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Top 11 Best Outdoor Playsets for Kids (2022 Reviews)

It’s vital that children spend time outdoors. The occasional breath of fresh air will improve the physical, psychological, and emotional wellbeing of any person. For kids this is doubly true. But in order to get kids outdoors, you need to give them some incentive. One of the best incentives for getting kids to go outdoors is an outdoor set.

These play sets come in all different sizes and iterations, and include fun products including a rock wall, two swings, slides, trapeze bar, crow’s nest, fireman’s pole, gym rings, steering wheel, and monkey bars. Not only do they supply a great deal of fun, they also promote physical and psychological exercise.

Looking to buy an outdoor set for your child in 2022? This guide will help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

Backyard Discovery Tanglewood All Cedar Wood Playset

The first outdoor set we’ll review is this one from Backyard Discovery. With a frame made out of cedar, it’s about as fun, strong and as durable as they come. Though it’s a bit expensive, it’s entirely worth its price.

It comes with three different swings, 2 swings, and one of which is a dual-person glider swing. In addition to these two swings, it also comes with features like a plastic slide and a fireman’s pole.

With 2 different levels, it supplies ample seating and shelter. It’s equipped with a ladder, allowing your kids to get up and down it safely. In essence, it’s as good as these products come.

Cedar Summit Play Set

Another great cedar playset is the Cedar Summit Play Set. While these are terrific products for kids, it’s very expensive; about twice the price of the Backyard Discovery set reviewed above. However, if you’ve got the budget, there’s no reason not to go for it.

Design-wise, it’s a little more intricate than the Discovery set. Its bottom section is even equipped with a door which can open and close. Like the previous set, it features plenty of seating options.

In terms of components, it’s almost identical to the more expensive set. It sports 2 belt swings, one 2-person glider swing, a steering wheel, and a slide. With 2 levels, it offers essentially endless fun.

Backyard Discovery Monterey All Cedar Wood Playset

Oops! Looks like this toy is sold out.

Next up on our list is another excellent set. This one is a little more expensive than the one reviewed above, but also offers a little more in the way of size.

In terms of components, it’s fairly loaded for kids. Not only does it include a slide, but a rock climbing wall as well. In addition to these two components, it also includes belt swings,  2 swings, and one of which is a 2-person glider.

Like the two reviewed above, this one has two levels. The bottom level is equipped with quite a bit of seating while the top level makes for a great place to hide.

Lifetime Big Stuff Adventure Playset

If you’re a little more interested in a metal set, you might very well be interested in this one from Lifetime. Though it’s definitely on the expensive side, it offers more than enough fun components to make it worth its price.

It comes with a sandbox, two different belt swing sets as well as with a trapeze bar. In addition to these, it also comes with a climbing wall and a curvy slide. A rock climbing wall net and a rock-climbing wall come together to make this one of the more fun products on the market today.

While it doesn’t look quite as elegant as the cedar products reviewed above, it performs just as well. If you’ve got the budget, it’s definitely worth a buy. Kids think that the rock wall is particularly awesome!

Step2 Naturally Playful Playhouse Climber & Swing Set Extension

If you’re looking for a set for kids, you should consider this one from Step2. Standing at approximately 9 feet tall, it’s got decent height and space, but is low enough so that young children can’t seriously injure themselves on it.

This set is made out of a combination of plastic metal, making it reasonably durable, but not quite as durable as all-wood or all-metal products.

It comes with two solo swing sets as well as a slide. Possessing two different levels, it’s equipped with stairs so that your children can easily make their way onto its second level.

Lifetime Geometric Dome Climber Play Center

This next set for children is a little different from the previous ones our list. Whereas the others possess several different fun components, this one is the play component.

It’s made out of steel which is powder-coated and prepared to take on the elements; in other words, it’s entirely rust-resistant. Possessing plastic grips, the rock wall is fairly easy for kids to climb regardless of their sizes.

At its max, this play set can hold up to 600 pounds. As long as there aren’t over 10 kids playing on it at once, it should hold up quite well.

