There has been lots of debate about the best Table tennis table under $400. Which is the best one? Which one should you choose? In this article, I hope to clear things up and help you decide. It’s Joola Inside vs Stiga Advantage time!

Both Joola and Stiga are known for the quality of their equipment. The Stiga Advantage and Joola Inside were designed to be great value for money. Which one is the better value for money buy? Let us compare.

Specifications

Table Top

The Stiga Advantage features a 15mm MDF playing surface. We found the table provides a consistent bounce but played slower than a thicker table.

The Joola Inside features a 15mm MDF playing surface. It also provided consistent bounce yet slower play than you would find on thicker tables.

The winner – It’s a tie. Both tables have consistent results while playing on them.

Undercarriage

Both tables have 1.5-inch powder coated steel legs and split into 2 halves when storing. They also both use the net to connect the halves when playing. The tables offer a playback feature for solo play and have locking caster wheels to hold the table in place. Another feature in common are the leg levelers for uneven playing surfaces. They can also both be set up in under 10 minutes, which we find great!

The Joola Inside weighs about 135 pounds. This puts it on the lighter side of tables. You are given 2-inch caster wheels to help roll the table from storage to assembly. The overall construction of the undercarriage makes it a true ‘entry-level’ table.

The Stiga Advantage weighs about 180 pounds. Making it almost 50 pounds heavier, and sturdier, than it’s competitor. Being heavier it is equipped with huge 3-inch caster wheels to provide easy mobility. The zero gravity technology helps support the weight of the table when being put away or assembled. We are very surprised with the quality of materials and craftsmanship of the Stiga Advantage, so much so that it’s hard to even call it an ‘entry-level’ table.

The winner – Stiga Advantage. Both tables are similar in concept but the quality of materials used and extras on the Stiga give it the edge.

The Net System

The Joola Inside comes with their patented quick assembly clamp net system. This makes for easy storage and assembly. It’s a decent grade net that will keep any recreational player happy.

The Stiga Advantage, however, comes with a professional-grade clamp on net. As we always say it’s the net that makes the table and that’s why we are questions the ‘entry-grade’ tag put on the Advantage. The net system that comes with the table is top-notch and would make any recreational OR intermediate player happy.

The winner – Stiga Advantage. Having a professional net on a value table is an easy win for Stiga.

Durability

Both tables come with thin MDF tops. MDF table tops are purely for indoor use and can’t withstand moisture or extreme changes in temperature. When you decide on the table you want to make sure that it is stored in a cool and dry area.

We feel the Stiga Advantage has the upper hand here as it is made with better materials (about 50 pounds heavier is a LOT) and has the stronger support system. The Stiga Advantage would outlast the Joola Inside in a duel of abuse.

The winner: Stiga Advantage.

Design

Both the Joola Inside and Stiga Advantage have blue table tops and offer playback for solo play. Both have caster wheels and nets that hold the two pieces together when in play. Where do they differ?

The Joola Inside has 1.2-inch steel legs while the Stiga Advantage has 1.5-inch ones. Both are powder coated, though.

The Stiga Advantage has a 1.5-inch steel tube apron while the Joola Inside is equipped with a 1.5-inch resin apron. We find the steel looks and feels more durable.

The joola Inside also comes with a smaller mid-support bar than the Stiga Advantage. With the mid-support bar of the Stiga Advantage horizontal vs the Joola Inside whose is angled. Again, the Stiga Advantage wins our eyes over.

The Winner: Stiga Advantage. Being bigger where it matters makes the table stand out in the crowd. Upon setting your eyes on the Stiga Advantage you would never guess it’s a value table.

The Price Tag

The difference in price of the Stiga Advantage to the Joola Inside is negligible. The Stiga being $399.99 and the Joola $389.95. Spending the extra $10 will give you a better table.

Which Table Should I Buy?

I think the answer is clear. With three points to nil, we can definitely say that the Stiga Advantage is the winner of the Best Value Table Under $400.00. If you want to have a look our full reviews of the tables you can find the Joola Inside review here and the Stiga Advantage one here.

Buy The Table

You can buy the Stiga Advantage from Amazon;

• Amazon.com: Available for $399.99 (Roughly £330.00)

You might be interested in reading Ben’s popular article The Best Table Tennis Tables, which is available on his Expert Table Tennis blog. And don’t forget to check out all of our other Table Tennis Table reviews as well.

Have you played on the Stiga Advantage and Joola Inside yourself? What did you think of them? Please share your experiences and leave a review below in the comments.

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