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Magic Castle Bounce House from Blast Zone Product Review

The Magic Castle bounce house by Blast Zone is their most popular inflatable. Blast Zone designed this castle themed inflatable bouncer for up to 3 kids under the age of 12 that weigh under 100 lbs each. The bright red, yellow and blue colors makes head turns once inflated.
The footprint of this bounce house is 8.5' x 11'. Essentially it is 8.5' x 8..5' with the ramp/slide measuring 2.5' x 2.5'. A safety zone of 15' x 13' is recommended by the manufacture. The bounce area for your kids to play in measures 6.5' x 6.5'. To enter and exit the Magic Castle there is a ramp/slide entry. This makes entry and exit much easier for smaller children. The entire bounce houses is enclosed with a safety netting. The safety net can be sealed for safety by the velcro opening.
While kid bouncers are intended for kids up to 12 years old, Blast Zone recommends this inflatable for kids 3 to 8 years old. They are spot on with this recommendation. From a durability and construction stand point, this bounce house can hold up to 3 100 lbs kids under 12 years old, but this interior size makes this unit more suitable for smaller kids. It is important to note, that while this unit can hold up to 300 lbs, if you have a 50 lbs child, you do not want to exceed the number of users recommended, which in this case is three. In most cases, weight capacities will never be an issue with kid bounce houses, it is more user capacity. For safety reasons you do not want to many kids in any bouncer at one time.
The Magic Castle inflates in under one minute and takes approximately five minutes to deflate. Once deflated, this unit rolls up like a sleeping bag. Here are the specs per the manufacture:
* 8.5' W x 11' L x 8' H Footprint
* 102" x 100" Bounce Platform (Outside Dim)
* 78" x 76" Bounce Area (Inside Netting)
* 40" W x 34" L Entrance Ramp/Slide
* Commercial Vinyl Bounce Floor
* Commercial Double Stitching
* Reinforced X-Weave in Stress Areas
* Velcro Safety Entrance
* UL-Listed Continuous Blower
* Heavy Duty Safety Netting
* Safe-Slope Slide
* Low Enough for Indoor Use
* X-Weave Heavy Duty 420D and 500D materials
* Easy-Store Quick Deflation Valve
* Rolls up the Size of a Sleeping Bag
* Inflates in 1 Minute
* Ages 3 to 8
* Not for Commercial Use
Overall, I am very impressed with the quality and construction of this bounce house. Blast Zone makes some of the finest products offered for residential use. Without any doubt, this is one of the best bouncers for under $300 for kids between 3 and 8 years of age.

Selecting Bounce Houses For Your Rental Business

One of the most overlooked aspects of starting an inflatable rental business is choosing the correct inflatables.  The correct assortment is so important to your businesses survival.  Remember, you only make money when your rental fleet is rented so you need to focus on items that appeal to the masses. 

It is appropriate at this time to review the type of inflatables that are available to purchase.  All inflatables used for your inflatable rental business need to be made for Commercial use.  The main categories of inflatables are:

• Bounce Houses
• Bounce Houses with Slides (often called combo units)
• Inflatable Slides
• Water Slides
• Obstacle Courses (both toddler and adult size)
• Inflatable Sports Games (ranging from basketball to batting cages)

Obviously, as a start up business or any business for that matter, you have budgets you need to adhere to.  Since budgets are unique to the individual business, I will not begin to touch upon this subject.  I will instead walk you through the priority process for adding inflatables.

Since your objective is to rent your units as often as possible, you need to select units that are most popular.  From our experience, bounce houses rent the most often followed by combo units, water slides and slides, inflatable games and then obstacle courses.  Depending on your budget and how many units you wish to begin with will determine what types of units you would want.  Another factor is your location.  For example, if you are in Texas, water slides carry a lot more weight as far as rental value then say if you lived in Wisconsin.  That being said, I will use two examples, a three unit start up and a five unit start up.
Three Unit Company

• Bounce House
• Bounce House
• Combo Unit

Five Unit Company

• Bounce House
• Bounce House
• Combo Unit
• Combo Unit
• Water Slide

These two assortments will give you flexibility while catering to the masses.  Remember, you will never appeal to every one's needs when you first begin.  Your goal is to survive and grow to the point where you can add more units.

