fan of Amazon's Prime account since I will get most things here in just a couple of days. So here they are.

Sportspower My First Toddler Swing

Step2 Play Up Jungle Gym and Kids Swing Set

Little Tikes Tree House Swing
Set

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Playset Product Reviews

CedarWorks

Cedarworks is clearly at the top of the game in terms of a quality customizable lifetime swingset. Large full size parts make this brand a favorite. Their customer service exceeds expectations when compared to other playground equipment companies. Their design department is always cutting new ground with innovative looks and a defined signature. They even have a line of high quality indoor play equipment.

Quality of Design and Manufacturing - 5
Lifetime Durability: 7-10 Years -3
Maintenance - 2
Ease of Installation - 3 * Spiral Slide Asssembly - 2
Customer Service - 5
Ease of Warranty Claims - 4

Price range for a simple base structure is $2000-3000. Mid to high range is $4000- 25,000. Installation cost is usually 15 % of the playset price.

Cedar Summit Premium Play Sets

Sold at Costco and a variety of online locations, Cedar Summit offers several designs from small to almost large, but they are all very similar. The one to the left is about what the average swingset buyer gets for their kids. Overall good design with pre-assembled panels helps cut down installation time.

Quality of Design and Manufacturing - 4
Lifetime Durability: 5-7 years - 3
Maintenance - 3
Ease of Installation - 3 * Spiral Slide Asssembly - 1
Customer Service - 5
Ease of Warranty Claims - No Data

Price range for a simple base structure is $500. Mid to high range is $900- 1700. Installation cost is usually a flat rate based on model and location.

Cedar Summit Play Set Wooden House Deck Swings Rockwall Twist Slide

Cedar Summit Wooden Play Set Complete Park Forts Slides Swings Lumber

Cedar Summit Valleyview Deluxe Playset -
Do It Yourself

Gorilla Playset Great Skye II Treehouse Swingset

Gorilla Playsets

Gorilla Playsets offers a nice quality playset with heavy duty parts and pricing that makes this a good value for what you get. In general, Gorilla Playsets offer one of the better made "box sets" on the market. We like the large fasteners, larger parts, simple engineering and variety of options.

Quality of Design and Manufacturing - 4
Lifetime Durability: 5-7 Years - 3
Maintenance - 3
Ease of Installation - 3 * Spiral Slide Asssembly - 2
Customer Service - 4
Ease of Warranty Claims - 4

Price range for a simple base structure is $899. Mid to high range is $900- 5000. Installation cost is usually a flat rate based on model and location.

Gorilla Playsets 01-1066-Y Outing Wood Swing Set with Wood Roof and Trapeze Arm

Gorilla Playsets 01-1059-AP High Point Wood Swing Set with Green Vinyl Canopy, Two Swings, Rock Climbing Wall, Slide

Gorilla Playsets Treasure Trove II Swing Set with Amber Posts

Gorilla Playsets Chateau Tower Swing Set

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Lifetime Metal Swingset

Lifetime has been around for 30 years and prides themsleves on being a US Manufacturer, but we did not really see Metal Swingsets from them locally until about 5 years ago. This is not the metal swingset we used to try to tip over when we were kids. It's definitely improved and overall we like it's simplicity, it has a good quality feel and no maintenance required.

Quality of Design and Manufacturing - 3
Lifetime Durability: (Time will Tell) 5-7 Years - 3
Maintenance - 5
Ease of Installation - 3
Customer Service - 3
Ease of Warranty Claims - No Data

Price range for a simple base structure is $599. Mid to high range is $600- 3000. Installation cost is based on model and location. $325-475.

Lifetime Heavy Duty A-Frame Metal Swing Set

Lifetime A-Frame Adventure Playset

Lifetime Adventure Tower

Lifetime Monkey Bar Adventure Swing Set with 9 Foot Wavy Slide

Backyard Adventures

Backyard Adventures makes a well designed quality product that should be a one time purchase for your family. Good quality wood, powder coated brackets and large parts make this playset a solid buy, however, we would like to see screw type fasteners in their pre-assembled parts.

