Air hockey is an activity which is loved by a wide range of people. Whether you are young and looking for something to add a bit of fun to your parties or you have a family and need an enjoyable present for the kids, an air hockey table is a great investment.
Air hockey hasn’t been around anywhere near as long as some of the other more popular table-based games. Billiards or pool was invented around 1900, and foosball was first played around 1920, so both of these table games have the advantage over air hockey regarding longevity.
It makes sense that air hockey took until the early 1970s to be developed when you think about the technology that is needed for an air hockey table. It took some time for electric motors to be developed to the point that an air hockey table would be both feasible and small enough.
Where one customer may be looking for the best air hockey table under $500, you may be looking for the best portable air hockey table. This is the reason why we have chosen five air hockey tables that are sufficiently different; this ensures that our review guide will feature something for everyone.
We will be providing in-depth reviews of five hand-picked air hockey tables. We believe that finding the best air hockey table requires sufficient research. Since everyone has a different budget and different needs, you need to understand what the best air hockey table is for you.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to know whether or not an air hockey table will be worth the money. If you are about to spend several hundred or even thousand dollars on an air hockey table, you need to know that the product is worth it. That is where we come in.
An excellent air hockey table can bring you hours of fun, but a poorly manufactured table can give you nothing but headaches. It is imperative to pay close attention to the features that are advertised on your future air hockey table, but you can only trust the manufacturer so far.
Why You Should Choose Your Air Hockey Table Carefully
Before we get to our reviews in search of the best home air hockey table, we will take a look at some of the reasons why it is important to take care when making your air hockey table purchase.
Regardless of the development history, air hockey tables are now widespread, and their cost is decreasing by the year as more efficient design and manufacturing techniques are discovered. There has been no better time to buy an air hockey table than right now.
Before we get to our reviews, we will go over some of the features and characteristics which are the most important when it comes to finding the best rated air hockey table. Having a deeper understanding of these aspects will help immensely when it comes time to choose the best air hockey table.
If you are wondering what is the best air hockey to buy, you will find that education in regards to the product is the best way to know. When you combine that knowledge with trusted reviews, you will realize that it is easier than you think to discover the best air hockey table for your needs.
Ensuring that you get the right model the first time around can save you a good deal of hassle and money. Air hockey tables can take some time to assemble so it can get a little frustrating when you spend 2 hours putting a table together only to discover that it isn’t all you hoped it would be.
Since air hockey tables tend to be large and heavy packages, it can get pretty expensive to return them when they were purchased online. Of course, you can always buy an air hockey table in person, but it can be hard to find retailers with a good selection of high-quality tables.
What To Look For In The Best Air Hockey Table
Type
Before going off and buying any old air hockey table, it helps to know the type of table that you’re looking for. There are several different kinds of air hockey tables, and most of them feature wildly different play styles. In this section, we will make a short list of some of the more popular air hockey table types.
Competitive Air Hockey Tables
Competitive models tend to be the highest quality air hockey tables that you will find available. They are designed to tournament specifications, which means that the table needs to be made of quality materials and abide by the strict guidelines outlined in the competitive air hockey rulebook.
All competitive air hockey tables are eight-foot models, so they are bigger than the compact models you will see for sale at budget prices. While this type of air hockey table is not a great investment for those looking for the best small air hockey table, it makes for a much more complex game experience.
Compact Air Hockey Tables
This type of air hockey table tends to be the smallest out of all of them, as you can guess by the name. A compact air hockey table will typically be the best budget air hockey table you will find on the market. This is because they can maintain a high standard of quality since their construction requires less raw materials and less reinforcement.
Aside from customers who are looking for the best affordable air hockey table, compact air hockey tables are an excellent choice for those of us who don’t have too much extra space for a game table. Their compact size allows them to be easily moved and stored away when not in use, enabling you to maximize the space in your home.
3-in-1 Air Hockey Tables
For those who prize versatility above all else, there is no better choice than a 3-in-1 air hockey table. While one of these models will not always be the best price air hockey table, you will find that they provide the best value for money for those looking to play more than just air hockey.
These air hockey tables can be converted into air hockey, pool and foosball tables. Some models swap one of these out in favor of ping-pong. This allows you to play any game you please after a short conversion process. This is where the term 3-in-1 comes from, as you can play any of these three tabletop games on one table.
Level of Play
Another consideration to make before you purchase your table is the difficulty level that you intend to play at. Some tables are optimized for use by beginners, including features such as adjustable goals, which allow you to vary the widths of the goal slots to set up a handicap.
Table Size
The size of your air hockey table is closely related to the style of play you expect out of it. As we explained earlier, competitive air hockey tables are all eight-foot models, as no other ones are allowed for use in competitive leagues. This allows for a much more nuanced game as there is simply more space to use.
Smaller air hockey tables, as we mentioned in our compact air hockey table section, will allow you to make the most out of a small space. This is ideal for customers who don’t have a designated game room but still want to be able to enjoy a game of air hockey at home now and then.
Construction
When it comes to the construction of your air hockey table, there is a wide variety of materials that can be used. When making your purchase, you will want to ensure that your air hockey table is made out of the best materials possible. High-quality materials will improve your game experience but will also have a meaningful effect on the durability of your table.
Motor
It is also important to consider the quality of the blower motor that comes included with your air hockey table. A reliable motor will keep your table functioning for far longer as motors are the most common parts that tend to break down in air hockey tables. This makes sense since they are the only complex mechanical components.
An efficient motor will not only remain working for a long time but will also provide sufficient power to the fans to ensure that there are no dead zones along the table. Dead zones are areas where the air is not powerful enough to keep the puck floating, so it will tend to slow down or even stop while moving over it.
Our Recommendations
Best Table Top Air Hockey
Winner – Sport Squad HX40 Electric Air Hockey Table
Specifications:
- Sport Squad HX40 Air Hockey
- Features padded feet to ensure that your tables and floors remain unscathed
- Features a convenient table top design for simple setup and use
- Features manual score trackers, so you don’t have to write the scores down
- Features quick puck return after goals
- Air hockey table is easy to assemble and set up for the first time
- Comes included with two pucks and two mallets
Overview
If you want a table top air hockey table that is straightforward and reliable, you will probably be a fan of this model from Sport Squad. While this is certainly a budget air hockey table, being priced at around fifty dollars, you will find that it includes a decent variety of features to improve your game experience.
The inclusion of padded feet ensures that you can place this air hockey table anywhere without fear of scratching the surface you are playing on. Even the most intense games will not damage your playing surface, so you don’t have to hold yourself back when you play a match on this table.
Beyond the features that prevent you from accidentally damaging your playing surface, there are a variety of other aspects which make this an excellent choice for customers who want an affordable table. The quick assembly process ensures that you will be able to start playing soon after this table is delivered.
This table also features a high powered blower to ensure that your puck stays above the surface of the table at all times. Throughout our review process, we didn’t have too much trouble with dead zones and other issues that arise from underpowered fans. This is a great air hockey table for those who don’t want to invest in a full-size model.