Now that we have tackled the assortment, it is on to as equally important of an issue, the themes you should choose.  Like your assortment selection, you need to appeal to the masses.  Traditional themes such as castles, fun houses, sports, Disney, and Mickey Mouse themed inflatables have a much higher rental rate then say pink castles, lions, and birthday cake inflatables.  While all inflatables rent, we are only concerned with purchasing the most widely rented units while you begin your business.  Once you feel the need to add additional inflatables you will know exactly what to add based on customer requests and shortages you have had with your own rental fleet.  Just because I am advising you to stay away from more niche specific units to begin with does not mean you need to once you are ready to expand.

The inflatable rental business can be a very successful business.  You need to treat it as a business and not make emotional decisions.  All decisions you make, not just the items you purchase, need to be done with the business in mind.  Good luck and Happy Bouncing!

Rainforest Rapid Bounce House & Water Park by Blast Zone Product Review

The Rainforest Rapids Bounce House and Water Park can be easily set up by one adult. Set up time is under five minutes with actual inflation time taking less then two minutes. Once inflated, the bright colors will draw every ones attention. Make no mistake, as great as this inflatable looks, its performance is even better.

This bouncer has a footprint of 16' x 15' and requires a flat area of approximately 21' x 20' feet. With an 8' x 8' bounce are and two slides, the ball pit pool area is often over looked. This waiting area was perfect for kids as they entered the bounce house or exited the slides. This area gives the bouncer an extra activity to keep the play time organized. This is not wasted space. Kids can enter the bounce house via the ramp entry. This ramp entry makes the bounce house more accessible to younger children making easier for them to get in and out. The Rainforest Rapids 8' x 8' bounce area is plenty big for 3 or 4 bouncers under the age of 12 and weigh under 100 lbs to jump and play. When the kids are done jumping they can either exit via the ramp entry or climb up to either one of the slides. The slides can be used wet or dry. If you choose to use the slides wet, the misting kit hooks up right on top of either slide. While the slides can be used wet or dry, we found the performance to be a little bit better when they were used wet. The water made the surface slicker and quicker. It is important to note, if you decide to use the Rainforest Rapids wet, you need to make sure that the unit is fully dried prior to storing. This can be accomplished by a combination of the sun and the airflow of the blower. From experience, I recommend keeping the unit inflated until it is completely dried.

The Rainforest Rapids has a little bit of everything for all kids. The quality and construction is consistent with all Blast Zone Inflatables. Blast Zone has the longest warranty in the home use bounce house category. Like all Blast Zone Inflatables, the Rainforest Rapids use X-Weave and Commercial Vinyl Material to ensure the highest quality. The Rainforest Rapids features:

 * Dimensions - 16' W x 15' L x 8' H
   o Bounce Floor Dimensions - 8'W x 8'L
   o Large Slide Dimensions - 3'W x 8'L
 * Weight without Blower - 95 lbs
 * 3 Slides
 * Carrying Case
 * Includes - Blower, Stakes, and Patch Kit
 * Number of Bouncers - 1-3 Kids
 * Weight Capacity - 300 lbs
 * Wet & Dry Use
 * Not for Commercial Use
 * Warranty
   o Bouncer - 90 days free of defects in materials and workmanship
   o Blower - 1 year free of manufacturing defects
 * Phthalate-Free
 * CPSIA Compliant

The Rainforest Rapids is the ultimate inflatable for kids. It offers jumping, sliding, wet or dry with a ball pit. This is perfect bouncer for those who are looking for a little of everything.

Rock Crawler Bounce House by Blast Zone Product Review

The newest addition to the Blast Zone Inflatable line, the Rock Crawler Bouncer Slide Combo has it all. This off road truck theme is not only a work of art, but it has the latest industry technology ensuring this is one of the highest quality bounce houses for residential use.

