Pathfinder Deluxe Swingset from Sam's Club

[txgirl]

Does anyone have this swingset? We have priced them all and the one at Costco is more expensive and doesn't have quite as much play area as the one at Sam's and the one at Sam's is much less. ($1,000 in-store pickup)

We have been in a gridlock position over choosing the playset for our backyard. Our kids are 11, 9, and 3. We have a trampoline but our playset was destroyed by hurricane Isabel a couple of years ago and we haven't been able to decide on another.

I would love your feedback!

 

[tiggger1]

there was a thread about this if I can find it Ill post it

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

I was the OP on a thread about finding reasonably priced swingsets a few months ago. We decided on the Pathfinder Deluxe Swingset!! We actually got it off Ebay (it was a great seller, several hundred positive feedbacks, no negative) and it's the same one sold at Sams. We're not members there, and since the Ebay guy offered free shipping--we got it.
It's for our boys, 5 & 2. I think it's quite sturdy, but I had my doubts when we got it. The boards seem somewhat thin, but honestly, once it's up it's very sturdy. I have spent most of May in the top of the fort with them! One word of caution, the slide is VERY steep. I don't let my youngest down it alone because it goes very fast.
It took us several days to put together. My husband is no Bob Villa--but he's not handy-man illiterate either. He and my dad worked on it for about 2 or 3 weekends. One thing I wish we would have done---label or separate all the wood pieces by size. I don't think they came properly labeled. If you'd like me to send a picture of the finished product just let me know!

 

[TnTWalter]

it is smaller but cheaper. My kids love it. Neighbors love it. The current one looks even better.

I'm sure the 9 & 11 will still use it but it will get most mileage from your 3 year old and friends.

Go for it!

Trish

 

[simpilotswife]

I'll be the voice of dissent here I guess. Honestly the older kids probably won't play on it much. I have older kids and neither one of them uses the swingset anymore. The 3 yr old will get some use out of it but I would be willing to bet not much.

Also you should really try out the swingset with the older kids to see how much it will sway when they swing cause the set will move a lot especially if they're bigger. DD (10) is 60 lbs and when she swings on any of the wooden sets it's kinda scary to watch the set rock back and forth

 

[brymolmom]

We have the Pathfinder model from 2005 and are VERY happy with it. We, like you, shopped around a LOT and went back and forth on the decision for more than a year. But, my findings were that it was very difficult if not impossible to find a really good swingset for under $700 (even the metal ones aren't made well these days because all of the better ones are wooden) - so for the extra $300 we got a really nice one. The kids love it and we've gotten enough use out of it already to make it worth the $. And I've heard that the deluxe model this year is even better.

Takes a long time to put together though - call in some help.