Quality of Design and Manufacturing - 3
Lifetime Durability: 10-15 Years - 4
Maintenance - 3
Ease of Installation - 3
Customer Service - 4
Ease of Warranty Claims - 4

Price range for a simple base structure is $899. Mid to high range is $900- 8000. Installation cost is usually a flat rate based on model and location.

Skyfort II Cedar Swingset from Leisuretime Products.

Backyard Discovery/ LeisureTime Products

Backyard Discovery/ LeisureTime Products/ Create-N-Adventure, and Adventure Playsets are the "box set" divisions of the same company that produces Backyard Adventurers. They have so many designs, it's hard to keep up. Fair quality and you get what you pay for. These are usually the most difficult to assemble and installation cost is generally higher.

Quality of Design and Manufacturing - 3
Lifetime Durability: 4-7 Years - 3
Maintenance - 3
Ease of Installation - 2
Customer Service - 3
Ease of Warranty Claims - 3

Price range for a simple base structure is $300. Mid to high range is $400- 2000. Installation cost is usually a flat rate based on model and location.

Backyard Discovery Prairie Ridge All Cedar Wood Playset Swing Set

Backyard Discovery Mount McKinley All Cedar Wood Swing Set

Backyard Discovery Monticello All Cedar Wood Playset Swing Set

Backyard Discovery Shenandoah All Cedar Wood Playset Swing Set

**Due to the types of materials that come with the Backyard Discovery/Adventures, Swing N Slide, Leisure Time, Create-N-Adventure or Adventure Playsets, we are no longer able to install or move these sets**

Tree Frogs Swingsets

Tree Frogs Swingset Factory makes a quality product that should be a one time purchase for your family. Good quality wood, vinyl coated metals and large parts make this playset a solid buy. Preventive maintenance is essential for long term use without need for warranty claims.

Quality of Design and Manufacturing - 4
Lifetime Durability - 7-10 Years - 4
Maintenance - 3
Ease of Installation - 3 *Usually Factory Installed"
Customer Service - 3
Ease of Warranty Claims - No data

Price range for a simple base structure is $1200-2000. Mid to high range is $2000 - 20,000. See our Services page for approximate relocation and repair cost. See our Consultation page if you are purchasing a used set.

Rainbow PlaySystems

Rainbow PlaySystems was the pioneer of this class of playset in the 80' and 90's. While we like the brand, based on experience and 1000's of pictures to back it up, we feel that in recent years overall quality has fallen. Still a decent swingset, just not our top choice. Annual preventive maintenance is required for long term use and for warranty claims.

Quality of Design and Manufacturing - 3
Lifetime Durability - 4-7 Years - 2
Maintenance - 3
Ease of Installation - 3 *Usually Factory Installed"
Customer Service - 2
Ease of Warranty Claims - 1

Swing N Slide

Swing N Slide has been around for decades and offers DIY kits with plans and hardware, you buy the wood and DIY. If you don't mind hard work, the DIY kits will provide you with a lifetime swing set. Their full pre-cut box sets often require you to buy additional lumber and the pre-cut parts are fair quality. Be sure to review product summary before you commit to buy.

Quality of Design and Manufacturing - 2
Lifetime Durability - DIY Kits 10-20 Years - 4
Lifetime Durability - Box Sets 4-7 years -2
Maintenance - 2
Ease of Installation - 1 - This rating is for all designs
Customer Service - 3
Ease of Warranty Claims - 3

Price range for a simple base structure is $300. Mid to high range is $400- 2000. Installation cost is usually a flat rate based on model and location.

Swing-N-Slide PB 8272 Cedar Brook Play Set with Two Swings, Slide, Monkey Bars, Picnic Table & Glider

Swing-N-Slide WS 8328 Jamboree Fort Play Set with Two Swings, Slide, Picnic Table, Telescope & Climbing Wall

Swing-N-Slide WS 8343 Altamont Playset with Slide, Climbing Wall, Picnic Table and Swings

Swing-N-Slide PB 8360 Ranger Wooden Swing Set with two swing seats and a ring/trapeze combination swing

Beginner and Economy Metal and Plastic Swingsets

We don't get to install many of these types of swingsets. We have touched enough of them to know these are starter swingsets. If your mindset is that you just want something for the kids to play on for a few years and you know they will grow out of it sooner than later, one of these types might be right for your family.