While images of the Rock Crawler Bouncer and Ball Pit are great, when you see it in person you will be blown away. We were fortunate to get a first hand look at the Rock Crawler during a photo shot and film session in Winter Haven, FL. Steve Bates, from Black Oak Creative, who invited us to watch the Rock Crawler photo shoot had this to say,"Our company always enjoys creating demand for a product that truly deserves it. Seeing the kids having the time of their lives makes our job fun." This could not sum up our overall impression of the Rock Crawler any better.

The first thing I noticed as the bounce house inflated for the first time was the vibrant Fire Engine Red. The black of the wheels and the roll bar really makes this bouncer stand out. In person, the unit appears much larger then the photos suggest. At 18' long, 11' wide and 7' tall, the Rock Crawler is one of the large residential units on the market. Kids enter through the front tire. Once kids climb through the front tire they will find themselves in the ball pit area. The manufacture recommends 500 to 600 balls to fill the ball pit. A nice safety feature is the Velcro enclosure that separates the bounce area from the ball pit. Going through the Velcro enclosure, kids will find themselves in the nearly 8' x 8' bounce floor. This is considered an above average size for a bounce floor. To exit the Rock Crawler, kids can slide down the double wide tail gate slide.

Like all residential Blast Zone Inflatables, the Rock Crawler is for kids three and up that weigh under 100 lbs. This bounce houses is rated for up to six kids. Constructed out of X-Weave and Commercial Vinyl Material, this bouncer comes with an industry high ninety day warranty. This unit complies with all CPSIA Regulations and is Phthalate Free.

Features

• 18 x 11 x 7
• 7.5 x 7.5 Inside Dimension Bounce Floor
• Included UL Blower
• Included Carry-Case
• 90 Day Warranty
• Large Bounce Floor
• Ball Pit
• Add Optional Play Balls
• Up to 6 Kids
• Max Weight per user: 100 lbs
• X-Weave and Commercial Vinyl Material
• Ages 3 and up

Make no mistake, this bounce house is no truck, it is a Cadillac. The kids at the photo shoot absolutely loved this bounce house. A special thanks to Steve Bates and his production crew from Black Oak Creative.

Misty Kingdom Bounce House Product Review

Confused on what bounce house to buy your kids? Want a bouncer with a little bit of everything? Look no further. The Misty Kingdom by Blast Zone is a bounce house, slide, ball pit and water park all in one. This is truly a one stop fun house for kids. This bounce house arrived in one box weighing just under 100 lbs. The bouncer itself weighed approximately 80 lbs.

The Misty Kingdom takes less then five minute to set up. Because it weighs 80 lbs., I put the jumper in our wagon and wheeled it out to the backyard. With the help of my son, the Misty rolled out like a sleeping bag. Once we attached the blower and tied off the second inflation tube he turned the power on. In under a minute he was jumping. Initially, I left off the water housing because of the weather. I will comment on that this coming spring. Along with the bounce house, I purchased 300 balls per the recommendation of a customer sales rep. 300 balls seemed perfect to fill up the ball pit.

Withing 10 minutes of inflating the Misty Kingdom, we had all of the neighborhood kids over. They loved it. The kids would climb up the ramp entry into the bouncer and the fun began. After a couple of jumps they would climb up the ladder to the top of the slide. The ladder was easy for kids of all ages to get up. The ladder is made out of squares that they can put there feet on. While the slide is not long, it has a good enough pitch that the kids could get some speed down it and then into the ball pit. The ball pit was definitely a better attraction for the younger kids but definitely used by all.

