Jumping Castles

The blower question

Some castles ship with a continuous-flow blower and some do not. A castle without one cannot be used until you buy it, and this is far and away the most common source of disappointment with these products. It is stated on every product page — read it before ordering.

Continuous-flow blowers run the whole time the castle is in use. They are not pumps, and the castle deflating within seconds of switching off is normal, not a fault.

Setting up

Level grass is the ideal base. You need clear ground equal to the castle footprint plus room to walk around it, and nothing overhead. Peg every anchor point provided, not just the corners.

Avoid concrete, gravel and pavers, which abrade the base material and offer nowhere to peg.

Wind

Wind is the thing to pay attention to with any inflatable. Pack it away when conditions get gusty rather than waiting to see whether it holds, and never leave one inflated and unattended.

Shade and surface temperature

Dark PVC in direct sun heats up quickly. Setting up in shade, or under a shade sail, makes a real difference to how long children stay on it during a hot afternoon.

Packing away

Dry it completely before folding. Rolling a damp castle into its bag is the fastest way to grow mould through the seams, and it is very difficult to reverse. Sweep out debris, hose off dirt, let it dry fully in the sun, then fold along the original creases.