Kettler Foosball Tables
Kettler is a company best known for its table tennis tables used at the 1996 Olympics, and from any of their foosball tables, you can expect the same built quality. The quality is almost without precedence. What also sets this company apart from other manufacturers is their wide range of outdoor tables. Making them waterproof is a significant technical challenge, and they are a rare company to solve it. And they did it while preventing the production costs to skyrocket.
If you are looking for a perfectly built foosball table, the German manufacturer has you covered. With the offer of both indoor and outdoor tables, you will undoubtedly find one that matches your needs. But not all of them are made completely the same and have some differences that set them apart.
Kettler Foosball Table Review
They have one of the widest ranges of products among all of the table manufacturers. Here you will find a list of the best products from that range. Hopefully, these short reviews will help you choose which of them is the right one for you.
Kettler Carrara Outdoor Foosball Table
In short, this is a laminated tournament style table named after a type of stone its style is emulating, the Carrara marble. But that description does a disservice to it. The Kettler Carrara Outdoor foosball table is made of laminates and is fully waterproof. Just like the Carrarese stone comes from Italy, this table is also produced there. The playing surface is made with melamine, which is for many people preferred material to glass. The playing field is a dark gray color, which is nicely contrasting the cabinet’s white color. It is standing on steel legs, which are powder coated for longevity and weather resistance. If you can’t place it on a perfectly flat or level surface, it has convenient and easy to set leg levelers. When it comes to parts that determine gameplay quality, this table offers only the best. Rods are stainless steel telescopic, with players molded on them, and rod bearings are made of sturdy nylon material. One obvious drawback that could turn away from this table is that it is a single-goalie style.
Pros
- High build quality
- A melamine playing surface
- Water-resistant
Cons
- Single-goalie style might not suit everyone
- Molded players on rods make it harder to replace them
- A melamine playing surface might not suit everyone
- A faux-marble style might not suit everyone
Kettler Weatherproof Indoor/Outdoor Foosball Table
This is a table that in the past was sold under the name Kettler Cavalier Outdoor Foosball Table. And in my opinion, it is arguably one of the best Kettler outdoor table there is. Similar to Carrara, it is a fully waterproof foosball table. And also features telescopic rods mounted on high-quality nylon bearings. But, while Carrara’s rods are made of stainless steel, these are chrome-plated. Another difference from the previous model is the position of ball return and colors. This one features ball returns behind goals instead of on players’ sides. It is painted in a more conservative blue color with a green playing field, which could be more appealing to some people. The playing surface is made of glass. For me, this is perfection. Glass, due to the nature of the production process, is perfectly flat. And flatness determines the quality of gameplay. The drawback of this is that it can break, not very easy, but it can. And this might be a problem for some people. While I like the aesthetics of this table, you might not. It is built for sturdiness, and its design shows. The flared legs are powder-coated steel and feature cross-brace for added stability and sturdy levelers. But some people call them ugly.
Pros
- Sturdy build
- Glass playing surface
- Stylish design
Cons
- Glass playing surface might not suit everyone
- Single-goalie style might not suit everyone
- Molded players on rods make it harder to replace them
Kettler Campus Indoor Foosball Table
While the previous two were for outdoor and indoor, the Campus is only for indoors. The Campus is a table that is aimed at people who do not like the boxy cabinet shape of the tournament-style tables. Its curved sides, walnut-imitating laminate material cabinet, and H-frame shaped slanted legs are reminiscent of art-deco designs. This look may not fit into every environment or be appealing to everyone. While previous models have telescopic rods, Campus doesn’t. This could be an issue if you have small children, as it could present a potential hazard for them. Otherwise, the rods are of excellent quality, and nylon bearings provide smooth movement and are very durable. Just like almost all of their tables, Campus features players molded on the rods, which can make them a bit of the hustle to replace if they break. On the other hand, they are made of a very sturdy resin, so you shouldn’t worry about them getting damaged. The playing surface is a laminate with a melamine top. It is of the highest quality, and you can only enjoy it.
Pros
- High build quality
- A melamine playing surface
- Water-resistant
Cons
- Single-goalie style might not suit everyone
- Molded players on rods make it harder to replace them
- A melamine playing surface might not suit everyone
Kettler Carbon Outdoor Foosball Table
The Carbon is another model on my list, which is weather-proof. Per design, it is somewhat similar to Carrara. It features the same powder-coated steel legs and has a similar tournament-style boxy cabinet. But, there are some essential differences. The first and most apparent is the gray color of the cabinet. If you are turned away by Carrara’s marble texture, this one should be more appealing to you. While Carrara has telescopic rods, Carbon has solid ones like Campus. But, like all other models, this one also features the same high-quality nylon bearings. The single-man goalie rods may not be to everyone’s taste, but the corner ramps serve their purpose perfectly, which is the case with all of their models. On this table playing surface is made of glass. In my experience, there isn’t a better playing surface. It suffices to say that players are made of high-quality resin and are molded on rods. Which does present a potential problem to replace them, though this design provides higher stability and control, and the resin used is very durable.