Overall I would give this combination bounce house an A+. It is suitable for kids 3 and up that way under 100lbs. each. This jumper is rated by the manufacture for up to five kids. Here are the technical specs of the Misty Kingdom by Blast Zone:

 Dimensions - 13' W x 14' L x 9' H
 Bounce Floor Dimensions - 9'W x 7'L
 Slide Dimensions - 6'W x 6'L
 Unit Weight without Blower - 50 lbs
 Slide
 Carrying Case
 Balls not included (300 recommend)
 Includes - Blower, Stakes, and Patch Kit
 Number of Bouncers - 1-3 Kids
 Weight Capacity - 300 lbs
 Indoor and Outdoor Use
 Not for Commercial Use
 Warranty
 Bouncer - 90 days free of defects in materials and workmanship
 Blower - 1 year free of manufacturing defects

Blast Zone Bounce House Review

Blast Zone Inflatables is a division of Vortex Co. Vortex has been making toys for over a decade for retailers worldwide. When Vortex launched Inflatables there was one simple goal: Provide a safe environment in which kids dreams come true. Because they owns and operates their factories, the quality control is at the highest level ensuring that all bouncers exceed all US compliances.


When it comes to Blast Zone products, the same quality and manufacturing process occurs whether you are buying the smallest, least expensive bouncer or the largest, most expensive bouncer. This has helped build consumer confidence in a category that has a less then spectacular track record.


It all starts with the materials used to manufacture Bounce Houses. Like most inflatables, they use breathable fabric which needs continuous airflow. This means that they require a blower to be attached at all times. The key to the quality fabric used is that it is not only lightweight, but extremely dependable. All bouncers are constructed out of a material called oxford cloth. Oxford cloth is used in a weaving technique that is exclusive to Blast Zone. This technique used with the oxford cloth is what gives the inflatables there extreme break strength. Additionally, commercial grade materials are used at all stress points to ensure that the quality expectations are met.


Workmanship of all Bounce Houses and Water Parks start with double and quadruple commercial stitching. Essentially providing a commercial grade stitching on a residential unit. Each bounce house is individual sewn by hand to ensure perfection. All bouncers have an inner air membrane which is another reinforcement point.

When designing new inflatables, Blast Zone does so on three fundamental points:

• Safety
• Durability
• Unique & Awesome Product

With this in mind, the designers have been able to come up with the highest quality units, while ensure kids give their seal of approval.


Once an inflatable is designed and manufactured, it is put through vigorous testing. Upon certification, the product will become approved for production. Quality control does not stop there with Blast Zone. Every single bounce house manufactured is inflated to ensure the manufacturing process was a success. During this inflation, every stitch is inspected to ensure that there are no manufactures defects. Blast Zone is able to limit their warranties by investing in these quality control steps prior to shipping the inflatable to retailers around the world.


Now that you know that each and every Bounce House is built to the highest level of construction and quality, that take abroad look at some of the basic features that are essential to Blast Zone Inflatables.

• Material - Woven Oxford Cloth along with Commercial Grade Material in Stress Areas
• Stitching - Double and Quadruple Commercial Stitching
• Airflow - Continuous
• Capicity - All Blast Zone Bouncers are made for children up to 100 lbs. Depending on the size of the bouncer will determine the capacity. Capacity ranges from 2 to 6 kids.
• Entrance - Velcro Safety Entrance on all units and some units have a ramp entry for easier access
• Indoor and Outdoor Use
• Easy Store Quick Deflation Valve
• Storage - Rolls up the size of a sleeping bag
• Phthalate-Free
• CPSIA Compliant

As you can tell, Blast Zone has gone above the competition to set themselves a part. I give them an A+ when it comes to inflatable bouncers.

How to Buy a Residential Bounce House | eHow.com

How to Buy a Residential Bounce House | eHow.com

Superstar Moonwalk Product Review

The Superstar Bounce House by Blast Zone is one of the most popular bounce houses sold.






Why is this bounce house so popular? Its simple, it is a large wide open bounce house. The superstar features an 11' x 11' jump floor for kids to play. With this size jump floor, up to 5 kids at 100 lbs each can jump, play and bounce in the superstar. The ramp entry slide makes entry and exit easy for kids of all ages. The entrance features a floor to ceiling velcro closure ensure the kids stay in the bounce house at all times.


Blast Zone Bounce Houses all feature a commercial grade bounce floor. We consider this bouncers hybrids. They are hybrids because you are getting commercial quality construction on parts of this bouncer at a residential price.

The bottom line on the Superstar Bouncer is this is a winner. Priced at $399.99, there is tremendous value. Kids of all ages will play for hours.