The STIGA Advantage Table is a very reliable, mid-range option for all table tennis lovers out there. It has over 3000 five-star reviews on Amazon, it has plenty of nice, practical features, and it is highly recommended by us.
There are also three different models to choose from so you have more freedom in your choices, which we will address in this buying guide. If you are just starting out, you have never played but you are interested in the sport, or even if you are already a pro but you are not looking to shell out for a more expensive tennis table, then this option is likely the best for you.
What Are The Specifications Of The STIGA Advantage Table?
- Dimensions – 9 ft x 5 ft (this means it is regulation size)
- Assembly time – 10-minute quickplay design (it comes 95 percent preassembled out of the box)
- Surface thickness – 5/8″ (or 16mm)
- Weight – 195 lbs
- Our rating – 9.8/10
NOTE: the surface thickness is the most important thing when picking out a ping pong table. Since the average table features a thickness of 19mm, this puts two of the models of the STIGA Advantage Table on the lower end of the spectrum, while the STIGA Advantage Pro stands at the average 19mm thickness.
What Are The Different STIGA Advantage Table Models?
As we mentioned above, in choosing table tennis tables, the tabletop surface thickness is where it is at. Essentially, if your table does not have significant thickness, it will warp too easily and it will also not give you consistent ball bounce.
This is why you need to make sure you are finding the option with the optimal thickness, or if you choose to go for an option with lower thickness, that you know what the problems are that you might run into, so you do not expect that every same shot will return the same ball bounce. A thicker table also means a faster bounce, so you may run into the problem of having to hit the ball harder than you should just to be able to get the same return for your bounce.
This is the main difference between the three different models of the STIGA Advantage game tables, which is why we are now focusing on it and not the other differences that are not as important (such as the strength of the legs or size of the caster wheels). The three different models of the STIGA Advantage Table are called the Advantage Lite, the Advantage, and the Advantage Pro.
What Is The Surface Thickness Of The STIGA Advantage Lite?
As the name suggests, this is the model that features the lowest table surface thickness, standing only at 1/2″ inches or 12.7mm. It can be a good option for a real beginner or perhaps for a family that wants to introduce the kids to the sport, but in the end, it is not significantly cheaper than the model above it (the STIGA Advantage), so if you are able to put up a little bit more money, then you should probably choose at least the next model.
What Is The Surface Thickness Of The STIGA Advantage?
This is supposedly the middle product, which we would assume would contain the average table surface thickness. However, that is not the case. The average table surface thickness is around 3/4 inches or 19mm, and the STIGA Advantage’s surface thickness only stands at 5/8 inches or 16mm.
This means that while you will still be able to play and enjoy if you are a professional, you should probably choose the STIGA Advantage Pro product since that will give you the proper facilities to take your skills even further. If you are a beginner or even someone who enjoys playing and is good at it, but does not care about the professional side of it, then the STIGA Advantage should suit you just fine.
What Is The Surface Thickness Of The STIGA Advantage Pro?
With the STIGA Advantage Pro, the more high-quality option, we finally find the ideal surface thickness of 3/4″ inches or 19mm. This is undoubtedly the best model, so if money is less of a concern than quality, we recommend you go for this option. This is also the most tournament-grade option. It will give you the best tournament-quality bounce and will likely last you the longest. It is, however, the more expensive option, so you need to make sure you are invested in the sport before purchasing it.
What Are The Pros Of The STIGA Advantage Table?
There are several pros to getting any of the different models of the STIGA Advantage Table. It features a very practical quick assembly, since it comes already 95 percent preassembled, meaning you will not need to spend more than ten minutes putting it together.
Assembly time for table tennis tables can get up to two hours, and it will often require you to either call a friend that knows how to put things together or even call a professional, so the fact that this table comes mostly assembled is a major plus. Amazon will offer you an expert assembly option, which we do not recommend since this product is genuinely easy to set up and you will likely be wasting your money if you pick this option.
It is also a very portable product since it features eight 3’’ inch wheels (or 4’’ inch wheels, if you are going with the STIGA Advantage Pro) that lock in place with a safety latch and let you wheel it to wherever you would like, meaning you can have an indoor table tennis table or an outdoor table tennis table.
