The STIGA Advantage Table and the JOOLA Inside Table are two of the most popular ping pong tables in the world at the moment, which is why it is more than pertinent to take some time to compare them side by side.
We have already reviewed each of these tables individually and even mentioned the other product in one of the product’s reviews, but now we can finally get a look at the specific similarities and differences between the two.
Both the STIGA Advantage Table and the JOOLA Inside Table are quite similar in terms of features and build quality, and they come head to head in terms of popularity on Amazon, but in this review, we will finally learn about their actual differences and crown one of them the winner.
An Overview Of The STIGA Advantage Table
Both the STIGA Advantage Table and the JOOLA Inside Table come in three different models where the only real difference is the surface table thickness. The table surface thickness, as you may already know if you have been looking at other ping pong table buying guides, is the most important element of your ping pong table, since it is the element that will determine how good your ball bounce will be and how consistent bounce will be.
A high surface thickness will also prevent warping. These are the different models the STIGA Advantage Table comes in:
- STIGA Advantage Lite – 1/2″ (13mm)
- STIGA Advantage – 5/8″ (16mm)
- STIGA Advantage Pro – 3/4″ (19mm)
A table tennis table is required to be at least 19 mm in order to be used in a professional tournament. This means that only the STIGA Advantage Pro model, the most expensive model, is the one you should go for if you are thinking of becoming professional in the sport.
However, if you are only getting a ping pong table for recreational use for you and your family, then there should be no need to get the more expensive model, although we do not recommend getting the STIGA Advantage Lite, since the surface thickness is too low to be considered a high-quality table.
Benefits Of The STIGA Advantage Table
There are many reasons that make the STIGA Advantage Table one of the most popular choices on the market. You will be able to put it together very quickly as it comes 95 percent preassembled. This means that after only 10 to 15 minutes you will be ready to start playing.
It is also a very portable table, so you can wheel it to any place in your home or garden. You can also fold it into two separate parts, meaning you can store it away fairly well if you are not playing.
This is a strong and sturdy table with a well-built frame and a smooth playing surface. Another great thing about this table is that it features a handy little addition called the playback mode, meaning that you can fold one half of the table upwards and practice your shots, and serves by yourself.
You will receive both the net and the posts included with your package. This is a very affordable table tennis table and it features a pretty good return policy. There are numerous reviews on Amazon of this product, most of them absolutely positive.
This makes sense when you consider the STIGA brand, which has been delivering good, high-quality products all over the world for several decades. So, to sum up:
- It features a quick assembly
- It is highly portable
- It can fold away
- It features a strong steel frame and high durability
- It features a smooth playing surface for easy playability
- It features a single-player playback mode
- There are tournament-grade net and posts 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
Cons Of The STIGA Advantage Table
As with every product, there are also cons to the STIGA Advantage Table. No ping pong table is perfect. With this specific table, there are issues with its weight. It is a considerably heavy table, weighing a full 195 pounds.
It is also not the best for professional players, since the table surface thickness is not the best, at least with two out of the three models (the STIGA Advantage Lite and the STIGA Advantage).
As you may already be aware, table surface thickness is the key component that will determine how well the ping pong ball bounces off of the table, so if you have a lower table surface thickness, then your bounce will be significantly reduced.
This will mean you will have to hit the ball much harder in order to get the same result as you would with a regulation surface thickness table. So, to sum up:
- It is on the low end of the table surface thickness
- It is quite heavy
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
An Overview Of The JOOLA Inside Table
The JOOLA Inside Table, as mentioned above, also comes in three different models where the main (and possibly only) difference between them is the table surface thickness.
However, the JOOLA Inside Table models are a bit different from the STIGA Advantage Table models, since they feature a higher table surface thickness. The most expensive model, the JOOLA Inside 25 is ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) approved for professional-grade use, which is a fantastic endorsement.
Here are the three models for the JOOLA Inside Table:
- The JOOLA Inside 15 – 15mm (5/8 inch)
- The JOOLA Inside 18 – 18mm (3/4 inch)
- The JOOLA Inside 25 – 25mm (1 inch) (this is a competition-grade table with a thick tabletop)
Benefits Of The JOOLA Inside Table
There are also many benefits to the JOOLA Inside Table, a considerable amount of which are similar to the benefits of the STIGA Advantage Table. Just like the STIGA models, it is very easy to assemble and it should only take you about 10 to 20 minutes between receiving your package and starting to play.
It is also able to split into two foldable halves, which makes it quite good for compact storage when you are not using it. There is also the feature of the playback mode, which allows you to practice by yourself.
Similar to the STIGA Advantage Table, this indoor ping pong table is quite sturdy and features a strong steel undercarriage. There are eight 3″ locking caster wheels that allow you to move it around your home.
There are also corner protectors that make sure you do not damage the table or yourself, making this a very safe table. This product also features height adjusters so you can make it taller or shorter, depending on what your needs are.
