Choosing an Outdoor Chess Set for that Perfect Park Game
Lovely, sunny weather is a good excuse to take a break from your daily chores and go to the park with your friends to enjoy a perfect chess game. However, if that’s to be a frequent occurrence, you might want to consider buying an outdoor chess set. Compared to traditional pieces, outdoor sets are more suitable for outdoor play and won’t get damaged as easily.
On the other hand, choosing the right outdoor chess set can be tricky, since there are various things to consider. Let’s clarify everything you need to know when choosing an outdoor chess set for that perfect park game!
Things to Consider When Buying an Outdoor Chess Set
Lightweight & Magnetic
For the best playing experience, we advise you to buy a chess that is large enough to play easily but still made of lightweight materials to be portable. Strong magnets are another big plus, so it doesn’t open as easily while you carry it around. This Drake Magnetic Travel Chess Set is a nice example of a chess set you can use to play outdoors.
If you do not like big, fancy chess pieces, you might also find Pocket Chess Sets appealing. They are perfect for on-the-go chess games and usually feature small pop-up magnetic pieces with a magnetic board. It’s easy to keep them in a backpack or a compartment in your car whenever you feel like a game.
Zip Bag / Case
A zip bag or case included with the chess set (or bought separately) can protect your board and pieces from damage and is also an excellent way to keep them in one place. For example, look at the US Chess Supreme Tournament Chess Set, which comes with pieces, a foldable board, and a nice green bag to protect them from outside factors.
On the other hand, a set like this can be an interesting choice since it doesn’t come with a board; the board is drawn on the bag instead. The bag features 1.5" squares with squared corners on a 12” x 12” board and can also be used for storing pieces, magazines, scorebooks, pens, pencils, and so on.
Although it is challenging to play with in certain situations, it is definitely a set that your friends will find interesting.
If you don’t mind your outdoor chess set being sturdy and heavier, you might consider buying a Wooden Magnetic Travel Chess Set. With its strong and durable wooden box, you can rest assured that your pieces won’t get lost or damaged on your way to the park.
Warranty
To have peace of mind when bringing your chess set outdoors, it is nice to know that it’s covered by some type of warranty. Many chess set manufacturers offer a 12-month warranty valid from the original date of purchase, which usually covers things such as discoloration or cracking of chess pieces, warping of chess boards, broken hinges and claps, failed glue joints, and even a movement of internal weighs within a chess piece.
However, most warranties won’t cover things such as deliberate or accidental damage of board or pieces, warping due to exposure to extreme temperatures, lacquer damage caused by inappropriate cleaning agents, and loss of chess pieces, so make sure to keep that in mind.
A Giant Chess Set?
Buying a giant chess set is also an option, especially if you want to decorate your yard with something slightly impractical that you (and your kids) will use. You might have seen those sets during trips, whether it is a hotel, resort, or even a cruise sheep.
The idea of a lifesize chess set captivates the imagination. For a long time, there were only two main types of garden chess sets, with plastic ones being the most popular. They were imported from Germany, made from durable plastic, and manufactured in two sizes - 12” and 25”. Some sets even had bases that could be unscrewed and filled with sand to make them even heavier.
A few years ago, wooden outdoor chess sets appeared on the market. These sets are highly lacquered to protect against rain and other elements, and with a strong grain showing through the lacquer, they look fantastic!
They are also heavy, durable, and come in a variety of sizes, including 8”, 12”, 16”, 32”, and 48”. Even a version of 72” tall king is available, but it is rare and has quite a weight. For reference, a 48” king usually weighs around 65-70 lbs by itself.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is a variety of outdoor chess sets you can choose from, and buying the right one doesn’t have to be tricky if you keep everything we mentioned in mind. On the other hand, if you plan to decorate your yard for the upcoming summer, a giant chess set can be a beautiful yet practical addition that you, your family, and your friends will enjoy.