My children (all five of them) are born climbers, adventurers, and thrill-seekers. They climb, flip, and jump anything that crosses their paths—however, they’d never tried slacklining. So, when I came across the opportunity to try out the Flybold Slackline Kit, it felt like destiny. Keep reading to find out if my kids flipped for it.
Design: Acrobatic ABCs
While slacklining, or walking along a suspended length of flat rope, takes time to master, the Flybold Slackline Kit is a comprehensive set that includes everything your family needs to get started: a smooth, 2-inch-wide lime green main line, a 1-inch-wide bright orange training line and arm trainer, ratchets for the main and training lines, a ratchet protector, dark green tree protectors, a tote to put it all in, and an instruction manual. This slackline set’s 2-inch line is made for beginners. It provides a wider platform for balancing and a simple ratchet system for easy assembly. The lines are made of a blend of nylon and polyester fiber webbing, which offers the flexibility and strength of nylon and the rigidity and smoothness of polyester. This makes walking on the webbing easier and allows it to be set up closer to the ground. At 57 feet, this kit’s line is longer than many other sets, which come standard at 50 feet. The set’s bright orange and lime green lines give the toy a fun pop of color and provide optimal visibility.
Setup Process: A breeze
When I opened the box and saw all the coiled lines and ratchets, I was a little apprehensive about the installation. But after reading through the enclosed visual instruction how-to booklet, my kids and I were ready to try setting it up. Thankfully, it ended up being very straightforward. Start by finding the right trees. Ideally, you want the trees to be 6 feet or more and with a minimum circumference of 40 inches and a maximum of 72 inches. We found the greatest success in going to a nearby park. Put on the tree protectors at about knee height (less than 20 inches from the ground) and anchor the main belt and the ratchet on the opposite tree. Then, connect the main slackline to the ratchet, tighten the line, close the ratchet, and cover with the ratchet protector (a welcome layer between feet and the ratchet). The training line is set up the same way overhead. Dismantling the line is easy but requires extreme caution (due to the risk of releasing anything under tension). Simply pull the inside lever towards the main lever to unlock, flip the ratchet to the side, squeeze both levers together, and push both of them down towards the line until the ratchet snaps open. We found that the tree protectors did a good job of preventing abrasions in the bark.
Entertainment Value: Lower-risk tightrope thrills
My children had a blast with the Flybold Slackline Kit. It’s a deceptively simple solo activity and every friend who came by wanted a turn. One of the drawbacks of the kit is that only one person can slackline at once, so there is a lot of waiting involved when done with a larger group. However, all agreed this slackline was worth the wait. Be advised that this set is a beginning line intended solely for routine walking and not for running, tricks, or serious jumping or flipping.
Age Range: 2 and up
Slacklining is relatively simple. You just need to be able to walk and understand the danger of falling off. Though it seems surprising, the manufacturer recommends 2 and up for the ideal participant age. With the helpful aid of the training line, all of us (from age 7 and up) were able to find success. Without the training line and arm trainer, I doubt many of us would have stuck with it or had as much fun.
Safety: Parental supervision required
The “one slackliner at a time” rule is an important one to go over with kids ahead of time. Most kids will all want to jump on the line at the same time, but due to weight restrictions for the line, trees, and ratchets, this is a crucial rule to follow. This slackline system can safely hold up to 300 pounds. The line itself is strong and durable but overtaxing it could damage it. Adults need to monitor the setup and take down of equipment. The line needs to be tensioned by hand and by one adult to avoid injury. Be aware that loosening the ratchet will result in a “pop” or kickback due to the releasing so much tension. As we mentioned, you’ll want to set up the line at knee height and do so tightly, as taut lines will be less wobbly to cross. The ground underneath the line needs to be soft, flat, and free of hard or sharp objects, such as rocks or sticks. While many people enjoy barefoot slacklining, the manufacturer recommends wearing comfortable, tightly laced athletic shoes with flat rubber soles. We found that thinner soles give better control.
Price: Seems spendy but a great value
The Flybold Slackline Kit costs around $50. It’s an awesome entry into the sport of slacklining and includes all the safety equipment you need to keep you in the air rather than on your bottom in the grass below.
Flybold Slackline Kit vs. ZenMonkey Slackline Kit
These sets offer a very similar set of items for just about the same price; the ZenMonkey product is $49, while the Flybold kit is $50. The main differences are that the ZenMonkey set’s line is a bit longer at 60 feet, and it includes very appealing “ZenMonkey” styling, which gives the kit a fun dose of personality. The Flybold set is more geared toward the beginner slacker. Both sets are good buys. The Flybold Slackline Kit is a fun and exciting toy many kids (and adults) will love. The set offers easy access into this simple, yet challenging sport; there is something so meditative about trying to get across.
