It’s summer again, and with it comes the time for kids to play around and have fun outside.
Kathy, my neighbor, told me that she was looking for a ninja line set for her kids. Though it had been ages since I bought one for my kids, I offered to help anyway.
I spent a few weeks deliberating with her over which is the best ninja line for backyard. The market is rife with ninja line sets to choose from and so, we needed expert opinion to narrow the list down. And who better to ask about it than children?
With inputs from Kathy’s children, I selected a few of the best ninja line kits on the market. The kids were ecstatic to have a go on the kits as they were ordered. After another few weeks of testing, I present to you the results.
Top 5 Ninja Line For Backyard
1. Trailblaze Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course
Trailblaze brings about a balanced workout session that is also fun for the kids, with the Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course. Being one of the most recommended options, I was eager to see how the ninja line performed during play.
Product Highlights
Whenever there’s a delivery, the first thing any child would ask of you is to open the package and test whatever is inside. Trailblaze’s obstacle course has kept that feeling at heart, being easy to set up and play with out of the box. The ninja line isn’t just limited to your backyard. It is portable and can be carried and set up anywhere for a fun training experience.
Trailblaze has made the set quite durable, with each ring capable of carrying up to 330 pounds. It includes sturdy gym bar accessories, such as tree protectors for safety. And with it comes customizability that you can put to use and adjust the difficulty of the course as per your kid’s liking.
Geared to heighten your kids’ strength, balance, and control, the Trailblaze Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course is a strong start for the ninja line products.
What’s There To Like About It?
What I noticed first was the quality of the ninja line. The slackline felt sturdy and premium on touch, as did all the accessories and rings that came with the kit.
With a little help, the Trailblaze ninja line was set up and ready for play in my yard in minutes. At first, the children from my neighborhood struggled with the obstacle course’s difficulty, but that’s no problem at all. The adjustable difficulty is a boon that elevates the ninja line quite a bit in my eyes.
What’s There Not To Like About It?
A minor gripe I found while adjusting the difficulty is that the obstacle buckles don’t move while the slackline is taut. They have to be lined up perfectly before use, which can be a bit of a hassle if you need to change their positioning frequently.
Pros and Cons of Trailblaze Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course
Pros
Cons
- READY, SET, PLAY: Setting up our new and improved obstacle course for kids is child’s play! We design it to be quick and easy to set up. It’s customizable, too! Just change the order and spacing of the obstacles for varying levels of difficulty.
- ENHANCED GYMNASTICS BAR ACCESSORIES: This all-in-1 backyard obstacle course starter kit has improved strength and safety features. We want you to have all you need for your kids’ safe training and enjoyment—with tree protectors and a carry bag as well!
- PLAY AND TRAIN ON-THE-GO: Let your children have fun outdoors with our ultra-durable backyard obstacle course for kids. Set up this portable monkey obstacle course at the park, and let your future athletes enjoy fresh air and challenging activities with friends.
2. Sunny & Fun Portable Ninja Slackline
Sunny & Fun aims to enhance your child’s playtime with the portable ninja slackline while developing their physique and coordination. This 50-foot ninja line is a solid entry in the slackline segment and could very well be your kid’s next favorite. Here’s how the Sunny & Fun Ninja Slackline transforms exercising into a fun activity for your child.
Product Highlights
The Sunny & Fun slackline is 50-foot long with seven hanging obstacles and a ladder. It can hang between two posts or trees with no issues. The line is portable and can be transported easily for a day at the park.
This slackline is webbed and features a steel ratchet and rubberized grips for safety. And boasting 7 adjustable challenges, the kit comes with monkey bars, monkey fists, and gym rings. These are of varying lengths, allowing your kid to have the exercising experience best suited for them.
Interestingly, this ninja line can carry up to 800 pounds, which is significantly higher than that of Trailblaze’s slackline. Not only that, but the Sunny & Fun kit also comes with an abundance of safety features, such as hanging carabiner clips and textured grips.
What’s There To Like About It?