Step2 Clubhouse Climber

Next up on our list is another set for young children. The Step2 Clubhouse Climber doesn’t quite possess the construction quality and durability of high-end products, but will still supply plenty of entertainment for young kids.

It possesses plenty of components for kids, including two slides, belt swings, two housing areas, and a bridge. In addition to these, it also possesses a bevy of lower-level hideouts. However, it lacks a picnic table.

This playset stands in at around 6 feet tall, and can hold up to around 240 pounds at once. While it’s not an upper-echelon set, it’s still a solid choice.

Step2 Skyward Summit

Another unconventional, but fun set for toddlers is the Step2 Skyward Summit. While it doesn’t possess any swing sets or slides, it still has more than enough to keep young kids occupied.

In essence, this is a climbing mechanism. It’s equipped with a series of knobs, nets, and ridges, allowing young kids to practice their rock wall climbing skills. It stands in at around 7 feet tall.

Made out of durable plastic, it’s designed to hold up through years and years of heavy use. It’s got a max weight limit of 320 pounds, and is designed to hold around 4 kids at one time.

Lifetime Monkey Bar Adventure Swing Set

Next up on our list is the Lifetime Monkey Bar Adventure Swing Set. If you’re looking for a playset with monkey bars, this is the one for you. It’s a little on the expensive side, but has all the components you need.

In addition to monkey bars, this playset has three solo belt swings, a slide, and a set of acrobatic rings. It does not have a picnic table.

This set is made out of a combination of steel and plastic. All of its components are of high-quality, meaning that it will last through years and years of use. Coming with a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty, its parts are backed.

Step2 Game Time Sports Climber And Slide

Perhaps you’re looking for a set for just a single child to use? If so, the Step2 Game Time Sports Climber and Slide is exactly what you’re looking for. Though it’s certainly not a high-end playset, it will get the job done.

This is a fairly basic set, containing a slide, a mini basketball hoop, and a step-up ladder. While a child could conceivably hide under it, only one of its levels is meant to be used.

At its max, it can hold 60 pounds. Made out of a fairly standard plastic, it’s not ridiculously strong, but is strong enough to serve its purpose.

Sportspower Super First Metal Swing Set

Rounding out reviews is the Sportspower Super First Metal Swing Set. This is a great budget option for those who are seeking out swings and a slide.

In total, it contains a picnic table, two belt swings, a trapeze bar, and a teeter totter. In addition to these components, it also contains a slide. These components are made out of a combination of steel and plastic.

While this set is pretty solid, it only possess a max weight limit of 600 pounds. This, for the most part, makes it more ideal for small kids. But for the price, you’re not going to find much better.

What Should You Consider When Buying an Outdoor Playset?

While they’re all generally the same, there are small differences from playset to playset. The key to choosing the right playset for your children is to be cognizant of these small difference. When perusing playsets, it’s important to pay attention to differences in materials, durability, and size. It’s also important to consider the different components that the playset includes.

Materials

Outdoor playsets are generally made out of three different materials: wood, metal, and plastic. In most cases, wood playsets are the most reliable, capable of lasting for essentially a lifetime. Metal playsets are generally prone to rust after a few years, but will offer some fairly heavy use overall. Plastic playsets are hit-or-miss; some will last forever while others will give out in just a few years.

Durability

Some outdoor playsets for kids are about as solid as a rock. They’re impeccably constructed and designed to last through years of heavy use. Other playsets are fairly flimsy, and will only thrive for a few years at most. Typically, playsets with thick structures will hold up better than those with thin structures.

Size

Two things will affect the size of the playset that you buy: 1. The size of your children, 2. The size of your yard. Playsets come in all different sizes, with some standing at around only 4 feet tall, and others standing at around 10 feet tall. There is sure to be one that accommodates both your child and your yard.

Components

Playsets come with all types of components, from monkey bars, to swings, to slides, and more. What you choose is obviously up to you, but, generally, the more components a playset has, the more fun it will be for kids to play on.