Unlike the STIGA Advantage Table, the JOOLA Inside Table is actually quite lightweight, weighing only about 130 pounds. The JOOLA Inside Table is also the most popular product of the two, being Amazon’s top choice for buyers of table tennis tables, both due to its great features and the fact that JOOLA is a highly recognized brand that has been operating for a few decades already.
You will also receive a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee as well as a great return policy when you purchase this product. To sum up:
- It is so easy to assemble
- It splits into two halves (easy storage)
- It features a personal playback position
- There is a strong, heavy-duty steel undercarriage and steel legs
- There are corner protectors included
- It is safe
- There is an included net and post set
- There are height adjusters and leg levelers
- It is lightweight
- There are eight 3″ caster wheels for easy mobility (they are also lockable casters for safety)
- It is Amazon’s top-selling indoor table tennis table
- There is a 100% satisfaction guarantee
- This a great brand
- It features a great return policy
Cons Of The JOOLA Inside Table
There are a few downsides to this table, as with all ping pong tables on the market. This table is for indoor use only, since it is quite sensitive to certain weather conditions (such as high humidity and heat), so you can only put it in your living room or game room.
This means if you are looking for an outdoor ping pong table for outdoor use, then the JOOLA Inside Table is not for you, as you will run the risk of it having a diminished lifespan.
If you wish to have an outdoor table tennis table, then you should likely go with one of the STIGA Advantage models. Some customers have also reported that the posts and net set that come included with this product are not of the best quality.
There is also no manufacturer warranty included with this table. Similar to the STIGA Advantage Table, the JOOLA Inside Table also features two models with low surface thickness, the JOOLA Inside 15 and the JOOLA Inside 18.
However, there is one model with very good surface thickness, the JOOLA Inside 25, that as the name suggests, features a 25 mm surface thickness and is ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) approved for tournaments.
The minimum surface thickness for a professional table tennis table is 19 mm, making this quite a superior table in terms of surface thickness. So, to sum up:
- It does not feature the best surface thickness
- It is an indoor table only as it is made of MDF (medium-density fiberboard)
- The net and posts not great
- There is no manufacturer warranty
Specifications Of The JOOLA Inside Table:
- Table Dimensions – 9 ft x 5 ft
- Assembly – 10 – 20 minutes
- Table Surface thickness – 5/8″ (15mm) tabletop
- Table weight – 137lbs
- USATT Approved – It’s USATT approved for quality
- Our rating – 9.9/10
About STIGA and JOOLA Brands
Both the STIGA and the JOOLA brands are very competent and generally very trusted by the public, but it is still pertinent to talk about each of them separately, in case you put a lot of weight into the brand and their image when choosing the product you will purchase. So let us get into it:
The STIGA brand is a Swedish sports brand that has been developing sporting gear for over seventy years, which is about as long as JOOLA has been in operation. Their head office is in Eskilstuna, Sweden where apparently table tennis is quite popular.
Even though they started and operate in Sweden, they are famous all over the world, as their products are available in over 100 countries and in every single continent. The JOOLA brand was founded in Germany in 1952.
Since their founding, they have become very popular and now deliver to the whole world. They have become a household name in table tennis equipment such as table tennis tables as well as ping pong paddles and other necessities.
Reviews of the STIGA Advantage Table vs the JOOLA Inside Table
We believe it is important to hear from real people as well as from us so you can see that it matches up to what we are telling you here. We believe this increases transparency.
We have cut down these table reviews to the core of their content but you can be sure we have maintained the important information for you to read. You can find both these reviews and more on Amazon if you want to look for yourself. Now, without further ado, here is the review of the STIGA Advantage Table:
“[..] 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, here is the review of the JOOLA Inside Table:
“We are loving this table. It was super easy to assemble, although I would recommend having two people, due to the weight of the pieces. [..] Putting up one side for practice is a little awkward if your table is on carpet (like mine) as you have to separate the pieces, fold it up (super easy), and then put the pieces back together.
[…] For the price, I would definitely recommend this table for a first time purchase. [..]”
Final Verdict
After all of this information, which of these options, the STIGA Advantage Table or the JOOLA Inside Table, is the one you should buy? And out of that option, which model is ultimately the best?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the answer is based on table surface thickness, and the answer is the JOOLA Inside Table is the best ping pong table. More specifically, the JOOLA Inside 25 Table, which has the highest table surface thickness out of all of the six models from the two brands that we have looked at.
The second best table tennis table is the STIGA Advantage Pro, which has the second-highest table surface thickness in this group of products.
Although this one is not ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) approved for tournaments and professional play, like the JOOLA Inside 25 Table is, it can still be a great option especially for recreational players that are not trying to become a professional ping pong player (or even if they are, but are still only starting out).
Out of all six options, the product we recommend the least is the STIGA Advantage Lite. Its table surface thickness is absolutely not worth it and the price range difference between this STIGA table and the other STIGA models is not enough to make it worth it.
Bonus tip: Check out this video with 10 great tips on how to become a better ping pong player.