Pros
- Sturdy build
- Glass playing surface
- Stylish design
Cons
- Single-goalie style might not suit everyone
- Glass playing surface might not suit everyone
- Molded players on rods make it harder to replace them
Kettler Monte Bianco Indoor Foosball Table
Monte Bianco is arguably the most interesting or the most unusual product on my list, depending on how you look at it. I have to tell you that your eyes are playing tricks on you. This is a color image of the table, not black and white. The combination of whites and grays is inspired by the colors of the second-highest European mountain, after which it is also named, the Monte Bianco as is called in Italy. Better known by its French name, Mont Blanc. This design may not fit everyone’s taste, nor every game room, as this is an indoor foosball table. But, it is an unusually stylish design. Table’s hardware is of the expected German-engineered high-quality. Rods are of stainless steel telescopic design, which is always a plus from a safety point of view if you have small children running around the table. As is typical for this company, players are molded on rods and feature the single-man goalie setup. Legs are powder-coated steel but feature what can be called a skeletonized style. This feature decreases their weight and the whole table, but it doesn’t sacrifice their sturdiness or longevity.
Pros
- Sturdy build
- Glass playing surface
- Stylish design
Cons
- Glass playing surface might not suit everyone
- Single-goalie style might not suit everyone
- Molded players on rods make it harder to replace them
Who is Kettler GmbH?
It is a German manufacturer of sporting equipment, patio furniture, leisure gear, and, most notably, tables for table tennis and foosball tables. It is based in Germany but has production facilities in many other countries. The best known of their factories is the Italian one in which each and every one of their tables is produced. One of their best-known products is the Atlanta, table for table tennis used during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, USA. This table is in production to this date. When it comes to the quality of their foosball tables, they feature the same high-quality materials and quality control as the table tennis table they have produced for the most important table tennis competition in the world. Compared to other competitors, this company’s products are rivaled only by Garlando tables. If you are looking for the best table, you can’t go wrong with one of their models.
What To Expect From Kettler Foosball Table?
The first thing you should expect is the quality, which is arguably second to none. While they are rivaled in quality by Garlando, the quality of products from these two companies is miles ahead of the rest of their competitors.
Besides the quality, you should expect some other things from it if you purchase it. The first is the exceptional flatness of the playing surface. Either it is melamine or glass, it will be perfectly flat. This guarantees perfectly smooth ball movement and smooth play. All of their tables feature one of two types of bearings, round or decagonal. In all other aspects besides the shape, these bearing are the same high-quality nylon bearings. And they provide exceptionally smooth movement of the rods. Rods always feature molded players. While this has some drawbacks and makes it hard to replace them in the case of a break, they also have some advantages. Molded players are much more stable than other types. This provides better control of the ball. And they make them out of a very sturdy resin, and I have never heard of anyone whose players did break off the rod.
When it comes to their design, all their models feature a single-man goalie rod with corner ramps. And also side ramps that prevent the ball from sticking to the walls. This style is not to everyone’s taste, but that doesn’t mean it is a bad one.
When you purchase an outdoor table from them, you are also provided with a high-quality cover for it. Something which is unheard of among other manufacturers. Additionally, you get two sets of five balls each, made of resin, and cork, which is also a unique characteristic for this company. Other manufacturers usually provide one or two balls, while extra balls are offered as a separate item with a substantial markup.
Another important feature of any product, but often neglected by both manufacturers and buyers, is the warranty. The industry standard is a 3-months warranty. But this German company goes well above that with a 3-year warranty policy.
Who Should Buy A Kettler Foosball Table?
If you are looking for the best of the best, these are made for you. Their uncompromising quality and extreme durability are the best recommendations for their products. While their models do differ by many characteristics, these two are common for any of them. And if you are looking for an outdoor model, you shouldn’t even bother looking at the table of other manufacturers. Their models are simply the best there is. All you have to do is choose the one whose design and other features you prefer.
Conclusion
A Kettler table is always a product of great craftsmanship and a pleasure to play on. If you are looking for a high-quality indoor or outdoor foosball table, they are arguably the best choice you could make. But if you can’t decide which one is for you, my suggestion is the Kettler Weatherproof table. While it is primarily intended for patios, it can be placed in game rooms too. Its quality and features set leaves nothing to be desired.
