Joseph works as an editor in one of the magazines dedicated to video games. Here, at RecRoomPick, he’s given the opportunity to enjoy the reverse of the medal – the no less engaging world of offline games.
Ryan knows everything when it comes to gaming, both online and offline. Since his early years he’s been in love with arcades, air hockey, and foosball. Finally, he’s given the opportunity to share his knowledge and opinion on the hobby of his life (and even get paid for it!).
Last updated: March 27, 2024
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Several brands of wood air hockey tables are available on the market today. It’s evident that some brands are better than others. However, not all top-rated air hockey tables are excellent. If you think you know what table to look for, your assumptions might lead you astray. Since the process of choosing the best wood air hockey table is overwhelming, we’ve come to your rescue by selecting the best options for you.
Be sure to make the right decision with our guide since we’ve considered special features throughout the process. The elements that we think are essential include size, weight, playing surface, accessories, material, and warranty. Note that these are not just random thoughts, but each plays a significant role. For instance, the size that you pick should fit your space and also be easy to store. The material should give you a hint of its durability, and the warranty is a guarantee of safety for your money.
The first thing that would probably catch your eye is its premium construction. Rally and Roar boast dense fiber wood with good double airflow for smooth playing. Its legs are sturdy, durable, and foam-protected. And still, its sleek and modern design with pulsing graphics against the white surface brings a world of experience in the game. What’s more, it’s compact and portable.
While Rally and Roar Tabletop is for kids, many adults admit to playing the hockey game more often than not. It’s indeed a family game, and you could take it anywhere due to its compact size. Putting it together is straightforward – your game will be up within ten minutes. The best of it all is that it comes with a CUL-certified AC-12V motor for desirable air flow and puck fluidity.
What are its best features? It is suitable for players of any age. Moreover, the addition of an LED electronic and slide scoring system is a plus. It’s super-fast to put together and tuck away due to its unique design and compact size. We were also impressed with its padded base to prevent scratches or tear to the floor. Finally, it comes with accessories – slide scores, two goals, an LED score tracker, two pucks, and two pushes.
What could be improved? The packaging need improvement. Several people have complained of the table arriving with some damaged parts. Besides, according to some reviewers, theirs came incomplete. Apart from the minor flaws, the product is fun, and you cannot beat its price.
Are you interested in an air hockey table that is well designed and perfectly sized? Then look no further than the PUCK Ares 8-Foot Air Hockey Table. It is lightweight yet heavy-duty with a perfect balance between optimal size and stability. Also, it is sturdy and supports flexibility. It’s ideal for games and family rooms. Furthermore, it comes with a carrying bag allowing maximum maneuverability.
While it is beginner-friendly, experienced players can also have fun with it. The table comes with four premium pucks and four premium air hockey strikes. You can get your kids busy with this thing in a few minutes because it’s quick to assemble. The best of it all is that you get to enjoy a lifetime warranty when you purchase one.
What do we love it for? We understand that sound brings real experience into the play. However, the fact that you can mute it when playing is fascinating. It is also a big table with good airflow. What’s more, it comes with a cover so that it doesn’t collect dust when not in use. It looks fabulous, sturdy and the top part is one piece, and you only have to put the legs together.
What were we disappointed with? The only thing we’d say it lacks are lights. However, that’s not a dealbreaker. Everything else about it is excellent.
The Midtown air hockey table boasts expert craftsmanship with 1950 air holes and baffled air plenum for uniform airflow. Its precise electronic scoreboard is perfect for players of all ages. The best of it all is its stylish design – it’s polished with a cherry wood-toned lamination to prevent it from dings and dents. What’s more, is the chrome-plated corner caps that add a beautiful sparkle to it.
When it comes to stability, it is constructed with high-quality wood for durability. Its legs are unique with levelers that are easily adjustable and stable. All the essential accessories, such as strikers and pucks, are inclusive. More features include an LED scoring with timer, and a heavy-duty UL approved blower motor, and an automatic puck return.
What are our favorite features? It is a perfect fit for kids, and elementary schoolers love it so much. A combination of classic craftsmanship with modern machinery is an ideal addition to air hockey action. We love its polished and scratch-resistant high-gloss playing surface. The independent leg levelers ensure an even playing field and stability. Six months manufacturer warranty is an excellent money-back guarantee.
What could be better? While the Hathaway Midtown Air Hockey table is decent, it’s relatively small. It’s smaller than regular size and won’t be convenient for teens or someone a little bigger.
If you’re looking for a mini hockey table for your kids, then GoSports Hockey Ice Pucky Wooden Table Top might interest you. It’s a perfect two-player face-off with two puck sticks, a game board, three-game pucks, and built-in score trackers. When it comes to construction, it is a ring made from a block of solid wood with a sleek playing surface.
Along with the above elements, GoSports Ice Pucky is perfect for gifting. Although it is a large tabletop, it’s lightweight hence portable. Its packing is also a plus for maneuverability. If you’ve had experience with the ice rinks surface, then this mini tabletop hockey game will give your kids the same feel.