The foldable table halves with lockable casters also, unsurprisingly, have the ability to fold away, meaning it features compact storage so you can put it away somewhere in your home or business while you are not using it and it will not take up too much space. It will also fit nicely in your game room.
This table’s dimensions while folded away (in storage position) are an incredible 60 inches x 28 inches. It also features a strong and durable frame with 1.2 inches (30mm) heavy-duty, sturdy legs made from steel, which are coated with a premium black matte powder finish too for that extra aesthetic appeal.
The STIGA Advantage Pro features an even sturdier frame with 1.5 inches (38mm) steel legs and a thick tabletop. This product also features a smooth playing surface, as the top of the table is lined with a roller coat finish and silkscreen striping. It also has quite a practical feature named playback mode, where you are able to fold up a single half of the table to practice by yourself, using the folded-up bit of the table as a rebound wall.
This product will also come with a 72″ clamp-style net and post set, so you can start playing instantly as soon as you have your table tennis set with your rackets and your ball. It is also in the more modest price range, making it more affordable and featuring great value for your money. If anything goes wrong, this product also has a great return policy.
The STIGA Advantage Table also features great reviews on Amazon, with over three thousand customers giving this product the full five stars. Finally, the STIGA brand is one of the world leaders in tennis products and has an over 75-year history of making fantastic products. To sum up:
- It features a quick assembly
- It is highly portable
- It can fold away
- It features a strong and durable frame
- It features a smooth playing surface
- It features a single-player playback mode
- The net and posts are included
- It is very affordable
- It features a return policy
- It features great reviews on Amazon
- The STIGA brand is known and respected all over the world
What Are The Cons Of The STIGA Advantage Table?
As was discussed above in this article, two out of the three models of the STIGA Advantage Table provide you with lower-than-expected surface thickness, which will affect your bounce. However, this problem can be easily fixed by purchasing the STIGA Advantage Pro, which features the average 19mm surface thickness that is expected of professional table tennis tables.
Finally, the only other issue you might run into is that this is quite a heavy table, weighing 195 pounds which is more than some of its competitors. However, unless you plan on moving it much, you should be alright. To sum up:
- It is on the low end of the table surface thickness
- It is quite heavy
What Are Some Of The Reviews Of The STIGA Advantage Table?
We figured it would be good to also include some reviews here written by real customers who have purchased this table and used it, so you can hear from them as well as from us. This way, you can see what they have to say and make sure that it matches what we have told you here.
For the sake of trust and transparency, we decided to include both a positive and a negative review, so you can see what people have to say when they have either a good or bad experience. For the sake of brevity, we have cut down the reviews, however, you can be sure that all of the relevant information has been kept. You can find these reviews and more on Amazon as well if you would like to see them for yourself. With this disclaimer, we can now move on to the reviews. Here is the first one, it is a positive review:
“[..] I received it [the table] sooner than expected which I think is always a good thing. [..] It took a few minutes to unpack as the table is well protected for shipping, but once out of the box, we were playing in no time. It was as easy to assemble as described and the fact that the net was included was a bonus. […] I also like that when stored it’s easily portable and takes up less space than a lot of other tables out there. Looking forward to enjoying this with family and friends for many years.”
Now onto the negative review of the STIGA Advantage Table:
“Not a good experience so far. [..] While assembling the table, I realized that one of the table’s legs has the wrong holes. One side of the table also had paint spots/bubbles in the middle. I called Amazon for help and finally, after 45 minutes on the call, I have been scheduled to get a replacement and pick up the existing one. […] I hope to get a good replacement.”
Final Verdict:
Essentially, even with the current concerns about the surface thickness of the STIGA Advantage Light and the STIGA Advantage, this quality table tennis table is still one of the best in the market. Both the product and the STIGA brand are beloved by customers around the world, it is affordable, and it is one of the best ping pong tables that is sure to bring you many years of great, healthy play and enjoyment.
Bonus tip: Check out this professional video with ten tips on how to become a better table tennis player!
