Want some serious foosball action? This is an exciting price range that offers a few cracking foosball tables. Let’s take a look at some of my favorites, and I’ll try to recommend to you the best foosball table under $500, tough as that may be because different strokes for different folks, right?
Some hot stuff here man, let’s check it out.
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Contents
Best Foosball Table Under $500
#1 – Kick Topaz 55″
Okay, so this sometimes costs a little more than $500, but the difference is so small that it hardly matters. Plus, this is such a solid and great looking table that it has to be on the list here.
Here are the key features to this table, and then we’ll take a quick look how it performs:
– Two sets of men (26 red/blue counter-balanced & 26 uniformed men)
– Ball return at both ends
– Stainless steel chrome-plated rods
– 1-Goalie or 3-Goalie design
– 1/2″ thick playing field
– Leg levelers with rubber bottoms
– 2 soccer foosballs + 2 KICK premium balls
– Lifetime KICK warranty
Okay, that’s some cool stuff, especially the two different sets of men.
ASSEMBLY
Now, to assembly. This is a fairly heavy table (116 lbs) so get someone to help you with the assembly as you’ll need to flip the table over and so on. Assembly takes a while but is not that difficult, and KICK provides assembly videos on Youtube for their products as well.
OVERVIEW
This table has all the features you need to play a great game of foosball. Ball returns on each end, corner ramps to help the ball stay in play, scoring slides, the handles grip well and rods move smoothly.
FINAL WORDS
What we like about KICK is that they have pretty good after sales support. They’re a reachable company that actively support their products, so the lifetime warranty actually means something.
#2 KICK Venture 55″ Foosball Table
Somewhat easier on the budget than the Topaz, the Venture offers a more classic look but the same solid build quality, lifetime warranty and support from KICK. It’s also got all the premium features you’d expect in this price range:
– 1/2″ thick playing field
– 5″ leg levers
– anti-skid bottoms
– slide scoring
– ball return at either end
– 1-goalie or 3-goalie compatible
– stainless steel chrome plated rods with wooden handles
– 26 uniformed players
– two KICK foosballs and two soccer foosballs
Again, this table needs to be home assembled. KICK has a video on Youtube for this purpose and along with the included instructions anyone should manage it without too much trouble. Allow 2 hours or so for this.
I’m not particularly fond of the look of this table, while the colors add something classic to it the blocky shape with hard lines give it almost an industrial type of look which I’m not excited about, but that’s just me.
Other than that there’s not much to say about this table. Once it is up and assembled is is a sturdy unit, everything works as it should and it feels like something that will last for a good long while.
Throw in KICK’s already mentioned dedication to customer service and this is a pretty safe choice.
See user reviews on Amazon.com
#3 – Atomic Azure LED Light Up Foosball Table
The Atomic Azure is a classy foosball table, but is this whole lighting up business just a novelty that lends itself to too many little things that can break and spoil the fun?
Quick features:
– 27″ x 47″ playing field
– automatic digital scoreboard
– sound effects
– led lighting
– steel rods
Well I have to admit it – playing under lights is fun. The table surface is black, so don’t expect a classic green surface. With all the lights and sounds this is quite a sensory experience, which adds to the excitement.
The decision to make one team blue while your lighting is blue doesn’t quite compute for me as the white team is a lot easier to see against all the blue lights. Maybe red or yellow would have been better for the second team?
The automatic scoring works well (although this is one of the features you just get the feeling might be the first to break), and certainly frees you up to enjoy the gameplay without worrying about keeping score. It’s dead accurate.
Outside of the electronic stuff the table seems sturdy and Escalade Sports, the manufacturer, has been around for a long time so you should get decent support if you run into any trouble.
So, the Atomic Azure is definitely worth a look if you want a different kind of experience. Whether all the gadgets will stand the test of time is an open question, but my research into other people’s experiences suggests that with a few inevitable exceptions it holds up well.
#4 – Atomic Pro Force 56″ Foosball Table
The Pro Force is probably the best looking table in this roundup for me. The bamboo laminate and smooth lines helps to make it an attractive feature in any space, more than just something to play with.
– MDF construction
– leg levelers
– 4 balls
– ball return and ball entry
– manual scoring
– hollow chrome steel rods
– rubber handles
– black and white teams
Despite the good looks this is probably the least favorite table out of the models in this roundup. Currently available for about the same price as the KICK Venture, I’d definitely go for that one over this one.
Construction is decent, assembly time consuming but not difficult as such. Some of the drill holes are too small and needs extra drilling. These are problems that pop up for some people and not others, so I guess it depends on whether you strike it lucky with the unit you buy or not. Other reports also mention the veneer on the legs seems like it’s going to come off fairly quickly.
Some people report dead zones, others not, which may hint at a playing surface made of variable quality materials that warp too easily. The handles on the rods are also cheapish plastic.
Once the table is up and running it’s not too bad though, pretty solid and plays well. For the price range though, this feels more like a $200 – $300 table than a $400 table. It won’t be my first choice for a foosball table under $500.
Get more info and opinions on Amazon
Verdict
So, my choice for the best foosball table under $500 would be the KICK Venture (price on Amazon ) due to the more affordable price. The Topaz, if you can add a $100 or so to your budget (see current price on Amazon ), is a great table all round as well.
For extra kicks, the led illuminated Atomic Azure (available on Amazon ) is certainly a solid alternative if you want something different.
Happy foosballing, over and out!