I brought the Sunny & Fun slackline to a field trip with the neighbors, and boy were the kids ecstatic to play around with it! The line hangs perfectly and remains taut without causing the posts any noticeable damage.
It was also delightful to know that there is a lot of leeway when it comes to obstacle adjustments. I was able to do so with ease, making the kids’ exercising experience truly their own.
What’s There Not To Like About It?
It can take some effort to hang the Sunny & Fun Ninja Slackline, unlike the Trailblaze line. You might require another helping hand to properly suspend and maintain the tautness of the slackline, especially around taller trees or posts.
Pros and Cons of Sunny & Fun Portable Ninja Slackline
Pros
Cons
- FUN NINJA WARRIOR TRAINING – Portable Obstacle Course Features 50-Foot Line with 7 Exciting Hanging Obstacles and Ladder for Everyday Exercise & Entertainment
- 50’ x 2” SLACKLINE WEBBING – Heavy, Durable Line Comes Ready w/Steel Ratchet & Rubberized Grips; Hang Between Two Healthy Trees or Sturdy Posts
- 7 ADJUSTABLE CHALLENGES – Versatile Set Lets You Move 2 Monkey Bars, 3 Monkey Fists, 2 Gymnastics Rings in Unique Sequences & at Varying Lengths
3. Gentle Booms Sports Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course
Gentle Booms’ Ninja Warrior line is one of the longer slacklines I tested while reviewing ninja lines. At 56 feet long, this portable line is perfect if you have a large, expansive yard. Let’s see how the Ninja Warrior held up in testing.
Product Highlights
When looking at the specifications of the Gentle Booms Ninja Warrior line, the first thing that stood out to me was its length. Even though it is longer than the previous two ninja lines I reviewed, it doesn’t sacrifice carrying capacity in the process.
The Ninja Warrior slackline can carry up to 600 pounds without breaking a sweat. Gentle Booms has made the hatchet and buckles with high-quality anti-rust steel to ensure longevity. It can be set up in a matter of minutes and the obstacles are fully adjustable. As for the accessories, the Ninja Warrior line comes with two monkey bars, one monkey fist, three gym rings and a ladder.
Its installation is fairly straightforward and can be hung between two poles that are 15 to 45 feet apart. Combined with the obstacles, the Gentle Booms line will certainly be fun for your child.
What’s There To Like About It?
While not as high as the Sunny & Fun slackline, I was sufficiently impressed with the carrying capacity of Gentle Booms’ Ninja Warrior. The line could carry two kids at a time without showing any signs of strain, which was quite the feat.
With the customizable obstacles, the Gentle Booms slackline proved to be an entertaining challenge for the kids. With ample room for adjustments and high load capacity, the Ninja Warrior proves to be a worthy investment.
What’s There Not To Like About It?
There were a couple of instances where I noticed the line slack a bit. Upon checking, I found that the lines were tightened properly, leading me to believe that the issue was with the line itself. This quirk made me place the Gentle Booms slackline behind the Sunny & Fun line.
Some of the smaller children also found the obstacle course to be somewhat difficult.
Pros and Cons of Gentle Booms Sports Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course
Pros
Cons
- TRAIN FOR NINJA WARRIOR - Whether you're a kid or an adult, the 2×56 ft Ninja Slack Line is the perfect obstacle course for demanding fun and physical challenge. Enhance your child's confidence, coordination and strength in this ninja warrior set to keep them entertained, get them really physical exercise, and keep them fit throughout the year.
- TOP QUALITY & SAFETY - High quality PE material and High-strength anti-rust treated steel components will last for years. Each Ninja Warrior accessory is tested for a 600 LBS WEIGHT CAPACITY. We upgraded the "ONE-PIECE" and coated design buckle and solved the problem of slack line tearing.
- TRAVERSE FITNESS - Kids will learn to climb, fall, and use leverage and balance to get through our obstacle course. These skills will benefit kids throughout their lives and promote healthy joints and bones. We provide a storage bag for you to carry to camp or parties.
