Wubble Bubble Ball is a toy which looks like a large bubble but plays like a ball. I’ve tested out several of these balls and present my observations here.
About Wubble Bubble Ball
Wubble Bubble Ball is a large bubble-like ball which inflates to about three feet in size. As the advertising states, it looks like a bubble, but is played with like a ball. It can be purchased with or without an air pump. The air pump requires four D batteries, which are not included. I found that it takes 2 to 3 minutes to inflate using the included air pump.
There are several colors available, such as green, red, and pink. The product is marketed by NSI International.
In 2015, the brand expanded to include a glow-in-the-dark ball called GloWubble. That ball comes in blue or green and appears to be only available online as of April 2015.
A TinyWubble is also mentioned in the 2015 advertisement, but I saw no mention of it on the website.
How much does Wubble Bubble Ball cost?
When purchasing from the official website, the Wubble Bubble Ball Deluxe set costs $19.99 plus $8.99 shipping. This set includes a red Wubble, air pump, guide, deflation tool, and instructions. A second blue ball is offered for an additional $8.99, bringing your total to $28.98. When this review was first posted in June 2014, the second Wubble was an additional cost. This extra charge has since been removed. You can also find Wubble Bubble Ball in stores (see below).
The GloWubble costs $19.99 plus $8.99 shipping.
Note that as of April 2015, the order page on the official website only offers the GloWubble.
The official website is wubbleball.com, which was registered in January 2014. When I first evaluated the product in mid-2014, there was a notice on the website that “due to overwhelming demand, orders will not ship for 4-6 weeks.”
This is the official Wubble Ball website as of April 2015.
The official Wubble Ball website from June 2014.
Availability
Initially, Wubble Bubble Ball was only available for direct, online purchases. It became widely available in stores such as Target in late 2014. The cost in stores is $19.99 for a ball with a pump, or $12.99 for a ball without a pump. Some stores have offered the Deluxe set for sale for about $15. It pays to shop around.
The GloWubble is only available online as of this writing.
Television Commercial
Here is an advertisement for Wubble Bubble Ball, which was posted in May 2014.
Wubble Bubble Ball Reviews
I had the opportunity to test out two Wubble Bubble Balls in August 2014. Below are my observations of each test, and of the ball in general.
Durability
The primary concern about Wubble Bubble Ball is that of durability. Although the product has a lifetime replacement guarantee, it still costs $6.99 to get a replacement. If the product pops easily, this warranty will sit well with some consumers.
We’ve had readers tell us that their Wubble Balls popped minutes after they began playing with them. In my first test of the ball, I also found this to be the case. Despite being careful to avoid any potential hazards, such as branches or rocks, the ball popped when one of the young men helping me attempted to throw it. He had grabbed it with two hands, and raised it over his head. As he attempted to throw it, the ball popped. That ball lasted about 8 minutes.
For my second test, the ball was much more durable, even successfully traversing rocks, trees, and a busy street. After 15 minutes of use, including its treacherous trek across the street, the ball remained intact.
Inflation and Deflation
I found that the pump worked as advertised. As you can see in the video below, it took about 2 minutes to fully inflate the ball. There is a plastic strip included, which acts as a guide to let you know when the ball is fully inflated. I did notice that the ball slowly deflates over time. I left one ball fully inflated overnight, and by the next morning it was about 70% deflated. I don’t believe this is a flaw, but worth pointing out that you’ll likely need to re-inflate before each use.
I found that the most difficult part about inflating the ball was inserting the nozzle properly. It often took me more than two minutes to get it fully inserted.
Video Review
Below is a video of two tests of the Wubble Bubble Ball. I was not filming when the first ball popped, but the second test does clearly show the ball handling a rocky terrain without popping.
Reader Reviews
Since the original publication of this review, I have received dozens of comments here and on social media sites about Wubble Bubble Ball. The general consensus is that the ball provides a great deal of fun, but some people have not found it to be as durable as the commercials imply. Many have stated that the ball popped or deflated within minutes of its first use.
I spoke with a representative of Wubble Bubble Ball in August 2014. He indicated that there were some problems with the first shipment of balls, but assured me that those concerns had been addressed. The balls used in this review were sent to me by this representative of Wubble Bubble Ball. Despite these assurances, complaints of popped balls persist.
Be sure to read dozens of additional comments by consumers on our Lockerdome social media profile.
Available at Target
As stated earlier, Wubble Bubble Ball is available at Target. A location here in Las Vegas had a display for the new product, found in the sporting goods section.
As you can see in the photo above, there are two types of balls for sale: one with a pump and one without. Those cost $19.99 and $12.99 respectively. A store employee told me that sales for the product were brisk, but he was not sure about how many had been returned due to popping or deflation concerns.
Google Trends
The chart below shows interest in Wubble Bubble Ball throughout 2014. There appears to have been an initial push in the summer of 2014, and a greater surge as the holidays approached in late 2014, which continues to increase in April 2015.
Bottom Line
Wubble Bubble Ball is a fun and unique toy. There have been some concerns by readers and from my own tests about the product’s durability. Disgruntled customers have complained that the toy popped easily or quickly. I suggest purchasing locally which can yield better sale prices and will eliminate shipping and return hassles.
The product has recently been expanded to include GloWubble and TinyWubble, although the latter could not be readily found on the official website.
Your Wubble Bubble Ball Reviews
Have you tried Wubble Bubble Ball? Let me hear from you in the comments below.
Updated April 2, 2015
Originally published June 2014
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