Joola Inside 15 vs Stiga Advantage Comparison: Which One Better Suits Your Needs?

Joola vs Stiga is a huge debate among ping pong enthusiasts. Joola’s tables have been used in the Olympics, so, understandably, they’re popular. On the other hand, Stiga performs just as well in sales, if not better. Consequently, it’s easy to see these two brands as rivals, especially regarding the Joola Inside 15 and the Stiga Advantage. Notably, these ping pong table models look very similar from a features standpoint. As such, we understand that you may need help deciding between the two, which is where the Joola Inside 15 vs Stiga Advantage comparison below comes in. You can find out how they differ, which is better value, provides a better playing experience, and consequently which table to pick.

Quick Overview Table

For a quick overview of notable features, similarities, and differences between the two ping pong table models, you can check out the table below. Of course, there’s more information provided below as well.

Joola Inside 15

The Joola Inside comes into 4 tabletop thickness options and offers a decent bounce for the price

The Joola inside comes in four tabletop thickness varieties, including 13mm, 15mm, 18mm, and 25mm. However, here we’re only talking about the 15mm option. Notably, 18mm tables or thicker is recommended for games since the thicker the table, the better the bounce. Nevertheless, this ping pong table still offers some pretty decent bounce for home gaming.

It’s made of a combination of MDF on the tabletop and steel on the lower sides. It’s also provided with a net system for a slightly over $300 price point. Ultimately it’s a decent table for the price, and we compiled a list of pros and cons below.

Pros

• Easy assembly
• Durable lower components
• Affordable
• Adjustable leg levelers
• Independent halves for playback mode
• Easy, compact storage

Cons

• Heavier than the Stiga Advantage
• The tabletop is slightly thinner, therefore negatively affecting the bounce

Stiga Advantage

The Stiga Advantage comes in 3 tabletop thickness options, features a decent bounce, and is a bit more expensive than Joola Inside 15.

A lot of the positives of the Joola inside 15 are shared by the Stiga Advantage. However, before that, it’s worth noting that the Advantage comes in three variations. The plain Stiga Advantage is a 15mm model just like the Inside 15. Nonetheless, the Advantage lite and the Advantage Pro are 13mm and 19mm, respectively.

The Advantage is more expensive than the Joola, where the 15mm option is concerned. With regard to bounce, this option isn’t at the Olympic or competition table level, but it’s still decent.

There are also construction similarities to the Joola, including the MDF tabletop and the lower steel construction. We’ll get to the nitty-gritty of the similarities and any significant differences between the Stiga Advantage and the Joola Inside 15. However, for now, here are the cons and pros for the former.

Pros

• Independent halves for playback mode
• Easy, compact storage
• Adjustable leg levelers
• Easy assembly
• High-quality net system
• Thicker tabletop compared to the Joola and therefore better bounce

Cons

• Legs not as sturdy as the Joola’s
• The table is much more expensive

Joola Inside vs. Stiga Advantage

As mentioned above, there seemingly aren’t many differences between the two ping pong table options, especially at first glance. However, there seems to be a significant price disparity which implies there’s more to it than meets the eye. Below we look at all the significant differences and similarities and attempt to determine whether the price difference is worth it and which table to choose.

Construction and Build

Both tables have independent halves and are foldable for  convenient storage

Starting with the construction and build of the two tables, it’s challenging to figure out which is superior with so many similarities. Both the Joola Inside 15 and the Stiga Advantage have independent halves. Consequently, they fold up when it’s time to put them in a tight space in the garage or game room.

Additionally, the foldable design has an extra benefit in the form of the playback mode. This is where you raise one half of the table so it can act as a bounce-back surface, therefore, allowing you to play alone and practice.

Just below the tabletops, you find safety latch systems in both options, and these keep the tables upright when you’re playing. Another notable shared feature is the 3” casters that allow you to move the tables once they’re set up to find better playing positions.

The leg leveler designs are almost exactly the same and make it possible to find better footing for the tables in addition to providing a level surface to play on. Lastly, both the Stiga Advantage and the Joola Inside 15 have MDF tabletops, steel frames, and steel legs.

The only notable build and construction differences are in the thicknesses of the tabletops and the legs. The tabletop thickness affects a few other aspects of use, so we’ll look at that a bit later. However, for the legs, the Joola Inside 15 has thicker, more durable options.

Dimensions

According to documents provided by the International Table Tennis Federation Trusted Source The International Table Tennis Federation Handbook 2021 The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), founded in 1926, is the world-governing body of the sport of table tennis with 226 member Associations in the world. documents.ittf.sport , ping pong table tops have to be 2.74m long and 1.525m wide. Translated to inches, this turns into about 108” x 60”, which is what both tables have to offer. Ultimately, both tables have the same dimensions, so none has the advantage over the other.

Tabletop Thickness and Bounce

The tabletop thickness is one of the key design aspects of any ping pong table as it affects the bounce. The recommended size to achieve the best bounce is 18mm or thicker. Unfortunately, both tables fall short of this expectation. Also, although you’ll see both marketed as 15 mm or 5/8” options, one option is worse off than the other.

Assembly

Assembly-wise, you almost can’t separate the two. They come to your doorstep 95% assembled, only leaving you to attach the legs. Of course, since the designs are similar, the same steps you take to build the Stiga model are the same ones you use for the alternative.

Accessories

The situation changes when looking at the accessories. Both provide a regulation-size 72” ping-pong net system. However, as with most affordable ping pong sets, the net provided with the Joola Inside 15 is substandard. As such, you might save on the initial purchase, but you’ll make up some of the difference when you eventually have to buy a new net system.

Stiga’s net system, on the other hand, may be partly responsible for the higher cost as it’s a lot better in quality.

Both tables come with a 72-inch net system, though Stiga can boast a much better quality of the net

Weight

The weight category goes to the Stiga since it’s 15 lbs lighter, and if you ever need to lift and move it, this slight difference will seem a lot more significant. However, for those looking for a permanent-installation table, this weight difference won’t matter much.

Price

Lastly, there’s the price of which Joola’s Inside 15 model is the undisputed winner. Previously the two were much closer in price, with the Stiga costing about $400 while Joola’s offering would set you back $350, give or take. The cost of the Joola has gone down and is closer to $300, while the Stiga Advantage’s price has risen and will cost you in the ballpark of $600, which will likely put off many buyers.

So, Which to Choose?

To the Stiga Advantage’s credit, you get better accessories, better bounce, and a more lightweight frame with the purchase. On the other hand, the Joola Inside’s only upside over the Stiga with regard to design and features is the more durable frame and legs. Nevertheless, Joola’s offering doesn’t get left behind in many other categories, making the price difference seemingly unjustifiable.

Consequently, in terms of pure value for money, the Joola Inside 15 takes the cake, and we wholly endorse it. In fact, you can upgrade the net system provided to a much better option and still save a significant sum compared to the Advantage. That said, the Stiga Advantage will give you a better playing experience since you can’t upgrade the bounce without upgrading the whole table.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, our Joola vs. Stiga comparison shows there’s really not much separating the two ping pong tables. However, to sum up, our findings you can’t go wrong with the Joola if you’re looking for value for money. The Stiga, on the other hand, offers a better playing experience. As such, you have your pick based on what you value the most between value for money and the playing experience.