4. Fofana Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course
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Fofana’s Ninja Warrior slackline is a premium entry in the segment. The customizable obstacle course that I could create with this set piqued my interest. I just couldn’t wait to see what the kids thought about it.
Let’s find out how the Fofana Ninja Warrior performed.
Product Highlights
Featuring a staggering 65-foot-long ninja slackline, the Fofana Ninja Warrior blows every other slackline out of the water in terms of length. It can be hung on trees or posts without causing any damage to them. All you need to ensure is that the two posts are spaced 10 to 55 feet apart.
Fofana’s slackline is very durable and made from premium quality materials. The slacklines, ropes, tree protectors, and hooks are built to last, maximizing the fun your child can have with it. It will remain taut for the duration of your kid’s playtime, making it an ideal choice for a ninja line.
Thanks to the custom-designed hooks, the Fofana Ninja Warrior is designed to be safe. Since the carabiner attaches over the ninja line, there are no weak links.
What’s There To Like About It?
It came with easy-to-follow instructions and I had it set up within ten minutes, with a little help from my husband. But that is only where the fun began.
The Fofana Ninja Warrior comes packed with no less than nine adjustable obstacles. This leans into the versatility I mentioned earlier with several combinations of obstacles that make the experience more enjoyable for the kids.
With the Fofana Ninja Warrior, I never had to worry about the line snapping or giving out. Even after multiple sessions of play, it performed consistently well.
What’s There Not To Like About It?
The load capacity is relatively low, especially when compared against slacklines like the Gentle Booms’ Ninja Warrior. At 250 pounds, the Fofana Ninja Warrior can only allow one child to play at a time. It can also prove to be somewhat of a challenge for younger kids.
Pros and Cons of Fofana Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course
Pros
Cons
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5. X XBEN Obstacle Course
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X XBEN ninja-inspired obstacle course is one of the more affordable ninja lines I reviewed. This backyard playset combines a functional design with excellent build quality to make playtimes fun for your child. Here’s how the X XBEN slackline stood out among its peers.
Product Highlights
The X XBEN Obstacle Course comes with a 50-foot-long ninja slackline. And the kit includes the standard monkey bars, monkey fist knots, wood ladder and gym rings with textured rings. Complete with rubberized grips and smooth-edge metal parts, the obstacle course has your child’s safety in mind.
It comes with eight obstacles, including a rickety bridge obstacle, to provide your child with hours upon hours of play. These are fully customizable in order to create several courses of varying difficulties. Not only will the extended playtime be enjoyable for your kid, but they will also develop their strength, coordination and stamina.
What’s interesting about the X XBEN slackline is that the rope is made from 13 whole-core polyester for added strength. This makes sure that the rope doesn’t snap during play, making it safer on the whole.
What’s There To Like About It?
The kids adored the rope bridge ladder. They asked me to set that one up every time they came around to play, so I think that X XBEN has made a worthwhile addition to the obstacle variety. The other great inclusion is the sturdy rope ladder and the kids liked it quite a bit.
Similar to the Trailblaze Ninja Warrior, the build quality is surprisingly high, especially at its price point. The brand impressed me quite a bit with the build quality and variety of obstacles it brings.
What’s There Not To Like About It?
I did face some difficulty with adjusting the obstacles per the kids’ requests. It took some effort, but I got it to work eventually. Moreover, it took some more time to set up compared to the Fofana Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course. That’s why I decided not to place it higher on the list.
Pros and Cons of X XBEN Obstacle Course
Pros
Cons
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Buyers Guide
Before testing the five ninja lines on this list, the last time I looked into buying one was when my kids were young. That was a long time ago and the obstacle course scene has changed a lot since then. So, I had to relearn what goes into buying a ninja slackline these days.
If you’re considering buying a ninja line, these are the points that will help you decide which one will be the best for your kids.
1. Slackline Length
The rope has to be long enough to wrap around the trees or posts it hangs from and still accommodate for the obstacles. To make sure that your slackline isn’t too short, you may measure the circumference of the trees or posts you’ll be using with the line.
