Outdoor foosball table?

July 22, 2010 8:41 AM

I'd like to get an outdoor foosball table. Any suggestions?

I've only one foosball table before, a low-end Tornado, and I've mostly played on Tornados, but I don't think they offer any outdoor tables.

I lost my table in an apartment fire, and now I live in a house where the only available area would be outside in the back yard.

I play with a fairly decent set of players, but I know nothing about outdoor foosball tables. I live in Oakland, so weather aside from mild rain is not a big issue.

What sorts of things should I be looking for? I'd like to have a table that lasts for a while. Any brand recommendations are OK.

posted by mrgrimm to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (3 answers total)

The one thing I would suggest, other than a brand, is a cover that includes the rods (ideally, like a barbecue one). I found that environment had a great deal of impact on the playing surface and the rods got sticky and the whole thing needed a good cleaning often to avoid bumpy/sticky/leave covered/etc. playing surfaces.
posted by Hiker at 10:06 AM on July 22, 2010

Get one of the commercial ones for a bar - they are designed to hold up to a great deal of abuse and keep going - much more than what being outside in Oakland can throw at it (assuming you follow Hiker's advice and cover it up when not in use). A new one might be expensive though - the great thing is you can rent them.
posted by zenon at 12:02 PM on July 22, 2010

It seems like there is such a thing as an outdoor foosball table, but damn are the "good ones" pricey. There are less expensive alternatives, but not that much less expensive.
posted by ob1quixote at 1:37 PM on July 22, 2010