Why are we impressed? No assemble of any kind. The tabletop hockey game is ready to play right out of the box. Everything, including the surface, is already installed – just place the puck on the board, and it will be up and running. It is flexible to play on the floor and also perfect for tabletop use. You don’t need batteries or electricity, which makes it excellent for different places, including the beach.
What negatives must you be aware of? Curved instead of triangle corners are quite tricky if you’d want to make a shot into the corner. But the curved corner is what gives the tabletop a unique look. Our primary concern is the surface that bubbles seem to appear after several uses. We’re not sure whether it’s the environment or that’s how it is. However, the bubbles do not interfere with the game.
The Hall of Games Edgewood Air Powered Hockey Table is another excellent air hockey table for fun moments. It boasts a slick playing surface with a heavy-duty UL certified motor that provides perfect and even airflow across the playing surface. The legs are unique, sturdy with metal bars that give it maximum stability.
Apart from the legs being trustworthy, they boast wood grain PVC laminate to endure kids’ play. What’s more, the legs have hidden levelers to ensure a uniform playing surface. Just like other professional air hockey tabletops, it has digital LED scorer displays with arcade sound effects. The tabletop comes with four premium pucks and pushers.
Why is it special? Its modern industrial design is mind-blowing. We love the incorporation of minimalistic design with the inlaid LED scorer features. If you’re looking for a game table ideal for game rooms, then the Hall of Games Edgewood is an excellent fit. Scores change automatically, thanks to the automatic score detection feature so, there is no need to do it manually. It is very sturdy and good looking.
What are the flaws? Although the Table is fast and smooth, putting it together is a pain. Besides, it’s relatively heavy, and you’d not be happy shifting it around. The game selection feature is almost useless as it doesn’t matter when you choose game times because it keeps going until one player has their scoreboard filled.
The Funtime PL7635 Table Air Hockey features a stylish wood grain finish and comes in a decent package. It’s also perfect for giving as a Xmas or birthday gift for kids. A set contains two pushers and a puck. Its surface is slick, and there’s enough air blown across by the motor to keep the glide floating smoothly.
While it does not have an automatic scorekeeper, you can still keep a record of the scores using a manual scorekeeper at both sides of the goals. It requires three AA batteries that you’ll have to purchase separately. This air hockey tabletop is 16” and ideal for dining rooms and living rooms.
What do we love it for? The mini air hockey table has a decent design, and it’s perfect for little kids between ages 2 and 5 years. Although it is smaller, kids will still enjoy unique features such as puck returns. The available product is sturdy and seems to hold for years.
What were we disappointed with? We noticed that it’s quite a struggle to get the pucks to go into the goal. Maybe the manufacturer should consider redesigning the goals and cut them properly.
Hey! Play! Fun table understands that not everyone has enough space to keep a full-sized air hockey table. With the Mini Arcade Air Hockey Table, air hockey lovers with limited space have something to smile about. It’s lightweight and easy to move around. When it comes to keeping score records, it features a sliding scorekeeper on each side’s goal. Also, the puck return technology makes it easy for players to have their pucks back after scoring.
The Air motor in the table facilitates natural airflow making the puck glide across the entire surface a breeze. Note that the table takes eight AA batteries that you must purchase separately. Also, you’ll need a Philips head screwdriver for assembly that’s not included. Its construction materials are wood and plastic. The package consists of two paddles and pucks.
What are our favorite features? Very easy to use and store in any room. If you’re looking for a quick air hockey tabletop that does not cost a lot but does the job, then this is it. What’s more, you do not need any superior room to own it. It’s compact yet big enough for real action, and the air comes out nicely considering its size.
What could be better? It’s cheap, and you’d expect some downfall. The main problem with it is that the puck keeps on getting stuck at every corner. It would be better if the producer fixes the sides with real wood. All in all, the tabletop is acceptable considering what you pay for it.
Things to Consider
While picking a wood air hockey table for your kids might seem an easy task, you’ll likely miss the details. Since they do not cost a lot of money, many people never take into consideration some elements that make a good tabletop. We’ve put together a buying guide for you so that you can spend little time on your research and still buy a good quality table.
Advantages of a wood air hockey table
Air hockey tables come with several benefits for the kids and everyone else in the family. Below are some of the advantages.
Putting together is quick and do not take strength
They do not take up much space
Excellent for entertainment
Improve the social life of your kids as they can hold tournaments with their friends
Consistent exposure to them make kids competitive and also improve their reflexes
They’re perfect for people of all ages
Air hockey tables are not expensive
Features to consider before you buy a wood air hockey table
Each air hockey table comes with a different set of features. We’d suggest you start by identifying your needs then look for features that meet them. Consider the following features when looking for a table: size, weight, playing surface, accessories, material, and warranty. Below is an in-depth explanation of each element.
Size
Not all air hockey tables are built the same, and size is an essential feature to consider. You want to ensure that the table will fit your style and available space. While air hockey tables are easy to set up, they can be a bother when it comes to storage. Some can be as long as 10 feet while others are as short as 4 feet. We’d recommend you decide on the size based on your storage space. If you have no room, then buy a smaller one.
