The 10 Best Wooden Swing Sets According to Hours and Hours of Testing By Parents and Kids Alike

Yes, this is a big set, and it’s not cheap — however, this set is one of the best I have ever seen, assembled, or interacted with. Also, the directions were the clearest I have read, and that’s saying something as assembling baby goods is a huge part of my job.

It has a 5-foot-tall climbing wall, and a 5-foot tall rock wall with 12 rock foot-and-hand holds. The blown-plastic slide feels substantial, and not like some that feel like they could warp or crack.

The playhouse with lookouts is more-than-generously-sized. In fact, it’s large enough for a disc swing to hang beneath it, which is great for swinging, but even better for summertime reading and even a little nap. It comes with two additional traditional swings and a hanging swing, all of which have a rubber coating over the chain to protect little fingers.

Our testers could not get over how strangely uncomplicated it was for such a tremendous product. On top of that, their littles haven’t stopped playing on it no matter the weather. They had to implement a “If it rains, come inside” rule.

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If you have a big backyard, and a bigger family or friend groups? Giving your kids this swing set will instantly make you parent of the year.

It’s a super-sized set with a clubhouse and a lower area for play, two traditional swings, a trapeze bar, a slide, a sandbox, and monkey bars. The lookout from the side of the clubhouse was a hit with our testers who have made that their very own “pirate’s nest.” I hope to one day head over and see Stede Bonnet ready for action, given how much they go on about it.

Another one of the tiny testers is a particular fan of how much shade the sandbox gets, because where they live can get oppressively hot, and that's a nice reprieve from the blistering Southern sun. The green slide doesn't heat up to unslidable temperatures until the mercury really climbs.

It's a beast to put together, and I would suggest at least three to four adults should be involved. Alternatively, chuck in for Lowe's assembly, and make everything that much easier for yourself. It's an intense, days-long build.

This wooden swing set and jungle gym was purchased by a summer camp that I have ties with, and when they asked me to help assemble it, how could I not? It is the hardest and largest one I've ever built, but the multitudinous features more than makes up for the manpower required to build it. It's a three-level, two-slide (once a tube slide) multi-climbing feature paradise for kids.

It has two traditional swings, one trapeze bar, climbing ropes, a climbing wall, ladder, picnic table, suspension bridge with safety net surround, and areas below for a possible sandbox.

I was dubious about the canopies, as they come in a very compact case, but they're incredibly strong and durable. Imagine the toughest outdoor tent you've encountered, now make it green — that is the cover of this set.

It is a spend, but for big families, gifts to camps, churches, synagogues, or to have at Grandma and Grandpa’s, this is an incredible value that will last for years and years.

Your children will never be at a loss for activities with this set by Natus Inc. It features a cool rocker swing, two traditional swings, monkey bars, a wave slide, and a large playhouse with solid wood finishes.

Made with Scandinavian fir, this swing set is extra durable, and thanks to the solid steel joints, and blown-plastic slide, your kids won’t wreck it right out of the box.

We love Backyard Discovery's solid cedar and steel construction, along with the sturdy molded plastic slides, handles, and swings.

This set has a fairly compact safety zone of 27 feet, yet it offers a vast range of activities: a playhouse, bench, two-person swing, two additional swings, a lookout, a 6-foot-tall slide, and a shaded area beneath the playhouse with a serving window.

Sometimes, the best wooden swing sets are the simplest. This is a great budget pick, and a great choice if you don't have a huge yard. It's also wonderful for smaller kids.

It has two swings, a climbing ladder with rock holds, a lookout house, and a slide. It took a friend of mine and me 3 hours to put this one together, and we felt about as accomplished as if we'd just run the New York City marathon in under 3 hours.

Her sons were on it and having a great time the very next morning. They've even somehow taught their golden retriever to climb the ladder and go down the slide with them. Not the stated purpose of the KidKraft set, but not unexpected given how silly goldens are and how ridiculous 3- and 4-year-old boys are. I expect them to figure out the bubble solution = extremely fast slide trick pretty soon. They're wily.

It's impossible for a child to get bored with this wooden swing set — there's just so much going on. A punching bag, climbing wall, tic-tac-toe game, slide, ladder, lookout, and three different swings comprise this beast of a play set.

The footprint is smaller, at 18 by 8 feet, so you can use it for a smaller location, a boon to those of us with smaller yards. Made of durable hardwood, blown plastic, and UPF canvas, Gorilla Play sets are built to last — although we do suggest bringing in the punching bag in the winter.

Two words: slide races. And those slides are a staggering nine feet long. The whole thing is pretty grand, to be honest. The climbing wall is almost vertical, the swings are well-separated, and the two-level playhouse is intricately detailed.

The footprint is a little bit larger, as you would expect from such a dynamic wooden swing set. It's over 21x8 feet and taller than 10 feet. The solid cedar construction and steel joints give this set lasting durability. However, there are a ton of parts to this bad boy, so make sure you have plenty of friends willing to help put it together or have the pros from Lowe’s do it for you.

You'll love how much play happens in this wooden play set's compact 27-square-foot footprint. Gorilla play sets are known for their quality, durability, and innovation in design. This set manages to have a wave slide, a climbing wall, two swings, a hanging bar, and a playhouse in an area not much bigger than your average bedroom.

The solid wood and vinyl-covered-steel construction of the swing set lets you know that this will take everything from desert heat to a Great Lakes winter with no problems.

If you know your kids might grow out of their jungle-gym phase fairly quickly, or you just don't have the space for a big one, this simple wooden swing set is the perfect choice. The kids can spend a few hours swinging back and forth during the day, and Mom and Dad can sneak on at night for stargazing.