Let’s say you’re using the Trailblaze slackline, which comes with a 50-foot-long rope. If the circumference of your trees is two feet, it means that four feet of your slackline will be wrapped around them. That leaves 46 feet of rope, which is more than enough to include and adjust all the obstacles that come with the set.
Another thing you may take into consideration is the size of your backyard. A 50-foot-long rope will not be very useful if your yard isn’t wide enough to accommodate the slackline.
2. Obstacle Course Attachments
If there’s one thing the kids in my neighborhood taught me about these slacklines, it’s that the variety of obstacles is very important. That’s what stood out to them about the X XBEN Obstacle Course, with the rope bridge obstacle being one of their favorites.
Typically, the obstacles come in three varieties. These are:
A. Monkey Bar
The most common obstacle that can be found in any ninja line set, monkey bars are an essential attachment. They attach to the slackline in two places for additional stability and navigation.
B. Gym Ring
Gymnastics rings are also commonly found in most ninja line sets. These are less stable than monkey bars, testing your kid’s strength as they attempt to move to the next ring. You can keep an eye out for rubberized grips in gym rings for additional safety.
C. Rope Ladder
Most slacklines are more than 7 feet off the ground. Your child has to be able to reach the slackline, and that’s where a rope ladder comes into play. Ninja line kits like the Sunny & Fun set include a rope ladder in the box so you don’t have to purchase one separately.
There are other, less common kinds of attachments that you can examine before purchasing, but those are more of a bonus than a necessity.
3. Load Capacity
The ninja line should be able to hold your child’s weight without slacking too much. If the weight limit is too low, your kids might have difficulty using the slackline as it will move about a lot during play. Should your child take a spill because of this, they can be seriously injured because of it.
Sunny & Fun’s Portable Ninja Slackline has the highest carry capacity of the ninja lines I tested. At 800 pounds of load capacity, your kids will face no difficulties playing around with the obstacle course.
4. Other Considerations
Specifications aside, there are a few things about a slackline that you can only learn by personal experience or other customers’ reviews. Here are some of the things I noted about the slacklines while testing them.
A. Tautness
The slackline needs to be taut during play. Some slacklines don’t retain their tautness even with high load capacity, which can result in injuries. The rope’s looseness may also be a result of improper tightening around a post.
B. Effects On Posts
If you’re hanging your slackline on a post, make sure they don’t cause damage to it. I have heard reports of ninja lines causing posts to bend and warp, which can end up being dangerous.
FAQs
Yes, extensions to add to the rope’s length and increase the number of obstacles are available on the market. While some sets include extensions, you may have to purchase these separately.
You don’t necessarily need trees. Posts can be used instead, which you’ll need to cement in place so they don’t move during play.
Slacklines may cause damage to the bark of trees. If the same trees are used repeatedly as anchor points, the damage can erode the bark entirely and may lead to the tree’s death. If the tree is too weak, it may fall over when used routinely as anchors.
Slacklines promote physical activity and increase your child’s strength, stamina, coordination, and health. They are an introduction to other physical activities like zip lines and wall climbing.
Your kid may take a liking to the activity, and before long, you may be looking at a future professional climber. You never know until they try it.
You must tighten the line as much as possible. The line tension should be high enough for it not to move when your kids play with it. Pull the line tightly and have someone crank the ratchet to do this properly.
My Final Recommendation
Testing ninja lines was, undoubtedly, one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had with product reviews. This time, the kids were the real experts, and their input on what makes a ninja line fun was very educating.
As a complete package, I found the Sunny & Fun Portable Ninja Slackline to be the best ninja line for backyard. With its high load capacity, quick setup, and plenty of obstacle customization options, Sunny & Fun’s kit proved to be the most versatile and fun for the kids.
That said, the other slacklines were not very far behind. The competition in the ninja line segment is fierce, and each of them brings their A-game to the table. You can’t go wrong with any of these and so, your preference will dictate which is the best for your yard.