Other than storage, you should also decide on the size based on mobility reasons. If you plan to move around more often with your table, then you need a compact size.
We’d recommend the Funtime PL7635 Table Air Hockey if you’re interested in a small size. It measures 16x9x3 inches, only making it a perfect fit for people without game rooms. PUCK Ares 8-Foot Air Hockey Table, on the other hand, is enormous and would require a game room. Note that the size you choose could affect the kind of game your kids would love.
Weight
Weight is a crucial factor to pay attention to before you buy your hockey table. Some of the tables are huge and very heavy, that you cannot afford to move around with them. For instance, the Hall of Games Edgewood Air Powered Hockey Table weighs approximately 213 pounds. Funtime PL7635 Table Air Hockey, on the other hand, is only 1.27 pounds. As you can see, that’s a difference of more than 210 pounds. For this reason, the portability of the latter is much better than that of the former.
Also, consider the weight based on how you plan to use your table. If you have a garage or game room, ten having a vast and massive air hockey table is okay because it will just sit in there. However, if you’ll be bringing it out and place it on your table or somewhere in the living room, then a lightweight one is ideal. You do not want to purchase something that will cause a lot of inconvenience.
Playing surface
The playing surface is probably one of the most critical aspects to consider. What should you look for in a playing surface, anyway? Remember, the playing surface is where all the action takes place. It could therefore make or break everything. Two things are essential to consider – the total area and the material. A more oversized table will have a large playing surface. While a good playing surface could increase the excitement in the game, too small surfaces could be limiting for teens but excellent for smaller kids. Ensuring that the playing surface is slick will give players an edge while playing. It could be annoying if the pucks don’t move evenly. Also, a product like the Hathaway Midtown Air Hockey Family Game Table guarantees its durability. Note that it features a scratch-resistant high-gloss playing surface. No matter how many times kids get to head, it will still hold. Air hockey tables with optimal airflow also ensure puck fluidity hence smooth playing surfaces.
Accessories
Accessories are as crucial as the tables themselves. You’d want them to match your table and style of play. They differ from one air hockey table to another and make the games lively. When we talk of accessories, we’re referring to the pucks and pushers. Apart from ensuring that what you order comes with the necessary accessories, you also want to ensure that they match with your tastes and preferences. Also, check the number and ensure that there are two of each accessory. Some tables like the PUCK Ares 8-Foot Air Hockey Table come with four of each accessory, which is a plus. Other crucial things include the batteries (they’re rarely inclusive), carrying equipment, and maybe the scoreboards. The scoreboards can either be automatic or manual.
Material
The other imperative element to pay attention to is the material. Whether it’s a birthday gift or something for your kids, you want to ensure it will last. The material used should help you guess its durability. Two things are essential to examine – the playing surface and construction material. Poorly constructed playing surfaces will not withstand scratches, and the whole table will eventually become useless. Also, a cheaply made air hockey table will easily give in to minor tests. Dense fiber wood for the legs and frame is the best. It’s sturdy and durable. For instance, the Rally and Roar Tabletop Air Hockey Table feature solid wood and foam reinforced legs. Hathaway Midtown Air Hockey Family Game Table, on the other hand, boasts a cherry wood-tone laminated finish with the scratch-resistant playing surface. If you look at the Hall of Games Edgewood Air Powered Hockey Table, you’ll notice that it has solid legs with metal crossbars for maximum stability. Such elements should excite you if you’re looking for long term products.
Warranty
Lastly, your buying safety is also crucial. The only thing that can guarantee your money safety is whether the retailer or manufacturer has a decent warranty. A warranty will cover you in case anything awful happens to your product unexpectedly. The motor that provides airflow could fail within a few weeks of owning a hockey table. Other vital accessories might also have some defects rendering the whole thing useless. Warranties do not just cover faults but also guarantee the quality of a product. Most of the poorly made products either have short time warranties or lack them entirely. We understand that some manufacturers do not specify a product warranty. Never buy them before finding out. A table like the PUCK Ares 8-Foot Air Hockey Table has a lifetime warranty. That’s a clear indication that you can trust it.
An air hockey table is a mimic of a hockey game only that it’s played on a table. The pucks are moved on an air-powered surface. Each player needs a pusher or a striker to stop the puck from getting into their goal. A motor is available to generate and pump air to the surface so that the puck can glide just like it happens on the ice. You can keep score records manually, or some tables have automatic features for the same.
Absolutely. Most of these tables are straightforward to put together. Some of them are ready for action out of the box. It takes less than 10 minutes to assemble one. There are few parts to put together, for some, they could be the legs while others the scorekeeper or putting the playing surface in place. Generally, assembling the table is always an easy job.
Wrapping It Up
There you have it all you need to know about air hockey tables. Air hockey tables could be an addition to your kids’ entertainment. They’re easy to put together, and kids do not have to figure out hard how to get started with them. What’s more, they do not cost a lot of money. Besides, different sizes are available for everyone. Our top recommendations include the Rally and Roar Tabletop, which is the editor’s choice. We love it because its size is perfect, has a decent design, and is sturdy. Also, it comes with exciting accessories such as an LED score tracker.
